Heigh Ho, Looks like we're in for Round Two of the
ride dates for permanent and DIY which in traditional fashion concluded not a lot except that it depends on the Org concerned.
The issues raised were (1) the handling of last minute entries for DIY perms, (2) The need to notify orgs of the date of riding, (3) reusing Brevets after an abandon for whatever reason.
Item 1, the handling of last minute entries for DIY perms is trivial. If you submit an entry for a DIY perm at the last minute and the Org decides that its under distance then the ride will not be validated (actually this takes us to the other open can of worms regarding how are routes measured but we'll put that aside for now). As is, the Orgs Decision Is Final.
So this leaves Items 2 & 3.
Let's pause for a moment to consider what a member is getting when they buy a Perm entry and what are the costs/efforts to AUK?
a) A route sheet / route approval
Prepping a route sheet is a one off exercise though it has to be maintained. Nominally DIY routes are checked / approved prior to the ride but in many cases this will not be necessary (no scope for this for late entries, no need for repeat rides, regular DIYers may submit reports from planning tools, etc.).
The point is route approval is a one off exercise; there are no repeat costs/efforts.
b) Ride validation
Again, a one-off exercise; no repeat costs
c) Insurance
It's perfectly reasonable and to be expected that if I wish to be covered by AUK insurance then AUK should be informed in advance of when I am riding.
As an aside, the online application process requires a date to be entered which raises the question of how best to progress an application when you are not sure when you want to ride. The current situation rather encourages late entries, ISTM, not what was intended. Ideally you'd have the event all tee'd up ready to go, possibly with a field completed by the Org to confirm the route has been appoved, and put the date in when known. The rider should also have the option of changing the date.
Anyway, leaving aside the question of whether I should have the option of riding without being covered by AUK insurance (is it at all relevant to Perms?) my AUK membership pays for my insurance on an annual basis so there are no additional costs to AUK.
d) The challenge is for the rider to complete a given route on a given day. In the case of a Perm, the rider gets to chose the day. If the rider wants to change the day, ISTM that's the rider's perogative. Of course, if the rider decides he/she simply CNBA because it's cold/wet/'got lucky' the night before then he/she deserves to be scorned by all (unless of course, he/she got lucky the night before...).
So where does this leave us? Seems reasonable to me that for insurance purposes riders should inform orgs when they are riding (though it would seem simpler/preferable if they the the option of not so doing at the cost of riding uninsured) and AUK Members should be able to 'reuse' Perm Brevets/Virtual Brevets (or whatever thety are called now) after a DNS/DNF.
FTR. I have a Denmead 600 Perm brevet currently sporting about 1000km worth of coffee stains. It's become an old friend which I will be glad to wave goodbye to one day.