Too much tape and stakes?
10-22-15, 07:06 AM
#1
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Thread Starter
Too much tape and stakes?
This rule of taping an entire course seems a bit lame and wasteful and takes hours to setup/teardown.
When did this rule start? I heard that races used to be point to point and maybe only taped where an organizer had to limit travel because there weren't convenient guides.
I see on courses that long straights are still taped/staked even though nobody could gain any advantage by taking some other route than the closest trail between the points.
I wonder if other indicators could be used to reduce the organizer's overhead and tape-wasteage.
I've seen non-UCI/USAC courses that reduce their taping. Seems worth encouraging. So why the "100% tape" rule?
When did this rule start? I heard that races used to be point to point and maybe only taped where an organizer had to limit travel because there weren't convenient guides.
I see on courses that long straights are still taped/staked even though nobody could gain any advantage by taking some other route than the closest trail between the points.
I wonder if other indicators could be used to reduce the organizer's overhead and tape-wasteage.
I've seen non-UCI/USAC courses that reduce their taping. Seems worth encouraging. So why the "100% tape" rule?
10-22-15, 08:59 AM
#3
Senior Member
I've never heard of such a rule, but taping or otherwise clearly delineating and blocking the race course protects the safety of both racers and spectators. It also has a great influence on the challenge of certain turns or course features by limiting the lines available to the racers. Still, where practical, lots of cross races have sections that are not taped. It's not a big deal.
10-22-15, 10:50 AM
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On big, sanctioned races it is to keep spectators off the course. On smaller races it is not uncommon to see the route marked with pin flags or no flagging at all.
At our local races they take the tape off and reuse it. It isn't particularly wasteful. And let me tell you that I'd rather see tape where it isn't 100% needed than poorly marked courses where you can take the wrong turn because you missed the tiny flag or the spray paint on the floor washed off.
At our local races they take the tape off and reuse it. It isn't particularly wasteful. And let me tell you that I'd rather see tape where it isn't 100% needed than poorly marked courses where you can take the wrong turn because you missed the tiny flag or the spray paint on the floor washed off.
10-22-15, 11:40 AM
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https://s3.amazonaws.com/USACWeb/for..._Chapter_4.pdf
Looks like 4A3 and 4A4 is where it comes from with regards to USAC events
Looks like 4A3 and 4A4 is where it comes from with regards to USAC events
10-23-15, 08:07 AM
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I'd also guess that some of it has something to do with using public parks and limiting the area where the bike wear and tear goes through the public lands.
10-23-15, 08:34 AM
#7
~>~
10-23-15, 02:04 PM
#8
Tiocfáidh ár Lá
I just did a race last weekend that had no tape on single track wooded sections and well mowed paths in tall grass. I agree it would be wasteful but I suppose in our litigious society that some promoter could get sued if some jamoke walked on the course and got hit.
