Jones-Counter

The Jones Counter is a device for the accurate measurement of distances. It consists of a counter, which is mounted on the axle of the front wheel of a bicycle and the number of wheel rotations, even in a fraction of holding. With his help, the record suitability of the routes is ensured in road races.

Application

Did the organizers set a distance and let them approved by the competent authorities, begins the work of the route surveyor. First, a minimum of 300 meter long track is measured with a steel tape or with electronic distance measurement and calibrated to this by repeatedly shutting down the counter. After that, the route to their ideal line ( the line that strikes a runner for the fastest possible progress ) is traced and the relevant points ( kilometers or miles brands, half of the course, etc.) marked. By the actual distance measurement in a re- calibration of the reference path is performed in order to compensate possible variations in the expansion of the tire. Now on the determined length of the route a safety margin of a thousand of the total distance is done ( in a marathon, this corresponds to about 42,195 additional meters ).

History

The Jones Counter was developed in 1971 by Alan Jones, when he had to measure the distance of a local road race. The demand for assembled by Jones ' son Clain devices soon rose, and 1976, the marathon route of the Olympic Games in Montreal was measured with one of them. In 1983, the New York Road Runners Club ( organizers of the New York City Marathon ) production. In 1990, Paul Oerth the production of the modified device from him.

2008 Tom and Pete Riegel came with the more developed of them Jones Counter model JR on the market.

The distance measurement with the Jones Counter has been touted by the Association of International Marathons and Distance Races ( AIMS) since the 1980s, and eventually taken over by the IAAF as a standard method to determine the record and leaderboard suitability of made ​​in road races times.