IBA Certifications - Updated Listing?

kwthom

=o&o>
Premier Member
IBA Member
#1
Time to get some discussion started on this forum... :D


In reading the old forum, I ran across this link:

http://www.saddlesore.com/102.htm

114 IBA CERTIFICATIONS FROM THE WORLD OVER! Compiled by Charles Wilt

Excellent compendium of all possible (as of 2009) rides that could be accomplished that are recognized by the IBA.

The question I have - has this been updated?

That begs the follow-up question: Has our form of endurance riding really expanded that much in five or six years?
 

IBRX3

Premier Member
IBR Finisher
#3
The question I have - has this been updated?

That begs the follow-up question: Has our form of endurance riding really expanded that much in five or six years?
It hasn't been updated. The choice of rides continues to expand. I notice there is only one IBA Ireland ride on that list ( circuit of Ireland ). To that list could be added our "government SS1000", "FHB48", "Compass Gold SS100" and" 32 county Challenge". Additionally, there are always special Ss1000 certificate rides events like Ice and Fire SS1000 ( Iceland), Godfather SS1000 ( Sicily), TT1000 ( Isle of Man).
There will be other new rides from IBA Germany not on that list plus others from Finland and UK. Of course, I'm sure there will be a couple of newer USA rides that are missing from that.
 

rodneyw71

KLR'er
Premier Member
#7
I wish I knew how to do more things on the computer besides watch YouTube and post on this board, because I'd like to help out with this kind of stuff.
 

Rony6ble

Premier Member
#8

JAVGuzzi

Premier Member
#11
I would be willing to help out, too Mike. IMHO, the list is way, way too big. I would suggest that it should be divided into separate sections ( links ) for the various different possible Rides; SS1K, BB1500, BBG, etc. , etc.

There also might be a list by individual Riders , and a list of all the rides done each year.

Again, the list is way, way to big. It takes a lot of time to download, even with a fairly fast internet connection. The list need to be "segmented".
 

Ira

Staff member
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IBA Member
IBR Finisher
IBR Staff
#12
I would be willing to help out, too Mike. IMHO, the list is way, way too big. I would suggest that it should be divided into separate sections ( links ) for the various different possible Rides; SS1K, BB1500, BBG, etc. , etc.

There also might be a list by individual Riders , and a list of all the rides done each year.

Again, the list is way, way to big. It takes a lot of time to download, even with a fairly fast internet connection. The list need to be "segmented".
I use the list a lot to answer questions that come into the IBA Web site. Having it segmented will make answering a lot of those questions even more time consuming by making me search through multiple links.

A better solution is to have it in a database that can be queried (e.g., list all riders from India, all rides on Harleys built before 1950).

Just my $0.02.

Ira
 

JAVGuzzi

Premier Member
#14
Ira :
I concur. That would be ideal.

Does that mean I need to learn how to set up a database ? I have always wanted to learn about databases, but really didn't have a need to, so maybe the time is now.

But we would need to automate converting / loading the existing list into the database. It would take a long time to do that manually. I calculate it would take one person at least a year working full time to enter the data manually.
 

Ira

Staff member
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#15
Ira :
I concur. That would be ideal.

Does that mean I need to learn how to set up a database ? I have always wanted to learn about databases, but really didn't have a need to, so maybe the time is now.

But we would need to automate converting / loading the existing list into the database. It would take a long time to do that manually. I calculate it would take one person at least a year working full time to enter the data manually.
If this were an easy or quick project, we would have done it a long time ago.

I'm sure it would be easier if one was already a database designer than one who is just learning database technology. As someone who has developed a number of relational databases, I can tell you it's a lot more than just reading a manual.

Ira Agins
Iron Butt Association
 

rodneyw71

KLR'er
Premier Member
#16
Ira :
I concur. That would be ideal.

Does that mean I need to learn how to set up a database ? I have always wanted to learn about databases, but really didn't have a need to, so maybe the time is now.

But we would need to automate converting / loading the existing list into the database. It would take a long time to do that manually. I calculate it would take one person at least a year working full time to enter the data manually.
Could you just copy and paste everything into the new data base?
 

Ira

Staff member
Premier Member
IBA Member
IBR Finisher
IBR Staff
#17
Could you just copy and paste everything into the new data base?
Short answer: No.

Longer answer: If you take a look at the list, you will see that it's a very big text file. The columns are not of a fixed width, the field separators are a combination of spaces and tabs, and it has a variety of notes embedded (i.e., listings of the smallest, oldest, youngest, etc.). The file is organized under headings, as opposed to having the ride listed on each line. All of these make it difficult, if not impossible, to automate entering it into a database, or at best, it could only be loaded in very small sections.

In short, the list will take a considerable amount of massaging before it could be loaded into a database. This is in addition to doing the database design, which is dependent on the use to which it would be placed. In this regard, the average user just wants to look up a name or two. Others would want to be able to answer a variety of questions, such as "how many riders from India have completed a Bun Burner 1500?", or "what is the oldest bike to complete a Bun Burner GOLD?".

This project would be non-trivial. I mention this because neither you nor Mike would want to initiate it, just to find out that it is beyond the capability or time constrains of the volunteer.

Ira Agins
Iron Butt Association
 

rodneyw71

KLR'er
Premier Member
#18
I didn't realize there were that many categories, is everything kept on a disc or thumb drive and is that copy kept in a secure place separate from the main computer?
 

Ira

Staff member
Premier Member
IBA Member
IBR Finisher
IBR Staff
#19
I didn't realize there were that many categories, is everything kept on a disc or thumb drive and is that copy kept in a secure place separate from the main computer?
Mike has the master copy.

Ira