A break in the action

[Warchild]

I think I need to step away from the keyboard for a day or so. :angry:

I am so fucking incensed at the bullshit "teaming" that is going on in this year's event, I am about to adopt a bad attitude. :glare:

There are individuals who are extremely high up in the standings at the end of Leg One not because they planned extraordinary routes and executed them... rather, they have wholesale "teams" of non-IBR participants who are planning their routes for them while they get plenty of sleep. The "teams" will work throughout the night to come up with the perfect route. The next morning, the rider can bound out of their cozy beds, apply a little ointment to the pillow burns on their face (the poor snook'ums!), and hop on their bikes to "sit there, twist that" to the route their puppet masters created for them while they slept.

Complete and utter horsecock.... :angry:

But hey, that's alright. It's cool. We have already seen where Karma has smacked down a rider who has done bullshit during this event. So let the team-riders go ahead and let their Chi get all out of balance. There is a best part of a week remaining.... plenty of time to let Karma catch up to those guys.

Riders who are high up in the Leg One standings who are riding their own ride, their own route, etc, these guys I have huge, HUGE respect for. Men like Jim Owen, Jeff Earls, Eric Jewell, Mike Hutsel..... these pure, solo IBR vets are my heroes.

Some of these other riders, however, ought to have an "asterisk" placed by their names. :glare:

Fuckit.... I am going riding..... :angry:

 

[FJR-Richie]

That definitely takes a bit of the shine off for me. Its cheating as far as I am concerned. Where is the Rallymasters discretion in all this?

 

[GunMD]

I'm assuming that two participants working together (or three, or whatever) is perfectly acceptable? I certainly don't think non-participants should be assisting, but I think the "team" strategy (where a couple of riders work and ride together) is pretty cool. Not to mention that it's safer to ride w/ someone.

 

[DailyCommuter]

its pretty clear in the rules what is allowed and what is not as far as assistance, Isn't it? How come no -one is doing anything about it?

IBR rules from their web site.

 

[beeroux]

Gun.

"Teams" like Iggy and Chapman, or Melchild and Barbic, are perfectly fine. They plan, and ride together. Perfectly fine.

About 5 of the current top 10 have teams off-site or in the motel room, plugging away at routes, bouncing ideas, and will do so continuously for the next few days.

Here's what I find funny. 3 riders sent me Streets and Trips files of all the bonus's for this leg. They did NOT ask me for routing help, just felt bad for me that I was so in the dark about a rally I missed. It took me all of 3 minutes to see a route that I think would be a winning route. So who the **** needs a team?<G>

Granted, I haven't seen the actual bonus listing so I have no idea whats required at each bonus, and only time will tell if I'm talking out my ass.

We'll see.

But to close, I just find the team thing laughable, this isn't rocket science folks.

GZ

 

[Warchild]

It is not technically cheating, as the rules do not specifically prohibit this activity..... so, the rallymaster can't really intervene. This year, anyway.

Besides, it's sort of an un-enforcable rule.... these guys would just go down the road and make phone calls to their pupper-masters anyway.... :glare:

Still, this year, there was some attempt to prevent these riders from receiving their bonus listing, faxing them to their "teams", and then go to sleep while their route was planned for them.... all bonus sheets were printed on dark red paper. So when faxed... it came out all black on the receiving end.

However.... it appears some of these "asterisk" riders evidently thought something like the red-paper listings would happen, and had their teams simply come directly to the Doubletree Inn at the Start and mid-way point to plot their puppet's route. :glare:

That definitely takes a bit of the shine off for me. Its cheating as far as I am concerned. Where is the Rallymasters discretion in all this?

Don't let it do this.... there are PLENTY of riders who are "pure of heart", and doing this the right way. Like the ones I mentioned above. Indeed, the VAST majority of entrants are running this event in the spirit intended.

I'm assuming that two participants working together (or three, or whatever) is perfectly acceptable? I certainly don't think non-participants should be assisting, but I think the "team" strategy (where a couple of riders work and ride together) is pretty cool. Not to mention that it's safer to ride w/ someone.

This is ABSOLUTELY acceptable.... if actual IBR entrants want to work and ride together, this is fine.

But this other approach is complete and utter bullshit. I turn my back on these guys..... what are they going to do if they end up in the Top 10? Are they going to bring their "team" up to the podium to receive their trophy, too? :glare:

Actually, I wish they would do exactly that..........

 

[FJR_pig]

I just find the team thing laughable, this isn't rocket science folks.

+1

 

[tel]

I'm with you guys on this, but I don't know how you stop it. I don't even like riding with other people that much. My bladder just won't cooperate. I don't think it's fun starring at an exhaust pipe all the way down the road or in the mirror for that matter. I like the freedom of riding, which means freedom from others too.

My money's on Owen. He wants it so bad after last time and he frigging deserves it.

I'm also optimistic that Skoot can make the top ten.

tel

 

[weekend rider]

Time for rule a rule change tighten the screws on these fools. I thought it was an Iron Butt Rally not an Iron Butts rally.

I say D. Q. them lesson learned :clapping:

 

[twowheelnut]

:huh:

Illustration not required, but this kinda sums it up for me...

 

[FJR-Richie]

I am not a lawyer nor do I have any experience being a Rallymaster but it seems to me that this would constitute a violation of the published IBR 2007 Rules paragraphs A.2 Sportsmanship and A.4 Assistance. Seems also according to A.5 Interpretation, the Rallymaster's discretion is broad and absolute (with appeal to Kneebone available).

In addition, the 2007 IBR instituted the "red paper" to specifically reduce one avenue of "undue" assistance. Seems to me having a team of non-IBR participants providing explicit routing assistance clearly violates this rule. These guys could not possibly have any excuse for this type of assistance given they are acutely aware of the reasoning for the red paper.

I think the IBA needs to take a stand now - don't wait for their Karma jars to empty and don't wait for 2009 - it's not fair to the 90+ participants who are adhering to the rules and spirit of the rally. Nor is it fair to us fans who follow with great interest and hold these riders up on a higher pedestal for even participating.

 

[FJRSTAR]

+ Gunny

 

[mjac]

The very fact that, while not a Rallymaster, this comes from a member of the staff speaks volumes.

+ 1 Warchild.

 

[DailyCommuter]

I am not a lawyer nor do I have any experience being a Rallymaster but it seems to me that this would constitute a violation of the published IBR 2007 Rules paragraphs A.2 Sportsmanship and A.4 Assistance. Seems also according to A.5 Interpretation, the Rallymaster's discretion is broad and absolute (with appeal to Kneebone available).
In addition, the 2007 IBR instituted the "red paper" to specifically reduce one avenue of "undue" assistance. Seems to me having a team of non-IBR participants providing explicit routing assistance clearly violates this rule. These guys could not possibly have any excuse for this type of assistance given they are acutely aware of the reasoning for the red paper.

I think the IBA needs to take a stand now - don't wait for their Karma jars to empty and don't wait for 2009 - it's not fair to the 90+ participants who are adhering to the rules and spirit of the rally. Nor is it fair to us fans who follow with great interest and hold these riders up on a higher pedestal for even participating.

That say's it all. They are specifically trying to combat this type of behavior by using the red paper. so it should be clearly against the rules.

 

[OhioFJR1300]

I would agree that a "team" to help set up your route seems unfair. I could see having your spouse offer some help, as the 2 up teams surely do that. But to fax locations and go to sleep , then to wake up anf have a route all planned out......... seems unfair to allow such a thing. But as Warchild said, it would be hard to prevent this from happening. I too believe in karma, so maybe it will all work out in the end. Good luck to all of the riders. I hope the best person wins!! :yahoo:

 

[jwhite518]

But hey, that's alright. It's cool. We have already seen where Karma has smacked down a rider who has done bullshit during this event.

I believe you made some reference to this on LDRider, but I still don't know what you're talking about. Care to share with those of us in the dark? BTW I am really disappointed that people are violating the spirit of the event. Even if they found some legalistic way to get around the written rules, it's obvious what is meant: This is a solo event.

 

[Warchild]

I'll send you a PM..... not going to discuss that earlier karma incident in the public forum...

 

[STL FJR]

Besides, it's sort of an un-enforcable rule.... these guys would just go down the road and make phone calls to their pupper-masters anyway....

Perhaps disallowing cellphone use on the bikes? That would at least force them to waste time making a stop to make phone calls.

 

[beeroux]

IBR PODIUM ETIQUETTE

So, who goes to the podium - the rider or the router(s)?

I'm just wondering because for some riders, it could get pretty

crowded up there.

GZ