The event was a great success, and raised more money for the ADA than they had expected.  Thanks to the many hams and clubs who participated.

There are several pages of pictures in the RARS gallery to show you what the event looked like, at least from the ham's view.  Check out: pictures from the 2001 tour

For now, the rest of this web site is "leftover" from the 2000 Tour.  We'll spruce it up for 2001 a few months before that event begins.

Thanks again, everyone!

73,
Gary KN4AQ

These pages provide information for the Amateur Radio volunteers for the American Diabetes Association Tour de Cure, from Raleigh to the Outer Banks in North Carolina.

The Tour de Cure is a fundraising bike tour.  There are Tour de Cure  rides all across the country every year, and Amateur Radio provides logistics and safety communications for many of them.

For general information on the Tour de Cure, call the ADA : 1 (888) Diabetes (342-2383), or stop by their web page at http://www.diabetes.org/adanc/.

This Tour de Cure is a two-day, 175 mile bike tour.  2001 is the first year for this Tour, so it's hard to predict how many cyclists will participate.  Similar tours in the area draw between 300 and 500.  The Amateur Radio coordinators have years of experience on similar tours for other organizations, but this is a new route, with new repeaters and hopefully many new volunteers.

We provide communications between the event organizers, the rest stops, the SAG wagons, medical personnel, start and finish lines,  and supply truck.  We handle messages ranging from the routine, like a request for more cups and water at a rest stop, to emergency calls for police and an ambulance if there's been an accident.  We use VHF-FM and repeaters for our communication links.  And if we get the hams to set it up, we would like to use APRS packet for some position reporting.

Here are the details of what we do, and what you'll need to do it:

• Shadow the Tour organizers.  The ADA officials know all the answers (they'd deny that, but it's true) and make the decisions.  We keep them in touch with each other, and with the rest of the volunteers on the route.  We "shadow" them -- that is, we have a ham operator follow their every move.

 

 
 
 
 
 

To do this, the ham needs flexible equipment - a handheld radio and crossband repeat mobile are ideal.  All of the route is within mobile range of the repeater, but much of the route is in fringe territory, and a handheld won't make it.  But you're not going to tie these people to a car, and you're not going to be running back and forth from the ADA person to your car to relay messages.  Once you've left them, you'll never find them again!  A crossband mobile repeater and HT give you the flexibility you need, and you need to know how to use it.  For example, do you know how to set up one-way crossband repeat? 

You may be in your own vehicle, or you may need to set up in the ADA official's vehicle, so be prepared with a magnet mount antenna and cigarette lighter plug.  And, since they often want to use that power plug for their cell phone, you might pick up a cigarette lighter power splitter.
 

• Rest Stops, Starting Line, Finish Line.  There are seven rest stops Saturday, and nine Sunday, one about every 10 miles.  Some of these stops have medical personnel and a mechanic.  Cyclists who see trouble on a route report it to the rest stop.  Each rest stop is staffed by a ham to provide communications.

 

 
 
 
 
 

Some of the rest stops are in fringe terrritory for the repeaters.  All operators can expect to need a full-power mobile radio.  Rest Stop operators will use their own vehicle.

We also cover the Start and Finish areas (Zebulon, Williamston, Manteo).  Stations assigned to Zebulon and Manteo will need a full-power mobile radios, preferably equipped with crossband repeat capability.
 

• SAG Wagons.  For the first time at the 2001 Tour de Cure, hams will provide ALL SAG Wagons.  We're not recruiting "ride-along" operators for non-ham SAGS - there won't be any.  We need lots of hams with SAG-capable vehicles (room for two or more passengers and bikes, in safety and reasonable comfort.  That means no people riding in the back of a pickup truck).

 

 
 
 
 
 

The hams in each SAG Wagon are dispatched to riders needing assistance, and report trouble or accidents.  Radio communication can also help keep the SAGs from getting bunched up on one part of the route (usually the lunch stop) while leaving other parts uncovered.  SAG wagons  keep track of where the first and last riders are, and keep count so rest stops know how many more cyclists are yet to arrive.  Dick Orander KD4ISC is the SAG coordinator.

During similar events last year, there were more than 10 SAG (Support And Gear) Wagons on the course.  These are anything from large vans to pick-up trucks to cars with bike racks.  They roam the route, looking for emergencies, break-downs, and worn-out riders who need a ride at least to the next rest stop.  They are not required to be equipped for bike repair, so bikes with mechanical trouble are sagged to the next rest stop. 

If you have a vehicle capable of carrying two or more bikes and riders safely, then volunteer as a SAG.  (Mileage for anyone driving their own vehicle is tax deductible).
 

• Additional Safety Vehicles/Motorcycles.  When available, radio-equipped motorcycles provide more eyes on the road, and can keep tabs on the first and last riders, freeing SAGS to keep working with people.

 
• Supply Truck.  The supply truck drops off tables, snacks and water for each rest stop before the tour begins each day, and picks it all up at the end of the day.  The radio operator keeps the ADA organizers up to date on the progress of the truck, and lets them redirect it if needed.

 

 
 
 
 
 

The supply truck operator should plan on using a full-power mobile with a magnet mount antenna, but you must be flexible.  Sometimes there's no cigarette lighter in the truck, and sometimes a plastic truck body makes magnet mount antennas a problem.  A rear-view mirror mount, and cables to run to the battery may be required.
 

• Some notes on equipment.  If you're operating handheld, you'll need a spare battery - probably two, and you'll need to be able to charge them all overnight.  You drain a lot of current on this event.  The channel is almost always busy with communication, and many operators do a lot of transmitting.

 
• And on "human support."  The rest stops have water, snacks, and porta-potties, and everyone will be near one often.  You may end up out in the sun a lot, so you'll want sunscreen and probably a hat.  Breakfast, lunch and dinner are available both days.  Hams are welcome to join the cyclists at all meals, but those "on the road" may prefer to grab a bite on the run. 

 

 
 
 
 
 

An attempt is always made to feed the volunteers at rest stops who may not make it to lunch... this has not always been successful, so you may want to pack a sandwich.  If you want Coke or beverages other than water and "power drinks," bring them along, too.  We hams usually head off to a local restrurant for a group dinner Saturday night, and on the way home Sunday afternoon.

And although there are medical people on the route, a first-aid kit can come in handy.
 

• Overnight lodging in Williamston - camping is available free at the Green Acres campground, south of Williamston.  That's where the Satuday finish/Sunday start is, and where the cyclists will be camping.  If you prefer a motel in Williamston, the ADA has rooms and rates set up at these motels:

 
• The Holiday Inn - 252-792-3184 - $58.95
• Comfort Inn - 252-792-8400 - $58.95
• Days Inn - 252-792-4168 - $49.00