Mr. Obvious wrote:
Poor eater wrote:You just need to know how to use it. A little downward pressure and a brisk walk at 3 - 4 mph can create a very smooth line for someone that has some experience in this field.
Well, I don't think a surveyor's wheel is an approved measuring device for any course. So, even if you can use it accurately, it wouldn't get you any farther down the road of getting a certification. I haven't seen anything that leads me to conclude that a surveyor's wheel is more accurate than a Jones counter.
If you are arguing that it is accurate enough and we should not worry about certification for XC courses, then I agree with you.
The evidence we gathered showed that the least accurate way to measure a grass course was the surveyor's wheel. If calibrated, it will give you a good enough approximation, but it will not be good enough for certification.