Planning is underway for the 2021 Bike MS Gateway Getaway Bicycle Ride, to be held on Saturday and Sunday September 11 and 12 at Lewis and Clark Community College in Godfrey, Illinois.  Current plans are to have an in-person event with four route options per day, but this is subject to change pursuant to state, county and local regulations.

I am recruiting volunteers for the Route Support Team, specifically:

·         Support and Gear (SAG) drivers and communicators - These are mobile positions to provide support and transportation to cyclists in distress due to injury, bike failure or exhaustion. Cargo vans are provided. Volunteers should be available for both days of the event.

·         Rest Stop communicators - Fixed stations that provide communications from Rest Stop locations during the event with Net Control.  Eight volunteers are needed on Saturday and six on Sunday.

·         Medical and Situations driver/communicators - Provide vehicle and communications for staff and medical volunteers to provide support in the event of emergencies on the route.  Previous experience in these positions is preferred.  Volunteers should be available for both days of the event.

·         Rest Stop Coordinators - Provide vehicle and communications to assist with rest stop setup and resupply.  Volunteers should be available for both days of the event.

·         Supply Truck drivers and helpers - Deliver and unload supplies at rest stops, and pick supplies up as rest stops close.  Class B CDL desired for drivers.  Trucks travel in tandem, and one communicator for the team is needed.  Volunteers should be available for both days of the event.

Drivers will need to provide a copy of their Driver's License and proof of insurability (Insurance Card) to the MS Office and complete an online driver information program.

Mobile stations should have minimum equipment of a 50W 2m transceiver and magnetic mount antenna, with a 5/8-wave type gain antenna strongly recommended.  Your transceiver must have the ability to use PL tones.  APRS Trackers are also desired, but may be provided if you don't have one.

Fixed stations should have minimum equipment of a 40W 2m transceiver.  It is suggested that communicators assigned to the rest stops may want to use a portable base station setup such as a 10 to 15 foot mast and base antenna of at least 3dB gain. Be prepared to run without commercial power.  Power is not available at all rest stop locations.

Be prepared to support you equipment.  Make sure that you have a copy of the equipment manuals, spare fuses and any additional support equipment you may need.

Since I am going to be in Net Control both days I need someone to take over as SAG Coordinator for the event.  You would need to be at SAG staging in the morning to make sure drivers and communicators have all the information and supplies including lunches they need, and check SAGs in at the end of the day. 

Additionally, I need volunteers for route marking.  Markers go out on the days before the event and put up directional signs and paint arrows on the roads to guide the cyclists along the routes.  Depending on the number of volunteers this can be a one or two day job.

I'm trying to eliminate multiple requests for information, so if you are able to volunteer, please email the following information to me at gatewaysag@...:

·         Full name

·         E-mail address

·         Cell phone (for day of ride use only)

·         T-shirt size

·         Call sign

·         Desired assignment - mobile communicator (SAG, Situation/Medical, Rest Stop Coordinator or truck), driver (SAG or truck) or Rest Stop communicator

·         For mobile communicators--

o   Do you have your own wiring harness, or do you need us to provide one?  If so, power pole or T-connector?

o   Do you have an APRS tracker or do you need us to provide one?

·         Do you have any physical or other restrictions that might affect the assignment you are given?

Final assignments are usually made about two weeks before the event.

If you want to be removed from my email list, please let me know.

Routes are still being developed.  The web site for the ride is

---https://mssociety.donordrive.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=donorDrive.event&eventID=568

For more information, contact:

Al Guise

KD0BFG

gatewaysag@...

314-496-7601

One last thing - I have thoroughly enjoyed being involved with this event for the last twenty plus years and have made a lot of friends, and don't plan to end my involvement anytime soon.  However, I am ready to scale back and turn this over to new hands.  If you're interested in getting more involved, let me know and we can talk about how you might fit in.