Mike Murray
This has been covered multiple times before as those of you that have been
here a while know. I have been contacted about this frequently for the past
several years. My answer has consistently been that this is a "not ready
for prime time" technology. I have attached a file that explains this in
more detail. Chip timing was used last year during the Cross Crusade and I
think that the results of that were consistent with my impressions. The
manually timing always beat the chip timing by several days. Conceptually
RFID chip timing is attractive but in practice it doesn't work as well as
one would hope. Reading numbers visually is not only cheaper but also
faster and more accurate then RFID technology as currently applied to bike
racing.
I also think that the "somebody couldn't read your number" statement over
trivializes this important item. Currently nearly all OBRA races will be
using a video camera, a digital photo finish camera as well as multiple
officials to read numbers. It is not just some bozo at the side of the road
not paying attention. If your number cannot be read it is nearly always
because you put it on wrong, wore something over it, etc. Riders are not
listed as DNF unless they have clearly made little effort to make their
number visible. The error is nearly always on the rider part. This would,
of course, occur with RFID chips too as riders would forget to put them on,
switch chips with other riders inadvertently, etc. Race numbers are an
integral part of the race judging process. Attention paid to using them
properly is just as important as putting air in your tires.
Mike Murray
-----Original Message-----
From: obra-bounces@list.obra.org [mailto:obra-bounces@list.obra.org] On
Behalf Of James
Sent: Sunday, April 09, 2006 12:17 PM
To: obra@list.obra.org
Subject: [OBRA Chat] better timing devices for races?
I know Obra membership is very inexpensive for all the things the
organization does, but what if racers were allowed an "upgrade" fee for a
season that helped to cover the cost of a transponder or chip timing system?
I know there's nothing more disappointing then finishing a race only to find
out you were a DNF because somebody couldn't read your Obra number.