Reflective Tape on Controls at Tiomila 2010?

[pyrat]

The organisers of tiomila 2010 may not be using reflective tape on the controls. What do you think about this?

[harry]

Doesn't bother me

[RJ]

Reflective tape is not required at night. As a planner, just be aware of where you are placing the kite. Don't hide it; place it sensibly at the feature, so that the feature is found first. The control marker, flag or whatever, is more than visible enough in a torch headlight beam. It is the route between the controls that matters, not the hunting for the marker amongst a myriad of features.

If competitors come back on a night event and complain about the control being hidden then the planner has failed

[seabird]

Happy memories of running enthusiastically towards reflective sheep eyes.

No such confusions now no-one seems to use reflective tape.

[harry]

I think the reason they are thinking of doing away with it is because the headlamps have improved so much?

[andy]

As a planner, just be aware of where you are placing the kite. Don't hide it; place it sensibly at the feature, so that the feature is found first.

I was going to have a moan about not having reflective tape but this makes a lot of sense, night events can be made all the more difficult by bingo controls (which would be difficult in the daylight too). If it's well thought out then it doesn't matter...

[Duncan]

I don't think it'll make any difference either way at Tio Mila. There are hundreds of runners in a line, most with huge head torches, the controls are massive trestles, the maps are usually good, as is the planning, the terrain is usually detailed enough to avoid any bingo controls etc. etc.

I think reflective tape at night events in the UK can be good though, since many of the above aren't true. And some of that isn't a criticism of the mapping, planning etc., its just a reflection (excuse the pun) of the reality that the numbers attending such events don't justify the investment in time (e.g. planner test running most legs at night) or money (e.g. map specifically updated for a local night event).

But perhaps a more relevant question is will anyone from the UK go to Tiomila 2010 anyway, given the clash with BOC / BEOC Long / BRC?

[Big Jon]

Reflective controls at night events actually even up disparities in head torch power - even a small (eg old style mini petzl) torch can get a decent back flash from a reflective tape whereas with a "daytime" control there is no chance of seeing it till virtually falling over it, even without old faded markers.....

[RJ]

....... even a small (eg old style mini petzl) torch can get a decent back flash from a reflective tape.....

Have you been to a recent night event????? If you are still using an old style mini petzl torch then you are very much on your own! The Tinto Twin..... never seen so much lux, lumens, candlepower...

Forget about reflective tape..... it's old hat.... like needle punches!!

[Olsoran]

....... even a small (eg old style mini petzl) torch can get a decent back flash from a reflective tape.....

Have you been to a recent night event????? If you are still using an old style mini petzl torch then you are very much on your own!

Hmmm...have to laugh. Have you been to a recent night event Jon?

[ryeland of doom]

Still using a small head torch - Black Diamond, a big step up from a Petzl, but still not a retina blaster.

[RJ]

Hmmm...have to laugh. Have you been to a recent night event Jon?

Yes.... and he doesn't need reflective tape either! He's perfectly capable of finding the controls!! So...

[graeme]

There are hundreds of runners in a line,

Except when you ran for JOK
If the planning is good it doesn't matter. If the planning is bad it helps. So what's not to like?

[Duncan]

There are hundreds of runners in a line,

Except when you ran for JOK
If the planning is good it doesn't matter. If the planning is bad it helps. So what's not to like?

That time I ran for JOK though it wasn't dark any more. "Long night" had turned into "long dawn"...

[Jon X]

There are hundreds of runners in a line,

Except when you ran for JOK
If the planning is good it doesn't matter. If the planning is bad it helps. So what's not to like?

That time I ran for JOK though it wasn't dark any more. "Long night" had turned into "long dawn"...

Sorry about that!