We are very proud of the progress Jon Gallagher and the whole crew at One to go Event Services have made. Go team!
http://velonews.competitor.com...-timing-chips_264895
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Very nice article. It look we can do the same if we have the lap time plug inn. But any info how ot configure it to make it works ?
Yes the lap time plug-in will allow you to collect multiple splits on each competitor. Of course then you need to so something with those to actually generate results ordered by lap count and then time within lap count.
Almost all of what we do can be done within Finishlynx. The short answer on how to do it is that "it's complicated". The long answer involves changing some hidden settings and being very careful within the Lynx environment. I'd be happy to share the how to by email at one2goeventservices@gmail.com.
Jon
Jon
Phoenix Sports Technology was there in 1992 when FinishLynx debuted. We asked the owner of FinishLynx to come down to Mobile Alabama in January of 1993 to test their track and field system for cycling. Results were mixed but they kept at it, working with us at the First Union GP and Tour Dupont later that year. The real breakthrough came in the Charlotte stage of the 1994 Tour Dupont when the film camera jammed on the $10,000 sprint on the first lap into the city. The judges were momentarily stunned as it was closer than they chose to call for that sum. FinishLynx was there as backup and had the image as clear as any film camera, and it was in COLOR! Use of film cameras for cycling ended that day. FinishLynx continued to improve their systems through the Tour Dupont all the way to the Tour de France. Not only did the technology improve but the community of like minded people continued to grow. The TimingGuys are just one manifestation of a philosophy that incorporates other technologies and ideas. FinishLynx cameras and software are the best "big tent" in the industry. The feedback from operators and owners is encouraged and taken seriously. FinishLynx software accepts parallel scoring data from several transponder/chip manufacturers and continues to build partnerships worldwide. Interesting enough the latest partnership is between the timers of the ASO/Tour de France; Matsport/Time-Elite and Phoenix Sports Technology/ Transponder Solutions to globally distribute the TAG Heuer by Chronelec replaceable battery RC transponder system. Another tool in the bag of clubs for sure. This is the first system that we have used that makes sense from an investment standpoint for a professional contractor. Jon and One to Go Event Services is a great client and we have been very excited by the energy and enthusiasm that he has brought to road and cyclocross events. He developed his idea for scoring cyclocross during the multilap 2010 Masters Nationals in Louisville KY (interestingly enough). Jon was providing the staging and sound. The MyLaps company had set up in their tent across the road to use that event as a demonstration for cycling. So the challenge was on! Jon set up his camera and quietly began to work on the logistics of scoring multilap events with only a camera. By the end of the week he had come up with the backbone of the system he is now using. By using FinishLynx as the central part of his system he will be able to add transponders or chips seamlessly in the future if requirements change.
I started doing this in 2008 with the Omega Scan'O'Vision camera. See: http://www.ontariocycling.org/...ossnov9results_1.pdf
After doing several races I determined that this is not a good why to score cyclo-cross as you have to identify every rider every lap. It is hard enough to identify some riders even during one finish of a road race. Any bad number placement, mud or number tearing will get you behind the scoring very quickly. If you have five races a day with 70-100 riders in each, it is a lot of work to identify them all (over 2500 passings). I have since switched to chip timing (developed myself) and it is 99.999% actuate and allows for instantaneous live timing to the internet. It also gives the announcers live status of the riders placings and gaps.
Doug.
www.racetiming.ca
After doing several races I determined that this is not a good why to score cyclo-cross as you have to identify every rider every lap. It is hard enough to identify some riders even during one finish of a road race. Any bad number placement, mud or number tearing will get you behind the scoring very quickly. If you have five races a day with 70-100 riders in each, it is a lot of work to identify them all (over 2500 passings). I have since switched to chip timing (developed myself) and it is 99.999% actuate and allows for instantaneous live timing to the internet. It also gives the announcers live status of the riders placings and gaps.
Doug.
www.racetiming.ca
Doug
This method certainly is labor intensive, but it has many powerful advantages. First and foremost, by scoring every rider every lap, we're doing exactly what the judges are doing by hand and eye. By working in close communication with them, we're able to provide them with instant, accurate information that improves the accuracy and speed of their hand scoring; they in turn are able to clarify bad number placement issues, etc. to us to maintain the integrity of the digital record we're creating.
When we started this, I, too, was concerned about muddy events. Previously, we were only scoring the final lap, and if the riders were already covered in mud, we were of limited help to the judges. I was pleasantly surprised with this method in muddy events, that it was actually a lot easier to score the entire event than waiting until the end. At the muddiest events, you can usually see the numbers cleanly for 2-3 laps minimum. By then the race has settled in, and Lynx actually starts developing a moving picutre (no pun intended) of who should be coming next, who's overdue, etc. In most instances, we can tell the judges who should be the next rider on the line and we're asking questions about riders that have probably DNF'd before they even have the information.
As to field sizes, we haven't really found that to be a limiting factor. We're been doing the USGP here since 2008 and with this method since 2010. Several fields approach 100 riders and the Cat 2-3 field is routinely 100-140 riders. We've done US Cross Nationals most years and have seen several fields over 150 riders each year, and 1 that was almost 200 riders. It certainly is a lot of work and requires great care, but that's what we as timers sign up for. Would I like it to be automated? Of course, but few of these events can afford a camera and a chip system. Category A permits and above require a camera system, so that's why we've pursued solutions in this direction. We've used the TAG system Fred references above at the Tour of Utah and the US Pro Cycling Challenge, and it's a great system. However, using a chip system in addition to cameras adds layers of cost and complexity to both the promoter and the athletes that the sport doesn't currently support. I look forward to the day when it does.
As to announcer screens and live timing, we're using the ResulTV system in conjunction with Finishlynx and have been providing real time status as well. No one in the US is currently doing much with the internet information we're providing, but the information is there and one day soon the budgets will be there to use it as well.
Jon
This method certainly is labor intensive, but it has many powerful advantages. First and foremost, by scoring every rider every lap, we're doing exactly what the judges are doing by hand and eye. By working in close communication with them, we're able to provide them with instant, accurate information that improves the accuracy and speed of their hand scoring; they in turn are able to clarify bad number placement issues, etc. to us to maintain the integrity of the digital record we're creating.
When we started this, I, too, was concerned about muddy events. Previously, we were only scoring the final lap, and if the riders were already covered in mud, we were of limited help to the judges. I was pleasantly surprised with this method in muddy events, that it was actually a lot easier to score the entire event than waiting until the end. At the muddiest events, you can usually see the numbers cleanly for 2-3 laps minimum. By then the race has settled in, and Lynx actually starts developing a moving picutre (no pun intended) of who should be coming next, who's overdue, etc. In most instances, we can tell the judges who should be the next rider on the line and we're asking questions about riders that have probably DNF'd before they even have the information.
As to field sizes, we haven't really found that to be a limiting factor. We're been doing the USGP here since 2008 and with this method since 2010. Several fields approach 100 riders and the Cat 2-3 field is routinely 100-140 riders. We've done US Cross Nationals most years and have seen several fields over 150 riders each year, and 1 that was almost 200 riders. It certainly is a lot of work and requires great care, but that's what we as timers sign up for. Would I like it to be automated? Of course, but few of these events can afford a camera and a chip system. Category A permits and above require a camera system, so that's why we've pursued solutions in this direction. We've used the TAG system Fred references above at the Tour of Utah and the US Pro Cycling Challenge, and it's a great system. However, using a chip system in addition to cameras adds layers of cost and complexity to both the promoter and the athletes that the sport doesn't currently support. I look forward to the day when it does.
As to announcer screens and live timing, we're using the ResulTV system in conjunction with Finishlynx and have been providing real time status as well. No one in the US is currently doing much with the internet information we're providing, but the information is there and one day soon the budgets will be there to use it as well.
Jon
You're right, it comes down to cost. Most organizers of cross have little money and since I want to do as little as possible for the $500 I charge for a cross race, I use my chip system as it is fully automated which equals less work so that I can charge less. It takes only 20 minutes to set-up and tear down and requires nothing from the organizer.
Having a photo-finish camera is more cost to the organizer as there is more work to set it up, tear it down and the organizer would have to provide a place to mount it. Using a camera is always an option to the organizer and generally only used for championships.
Having a photo-finish camera is more cost to the organizer as there is more work to set it up, tear it down and the organizer would have to provide a place to mount it. Using a camera is always an option to the organizer and generally only used for championships.