Next Handicap Event

[old] Coach Gus · Post by **[old] Coach Gus** » December 7th, 2004, 1:38 am

Some of us did a handicapped HM the other day using Rowpro. Obviously it's a long race. We had quite a spread between us for most of the race. Plus the handicapped times mean some long waits before some can start. Depending on the range of fitness you could be talking 20-30 minute handicaps?? Isn't Paul F (Canoeist) a <1:17 HMer? Can the programs handle this kind of wait time? Just something to think about as you're deciding what to do.

[old] Sir Pirate · Post by **[old] Sir Pirate** » December 7th, 2004, 5:42 am

</div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td class='genmed'>QUOTE (MarkPayton @ Dec 7 2004, 05:21 AM)</td></tr><tr><td class='quote'>We'll need to put our thinking caps on to estimate handicaps for a 3k... </td></tr></table> How about something like, best season 2K time +1.5/500m I don't mind the half marathon, but I have not done any distance work for a while, so will struggle. What sort of differance in times we would be looking at?. What is the quickest time & what is the slowest time, just finding out as Gus may be correct about the e-row software, even on a 10K the software goes a bit loopy sometimes, how would Rowpro handle it? My HM is 77mins. Paul Sir Pirate

[old] SGould · Post by **[old] SGould** » December 7th, 2004, 12:52 pm

Was there a reason no one sugested a 30 mn or 1 hr race in the poll Steve

[old] Sir Pirate · Post by **[old] Sir Pirate** » December 7th, 2004, 1:00 pm

</div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td class='genmed'>QUOTE (SGould @ Dec 7 2004, 04:52 PM)</td></tr><tr><td class='quote'> Was there a reason no one sugested a 30 mn or 1 hr race in the poll Steve  </td></tr></table> I did think of putting down timed pieces, but did not put that much thought into how the handicap would work. So I just put down distances. 30mins would be around the 8000m mark anyway and the 60mins would not be that far from the 12000m mark (well, 3000m+ away from the 12000m mark) Also, gives us a reason to do another poll Sir Pirate

[old] SGould · Post by **[old] SGould** » December 7th, 2004, 2:38 pm

Actually it would be impossible to handicap a timed race. My vote would be for the HM (in the spirit of the holiday challange ) And have 2 races for faster and slower. So you fast guys arent waiting around for us slow guys. SG

[old] MarkPayton · Post by **[old] MarkPayton** » December 7th, 2004, 7:18 pm

Cool idea! The concept of a timed online race (handicap or not) has puzzled me for awhile. The thing I really like about it is that everyone experiences exactly the same duration of pain, er, exertion, and we could have a simultaneous start AND finish. However, even though many of us would love having company for a timed row, a flat-out race over a long period of time (30min or more) would likely end up with everyone watching the lead rowers until the very end. Not much fun. And as Steve points out, any time-based handicap would defeat the concept of the timed piece. What we'd really need would be to have people start at different physical places in the row. For example, in a 30min row - Sir Pirate might start at 0meters, and a person who rows 7k in 30mins would start at the 1000meter point. Alas, I don't think anyone's figured out how to hack e-row to have people automatically start at different positions. (Although if you ever see me with a PB over 9k in 30min, you'll know I cracked the code! ) I suppose one way to do it would be to start a 40min piece, have everyone row to their "positions" in the course (the sharks would hang back and the minnows would row pretty far out ahead). Then we'd wait for the countdown to reach 30min, at which point everyone would REALLY begin rowing. It's a bit tricky to align your online "boat" to an exact meter position, but it can be done. Too bad e-row doesn't let you back up! At some point, the faster rowers would be off the back (left edge) of the screen during the "alignment" of boats, so we'd all have to trust that everyone back there was in precisely the right position at the start. The good news is that we could establish handicaps very precisely - right down to the exact meter. Maybe with some testing, and the use of a live Yahoo chat during the "alignment of boats" we could actually get this to work...

[old] Canoeist · Post by **[old] Canoeist** » December 8th, 2004, 6:47 pm

I would like to see RowPro have the ability to multiply a persons force on each stroke by a handicap factor. (It is simple math) In this way, we could all start together and all finish close to each other. It would make some very good workouts since everybody would be neck to neck the entire race. The goal would be to win and have your handicap factor reduced for the next race. Cheers, Paul Flack

[old] eparizeau · Post by **[old] eparizeau** » December 15th, 2004, 1:12 pm

Paul - I agree ! This would be an awesome marketing tool for RowPro to induce new rowers into races. It would eliminate the intimidation factor. Think of the masses that would want to buy RowPro... Can you imagine where golf would be without handicaps? They would still be hitting rocks with tree branches. Ernie

[old] Sir Pirate · Post by **[old] Sir Pirate** » December 16th, 2004, 7:33 am

Well, it looks like the 3000m is our next handicap event 10 votes as of today, next closest was the Half Marathon with 5 votes. So the next questions are…………..When shall we have the race? Before Christmas or after? I don’t mind setting it up, and doing the necessaries, but going by last times effort I will no doubt end up on the sidelines after taking my self out of the race without knowing it. Any volunteers to Admin the race? (please) I think we should do this race on e-row rather then Row Pro, just till the bugs are sorted. Sir Pirate

[old] ceesie · Post by **[old] ceesie** » December 16th, 2004, 12:09 pm

I can admin this event. I'd like to do another race before the holiday as I'll be out the 3 weeks thereafter. I'd suggest to row the race on Sunday instead of Saturday, hopefully that works for everyone. The 3k handicap race is scheduled on the server, please enter with your Seasonal or Personal Best or if you don't have one with an aggressive but realistic target time. Looking forward to see you at the race!

[old] Sir Pirate · Post by **[old] Sir Pirate** » December 16th, 2004, 12:22 pm

Thanks Cees I'm in Sir Pirate

[old] andyArvid · Post by **[old] andyArvid** » December 16th, 2004, 2:08 pm

Sounds like a blast. Wish I could join. I can't make it on Sunday because I am travelling that day. Probably won't be back on e-row till the 9th of January. And I can't make it on Saturday because I'll be super busy all day. So don't change the date for me. Feliz Natal (Merry Christmas) to all e-rowers.

[old] SlugButt · Post by **[old] SlugButt** » December 16th, 2004, 11:20 pm

I put a vote in for 8k. Don't ask why . . . I don't really know.

[old] Sir Pirate · Post by **[old] Sir Pirate** » December 29th, 2004, 7:07 pm

Well, 2nd place in the poll is the Half Marathon When we going to get it on!! Lets burn of all the Cristmas dinner I will start a new thread on it. Sir Pirate