We need to have a chat about PTP

RichN95.

I think the present calendar is fine, although I'd always make a case for the introduction of the Tour of Britain.

knedlicky

Not sure that this is the right thread to post my idea in, but …

... if I could wish for any change in the forum PTP, it would be that the points system is changed. The current system is one of the reasons I’m only an intermittent participant.

In a betting shop, if you bet on Cavendish, Greipel or Kittel to win a supposed sprinters’ stage of a GT, or Boonen, Cancellara, etc, to win a Classic, and they did, you wouldn’t get the same return if you had bet on, e.g. Gerrans to win a sprinters’ stage (like he did in stage 3 of the TdF last year). Same when there is a surprise win in a Classic or GT mountain stage.
But the current PTP points system doesn’t make this distinction. It thus encourages people to pick the obvious choices rather than take a gamble.

I realise it would be difficult to consider and calculate everything along the lines which a bookie works, but what about adding to the PTP points system a bonus (like 3x points) when, for instance, 3 or less people chose a rider who finishes in the top 3 of any GT stage or Classic?
That doesn’t sound to me too complicated for the PTP admins to calculate (and I do admire those who’ve volunteered).

(I feel a bit guilty suggesting such an ‘innovative’ change, when not volunteering to also work as a PTP admin, and thus be involved in the necessary calculations, but part of the reason I’m only an intermittent PTP participant is that, like some others, I’m often underway somewhere 'different', without much notice to where and when - like Moravia, Georgia, etc)

rick_chasey

knedlicky wrote:

Not sure that this is the right thread to post my idea in, but …

... if I could wish for any change in the forum PTP, it would be that the points system is changed. The current system is one of the reasons I’m only an intermittent participant.

In a betting shop, if you bet on Cavendish, Greipel or Kittel to win a supposed sprinters’ stage of a GT, or Boonen, Cancellara, etc, to win a Classic, and they did, you wouldn’t get the same return if you had bet on, e.g. Gerrans to win a sprinters’ stage (like he did in stage 3 of the TdF last year). Same when there is a surprise win in a Classic or GT mountain stage.
But the current PTP points system doesn’t make this distinction. It thus encourages people to pick the obvious choices rather than take a gamble.

I realise it would be difficult to consider and calculate everything along the lines which a bookie works, but what about adding to the PTP points system a bonus (like 3x points) when, for instance, 3 or less people chose a rider who finishes in the top 3 of any GT stage or Classic?
That doesn’t sound to me too complicated for the PTP admins to calculate (and I do admire those who’ve volunteered).

(I feel a bit guilty suggesting such an ‘innovative’ change, when not volunteering to also work as a PTP admin, and thus be involved in the necessary calculations, but part of the reason I’m only an intermittent PTP participant is that, like some others, I’m often underway somewhere 'different', without much notice to where and when - like Moravia, Georgia, etc)

Too much of a pain.

There are plenty of fantasy cycling leagues which have clever engineered systems like this if that's what you want.

knedlicky

Rick Chasey wrote:

Too much of a pain.

I accept your reply, although I think it a quick and not ‘rocking the boat’ answer.
Whatever!

RichN95.

knedlicky wrote:

Rick Chasey wrote:

Too much of a pain.

I accept your reply, although I think it a quick and not ‘rocking the boat’ answer.
Whatever!

I understand and share your 'complaints' (for want of a better word). The problem is it needs someone to change it. If someone worked on it and provided a new game we may take it up. But as Rick says there are other games available elsewhere.
As it is, it is a simple low maintenance game which can attract posters to the forum (my first ever post was picking Cancellara to win the 2006 Paris-Roubaix - it's downhill ever since)

ridgerider

As a picker of outsiders I like the idea. As a scorer, it might be more managable if, say, you got double points for a unique pick.

tailwindhome

Overcomplicating the scoring just makes the game harder to administer - it's already surprisingly time consuming.

I think the scoring is nicely balanced as it is - risks are rewarded if you're brave enough to go against the tide and get it right (Nibs v Wiggins for the Giro - Horner v the field for the Vuelta)

In the classics there are usually enough contenders to split the field a bit.

TheBigBean

I always thought that the winner should get more points relative to second, but it has been working well enough for a number of years, so probably no need to boat rock.

RonB

Just for info, an example of this sort of thing here.

http://www.podiumcafe.com/2013/7/20/4524686/tdf-stage-predictor-game-stage-21

Scroll down for the rules and you soon get a feel for how complex it can get and this was just for the TdF.

TheBigBean

So have we got the calendar and the team sorted?

above_the_cows

Calendar of races is the same as last years I thought.

The team from the last page is:

TailWindHome
TheBigBean
Macaloon
mr_poll
rozzer32
Above The Cows
Ridgerider
Richmond Racer
Joelsim

As to who is doing what races, I don't think we have that sorted.