B
billham
Guest
Let me preface my remarks with the following… I have only been involved
in one trials event, Motorama 2004. That event used the U system. Joe
Merrill, event organizer had Kris Holms (U system creator) there to help
with set up and to offer guidance. I have great respect and admiration
for each of these men for the uni skills and event organizing knowledge
they brought to this event. I have also read the standard trials event
system that is used for bicycle trials events. These are way too
difficult and complex in my book. It might be that my lack of
experience in this event gives me a fresh look at it. OR, maybe I am
missing some critical points due to my inexperience. Thus a post for
your thoughts and ideas!
Someone help me here, I lost the link to Kris' U system description.
Please post the link for those unfamiliar with the U system.
I have been thinking more about the U system for trials. I think one of
the strong points of this system is the simplicity of it. Easier to
judge and to score. At Motorama this past spring it worked very well.
The main point of this post is…If it’s a better system because it is
simpler, why not make it even simpler? I really liked the overall
system and have a few ideas that might make it easier to use. One of my
main concerns with the U system is that it takes a very knowledgable
person to establish the point value for each section. In my opinion,
that makes it harder for event organizers to use it. If it was simpler,
it would be easier for someone to put together a uni trials event, thus
it would be more likely to be done. In keeping with the simpler version
thinking I have the following thoughts for your comments.
OPTION # 1 (the ultimate in simplicity?)
Don’t assign difficulty ratings or points to each section. Just have
numbered identification for each section. Scoring is done by showing a
point for each section completed.
Advantages:
1. Easiest to set up, requires less time for rating and more time is
available for setting up and building the sections.
2. Beginning riders don’t have as great a gap between their scores and
the top rider scores. This may help to encourage the newbies.
3. Quick and easy tallying of scores at the end of an event. Less room
for math errors and easier to verify the total score.
Disadvantages:
1. Top riders don’t get to rack up mega scores. May not look as
impressive.
2. It’s harder for spectators to know which sections are the highest
difficulty.
3. It might be easier for the people setting up the course to overlook
some key skills.
OPTION # 2 (slighty more involved that # 1)
Assign U system difficulty ratings to each section. This rating would
then become the point value of the section. For example, a U4
difficulty section would be worth 4 points, U5 worth 5 points, etc.
Advantages:
1. Would be more useful in showing the difficulty of the sections in an
event, especially if signs were posted that spectators could see.
2. Would also give riders a sense of the difficulty level they can
ride.
3. Closer attention to the U system levels would help create a more
balanced course, all the skills would have a better chance of being
included at each level.
Disadvantages:
1. It would be harder to set up the course for the organizer of the
event. Takes more knowledge of uni trials.
2. This would require a well defined description of each U level.
One last idea.. In case of a tie score for first place I think it
would be a great idea to have a ride off. A strength of the U system is
that the time used for the event can be controlled very precisely. That
allows the organizers to allow time at the end if needed for a ride off
to break a tie. A ride off would be a great event for spectators as the
top riders fight for the top spot! Each of the riders picks two
sections to attempt (strategy and drama here!) Then each rider gets 3
attempts to complete each section. If both riders complete a section,
then the one doing it in least attempts wins that section. I think it
would be a lot of fun to watch a ride off as a spectator and it gives
additional exposure to the top riders. It might even be fun to do this
with the top 3 or 4 riders even if there wasn’t a tie. A rider
challenge just for the fun of it and to give the top riders a victory
lap.
Again, I feel the U system is a good one. But it is young and still
getting established. I hope my $.02 worth of ideas might help make it a
little better.
Bill
--
billham
Direction is everything, distance is secondary.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
billham's Profile: http://www.unicyclist.com/profile/4625
View this thread: http://www.unicyclist.com/thread/31759
in one trials event, Motorama 2004. That event used the U system. Joe
Merrill, event organizer had Kris Holms (U system creator) there to help
with set up and to offer guidance. I have great respect and admiration
for each of these men for the uni skills and event organizing knowledge
they brought to this event. I have also read the standard trials event
system that is used for bicycle trials events. These are way too
difficult and complex in my book. It might be that my lack of
experience in this event gives me a fresh look at it. OR, maybe I am
missing some critical points due to my inexperience. Thus a post for
your thoughts and ideas!
Someone help me here, I lost the link to Kris' U system description.
Please post the link for those unfamiliar with the U system.
I have been thinking more about the U system for trials. I think one of
the strong points of this system is the simplicity of it. Easier to
judge and to score. At Motorama this past spring it worked very well.
The main point of this post is…If it’s a better system because it is
simpler, why not make it even simpler? I really liked the overall
system and have a few ideas that might make it easier to use. One of my
main concerns with the U system is that it takes a very knowledgable
person to establish the point value for each section. In my opinion,
that makes it harder for event organizers to use it. If it was simpler,
it would be easier for someone to put together a uni trials event, thus
it would be more likely to be done. In keeping with the simpler version
thinking I have the following thoughts for your comments.
OPTION # 1 (the ultimate in simplicity?)
Don’t assign difficulty ratings or points to each section. Just have
numbered identification for each section. Scoring is done by showing a
point for each section completed.
Advantages:
1. Easiest to set up, requires less time for rating and more time is
available for setting up and building the sections.
2. Beginning riders don’t have as great a gap between their scores and
the top rider scores. This may help to encourage the newbies.
3. Quick and easy tallying of scores at the end of an event. Less room
for math errors and easier to verify the total score.
Disadvantages:
1. Top riders don’t get to rack up mega scores. May not look as
impressive.
2. It’s harder for spectators to know which sections are the highest
difficulty.
3. It might be easier for the people setting up the course to overlook
some key skills.
OPTION # 2 (slighty more involved that # 1)
Assign U system difficulty ratings to each section. This rating would
then become the point value of the section. For example, a U4
difficulty section would be worth 4 points, U5 worth 5 points, etc.
Advantages:
1. Would be more useful in showing the difficulty of the sections in an
event, especially if signs were posted that spectators could see.
2. Would also give riders a sense of the difficulty level they can
ride.
3. Closer attention to the U system levels would help create a more
balanced course, all the skills would have a better chance of being
included at each level.
Disadvantages:
1. It would be harder to set up the course for the organizer of the
event. Takes more knowledge of uni trials.
2. This would require a well defined description of each U level.
One last idea.. In case of a tie score for first place I think it
would be a great idea to have a ride off. A strength of the U system is
that the time used for the event can be controlled very precisely. That
allows the organizers to allow time at the end if needed for a ride off
to break a tie. A ride off would be a great event for spectators as the
top riders fight for the top spot! Each of the riders picks two
sections to attempt (strategy and drama here!) Then each rider gets 3
attempts to complete each section. If both riders complete a section,
then the one doing it in least attempts wins that section. I think it
would be a lot of fun to watch a ride off as a spectator and it gives
additional exposure to the top riders. It might even be fun to do this
with the top 3 or 4 riders even if there wasn’t a tie. A rider
challenge just for the fun of it and to give the top riders a victory
lap.
Again, I feel the U system is a good one. But it is young and still
getting established. I hope my $.02 worth of ideas might help make it a
little better.
Bill
--
billham
Direction is everything, distance is secondary.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
billham's Profile: http://www.unicyclist.com/profile/4625
View this thread: http://www.unicyclist.com/thread/31759
If they require riding up a curb, I may not make