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[RC] 30 minutes - not workable for many rides. - Flora HillmanThe 60 minute
window is often absolutely critical to certain rides to provide a
workable window of time to riders to travel safely to the
vetting area when the finish can only be located a fair distance from
the vet area/base camp, without the rider being disqualified for being
"over time".
I've been to
several rides where it can take up to 30 minutes to walk from the finish line to
the in-timer, that finish line being in an area which does NOT allow for any
kind of vetting station due to the terrain or the trail. I've also been to
a ride where there was a huge lineup at the finish for riders being weighed for
top ten (mandatory at this one particular ride whether the rider was
planning to stand for BC or not), while the final vetting was 3/4 of a mile
away, uphill. At those times 60 minutes feels like 20
seconds.
Thus, it
needs to be understood that the hour window isn't there solely for the
horses -- it is often critically necessary for many AERC rides to deal
successfully and safely with the vulgarities and inflexibility
of trail location and distances. . To reduce that time
would be counter-productive in too many ways, including financial, for
many rides.
Those rides
that don't have this issue, because the finish is in base camp, are lucky
to provide an excellent opportunity for riders to practice good horse
management -- cleaning up their horses, feeding and pampering them,
letting them rest and relax before having to meet the final ride obligation
in presenting at the final vetting
The 60-64
pulse works fine, and so does the 60 minute widow at the finish of the
ride. Leave it alone.
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