The event was a huge success. See more photos of the ride. Laura Goldberg expresses her huge appreciation to all of the volunteers: Gary Busler K1YTS, Tom Duffy K1JHC, John Griswold KK1X, Bob Johnson AB1CV, Dave Odess KB1MVN, Stan Pozerski KD1LE, and Ross Chapman KB1MGD., Mark Rubin WB1ARZ, John Ruggiero N2YHK, and Larry Swezey KB1ESR, Ralph Swick KD1SM, and Darryl Wagoner WA1GON.
Above: Century riders prepare to start. [kd1sm photo]
Above: Metric Century riders at the starting line. [kd1sm photo]
Above: Net Control, with Stan KD1LE, Carolyn, and Jeff. [kd1sm photo]
Above: Stan KD1LE at Net Control. [kd1sm photo]
Above: Net Control from the operating positions. [kd1sm photo]
For further information, contact Ralph Swick KD1SM.
The North Central Amateur Radio community has been asked to provide logistics and emergency communication support for a 100-mile bicycle ride through the towns of Ayer, Shirley, Harvard, Lancaster, Bolton, Berlin, Boylston, Sterling, Pepperell, Groton, and Hollis NH on Saturday, July 26. There are 14 positions to be filled, including both mobile and fixed locations.
This event is a bicycle ride consisting of 3 groups of riders. One group will follow a 100-mile route ("Century"), the second group a 62-mile route ("Metric Century"), and the third group a 25-mile route. Each route starts and finishes at Devens. The routes overlap for most of their length. The Pit Stop numbers below are for the 100-mile route. Pit Stop 1A is only on the 62- and 25-mile routes.
The following positions require radio operators:
| Tactical Name | Location | Op Name | Op Call | Start | End | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carolyn (Event Coordinator) | Devens | Stan | KD1LE | 0545 | 1600 | (will swap in and out of NCS) |
| Medical 1 (Alan) | roving | John | KK1X | 0545 | 1600 | |
| Medical 2 (Amy&Chris) | roving | - | - | 0545 | 1600 | |
| NCS/Start/Finish | Devens | Ralph | KD1SM | 0530 | 1630 | (will swap in and out of Carolyn shadow) |
| Pit Stop 1 | Berlin | John | N2YHK | 0600 | 0845 | |
| Pit Stop 1A | Bolton | Tom | K1JHC | 0815 | 1245 | "Pit Stop 1" for the 62-mile and 25-mile routes |
| Pit Stop 2 | Sterling | Mark | WB1ARZ | 0730 | 1015 | |
| Pit Stop 3 | Shirley | Bob | AB1CV | 0830 | 1200 | a.k.a. "Pit Stop 2" for the 62-mile route |
| Pit Stop 4 | Hollis NH | Gary | K1YTS | 0930 | 1315 | a.k.a. "Pit Stop 3" for the 62-mile route |
| Pit Stop 5 | S.Nashua | Darryl | WA1GON | 1030 | 1415 | a.k.a. "Pit Stop 4" for the 62-mile route |
| Susan (Pit Stop Coordinator) | roving | Larry | KB1ESR | 0545 | 1600 | |
| Support 1 (Dave) | roving | Dave | KB1MVN | 0545 | 1600 | |
| Support 2 (Ross) | roving | Ross | KB1MGD | 0545 | 1600 | |
| Support 3 (Jennifer&Kevin) | roving | - | - | 0545 | 1600 |
You may proceed directly to your assignments, no need to meet at Devens.
All operators at pit stops should wear an orange or lime safety vest for identification purposes. The ideal vest will say "Radio" or "Radio Communications". If you have an orange cap please wear it. You should be able to use your mobile radio in your vehicle. Please arrange a parking location with the leader of your pit stop so that you are easily accessible to the pit stop personnel and to your vehicle. Most of the pits stops are not in HT range of the repeaters. Pit Stop messages will include updates on the volunteer status (e.g. missing volunteers) and reporting the arrival of the first riders.
Please meet your assignments at the Museum Field parking lot in Devens. The parking lot is on Antietam Street between Sherman and MacArthur Avenues.
All roving operators will need to bring a magmount antenna, mobile radio, and battery power sufficient for the day. You will be riding in other event volunteers' vehicles. Support vehicle messages will include requests to transport riders unable to finish. Medical vehicle messages will be requests for non-emergency first-aid. Riders will be instructed to call 911 in an emergency and then, if possible, to call NCS (by phone).
There will be a single controlled Net for the event. We will try to have everyone on a single repeater (F1) though some parts of the course may require using an alternate (F2). F3 is available for those who have the capability; it will also cover most of the course, depending on the mobile antennas used.
| F1 | Primary | 146.970 Mhz, - offset, PL 114.8 | with thanks to CMARA |
| F2 | Backup | 147.315 MHz, + offset, PL 100 | with thanks to WB1EWS |
| F3 | Alternate | 53.890 MHz, - offset, PL 100 | with thanks to N1MNX |
Additional details for participants are available on the event site.