Beta confusion again.

[jkoorts]

Sun 10/11/2013 Engen Cycle Challenge 2013 Paarl (111km)

 

Beta: 0.87

 

Sat 26/10/2013 Leapfrog Property Group/Durbanville High School Funride (94.3km)

 

Beta: 1.05

 

Hi all,

 

Can someone explain the rational between the above beta differences please? The engen had a mountain pass while durbanville was flat. Engen is also longer.

[DJR]

You are going to give yourself a brain frizzle trying to understand this

[Berry]

2012 100 miler (80km) 1.5

2013 one tonner (162km) 1.6

[Madlight]

It all depends on "perceived" difficulty extra over what that ride would be like compared to a ride in perfect conditions. Not difficulty compared to other races... I think

 

But it could also be an equation based on the Heisenberg principle tied up with bits of string theory that Schrohdingers cat has been playing with.

[DJR]

The Argus will always be kept as one, as it is the race that every race is compared to. You cant change the race that all other betas are compared to. Every race is marked as if you had ridden the argus.

 

Read what Skistar had to say on the subject in the Burger thread. It makes more sense than most explanations I've heard. Whether you agree or disagree with the exact numbers is, of course, a different story.

[jkoorts]

That means the Durbanville 94km flat race is slightly more difficult than the Argus?

 

What polony.

 

Why don't they use the watt meter of the winner or group of front runners to work out the beta?

[Skubarra]

That means the Durbanville 94km flat race is slightly more difficult than the Argus?

 

What polony

 

 

I AGREE 100% that the beta is wack - no debate there.

 

But trying to determine how they got to the beta - they don't only look at the total climb, they also look at how riders that did both the Argus(base event) and the Durbanville ride performed relatively to the winner each time.

 

I can only assume that a lot of people had a slightly bad day / a bit unfit / weather was not perfect etc and did relatively worse than what they did at the Argus hence the higher beta.

 

I have given up long ago hoping for a beta that make sense - just glad everytime its more than 1!

[fabs]

Its all hidden in the formulas that they calculate it with

[nazmo]

Burger got a beta of 0.98. I thought it was quite tough due to wind on R44, strange

Edited December 4, 2013 by nazmo

[Skubarra]

Burger got a beta of 0.98. I thought it was quite tough due to wind on R44, strange

 

 

 

And last years R44-wind-from-behind Burger a beta of 1.06. Boggles the mind

 

I guess it means we are all way better riders than at last year this time

['Dale]

The seeding system is run and managed by lil yellow minions....

 

Don't let it ruin your day now.

Heehee

[mikkelz]

Sun 10/11/2013 Engen Cycle Challenge 2013 Paarl (111km)

 

Beta: 0.87

 

Sat 26/10/2013 Leapfrog Property Group/Durbanville High School Funride (94.3km)

 

Beta: 1.05

 

Hi all,

 

Can someone explain the rational between the above beta differences please? The engen had a mountain pass while durbanville was flat. Engen is also longer.

 

I'm quite confused myself. Hence my post here. Just comparing Die Burger (0.98) vs Durbanville High School (1.05) rides:

 

96.7km vs 89.6km

1,063m vs 817m

 

Those statistics are according to my Garmin Edge 500 uploaded to Strava.

 

And then if you want to get subjective: gale force winds vs hardly any wind.

Edited December 4, 2013 by mikkelz