BAFS 2020 teams and rules discussion

[chuxtr]

@musclys 194346 wrote:

My point is both home location and work location matter. But, more importantly, asking “Would you rather be on a team with folks who live near you or work near you?” allows riders to ID whether they are more likely to be able to join a team gathering near work or near home. It also would allow for much more granular filtering of players into teams than superregional categories.

I think this is a good idea and assuming we try doing it this year, just remember that we’re not guaranteeing that everyone who wants to be on a “local” team will be able to be on one. A lot will depend on how many people are “clumped” in the right areas and how many teams we end up having. And where all the different volunteering team captains reside. But we’ll do our best!

[bentbike33]

@chuxtr 194355 wrote:

I think this is a good idea and assuming we try doing it this year, just remember that we’re not guaranteeing that everyone who wants to be on a “local” team will be able to be on one. A lot will depend on how many people are “clumped” in the right areas and how many teams we end up having. And where all the different volunteering team captains reside. But we’ll do our best!

Not sure how you would implement this, but beware of ZIP codes for federal offices since many of them map to the big postal sorting facility in Northeast DC rather than the actual location of the federal office building.

[elizsnyder]

Thinking about the effort that goes into the programming, setup and continued maintenance during the Freezing Saddles window, I wanted to give a huge THANK YOU and SHOUT OUT to the volunteers who make this happen. This will be my 3rd year and I eagerly await the registration opening. I have low conviction on the rules and points calculation, as a 98% car-free diet person I love anything cycling related, and I love that feeling of being part of this cycling community “thing”, reading along and finding rides, happy hours, etc. to go to. I like the idea of local teams as it seems like it would be easier to meet for activities but again, I am just happy this is happening again! Coming off knee surgery, I am rehabbing at Physical Therapy like a mad woman getting ready to ride Jan 1. Thank you ALL again, I talk about Freezing Saddles A LOT this time of year, and pretty darn often all year long. Elizabeth I Like Wheels, Arlington Va

[VCUSPIRIT]

This will be my first time winter riding. I’d like to ride with people nearby (team or no team). Ideally I would like to be placed with cyclists somewhat nearby.

[Adriana]

I liked the team cap, I felt like it made everyone get really invested in other’s success and kept me from killing myself on weeks I should have been taking health brakes instead of trying to ride 30+ miles a day to beat Jim on the leaderboard. I would love to be able to have more happy hours and ways to be near teammates, but I understand how hard that can be, so I am happy with how it was last year! Basically just so excited for this game to start again!

[ManolaIT]

First year doing the Freezing Saddles! Super excited!!!!

[Nadine]

@elizsnyder 194385 wrote:

Thinking about the effort that goes into the programming, setup and continued maintenance during the Freezing Saddles window, I wanted to give a huge THANK YOU and SHOUT OUT to the volunteers who make this happen. This will be my 3rd year and I eagerly await the registration opening. I have low conviction on the rules and points calculation, as a 98% car-free diet person I love anything cycling related, and I love that feeling of being part of this cycling community “thing”, reading along and finding rides, happy hours, etc. to go to. I like the idea of local teams as it seems like it would be easier to meet for activities but again, I am just happy this is happening again! Coming off knee surgery, I am rehabbing at Physical Therapy like a mad woman getting ready to ride Jan 1. Thank you ALL again, I talk about Freezing Saddles A LOT this time of year, and pretty darn often all year long. Elizabeth I Like Wheels, Arlington Va

I love everything about your comment, Elizabeth! And also I share your feelings about this awesome group! I definitely share your gratitude to the volunteers! And I talk about FS often too – because it’s the only thing I like about winter! (Well okay, shorter hot flash recovery is good too – but it’s waaaaay down list from freezing saddles!)

Except the knee surgery. I don’t love that part of your message. I didn’t know you needed that. I hope it was successful and that you’re feeling as good as you sound!

Looking forward to riding with you! Don’t care who’s on what team for that! [emoji3]

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Dachs6]

Totally late on this…

@chuxtr 193345 wrote:

1. What did you think of the mileage cap (for team points, not individual points)? Scrap? Keep? Keep but up the mileage?

I’m with Subby, 150 (or, 250km!! in accordance with Rule #24)

@chuxtr 193345 wrote:

2. What do you think about trying to make the teams more “local,” i.e., teammates from the same area? But still trying to “balance” the teams (based on past Freezing Saddles participation) so that no one team is “stacked” with high mileage riders?

I’d support this, since I am continuing to live out of the area in Europe, and there are a few others “local” to me as well.

@chuxtr 193345 wrote:

3. Conversely, we could just make team assignments totally random. I think Steve O has done some analysis to indicate that this doesn’t necessarily change the results in terms of differences between teams.

Is it possible to randomize with some guardrails in place? re: “local” teams.

@chuxtr 193345 wrote:

4. What do you think about smaller size teams? Last year we had 19 teams with 10 riders each. It’s been suggested that Freezing Saddles is more competitive with smaller teams because every team member’s miles (or lack thereof) count more. Is something like 6 riders too small for a team?

No less than 8, just doing some quick estimating, any smaller and instead of keeping the competition closer, it may widen the gaps, significantly. Any smaller and I don’t a team could handle having even 1 fair weather rider, at 10 riders per, 2 fair weather cyclists can be absorbed and carried.

@chuxtr 193345 wrote:

5. Keep the current point system? 10 points for the first ride mile of the day (as an incentive to ride) but 1 point for every mile afterwards.

I think the system works well, it permits people who don’t ride very far to still contribute to team points, and it rewards those who ride the long mileage without skewing the top end of the points too badly either.

[Brownws]

Wow! there’s a lot to take in for the newbie.

While it seems there are a lot of variables TBD, What are the basics? Is there an FAQ somewhere?

Some things I’d like to know:
How does Strava fit in/do you need their summit service? Can kids participate?
What kind of sensors are necessary?

Thanks!

[rcannon100]

@Dachs6 194435 wrote:

Totally late on this….

Do we allow Germans to play??

[consularrider]

@rcannon100 194444 wrote:

Do we allow Germans to play??

Jawohl, mein herr!

[josh]

@Brownws 194440 wrote:

Wow! there’s a lot to take in for the newbie.

While it seems there are a lot of variables TBD, What are the basics? Is there an FAQ somewhere?

Some things I’d like to know:
How does Strava fit in/do you need their summit service? Can kids participate?
What kind of sensors are necessary?

Thanks!

The top stickied thread in this forum should have some basic info — but for last year. Some things might change though, but the basic idea will remain the same. Answers to some of your questions:
* Strava is required, that’s how the rides are tracked
* Premium version is not required
* Not sure about a minimum age (for FS or Strava)
* Just a smartphone with GPS is sufficient, you can install the Strava app there. Of course you can always use a dedicated bike computer with GPS (and pair other sensors, but they are not necessary)

[Steve O]

@Brownws 194440 wrote:

Can kids participate?

The way kids have participated in the past is through the #kidical contests, which are meant for children who ride with their parents (or other adults), either as passengers or along with on their own bikes.

If a child is old enough to commute to school unaccompanied on her own bike and is likely to do it more often than not Jan-Mar, then I would not argue against her playing solo.
I’d be curious to get others’ opinions on that.

[Jim B]

@Adriana 194416 wrote:

I liked the team cap, I felt like it made everyone get really invested in other’s success and kept me from killing myself on weeks I should have been taking health brakes instead of trying to ride 30+ miles a day to beat Jim on the leaderboard. I would love to be able to have more happy hours and ways to be near teammates, but I understand how hard that can be, so I am happy with how it was last year! Basically just so excited for this game to start again!

Jim? Which Jim?

[Brownws]

@Steve O 194480 wrote:

The way kids have participated in the past is through the #kidical contests, which are meant for children who ride with their parents (or other adults), either as passengers or along with on their own bikes.

If a child is old enough to commute to school unaccompanied on her own bike and is likely to do it more often than not Jan-Mar, then I would not argue against her playing solo.
I’d be curious to get others’ opinions on that.

Thanks!

She rides on her own bike (with me or her mom) about 6 miles a day. So assuming last year’s rules, would that give her team 100 (or 110) points before any other riding is considered? Presumably she would acknowledge that or some lower level when registering and could be put on a team (ideally with me — do you guys do “baggage”) that would know she may not max out the point every week.

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