Comments - Australian Specific Rides

[Skidoo]

Sorry Karl I meant no offence. I recall the concept of a 'couple of Aussies over a few reds' as the spark for some of our Australia Specific IBA and took this one to be part of that series. HAGAR did mention that the IBA was happy with the original version.

I'm not privvy to the inner sanctum that gets to be happy or unhappy on the IBA's behalf. If, as you say, you had nothing to do with the initial ride, just out of interest how many people are or were in the position to sanction it in the first place?

No offence taken OX, I have bigger issues.

Regarding the comment, ‘A few reds flowed’, I can assure you many reds have flowed over the years, and many more reds will flow lol. Hagar asked me prior to his ride that he previously planned, could I make a graphic reflecting his ride. Once Hagar, completed the ride, he submitted his ride for IBA certification and MK approved it.

. . . If, as you say, you had nothing to do with the initial ride . . . As I said, Hagar mentioned the ride to me and I just did the artwork.

Now guys, let’s get out there and do some riding.

 

[hagar]

Well, goodness gracious me. All I wanted to do was go for a long ride from my home in the Adelaide Hills, that included Kentucky and Texas, making it a six state ride. Why didn’t I include Virginia here in SA, because it is named after the town of same name in County Cavan, Southern Ireland so not a US state and thus not qualify. It was a fun idea, a good ride through some fantastic countryside and concluded with great meal in Texas.
The IBA liked it and sent me a certificate, so I’m happy, what others want to do is none of my business, but please don’t belittle what I did in those 23 hours of riding, but go and do something better.

 

[OX-34]

Good idea HAGAR.

 

[Murphyau]

<< snip >>
I once saw a fruit box of Oranges marked Iowa Oranges. It had an address marked clearly on the box with Iowa SA. I've not found that place.

I may be wrong (often the case), but I think you will find that the oranges came from Iowa, South Africa. Iowa SA is located in the North-West Province, about 250 km south-west of Pretoria, and is one of several orange growing regions. Oranges from South Africa are exported to over 100 countries world-wide.

 

[cjmckay]

Its interesting how interpretation and context at a given time can be a different fit again in a few years.
Ox I have always seen this ride as one offering expansion just from reading those rules and the comments and a couple of rrs back in the day.
Had I lodged the first ss1600 I rode for this ride chasing up Wyoming, Texas, Kentucky, Virginia, SA, QLD, NSW and Vic on your interpretation and those rules quoted I doubt it would have met with a poor response. But it would have had an extra US state. I honestly took the intent and other supporting evidence at the time to go hunt states with a twist.

So it shows the value of this thread topic.

Cameron you will have noticed New Mexico Area perimeter on google. A sign existed along Bora Creek Rd in the vicinity of the reserve. Its not visible from the Bora Creek road. I only found it while checking some dog traps. Its due south.
Personaly I would be resorting to a SPOT ping and a Photo at the junction of Rangari, Faulks? and Nioka Rd and grabbing a DBR in Manilla

I had planned on a photo taken on my phone for which I've now got an app (as a result of the ANZAC Day ride) which stamps time,date, gps coord and location name directly onto the photo. I noticed a mobile tower close by so was going to reccy to see if the location would be reported correctly as 'New Mexico'. I also run SPOT so I would hit my custom message button which would drop a pin at that location as well, independent of the nominate spot timing (typically 5 mins intervals).

 

[Skidoo]

I may be wrong (often the case), but I think you will find that the oranges came from Iowa, South Africa. Iowa SA is located in the North-West Province, about 250 km south-west of Pretoria, and is one of several orange growing regions. Oranges from South Africa are exported to over 100 countries world-wide.

That was a nice pun you snuck in there just in case.

 

[tj189]

I had planned on a photo taken on my phone for which I've now got an app (as a result of the ANZAC Day ride) which stamps time,date, gps coord and location name directly onto the photo. I noticed a mobile tower close by so was going to reccy to see if the location would be reported correctly as 'New Mexico'. I also run SPOT so I would hit my custom message button which would drop a pin at that location as well, independent of the nominate spot timing (typically 5 mins intervals).

I had planned on a photo taken on my phone for which I've now got an app (as a result of the ANZAC Day ride) which stamps time,date, gps coord and location name directly onto the photo. I noticed a mobile tower close by so was going to reccy to see if the location would be reported correctly as 'New Mexico'. I also run SPOT so I would hit my custom message button which would drop a pin at that location as well, independent of the nominate spot timing (typically 5 mins intervals).

Cameron,
If the rule requires you to use a a suburb, town, city it will need to have a postcode. One way to look at it; Can you post a letter to a physical address at this location? In the New Mexico example above, the answer is no.

On this ride you require a DBR or if you are unable to obtain one, a photograph of your bike in front of sign showing you were there, e.g., Post Office, Town sign etc. Should you not be able to obtain one then you should consider what other way you can show the validation team that you were at the location you said you were at.

 

[Murphyau]

Cameron,
If the rule requires you to use a a suburb, town, city it will need to have a postcode. One way to look at it; Can you post a letter to a physical address at this location? In the New Mexico example above, the answer is no.

I would tend to disagree with you TJ. Google Maps seems to suggest that the farm homstead "Arranmore" has a street address of 182 Nyoka Lane, New Mexico, NSW, 2346. I am sure that the nearest Post Office at Manilla, NSW ( also 2346) knows exactly where Arranmore / Nyoka Lane is.

 

[tj189]

I would tend to disagree with you TJ. Google Maps seems to suggest that the farm homstead "Arranmore" has a street address of 182 Nyoka Lane, New Mexico, NSW, 2346. I am sure that the nearest Post Office at Manilla, NSW ( also 2346) knows exactly where Arranmore / Nyoka Lane is.

Excellent!! Great follow up. Not sure it fits the requirements as mentioned above.

Great pickup by Gatey earlier as well.

 

[cjmckay]

The rules (as they are currently written) require start and end receipts and for you to 'obtain proof' you visited Kentucky and Texas. The onus is on the rider to prove where they were at a given point in time. Photo at/of location, especially with location data stamped as previously mentioned and captured in the image metadata as well as SPOT point (a check-in at that) should go a long way. The 'minor' issue is that this point may be a turn around and these typically require a receipt. That said, there are a number of IBA certified rides where this is not possible (Heaven to Hell and ANZAC Day to name but two Australian specific rides) where proof by a combination of other means has been deemed acceptable. Again, I recognise the onus is on the rider (the fact is that I also run two other tracking devices (GPS on the bike itself has tracking and Relive.cc feed both of which can provide time and date stamped .gpx files for import into SpotWalla trips). I don't currently have cameras set up on the new bike (Ultra Limited) (I have front and rear set up on the Street 500) so video evidence could also be provided once that is set up. There is also the 'witness form' if it really came down to that I recognise that not everyone has all those options but I would think that there is opportunity for one to present sufficient proof they were in that particular location (some methods possibly being easier than others). Is there a particular requirement you believe would not be met?

 

[ACTCapo]

The way I read the rules for the “states with a twist” ride is the same as Ox; it doesn’t permit adding more towns named after US states (apart from Texas and Kentucky). So looking for other towns to visit is redundant as it’s currently written.

 

[tj189]

The rules (as they are currently written) require start and end receipts and for you to 'obtain proof' you visited Kentucky and Texas. The onus is on the rider to prove where they were at a given point in time. Photo at/of location, especially with location data stamped as previously mentioned and captured in the image metadata as well as SPOT point (a check-in at that) should go a long way. The 'minor' issue is that this point may be a turn around and these typically require a receipt. That said, there are a number of IBA certified rides where this is not possible (Heaven to Hell and ANZAC Day to name but two Australian specific rides) where proof by a combination of other means has been deemed acceptable. Again, I recognise the onus is on the rider (the fact is that I also run two other tracking devices (GPS on the bike itself has tracking and Relive.cc feed both of which can provide time and date stamped .gpx files for import into SpotWalla trips). I don't currently have cameras set up on the new bike (Ultra Limited) (I have front and rear set up on the Street 500) so video evidence could also be provided once that is set up. There is also the 'witness form' if it really came down to that I recognise that not everyone has all those options but I would think that there is opportunity for one to present sufficient proof they were in that particular location (some methods possibly being easier than others). Is there a particular requirement you believe would not be met?

Cameron,
I believe you have a good grasp of how to verify you have been to a location and in unforseen circumstances, unable to obtain a receipt, realy good to see your understanding of that.
The response to you in #267 is valid. The clue resides in the first sentence.

 

[tj189]

The way I read the rules for the “states with a twis ride is the same as Ox; it doesn’t permit adding more towns named after US states (apart from Texas and Kentucky). So looking for other towns to visit is redundant as it’s currently written.

Whilst I did not write the rules, I am reading them differently to you and possibly other riders as well.

There is a need to update this ride and we are in discussions at the moment, keep an eye on the ride rules using Ox's link above.

This is a good opportunity to remind riders (even those of us that have been around for a bit) to go back and re read the rules of any ride you are going to attempt in the near future. There have been a number of updates across the board, some minor and others that may catch you out.

 

[Gatey]

Yes New Mexico does have a post code as stated. It had a school and a cricket club too at one time.
Wiki tells a bit about its population, I suspect Its heyday may have been during the building of Keepit Dam.

These days that area forms some of the western backdrop to the World Paragliding Championships at Mount Bora.

 

[Gatey]

Ive read all this and Im off for a wander some time on the weekend.
I know a few people in the area including postal workers.
I know it has a mail service and shares a post code with 11 other areas/villages physical places radiating from Manilla.

Quick story.
Years and years ago a group of us standing about at Barraba Motors were interrupted in our discussion by a fellow who rushed in shouting that "their rioting in Manila. One old cove asked him "one L or Two?" Manila.

 

[Vlad]

This is the most fun of read in ages.
Lots of opinion and that’s healthy.
But I think the point is missed a little, it’s Hagars ride and it has a set of rules as agreed by the IBA. Two American states as nominated plus a combination of up to 5 Australian Mainland states.
As it happens this particular run is my go to ride when I want to bang out a quick day ride and as such I’ve had it certified 4 times now. It just fits well for a 1600 k run from home and I happen to like the coffee at Grafton.
If you want to stick other American states in there then go right ahead, I have done it, but there is no extra credit.
The full Monty, as I like to call it, involves all mainland states , the two Americans and no territories and I have had it planned for some time. It ain’t easy.
Far as I know no one has done it, maybe it will be you.

 

[cjmckay]

@Vlad - I don't necessarily disagree however:
1. @hagar himself suggested '8 states' would be possible with the inclusion of Wyoming, NSW in post #30.
2. Item 1 would possibly be contradicted by subsequent posts re: Virginia, SA being named after a place in Ireland and therefore should not be included (Wyoming, NSW is actually named after the Wyoming Valley in Pennsylvania and would possibly be ruled out for the same reason as Virginia, SA).
3. There would appear to be sufficient opportunity within the rules 'as written' to add both additional Australian States (noting that Tasmania is specifically excluded) due to the mainland states being declared states in the 'background' and both Kentucky and Texas also being declared states. This now comes down to a matter of 'interpretation' (and difference thereof) and 'intent'.

I personally don't care whether the rules are changed or not. I made a suggestion re: possible wording IF the rules were to be changed which I believe (rightly or wrongly) captured the 'intent' of the original ride and subsequent discussions on the matter. It was NOT a proposal for change.

... and this is the issue with rules in general. Does the text in 'Background' form part of the rules or should it only contain the historical context and significance of the ride with the actual enforceable rules being those under the section titled 'Rules'? (a comparison with 'The ANZAC Day Ride' document will demonstrate this difference.

At this point, I'm 'tapping out' of the conversation. I've got a 4 States to go and ride and a possible 7 States to do. IF the rules do change, then I'll look back into it.

 

[Vlad]

Good to see you getting involved Cameron , and good to see you out there on your bike riding Ironbutt miles. That’s what it’s all about.
Enjoy the ride

 

[Foxton1]

Congrats on your first SS1600K Hopey! Well done

 

[cjmckay]

Hey all - Is there a reason why the Top Ten Towns Tour isn't listed on the Australian Specific Rides page? Am I missing something?