RFID timing for bike races to avoid confusion and lessen manpower at finish line

Wheels of Happiness

Rizal Philippines
March 7, 2016

The bedlam and confusion at the finish line, and the cheating that goes on can be minimized by having RFID timing system.






Better system organization needed

While there are plenty of staff, more training and observance of processes to ensure fairness and sportsmanship is needed.  Many riders took advantage of the loophole:

1.  Lack of scrutineering of bikes. While the application form specified tire size of not lower than 2.0, there were many bikes which had narrower, lighter tires.  Unfair.

2.  More system needed in monitoring loops completed . There should be 2 recorders of per rider who passed by all ready.  This was done at the loop finish, but there should be another one at the diversion because he could have picked up the ribbons on the road, dropped by other riders and made a short cut.  And then the number of ribbons should have been checked at the finish line, even at random, and checked vs the written record.

An RFID monitoring system (but this would be expensive to have the transponder (meron bang for rent) and a race monitoring software should be made available.  This post said that the reusable RFID chip cost only $5 each.  This would reduce need for manpower, reduce confusion and bedlam, protest at finish line, anwarding

From Webscorer - Recommended Set Up for Chip Timing

Webscorer version2.1

Rfid Timing (list of suppliers)

PDF low cost RFID timing device for bike race

                                Minimal # of personnel required, more accurate finish time data

            The RFID waterproof device that can be attached to the helmet by plastic cable ties

                                                The RFID on top of the helmet

                                                The Antenna detector

Why was my time slower at actual race vs practice

Wheels of Happiness

Rizal Philippines
March 7, 2016

I compared my average time between the practice ride we had and the actual race. I was actually faster in the practice last Wednesday.  We averaged 40 mins. per lap or that Tito actually accomplished that yesterday.  But I was slower.  I did it at 50 minutes per loop or even more. What could be the reason?

1.  The very early morning wake up;

2.   Richard pounded on my right thigh (although I attended his birthday) este nasagi ng fist of fury niya.  Hahaha;

3.  We started late and it was hot;

4.  The race excitement.

5.   I just found out today that the rear tire pressure was only 30 psi....

Bikers Road Safety vs. SAFE as a theme/priority

Wheels of Happiness

Rizal Philippines
March 7, 2016

This post commends the gathering of Rizal leaders:  provincial fiscal, the Comelec PNP director for having its theme of S.A.F.E, (Secure and Fair Election) as their theme, and to promote that in yesterday's MTB race.. Unless there the political dynasty in Rizal are vicious warlords, and unless they have worthy opponents, the unsafe or unfair election are mostly unlikely to happen.  The bikers and the general public could not care less and may be irrelevant for most riders. What can bike riders do to ensure safe and fair election?  Only the police, Comelec, and the prosecutors can.

I suggest that we should have paid attention for safe and accident free riding as the next relevant theme for the ride.   There are numerous altercations and accidents involving motorcycle vs bikers, tricycle vs bikers, and large motor vehicles and bikers.  One or the worst was the death of Eljay Arambulo, a newbie who was struck by a Meralco sub contractor in Mahabang Parang.

In yesterday;s race for MTB sponsored by MTB, despite the numerous PO marshalls and motorcycle cops several disturbing contra riders actuations by mv drivers put many riders at risk.  In intersections, the obstructions were numerous inviting collisions and crashes. In one instance, on the way back to the municipal hall grounds of Binangonan, a tricycle came running at high speed right into the path of bikers (they are supposed to be a the middle lane.   I nearly collided with that tricycle.

Let us campaign for biker friendly MV MC drivers.  As of now. they are not.

They cant think of anything except their bikes and padyak!