Comment from Higdon...

[crazykz]

Here's a sentence that bugs me a little in Higdon's report:

"Kneebone and Landry know that they can't control outside assistance when a rider is putting a route together so they don't even try."

He goes on to say planning the route is one thing but riding it is another but is this to say that I can have people helping me plan the route? For me I can plan my route but having people enter the locations of the bonus stops and sending me the files to input them is what would be extremely handy.

Curt

[crazykz]

I'm all for the techonology but the help issue is becoming a gray area.

If people are faxing off their stuff then someone else is helping with routing. You would need a fair amount of experienced riders to help because someone who isn't might send you way out somewhere without regards to the difficulty of getting there. So I wouldn't mind if people could help but all I would really want is people to enter the points into GPX format and then send it back to me while I put in some of my own. The work comes once you have them all in deciding which way to go.

Curt

[Mellow]

I love the technology.. however, I think it would be great to get back to paper maps and wax pencils.. This would increase the mental difficulty and make it more challenging... not easy to enforce..

[crazykz]

I would rather spend my mental power riding the bike and not worrying about mapping but I understand where you're coming from.

Curt

[Mellow]

I would rather spend my mental power riding the bike and not worrying about mapping but I understand where you're coming from.

Curt

Curt, just imagine all the places where a Bear might run out in front of you.. or find you taking a quick nap on the side of the road. :eek:

[Mellow]

Good point...

[Andy Kirby]

I'd have to agree, I was stunned to see a couple of guys rush to the fax machine at the Maine checkpoint.

The use of a 'shore crew' in long distance sailing has done much to devalue the achievement IHMO, so much so that I doubt that sailors such as Ellen Macarthur can truely be called 'solo' sailors with constant data updates and voice calls from weather experts for routing, mechanics and sailmakers etc etc.

I'd hate to see the IBR go the same way, it is an individual sport and it should stay that way.

My 2 cents worth.

Andy

[Horst]

I guess at the root of this discusion is 'how fair is the competition in the IBR' more or less ... Mike Kneebone did put his foot down a few years ago when corporate sponsorship was getting *way* out of hand, remember ? :)

Of course finances, abilities, etc. all still come into play, but with corporate sponsorship in check, it's basically up to the rider. Having done one SS1000 this rider would *never* attempt 10 or 11 in a row :D

[crazykz]

I'm basically jeolous of anyone that has a crack pot team to help them plan. I would use every piece of technology I could get my hands on to make planning as efficient as possible. I know it may not be the most accepted method but for me it would make it more fun and I can really get some miles in because I'll know exactly where to go and if I make it then I'll have a really good shot at it.

Curt

[sherob]

I'll run the fax... LOL!!!

[crazykz]

Yes I'm sure that would work well. :rolleyes:

Curt

[sherob]

Yes I'm sure that would work well. :rolleyes:

Curt

Come on... I can see it now... on the side of RC's saddlebags... Curt's Highly Energetic Asphalt Pilot.. C.H.E.A.P. :D

[sherob]

Your a mileage hound just like he is... you should sponser each other ;)

[crazykz]

Actually I need computer ***** that knows how to Google like there's no tomorrow and map routes with their eyes closed. ;) Being accessible by cellphone at all hours would be a big plus too. Watching this rally has really got me pumped for 2007. Now if I can just get drawn. Ugh. :o:

Curt

[crazykz]

Thanks Paul and everyone. Good to know I have people who are willing to help.

Now it looks like the hard part is done so now all that's left to do is actually ride it. ;)

In case you haven't been watching Jim Owens is in the lead and has just hauled butt from Maine all the way to Portland headed for Cape Dissapointment I guess.

Here's his track:
http://rally.star-traxx.com/rallyview.asp?Rally=30&Rider=59437047&bike=6


Thanks,
Curt

[NewsMag]

You guys are kinda harsh. Of course I am biased, having been outside assistance to a rider in the 97 IBR (Ron Major's last). Interesting STory. An ST rider (who I won't name at the moment) asked myself and another fellow to work routes for him, while he did the riding and paid the bills himself. I thought it was a great way to participate in something I don't have the ability (or desire) to do myself, and to promote the ST1100.

Anyway, the rider's wife predicted that, at the end, the three of us would never speak to each other again. I thought that was odd. Doesn't "war" make lifelong friends?

Anyway, he would fax the package to one of us who would re-fax it to the other. Then the rider would grab some z's while I and the other guy would independently pore over the mileage, terrain, and bonus point values. Then we would call each other and caucus to present the best choice between what each of us saw. Then we would call the rider at a pre-appointed time and recommend the route, the order, and the rationale. He would have some input, and go do the ride.

But things on a map are not the same as real life. We had him riding down a very good road in Canada at night along the St. Lawrence Seaway, but we didn't realize the pea soup fog that would be there. Then we routed him on a "shortcut" through Maine that looked good on the maps but was really a very dark logging road. He let us know about that! We then tried to keep him on freeways, but ended up putting him thru the Eastern seaboard during rush hours (AM and PM), and he was not pleased about that either.

After the first and second leg, we got better at it, and he got better at dealing with us. He did end up finishing in the 20s, but as his wife said, none of the three of us speaks to the other any more!

So I don't think I dislike any of you enough to offer to help in an IBA rally!

[Mellow]

LOL... good point Steve... it's true.. there's a world of distance between the maps and the actual roads...