This year’s San Antonio American Diabetes Association Tour de Cure bicycle event on May 14, 2016, will once again start / end at the Texas A&M University, located on the south side of San Antonio, near Loop 410 and University Way / Zarzamora Rd (outside the loop). The start/finish line will be on the interior road just north of the primary building cluster as usual. There will be multiple distance routes, with the shorter length routes splitting off to return to the finish line sooner. The 100+ plus mile route is the most challenging, heading out toward Elmendorf before dropping south to Pleasanton and then curving up thru Poteet and near Somerset before returning to the finish line. Last year we had nearly 1,200 riders.
Members of the Atascosa County Amateur Radio Club were the first to volunteer to help us out once again. Thanks
Ham Radio operators are needed to staff 9-10 rest stops, plus provide net control back at the University. We may use a personal vehicle or two as turtle vehicles (using APRS if possible), plus 10 primary SAG vans/trucks which need to be ham radio operator equipped or driven for this event.
Volunteers get a free t-shirt. SAG Vans are provided and fuel is provided, so no money for fuel or rent will be out of pocket for the drivers. Rest stop volunteers do not get their fuel reimbursed, sorry. But you get to test out your Ham Radio Go-Kit setup, or just use your mobile radio and test the life of your car’s battery. 🙂
This event is on a Saturday, May 14th, and will run from around 7am to 4pm for the longer routes. Obviously the rest stops closer to the front, or on the shorter routes only, will get released much sooner. This is a one day event, covering parts of Bexar, Wilson and Atascosa counties.
Assignments will be on a first asked, first assigned basis. I am making the opportunity available to help run the net control station and to get some net control experience, for those who are tired of doing the same ole stuff each year. Also on a first asked, first assigned basis.
For more information, or to volunteer, please contact Lee Besing N5NTG via email at info@sanantoniohams.org or by voice/text to 210-771-7075. Note that my current working shift is at night, so do not expect me to answer the phone before noon most days.
