I mostly agree with Frankie's post earlier:
This is basically a game with certain rules, so we should generally expect to play by those rules, and the rules should be as clear+consistent as practicable.
But currently the rules are NOT clear, and that's why all the deviations observed here occur in the real world.
PERHAPS the rules are intended to say that the times are for LEAVING. But I don't think Steve's post stands upto logical attack:
I always thought that the closing time of a control is when you should leave by too, because the purpose of the control is to ensure that riders keep within the specified minimum and maximum average speeds at all times.
This purpose fails. Two cases:
- if you arrive early and hang around, then you've already been over the max speed for some hours!
- If you stamp-out on time, but then need a pee - or have to fix a flat - then you're immediately behind the schedule.
So it's already flawed.
In Super Randonnee 600s there are no intermediate control opening or closing times.
So why is this ACP event category so different??
Any stops for eating and sleeping etc should be earnt in advance.
If - hypothetically - this is indeed the intended spirit of the rules, what is it achieving? I'd say that one significant effect is to turn 600k+ events into sleep-dep contests. Those with the genes to cope can join "proper" Audaxers. If you do suffer, then 600+ events will always be a lot more miserable affairs than shorter rides. That's hardly encouraging long-distance cycling, is it??
(Of course some are fast enough to bank 8hrs sleep every 320km - I'm not sure the intention is to build the rules around those folks! But maybe it is??)