San Antonio Hams

Here is the video you’ve all be waiting for. The video is about 9 minutes in length, with some narration and sound tracks left untouched.  Some titles added to explain what is going on, or to inform the viewer about all the work the ham radio operators are doing.   Would have liked to have included some photos or video of the ground to air lightening strikes at the Finish line, but we’re working with what I shot myself.

I inserted only a few still photos in the video, but not many, so if you want to see the photos, please visit the earlier posting made to this blog.  I’m willing to post more photos taken by other hams, if they send them to me.  <hint, hint>

Here is the video, courtesy of YouTube.com where it is hosted.

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In the beginning there was a plan, and the plan was deemed good!   Then Mother Nature decided to change the plans, and that’s where the flexibility and training of the BikeMS ham radio operators came into play.

My original assignment was to be SAG7 and supervise 3 other SAG vans (SAG #2, #14 & #25) for special duty between the Day 1 Start Line at the Alamo Dome and the entrance to Ft. Sam Houston base.   When that was done, we were to pop up to Sattler, TX and get staged  for the River Road segment of the route.

I was not originally supposed to be the “Turtle” bringing up the rear, but due to last minute changes on the route, the ham (Lyle KB5BSU) who was supposed be “Turtle” after marking the course with signs, got busy relocating signs to mark the new route and never made it back to the Alamo Dome in time for the start.  Then the Safety Officer declared River Road to be unsafe due to flooding in the area, and closed that segment of the route completely, shutting down BP6, 7 and 8 in the process.  (BP6 and 8 were actually the same BP, but rider were to pass thru twice.)

So that is how SAG 7 became the defacto “Turtle” to bring up the rear of the bike riders.  We had quite a few riders ride past the Alamo itself, only to decide they really didn’t want to ride in the rain all that much.  So they poised for photos of themselves in front of the Alamo, called their friends to come pick them up, and the Turtle moved on, looking for more riders needing help.    SAG #14 found a rider under the bridge at Broadway and IH-35 needing a flat changed, and SAG #25 picked up a couple of riders asking to be taking direct to BP1 for bike repairs.  SAG #2 decided to turn left into the base, instead of right to go around the base, but fortunately for him, the guard decided to let him and his wife drive their SAG van thru the base instead of shooting them instead. 🙂   

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2009 ALAMO RIDE to the RIVER
MY PERSONAL THANKS

The first BikeMS: Ride to the River is over and it was quite the event.  As you all know, Saturday started with rain and it continued all day.  The weather deteriorated all day forcing a multitude of changes such as the closure of the River Road Century Extension, the move of the Lunch location, the move of Breakpoint 4, and the re-routing of the course into New Braunfels. 

All of these major changes were forced after the start of the ride and all of them were made very smoothly.  These changes went smoothly in no small part to you, the Amateur Radio operators.  You reported to your locations on-time and prepared to provide communications. 

 The flexibility of the Amateur Radio community is it’s hallmark and you proved that again this weekend.  My thanks to the Breakpoint Operators, the Shadows for the officials, the medical team and safety team.  By providing essential communications under adverse conditions you helped to make this ride both successful and safe.

 As Saturday’s weather continued to worsen with extreme rain, fog and ground lighting strikes, the ride was cut short.  The SAG and Motor Marshal Teams were fantastic, getting hundreds of riders off the course in these extreme conditions.  Read the rest of this entry »

I thought that might get your attention! 🙂

BikeMS Valero 2009 Ride To The River is needing a few more reliable hams to serve as police shadows during the upcoming BikeMS event on October 3rd and 4th. You get to ride in the front (passenger) seat of a police patrol car for this 2 day event, operating your ham radio and passing instructions to/from the officer via Ham Radio Net Control.

All BikeMS volunteers must pass a background check for criminal and driving records, but you won’t want to volunteer to get in your assigned patrol car if you have outstanding warrants, or the 2 day trip might get longer. Fortunately for us, the majority of hams in our area don’t generally worrry about warrants, since they tend to keep their noses clean (legal wise at least). I don’t personally know of any hams that would be affected by this background check.

What would you need in order to volunteer?

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During their April 24, 2009 meeting of the members, the San Antonio Repeater Organization (SARO) was presented a plaque in recognition of the club’s service in support of the BikeMS Bike to the Beach event held last October.

Tony Ralf KE5ZT (National MS Society) presented the plaque to SARO club president Erik Olsen WB5ZJQ during a special presentation at Martha’s Mexican Restaurant.

It is with great sadness that I report that Gil Mathis AA5XH passed away this morning around 2am (03/25/2009) at a local hospital.  Gil was 76, having been born on December 25, 1932.  He had been admitted to the hospital on February 16th after showing signs of a stroke.  He was transferred to rehab, where he suffered another stroke and was diagnosed with Stage 4 Cancer. Cancer was found in his left lung and had spread to other parts of his body.

Gil was retired from the U. S. Army and later from a career at Industrial Communications as a service technician. He was a longtime member of the San Antonio Repeater Organization, where he was loved by all. He was a currently serving Director for the San Antonio Radio Club as well. Gil was very active in public service events such as the (formerly called) BikeMS Bike to the Beach and Tour de Cure.   Gil earned his Extra Class ham license in February 1992 and his prior call was KI5MO.

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SAN ANTONIO’S 2009 bikeMS RIDE

CHANGES COME TO AN OLD FRIEND

By H. Milton Johnson, N5HMJ

On Feb. 18, the rumors about changes to the “Bike to the Beach” were confirmed.  In a press conference held at the Alamodome, Tony Ralf of the Lone Star Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society announced the changes.  Here is a summary of those changes:

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In case you have not heard, the 2008 Bike MS: Valero Bike to the Beach Awards and Volunteer Appreciation Party is Thursday, December 4, 2008.

Here are the details:
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By H. Milton Johnson – N5HMJ

It was hot and windy!

Well the 2008 Bike to the Beach has been come and gone. On the weekend of October 3rd and 4th, over three thousand bicycle riders left the start line at the AT&T Center in San Antonio and started an approximately 160-mile, two day trip to Whataburger Field in Corpus Christi.

Shepherding the riders like guardian angels, was a cadre of volunteers that included sixty-seven of your fellow amateur radio operators. An operation on this scale requires providing the riders with medical teams, safety teams, mechanical repair teams, the pre-positioning of large amounts of food and water, marking 160 miles of course, an army of support and gear vans and a communications system that can function efficiently over the 160 miles.

This is one giant logistical operation and at the heart of logistics is communications. In order to deploy your resources you have to know where your resources are, where they are needed and be able to direct them to the point of need. It is the amateur radio community that provides the communications infrastructure, equipment and man power to make this happen. We have every right to be proud of the service we provide to our community during this and other events.

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Tomorrow and the next day, October 4th and 5th, over 70 hams will work together, driving SAG vans, manning Break Points, riding in police cars (front seat) as shadows, riding with medical supervisors and first responders, and handling net control.

And one crazy ham, Royce KA5OHJ, will drive a street sweeper from San Antonio to Beeville on Saturday, starting out shortly after 5am, and then repeat the process on Sunday by driving it along the side of the highway from Beeville to Corpus Christi.

Photo shows Royce sweeping BP2 on Day 1, which was a VIA park and ride parking lot with lots and lots of loose gravel. Photo was inserted after the event, despite this article originally being posted before the event.  It’s called editing. Click on photo for larger view.

The reason?  Valero Bike to the Beach. 3,000 bicycle riders who are riding from San Antonio, down Hwy 181 to Beeville on Saturday, then continuing on down the highway to Portland and then over to Corpus Christi.  10 break points (counting lunch) on day 1, 6 break points (counting lunch) on day 2.

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