I was surprised to read on the YACF forum that Info Controls on new Perm events are 'verboten'.
This is an immediate issue for me as I had intended to list 'perm' versions of my calendar events which rely on info's.
Whilst the routes might be diverted to locations where regular control points can be obtained this would detract from the ride and make the route run over distance. More generally I feel it is important that the Perm version of the event is true to the Calendar.
The obvious downside of Info controls is that the questions need to be maintained, they can become familiar to riders who ride perms regularly and that in this age of Google Earth and Street View, they must be chosen with care to prevent the unscrupulous simply looking up the answers ahead of time. All of this is resolveable one way or another. Most obviously, questions can be selected which cannot readily be discerned from Google!
Against this background - and in response to demand from some members - AUK is developing the infrastructure and processes to support automated validation for events, the current 'state of the art' being the 'GPS DIY'. Validating GPS tracks immediately solves the 'No Info Control' issue for DIY perms and the suggestion has been made that this validation method could - and possibly soon will be - available to riders on 'Listed' perms as well. This will take AUK well along the path to offering automated online event validation which I welcome and applaud.
Regardless, the reality is that on the one hand the GPS Perm is the domain of the Early Adopter and on the other, well, I rather like Info controls (not too many, mind). For me they are part of the charm and tradition of Audax. Obviously, some riders prefer routes with main controls only whilst others will prefer GPS validation but, hey, "it's a broad church".
For the record, I was a fairly early GPS adopter but have yet to ride a GPS validated event; I've had no reason to, todate. However, I do have experience of GPS units failing and/or pressing the wrong button and losing tracking information. This makes me wary of depending on one to validate my ride. I'm a GPS enthusiast who always carries a route sheet!
So, lets get to the point. Whilst regulation 5.8 references use of Information Controls, there is no reference to where and how they might be used. If they are effectively being withdrawn by AUK commitee policy decision then I feel this is something which warrants wider discussion. With this in mind I'm minded to submit a simple motion to the upcoming AGM to 'confirm that information controls can be used for events as might be required by the event organiser'. This will also provide a platform to discuss the wider implications and future direction for validation of AUK events.
I am posting this on YACF and the AUK Mailing list. All comments (and seconders) welcome but be minded the deadline for motion submission is October 1st.