Everybody is likely familiar with the American Diabetes Tour de Cure bicycle rides. San Antonio held theirs last May and Austin will holding their 2-day event in September. There are also rides held in Corpus Christi (April) and a new one being held in Laredo later this year that could use some ham help in the future.
If you have an Emergency Go-Kit, this is the perfect opportunity to dust it off and test it. If you have a mast and portable beam antenna available, this would be a great time to use it. Mobile radios will be required on high power. A few locations might, maybe, be close enough to the repeaters to hit, or at least monitor using your HT, but don’t count on it.
The 2-day Austin Central Texas Tour de Cure ride this year, will start in Dripping Springs, loop out west around Blanco, TX, and then head south on Saturday over to Gruene, TX, just north of New Braunfels. On Sunday, that 2-day ride will leave Gruene and wander north thru Wimberley, on it’s way back to Dripping Springs of course.
This ride is a bit different from those we have supported with ham radio communications in the past. Their SAG vehicles are provided by the Austin based ABC Commercial Services company (formerly ABC Pest Control with that Ant Eater logo). Rest stop supplies are coordinated by Austin Energy vehicles, with a few Penske trucks thrown in for good measure. So that leaves mostly Rest Stops that need ham radio communications, plus a few trouble shooter hams that will be roaming the route in support of the MSET-TX motorcycle EMS group.
We’ve got some hams from the Hays / Caldwell ARC on board, thanks to Mike Wilmore KF5ACH. Jeff Schmidt N5MNW is the overall ham coordinator, operating from the Austin / Dripping Springs main hub. Lee Besing N5NTG is coordinating from the south end of the route. Primary net control will be in Dripping Springs, with a backup net control in Gruene at the Saturday finish line. Frequencies are being tested and will likely be using IRLP linked repeaters on 2 meters, but that may change depending upon the testing.
If you can help out either or both days, please contact Jeff Schmidt at n5mnw@arrl.net and Lee Besing at info@SanAntonioHams.org. If you are a member of Hayes Caldwell ham club, please contact Mike Wilmore at mikewilmore@me.com.
