Fwd: RC: honor

[BMcCrary27@aol.com]

 In a message dated 05/24/2000 7:46:05 PM Pacific Daylight Time, 
bsdavis@kansas.net writes:
 
 << But I will never let
  anyone get away with "shortcutting" a trail during a competitive event.
  Would someone let it happen at the Olympics?  NO. then why should we let
  someone get away with it at a local event?  If more of us stood our ground
  and INSISTED this be taken care of immediately, it would happen less and
  less. >>
 
 As a ride manager I agree with you on this, but how does a ride manager 
police this?  Have a monitor at every field or corner that can be shortcut?  
Impossible.
 We had a situation on our ride this last weekend in which several riders 
indadvertantly shortcut at least 6 miles off the course.  One or more were 
suspicious that they were off trail, the others were "absolutely" sure the 
shorter route was correct.  We figured it out by timing and a number of other 
clues, and denied completion due to "off course".  The riders had failed to 
see the flagging (in the shade) and had taken a well-defined but unmarked 
cow-path.  They emerged into an open field that was also not marked, but in 
going across it they spotted the flagging of the correct trail, albeit 6 
miles further into the ride.  In short, they cut off about 6 miles.  Most of 
the riders were very gracious about it, a couple were not at all happy, and 
one of them thought we ought to refund at least part of the entry fee.  We 
said it was unfortunate and we empathized, but no, ride fee refunds were not 
forthcoming for riding off course.
 
 Barbara 

---- Begin included message ----

• To: bsdavis@kansas.net
• Subject: Re: RC: honor
• From: BMcCrary27@aol.com
• Date: Thu, 25 May 2000 13:42:10 EDT
• Full-name: BMcCrary27

In a message dated 05/24/2000 7:46:05 PM Pacific Daylight Time, 
bsdavis@kansas.net writes:

<< But I will never let
 anyone get away with "shortcutting" a trail during a competitive event.
 Would someone let it happen at the Olympics?  NO. then why should we let
 someone get away with it at a local event?  If more of us stood our ground
 and INSISTED this be taken care of immediately, it would happen less and
 less. >>

As a ride manager I agree with you on this, but how does a ride manager 
police this?  Have a monitor at every field or corner that can be shortcut?  
Impossible.
We had a situation on our ride this last weekend in which several riders 
indadvertantly shortcut at least 6 miles off the course.  One or more were 
suspicious that they were off trail, the others were "absolutely" sure the 
shorter route was correct.  We figured it out by timing and a number of other 
clues, and denied completion due to "off course".  The riders had failed to 
see the flagging (in the shade) and had taken a well-defined but unmarked 
cow-path.  They emerged into an open field that was also not marked, but in 
going across it they spotted the flagging of the correct trail, albeit 6 
miles further into the ride.  In short, they cut off about 6 miles.  Most of 
the riders were very gracious about it, a couple were not at all happy, and 
one of them thought we ought to refund at least part of the entry fee.  We 
said it was unfortunate and we empathized, but no, ride fee refunds were not 
forthcoming for riding off course.

Barbara

---- End included message ----