The Run Canada Committee
Road Race Course Measurement Procedures

USE OF THE CALIBRATED BICYCLE

Mounting the Jones Counter on Your Bicycle

The Jones Counter is mounted on the left side of your front wheel where it can be seen while riding. The counter goes between the hub and the fork. Remove the wheel from the bicycle and then remove any nuts and washers (or the quick release mechanism, if any) from the axle.

If you have a quick release hub, you may have trouble getting the counter on the axle while still leaving enough threads for the fork to rest on. Removing a spacing washer from the axle may help or you may loosen the bearing-keeping nuts and shift the axle to the left.

If, after you place the wheel with the counter back on the bicycle, you find that the whole counter moves with the wheel rather than staying fixed while it registers counts, the counter is binding against the wheel. The solution is to place a washer between the hub and the counter.

Riding Technique

Ride in a relaxed manner, in as straight a line as possible. The basic idea behind the method is that a small amount of "wobble" while riding the course is accounted for when calibrating the bicycle. Ride the calibration course the same way you will ride the race course.

Avoid braking with the front wheel. When you brake, apply the rear wheel brake.

Failure to ride a straight line, particularly when diagonally crossing a street, may yield a short course. Rather than watching the ground near the front wheel, aim for a distance point. Locate a point in a direct line to where you need to ride. Then ride toward that point, keeping an eye on that point.

When you encounter potholes or bad bumps, do not swerve to avoid them. Minor ones can be negotiated by slowing down and getting up off the bicycle seat. For a bad bump or hole, stop and carefully walk the bike through it. When you have to get off the bicycle and walk it, e.g., when attempting to reach an exact count or when going through a pothole, you will add roughly 1% to that portion of the course unless you push down on the handlebars to keep some weight pressing down on the front wheel.

Tires should not be checked for pressure at any time between calibration and recalibration. This causes a small air loss which may significantly alter your riding constant.

Avoid extreme weather conditions. Do not measure on very windy days.

Reading the Counter

Freeze the front wheel before reading the counter. This may be done by hand or by using the front wheel brake.

When reading the counter after backing up, be sure to move the bicycle forward again before taking a reading to avoid a "backlash" effect.

If you go past a count at a kilometer/mile marker, it is best to make a mark where you happen to stop, record the count there, and later adjust the split point by measuring backwards with a tape. Although it is possible to wheel the bicycle backwards, this should be avoided.

Etiquette

When measuring, you may encounter runners, other cyclists, or just people enjoying the out-of-doors. Slow down. Politely explain that you are measuring a race course and have to go in a straight line. They will usually yield to you. Except in extreme cases, avoid moving out of someone's way. If necessary, stop and wait for that person to go around you. Please be courteous at all times. You can minimize such problems by measuring when traffic of all sorts is at a minimum.

If you do a lot of measuring, you may wish to carry fore and aft signs reading "Official Measuring" in yellow lettering on a dark background.

Updated: 21-09-2001