Looking back (SPCF on a fixed length course discussion, 2011) I see a couple different reasons for the short course prevention factor; to correct for wobble of the bike and not cutting curves as tight as a runner might. The Manual says it is to compensate for the difficulty in following the shortest route.
The SCPF comes up often in the discussion of course length difference between the USATF certified distance and GPS readings. I think the SCPF has almost nothing to do with this difference or with riding curves closer than 1-ft.
I think “the founders” realized that it is not possible to ride on a bicycle, exactly the shortest distance between two points. To call the SCPF “added distance” when referring to certified course length is not correct and adds to the idea that 0.01 of the course length can be removed and still have an accurate distance. I tell people who ask that the SCPF is to compensate for the inaccuracy of a competent rider to bring the course up to the stated distance.
I realize there is a lot of semantics here, but distance isn’t really added to an already fixed length course by the SCPF.
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