Wiggle Dragon Ride 2011 Timings...

maxgirdler
maxgirdler Posts: 4
edited June 2011 in Sportives/audaxes/training rides
Anybody else noticed that the timing system for all of the events at the Dragon Ride failed? Missed timing splits everywhere, no finish times, no start times... I personally had one of the two split times AND the finsih time missed on the 120km route. Gutted as going by my bike computer, I should have been around 3 hrs 50mins...

Winner of the 200km route did it in an AMAZING 3hr 47min 03 secs, a 31.5 mph average...

Looks like timing chips on the back of your race number doesn't work. This coupled with the hour it took to cross the start line... Better luck next year organisers.
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Comments

  • benno68
    benno68 Posts: 1,689
    Yup mine didn't work either and my mates too. Many on here have reported a similar issue.
    _________________________________________________

    Pinarello Dogma 2 (ex Team SKY) 2012
    Cube Agree GTC Ultegra 2012
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  • Surfr
    Surfr Posts: 243
    No that rider jibbed and did the medio fondo on the day instead of the gran fondo they signed up for but yes by my calculations around 70% of riders do not have a recorded time.
  • 9jan11
    9jan11 Posts: 67
    on the plus side for Wiggle they will probably sell a few extra Garmin units after this fiasco
  • dru
    dru Posts: 1,341
    On their website there is a results query form and also an apology regarding the instructions for application of the number/chip and its subsequence failiure to work 100%

    I can not find my name or number on any of the searches so have submitted the query with my garmin time.
  • graham1871
    graham1871 Posts: 34
    As sponsors Wiggle should step up and give out some freebies or proper money off vouchers. They've got all our e-mail and postal addresses...
  • nickwill
    nickwill Posts: 2,735
    That is unforgiveable. They worked perfectly last year!
    http://lakescyclist.wordpress.com/
  • senoj
    senoj Posts: 213
    Typical, I do what I consider a good time and its not up.
    Theres so many missing ,we cant all be idiots.
  • maxgirdler
    maxgirdler Posts: 4
    From the timing company...

    ' Regrettably we experienced some issues with the collection of participant times at this year's Dragon Ride. After close examination of Bib Tags taken from participant's , it's clear we provided insufficient guidance of how to attach the number to the bike without damaging or reducing the effectiveness of the chip. Numbers which were bent or too tightly attached to the Bike were made ineffective although we appreciate this is of little comfort for anyone missed.

    As a timing company with over a decade of experience, and as participants ourselves we understand the importance of getting an accurate time after so much effort and preparation. The Dragon Ride is a premier event in Europe and over the past 5 years we have worked together to deliver a participant experience equal to its standing. On behalf of the race organisation we apologise unreservedly and we will be doing everything possible to produce times for each participant. To this end we appreciate your patience and assistance.'
  • 9jan11
    9jan11 Posts: 67
    As I said on another thread, they knew it wasn't working from the off hence the constant reminders to straighten your number: not that that did much good for many including me
    Numbers which were bent or too tightly attached to the Bike were made ineffective

    then this is not an acceptable timing system; the helmet stickers do work, seen them twice, no problems
  • chipperleenie
    chipperleenie Posts: 217
    Glad to hear these timing systems are well worth their money! :D

    At the Peterborough Cycling Club Sportive, on 10th July,we will have very reliable timing - called a pen and clipboard and stopwatch. I will make sure they have spare pens and 2 stopwatches in case one goes wrong! :D

    This does throw up one question though - How vital is timing on a sportive? After all these are not races, there are no prizes, so does it matter THAT much? Also nearly everyone these days rides with a bike computer too.
  • 9jan11
    9jan11 Posts: 67
    At the Peterborough Cycling Club Sportive,

    Bet you don't have to charge £30 plus either :D
  • GeorgeShaw
    GeorgeShaw Posts: 764
    maxgirdler wrote:
    Numbers which were bent or too tightly attached to the Bike were made ineffective ...'

    What does "too tightly attached" mean - that we should leave them flapping around in the breeze? My number has the mildest of kinks in it, but still didn't register. If something has such close tolerances, then it's not fit-for-purpose.
  • Dominic Baker
    Dominic Baker Posts: 10
    The timing failure is not just irritating, but it defeats one of the main purposes of the ride. Without going into the argument of 'is it a race' or not, I maintain that the timing IS a very important part of the occasion. Timing is clearly 'of the essence' of an event like this

    As a simple question, if they ran the Dragon ride WITHOUT any timing at all, how many people would enter? I suspect 10% would be a high number. Self timed events are closer to audaxes.

    The Dragon website makes a big play of the timing to advertise the ride and entice us to buy. But they did not deliver on an essential part of the promise.

    I understand that when someone advertises something, charges for it, and then fails to deliver, compensation is due. Why would this situation be any different?

    It was pretty clear that the timing was not working before most of the riders had started the ride. The organisers could have made this clear and given people an option for a refund at this point; they did not, even though they knew they would not be able to deliver.

    I feel annoyed at the way we have been treated. We are charged a reasonably high price to take part in an event on public roads, and the running of sportives is becoming a big business, as are the businesses in the same arena (e.g. timing systems).

    Why shouldn't 'normal business rules apply' and recompense be given?
  • itisaboutthebike
    itisaboutthebike Posts: 1,120
    My number was attached as per the instructions and I never touched it during the ride and it didn't register on the start mat, but did at one of the intermediate mats and the finish.

    Like the previous poster has said - if they're that prone to not working with the slightest bend them they need to find an alternative method.

    It's pretty poor for what is billed as the UK's premier sportive.
  • itisaboutthebike
    itisaboutthebike Posts: 1,120
    What's the Welsh Trading Standards website......................
  • wicked
    wicked Posts: 844
    There seems to be a lot of whingers around. The instructions clearly said to not bend the plate so I didn't and it worked fine. :roll:
    It’s the most beautiful sport in the world but it’s governed by ***ts who have turned it into a crock of ****.
  • Pseudonym
    Pseudonym Posts: 1,032
    http://www.tradingstandardswales.org.uk/

    A timed event without timing is just a bike ride - and you can do those for free....
  • itisaboutthebike
    itisaboutthebike Posts: 1,120
    My number was attached as per the instructions and I never touched it during the ride and it didn't register on the start mat, but did at one of the intermediate mats and the finish.
    The instructions clearly said to not bend the plate so I didn't and it worked fine.

    Yeah, but just think if you had accidentally (and unknowingly) bent it slightly during the ride and it didn't register at the finsih. Please tell me you wouldn't be whinging then...........
  • graham1871
    graham1871 Posts: 34
    The chips were obviously delicate - yet they were posted out Royalmail.
    Some were probably already knackered before they made their way near the handlebars...
  • maxgirdler
    maxgirdler Posts: 4
    Just checked my result, and my second split time has materialised... Either someone's getting inventive or someone lost a rather important memory stick...
  • BigGar35
    BigGar35 Posts: 30
    Me too. I now have a second split time. This one's for 38mins 7 secs. I assume that's for the Bwlch? Still have no finish time.
  • benno68
    benno68 Posts: 1,689
    wicked wrote:
    There seems to be a lot of whingers around. The instructions clearly said to not bend the plate so I didn't and it worked fine. :roll:

    Is there a "smug" emoticon anywhere?

    As there are so many "whingers" myself included, it proves that the system is shite in my opinion. I didn't bend the chip.
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    Pinarello Dogma 2 (ex Team SKY) 2012
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    Giant Defy 105 2009
  • bendertherobot
    bendertherobot Posts: 11,684
    Despite my username, I didn't bend mine
    My blog: http://www.roubaixcycling.cc (kit reviews and other musings)
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  • wicked
    wicked Posts: 844
    Benno68 wrote:
    wicked wrote:
    There seems to be a lot of whingers around. The instructions clearly said to not bend the plate so I didn't and it worked fine. :roll:

    Is there a "smug" emoticon anywhere?

    As there are so many "whingers" myself included, it proves that the system is shite in my opinion. I didn't bend the chip.

    No unfortunately no smug emoticon I did look. :wink: The results are provisional are they not?
    It’s the most beautiful sport in the world but it’s governed by ***ts who have turned it into a crock of ****.
  • Surfr
    Surfr Posts: 243
    Weird. I've now appeared but I just have a time for Split 3 and nothing else. I rode over every mat nice and slowly including the start and finish mats.

    God knows what's up
  • Kneesaway
    Kneesaway Posts: 56
    Mine was marginally bent when I fitted it with the supplied ridiculously short green ties.

    It probably bent even more when I reached 37mph on the decent!

    The trusty Garmin will be my timekeeper for the day, but I'd quite like to know how I did in the overall scheme of things.

    I suggest 1 minute intervals would be more appopriate at the start gate. We had all been lined up for what seemed like ages when he boomed out " 1 minute to go"

    Although a couple of disppointments, I still thouroughly enjoyed it and appreciated all the clappy people along the way
  • Mingsta
    Mingsta Posts: 24
    wicked wrote:
    There seems to be a lot of whingers around. The instructions clearly said to not bend the plate so I didn't and it worked fine. :roll:

    So you're a bit of a tw@t but you're great with a timing chip. Well done.
  • itisaboutthebike
    itisaboutthebike Posts: 1,120
    God knows what's up

    The timing chips were shyte........
  • wicked
    wicked Posts: 844
    Mingsta wrote:
    wicked wrote:
    There seems to be a lot of whingers around. The instructions clearly said to not bend the plate so I didn't and it worked fine. :roll:

    So you're a bit of a tw@t but you're great with a timing chip. Well done.

    One up on you then you are just a tw@t. Keyboard warrior.

    I did not use the stupid green ties I just used cable ties through only the top two holes, if all four holes are used it tended to bend the plate.
    It’s the most beautiful sport in the world but it’s governed by ***ts who have turned it into a crock of ****.
  • IBM
    IBM Posts: 3
    Done a bit of internet homework and found this very interesting video.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GEww-qXr ... re=related

    This video was prepared when the same timing chips were used for the LA Marathon

    Having watched this, it annoys me that the organisers claim that it's the cyclists' fault that their chips didn't work because they bent their number cards

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