Whistles and Cagoules

[graeme]

RJ: You attach it with a crocodile clip of course
Meanwhile I see the Australians are working on a single device which does the jobs of compass and whistle : try doing that with an iPhone.

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[RJ]

RJ: You attach it with a crocodile clip of course

Some of our landowners are particularly sensitive to 'crocodile clip...' boards and may refuse permission if we use them. Apparently 'officials' use them quite a lot.... and then aren't thought highly of by the landowners! Purveyors of bad news and regulations I think!

No, I think we may need another solution!

[iainwp]

I carry a whistle because I think it might help get me rescued should I fall and break something. Usually this is in my back pocket. I've never thought actually about getting the whistle out of this pocket should I have fallen on a slope and broken a leg or two ...

I make my daughter carry one around he neck on a lanyard, which she puts inside her shirt. I've not thought about what happens should she snags this on a tree, but she thinks running is overrated and walks round ...

[RJ]

about getting the whistle out of this pocket

Ah! you have a pocket on your running trousers! Sounds novel!

I make my daughter carry one around the neck on a lanyard

'Nough said! Shhhh! Social Services are listening!

I still feel we need a solution to this problem. Of course we could carry it round the course in our hand like the map and compass and ecard!

[mharky]

Modern whistles have a built in clip

[RJ]

whistles have a built in clip

Ostensibly a good idea. Might work! But can't stand them flapping about when put on the top of a loose fitting O-top.

Don't seem to be able to keep them when they are on the waistband.... they just go.... they don't last the course!

I feel we still need a failsafe system. I thought about sewing them into the top hem on the O-top..... but then I'd need to do that for all the clothing that might be worn.

[JK]

I feel we still need a failsafe system. I thought about sewing them into the top hem on the O-top..... but then I'd need to do that for all the clothing that might be worn.

Methinks the troll protests too much!

There are many options:

Many running tights now have a small zip pocket at the, err, "back" - cocyx area. This can be used for spare compass and/or whistle.

Older fogey O trousers often have a pocket at the front.

Various types of trousers / shorts have a drawstring which can be used to tie a whistle to - always worth some light amusement in the start lane when they ask to see your whistle and you point to your nethers.

Night O it can be attached to the harness ... permanently!

Baseplate compasses have a string which you can attach it to.

In big events you can use a larger than normal safety pin at one corner of your
number and attach it there.

So you'll only have a problem if you have trousers+tops with neither pockets nor drawstring, doing day-O, with a thumb compass and without a pin-on number.

[RJ]

So you'll only have a problem if you have trousers+tops with neither pockets nor drawstring, doing day-O, with a thumb compass and without a pin-on number.

Sums it up nicely I feel! Exactly my 'setup' for 90% of my O races!

In all of this I return to the question of the organising club, the organiser or the controller insisting on a whistle being carried..... no whistle.. no go and all that. I'm afraid in practical terms you are not going to be able to achieve the target of ALL runners carrying a whistle for the WHOLE course, otherwise what is the point?

The solution is to remove compulsion and say.... in the organiser's view he/she would strongly recommend that the competitor carry a whistle. Done! If it is practical for the competitor to comply he/she will, I'm sure. If not then they won't!

[Freefall]

Should an organiser mandate whistles, one easy solution is to put a bit of tape around the whistle then pin that to whatever you choose to wear. Unless there is a high tech solution I am unaware of I think most orienteers have some electrical tape (usually green and yellow) in their bits box - normally used for shoelaces.

[RJ]

then pin that

We are trying to reduce risk.... not increase it with the use of sharp points that can easily come undone. After all.... a 'safety' pin isn't designed to carry a bulky item like a lump of plastic.

[Freefall]

How do you propose competitors attach bibs?

[graeme]

Modern whistles have a built in clip

Yes, but they dont work...

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[Rosine]

Am I the only person who carries things in her bra? I often carry a small water bottle there, should be no problem to add a whistle

[DeerTick]

Am I the only person who carries things in her bra? I often carry a small water bottle there, should be no problem to add a whistle

I tried so hard to resist the temptation to respond, but will go no further
AP

[Mrs H]

In the old days of marking up maps I used to put my red pen down my bra. One day the pen broke but my first reaction when undressing was that I'd suffered a terrible injury