Glen and Iain 25/4/2012 (The attempt that wouldn't die)

[Iain]

We actually couldn't believe when we calculated roughly how much we were down that it wasn't nearly two hours rather than just under one. It felt like it.

I think a large part of it is experience (although I've only done six). There's no substitute for that, although I think shorter events such as the R15 help hugely.

Another is being aware of the options - so different bus routes etc.

We find it really important to keep an eye on the status of the network. For example if you see a line is part suspended you can try and reorganise your route to do it later to give it a chance to recover. This isn't always possible, for instance late on we heard the District had delays but that was pretty much all we had left to do.

Just by sheer practice I'm getting more awareness of how bits fit together - so when you do have to rejig, your possible options for reorganisation are more obvious.

I suppose it's also in part "Going with the flow" - when our train destination changed and we couldn't find one on the branch of the Northern we wanted, we rejigged to use the one available.

As well as the CiN day, I've been out with Andi a couple of times, it's brilliant as I learn as he talks through stuff. See if you can find someone to go out with who's done a few. Provided I'm off then I'm quite happy to do it

[The Raven]

I'm impressed at how well you coped when everything went wrong. I wouldn't have had a clue what to do. I barely had a clue what was going on when everything went right! Give us a tip, whats they key to knowing what's going on?

- I see the Underground as a series of "Loops". There's always stations you go through twice like Camden Town, West Ham, Woodford etc. Therefore, you always have options
- Learned alot from going round with Andi, Sam and Kevin. You can only see further by standing on the shoulders of giants!

[Iain]

I personally wouldn't use the word "loops" but I certainly see it as sections. Somethimes you can break it up into different sections sometimes, but there's only so many combinations without making the route inefficient. For example the Morden-Wimbledon segment and the Upminster section really fit together well. Our change meant we did them in reverse.

Get some underground maps and try tracing out routes on them. You don't need to do times for all of them but see what works and what doesn't. Sometimes you can have an idea that looks brilliant, and works well on its own, but when you see what remains left to be covered it can be rather clumsy. For instance- there's a nice bus from Amersham to Uxbridge, but then what do you do with the bit of the Central that goes to West Ruislip?

[Iain]

Thanks Geoff, no-one told me about the offer of tea!

Thinking back, I think we knew about the Met problem when we were coming down from High Barnet, and Glen's rejig delayed going up there until later.

[tractakid]

How do you know what's going on? By doing it multiple bloody times and persisting at it, that's how!

Sounds good to me!

Unfortunately, all the Exhibition service dates are also school dates. Unless my June timetable for school gives me a whole day off on the 27th of June (possible*), none of the currently listed exhibition services allow me to make an attempt on that day.

*i'll have 6 'lessons' which can fit into 17 'slots', all of which need to avoid the 3 'slots' on friday- someone else can explain how to work out the probability

[Iain]

There's nothing wrong with a Heathrow start if you can get there early enough.

[Nigel]

*i'll have 6 'lessons' which can fit into 17 'slots', all of which need to avoid the 3 'slots' on friday- someone else can explain how to work out the probability

Assuming your lessons are allocated to slots at random you should have nearly a 25% chance of being free on Friday.

Number of ways 6 lessons can be allocated to 17 slots = 17C6 = 17!/6!(17-6)! = 17.16.15.14.13.12/(1.2.3.4.5.6)

Number of ways 6 lessons can be allocated to the 14 non-Friday slots = 14C6 = 14C6 =14!/6!(14-6)! = 14.13.12.11.10.9/(1.2.3.4.5.6)

Hence the probability of avoiding a Friday lesson is 14C6/17C6 = 14.13.12.11.10.9/(17.16.15.14.13.12) = 11.10.9/(17.16.15) = 33/136 = 24.3%

[Iain]

I hope one of your subjects isn't maths Tractakid

I'm guessing the lesson allocation wouldn't be truly random - having worked in a school there are all sorts of systems and restrictions (rooms etc) which would possibly make a difference.

[palkanetoijala31]

I hope one of your subjects isn't maths Tractakid

I'm guessing the lesson allocation wouldn't be truly random - having worked in a school there are all sorts of systems and restrictions (rooms etc) which would possibly make a difference.

of course and im joking here is to bunk off skool is a defo way of getting day off.

[MylesHSG]

I used to bunk all the time

[Going Underground]

I'm impressed at how well you coped when everything went wrong. I wouldn't have had a clue what to do. I barely had a clue what was going on when everything went right! Give us a tip, whats they key to knowing what's going on?

- I see the Underground as a series of "Loops". There's always stations you go through twice like Camden Town, West Ham, Woodford etc. Therefore, you always have options
- Learned alot from going round with Andi, Sam and Kevin. You can only see further by standing on the shoulders of giants!

Glad to have been of some help

[tractakid]

I hope one of your subjects isn't maths Tractakid

Haha, long story. I did well at maths GCSE (grade A) with very little effort. I picked maths as an A level, because I had done well at GCSE, but ended up failing it for AS really badly, so I dropped it (as well as physics, which I also failed!) and picked up 2 new ASs, while continuing music and RE to A2 which I passed. I didn't enjoy either physics or maths, and lost all motivation. So, I was taught how to do probability in the statistics proportion of maths last year, but I didn't learn it very well. Having seen the solution it makes sense, thanks Nigel.

No Andi, I will not be bunking

And no, it won't be random, but to work with the huge number of variables for a problem that doesn't REALLY matter seems like a bit of a waste of time

As for Heathrow starts, yeah, they aren't bad, but they do include the repitition of track between Acton Town and at least Barons Court. I'd also prefer to get the slow paced top left corner done first. But, seeing as I can't make the exhibition services I really have no choice at the minute!

[Iain]

I find I end up covering that bit of track more than once on most routes. I wouldn't say it's impossible to avoid but the routes I've managed it usually had some other inefficiency, probably as a consequence.

I certainly felt much better doing the slow NW corner first on Wednesday, when we'd started at Heathrow it hung over us. Missing a train by one minute could lead to a major addition to the finishing time so it became as critical as a loop train or one to Ken O or MHE. It might be possible to do a route making use of one of the regular Ken O evening trains that run each day perhaps?

[Sam]

I haven't seriously looked at any proper route planning as my interest in spending numerous hours on the tube for very little reward is at an all time low, but I am sure that with a lot of patience, a route could be put together that started in the North West corner and ends at Heathrow taking in a regular evening Ken O service.

When I got my solo record, I reckon I must have gone through about 100 routes with the WTTs, if not more, until I found "the one". Even, when I had the one, I still wasn't 100% happy with it but lady luck was on my side.

[tractakid]

The other terminus you can get to Olympia from is Upminster, but i'm guessing that it's just not worth it.