To properly measure a course

Woddle

I've a 1k ish loop in Marlay park. My garmin measures it at about 1010 meters long but the loop is oval and we know how garmins are on a track (measuring everything longer) granted this is a bigger oval so maybe it doesn't have any impact. I dunno.

Anyway I want to measure the route as it's deadly and ideal for 1k reps, 5k TTs and 10k invite only races
So what do I need ( some wheel thingy) and how exactly do I use it and then how do I measure it? and where can I get one and what else do I need to know on the subject
Thanks

menoscemo

Woddle wrote: »

I've a 1k ish loop in Marlay park. My garmin measures it at about 1010 meters long but the loop is oval and we know how garmins are on a track (measuring everything longer) granted this is a bigger oval so maybe it doesn't have any impact. I dunno.

Anyway I want to measure the route as it's deadly and ideal for 1k reps, 5k TTs and 10k invite only races
So what do I need ( some wheel thingy) and how exactly do I use it and then how do I measure it? and where can I get one and what else do I need to know on the subject
Thanks

Ultraman1 is the man to talk to here. He has one of those Jones wheel thingys.
That loop is absolutely ideal for all kinds of races. I think it would make the ideal set up for a 24hr race or similar as it has a lovely bit of grass in the middle for camping etc.
My Garmin measures the permineter similar to yourself but it would be easy to take 10-20 meteres off at the south east corner to make exactly 1k as there is a nice bit of tarmac where you can cut a bit of the corner off.

shels4ever

Woddle wrote: »

I've a 1k ish loop in Marlay park. My garmin measures it at about 1010 meters long but the loop is oval and we know how garmins are on a track (measuring everything longer) granted this is a bigger oval so maybe it doesn't have any impact. I dunno.

Anyway I want to measure the route as it's deadly and ideal for 1k reps, 5k TTs and 10k invite only races
So what do I need ( some wheel thingy) and how exactly do I use it and then how do I measure it? and where can I get one and what else do I need to know on the subject
Thanks

PM ultraman he should let you know where to get one.

ultraman1

Woddle wrote: »

I've a 1k ish loop in Marlay park. My garmin measures it at about 1010 meters long but the loop is oval and we know how garmins are on a track (measuring everything longer) granted this is a bigger oval so maybe it doesn't have any impact. I dunno.

Anyway I want to measure the route as it's deadly and ideal for 1k reps, 5k TTs and 10k invite only races
So what do I need ( some wheel thingy) and how exactly do I use it and then how do I measure it? and where can I get one and what else do I need to know on the subject
Thanks

easiest for you to do it would be with a 50 meter steel tape,measure 50 mteres and repeat 20 times,wont be entirly accurate but will near enufish

sconhome

You should be able to hire a wheel tape from a local hire shop. They are used by engineers to measure road works / markings etc.

Knowing some of the engineers I know they measure longer than the ones the Quantity Surveyors use when agreeing completed works

RayCun

25 quid for a measure wheel for a day
sounds like what you want?

NoGutsNoGlory

the measuring wheel is the way to go... any builders providers will have one.. very handy to have one. i used one to measure out a 5km and a 10km route and mark off the 1km intervals.

meathcountysec

RayCun wrote: »

25 quid for a measure wheel for a day
sounds like what you want?

Check it against a known distance to be sure to be sure. (e.g. 100m straight on a track)

Condo131

Jones counter is 'yer only man'. When laying down a new calibration course in Mallow, a few months ago, an AAI measurer was accompanied by a guy using a surveyor's wheel (Local guy wanted to compare). Btw, the calibration course is laid out using a steel tape, at least 30m long, over at least 400m, and adjusted for temperature. The 400m measured using the surveyor's wheel was short (can't remember by how much, but it was significant)

Anyway, apart from calibration time, Jones Counter is going to do the job much faster.

Otoh, people are always asking me to check the distance of their favourite training routes - I generally tell them to get a life - unless you're going to be looking to set records, Garmin is adequate. But, if it's a race - must be Jones Counter.

You'll find a list of AAI accredited measurers in this doc.