Rules and Route
I have been asked by David Henshaw to draft some rules for this event/trial so some meaningful and useful results can be gained, David has also suggested that a speed distance formula be employed to level the playing field. Below is an extract from David's email explaining the formula and also the draft rules
It occurred to me that a fair way of taking account of speed AND range would be to come up with a formula that featured both.Looking at our recent tests of Ezee and Kalkhoff bikes, we have these results by simply adding together milage and speed:
Nano Brompton 47.9 miles @ 13.4mph = 61.3 points
Kalkhoff Pro Connect 31.5 miles @ 14.7mph = 46.2 points
Ezee Sprint 29.3 miles @ 16mph = 45.3 points
Ezee Torq 22.8 miles @ 18.9mph = 41.7 points
Kalkhoff Aggatu 26.,7 miles @ 14mph = 40.7 points
Gazelle Easy Glider 19.5 miles @ 13.2mph = 32.7 points
This is quite an interesting result, because it's a great leveller, but biased towards the bikes that do the greatest mileage. So for three batteries, it would be total milage plus speed in mph x 3.
In practise, of course, the nano rider would be pretty impressive to do nearly 150 miles in a day, so it simply couldn't win so starkly. A Sprint ridden with great care would have just as good a chance
Draft Rules
1.The event is not a race, the trial is to establish a machine's efficiency not its outright speed.
2.Bikes must be UK street legal.
3.Batteries must be standard retail items as supplied normally with the bike.
4.A maximum of three batteries may be used and must be carried on the bike at all times.
5.Participants may carry a basic repair kit, items allowed 1 tyre, 1 inner tube, 1 drive chain, spare chain links, spokes, puncture repair kit, tools, spare fuses/relays, gear and brake cables.
6.Participants must carry a first aid kit and a mobile phone.
7.All bikes, batteries, repair/ spares kits and 1st aid kits must be submitted to the scutineer 1 hour prior to the trial starting. Any bikes/ batteries found not to be street legal or showing any signs of modification from a standard retail product will result in disqualification . The scrutineers decision is final.
8.Bikes must remain in scrutineering until the start of the trial.
9.Nobody may enter scrutineering unless invited by event officials
10.Two minutes prior to the start riders only may enter scutineering to collect their machine and proceed directly to the start line.
11. A detailed route book will be released to the rider at the start line, details of the route will not be released prior to this time.
13. Riders will be started individually at 1 minute intervals.
14.All Participants must visit all check points on the course failure to do so will result in disqualification.
15.Support vehicles and staff must remain at the start finish area and will only be allowed to leave to collect bikes and riders that have retired from the trial.
16.In the event of a participant retiring from the race, the rider has sole responsibility for their own and their machines recovery. The event organisers will not be offering any recovery service.
17.The rider will be responsible for their own safety, the trial is held on public roads and any infringement of the highway code or dangerous riding will result in disqualification.
18.When the rider arrives at the finish they must proceed directly to scrutineering, failure to do so will result in disqualification.
19.Results will be released when all machines that have finished have been released from scrutineering.
20.If a rider / machine is disqualified for whatever reason. no appeal will be accepted, the scrutineer's/judge's decision is final.
21. All participants must register 7 days before the trial. late entries will not be considered.
Comments please
Riggo