Public Service Event

2014 RIDE to End Alzheimer's

July 12, 2014

Amateur Radio Operators -- for further information, contact Ralph Swick KD1SM.

For the sixth consecutive year the North Central Massachusetts Amateur Radio community is being asked again to provide logistics and emergency communication support for the 100-mile bicycle ride through the towns of Ayer, Harvard, Bolton, Berlin, Boylston, West Boylston, Clinton, Lancaster, Sterling, Leominster, Shirley, Groton, Townsend, Pepperell, Dunstable, Hollis NH, Amherst NH, and Nashua NH on Saturday, July 12. There are 18 to 20 positions, including both mobile and fixed locations for which rapid radio communication is advantageous and we place radio operators at as many of them as we can.

Yes, this is the same weekend as the World Radiosport Team Championships! What an experience for us to be hosting this international competition. Fortunately the WRTC schedule leaves the site crews idle for Saturday so we can continue to provide communications for this RIDE.

This year's event is identical to 2013; a bicycle ride consisting of 4 groups of riders. One group will follow a 100-mile route ("Century"), the second group a 62-mile route ("Metric Century"), the third group a 30-mile route, and the fourth group a 2 mile "Family Ride" route. Each route starts and finishes at Devens. The shorter routes follow the later segements of the longer routes for part of their length but include cut-offs. The Pit Stop numbers below correspond to the 100-mile route. The 62-mile route uses only Pits 3, 4, and 5. The 30-mile route uses Pits 3 and 6. The Family Ride is entirely within Devens.

Route Maps:

• Century (100 mile) Route
• Metric Century (62-mile) Route
• 30 Mile Route

The following positions require radio operators:

Frequency Plan

There will be a single controlled Net for the event. All stations should attempt to use F1 or F2 first, though some parts of the course may require using the alternates F3 and F5. F4 is available for those who have the capability; it will also cover most of the course, depending on the mobile antennas used.

Special Note: as the WRTC 2014 competition is taking place on the same day we will leave sufficient gaps in our communications for any urgent WRTC coordination traffic.

Thanks to the Central Mass Amateur Radio Association, to Paul WB1EWS, to Dave N1MNX, and to Bernie N1IMO for the use of their repeaters for this event.

Pit Stop Operators

You may proceed directly to your assignments, no need to meet at Devens. On arrival, please check in with the Pit Captain.

Please coordinate with the pit stop captain and the pit stop medical volunteer on exactly where they would like you to be stationed. If you have both a handheld and a mobile (in your vehicle), check on arrival to see where the handheld works.

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 captain 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.

Instructions for Pit Stop Operators

1. Contact Net Control:
   • When the Pit Stop Captain and Medical arrive.
   • When the Rest Stop opens
   • When the First Rider arrives
   • When the Last Rider arrives and leaves
2. Keep an eye on the number of sag vehicles in the rest stop. When you have more than 3 or 4 Sags in the rest stop please inform Net Control. Assist Sag vehicles that do not have a Ham by letting Net Control know when they arrive and leave.
3. Rest Stop Ham and Captain should keep track of riders waiting for ride and the time they arrived, report this information to Net Control along with the rider number and reason for request, ie medical or just cannot finish.
4. If you see a cyclist without their helmet, please help the pit crew remind them that it is mandatory that a helmet be worn at all times. Pit crews should not become confrontational with a participant. Please keep your emotions and temper in check at all time. Inappropriate language toward a participant, staff or volunteer is not acceptable; violators will be asked to leave the event.
5. Please notify Net Control when you are away from the radio. Please use the Net Control Phone Number to relay any personal information concerning riders. Let Net Control guide you.
6. You should also familiarize yourself with the Ride's instructions to their volunteers.

Roving Operators

Please meet your assignments at the Museum Field parking lot in Devens. The parking lot is at #29 Antietam Street between Sherman and Jackson Avenues.

All roving operators will need to bring a magmount antenna, mobile radio, and battery power sufficient for the day. You will also need to bring your lunch in case you and your driver are not able to stop at a pit stop when lunch is delivered there. 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 at 978.785.6499.

Instructions for all Rovers

Operators supporting roving vehicles, please observe the following and communicate it to the vehicle driver.

Your role is to provide critical support to our cyclists and it is greatly appreciated. In addition to your packet, please make note of the following information

1. All communications must go through Net Control unless otherwise directed.
2. Please notify Net Control when you arrive and when you leave a rest stop. We need to know where you are at all times.
3. If you come across a medical emergency CALL 911 first, then call Net Control. It is critical that proper support is provided immediately.
4. We have a responsibility to all cyclists on the tour. If there is a medical emergency, please refrain from discussing it with other cyclists.
5. Please do not speculate about an accident. It serves no purpose but to perpetuate unnecessary rumors.
6. Know your location.
7. Do not travel too close to cyclists. It can make them nervous.
8. Do not travel in the breakdown lanes where cyclists are riding. This is dangerous.

Precise Pit Stop Locations:

Pit Stop 1

St. Joseph's Church, Berlin; intersection of Carter St. and Route 62 (52 West St.)
Captain: David Richard
Medical: Lenore Jackson-Pope

Pit Stop 2

Rota Springs Ice Cream Stand, Sterling; 117 Chace Hill Road (1.2 miles north of 110)
Captain: Emma DeRubeis
Medical: Jennifer Kremer

Pit Stop 3

RiverCourt Residences, 8 West Main St., Route 225 (at Townsend Road and Pepperell Road), West Groton.
Captain: Mike Boucher
Medical: Jo Anne Faer, Michelle Gavin

Pit Stop 4

Hollis Bus Depot, Near 57 Silver Lake Rd., Hollis NH 03049
Captain: Becky Colandris
Medical: Josh Colombo

Pit Stop 5

Alpine Grove Banquet Hall, 19 South Depot Rd. (Rt. 111A), Hollis NH
Captain: Kate Cavanna
Medical: Susie Romito

Pit Stop 6

18A Mill St., Pepperell MA
Captain: Meg Floro
Medical: Kristen O'Malley

Start/Finish

Museum Field, 5 Antietam St., Devens
Medical: Ed & Cathy Tagilieri, Steve & Tina Worton

Additional details for participants are available on the event site.