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Rona MS Grand Bend - London Bike Tour, 2011

Here are some files:

The briefing document, including checkpoint assignments and maps

The Net Control log (a bit cryptic, but readable)

RONA MS Bike Tour Bits 'n Pieces  Steve VA3TDZ's video of MS Tour action at the Lobo church checkpoint

Here are some of the considerations for our post event review. Feedback and suggestions are most welcome, and can be made during the Wednesday ARES net or by email to the webmaster link at the bottom of this page.

  1. The PA system Mike ACW had was quite useful - should all checkpoints be equipped with this?
  2. Need to recommend MS Society ("MSS") have a vehicle that goes to the checkpoints as they get near the end of the riders, and transports leftover food and maybe water ahead to checkpoints that still need it. The final cleanup truck is too late, and a lot of food gets wasted as a result.
  3. Riders were asking hams about the tour route and distance to next checkpoint. Suggest MSS provide large map at each checkpoint with a "you are here" arrow, and distance summary.
  4. Need to ensure we allocate radios with high power and good antennas to locations where they are most needed.
  5. Tracking the passenger vans is always an issue. Should we put Ham riders on each one to be able to track each one, redirect it if needed, and find out how much passenger space is still available on it? Might be a problem with ham occupying a space that could carry a cyclist.
  6. We should do a better job of advertising who we are, and what we're doing. Mike ACW's writing on his van windows was a good start, but we should be consistent, and make our contribution known. MSS has aalready OK'd this.
  7. Having Net run from a base station at a London home worked out well, and allowed computer access for logging, weather and radar info, and a reliable telephone landline. Could use  a second person to assist, and might expand to have a MSS and Voyageur person at the net control location. Consider doing this from Byron EOC as a test, or Salvation Army Radio Rom, or Red Cross....
  8. Do we need to have a Ham at the start or finish locations? Might help to track vans.
  9. Day-glo vests to identify Hams visually worked out well, and they're inexpensive.
  10. Having 2 ham operators at each checkpoint is ideal. Most checkpoints had one at mobile, and a rover chasing down various issues, using simplex, FRS, GMRS, or talk around to communicate back to other ham. If we put hams on vans, may have to use non-hams as rovers?
  11. Should we look into other services we can do as par of the MS Tour support? Support other organizations like MS Tour?
  12. Need to get sweeps to do proper checkin like they're supposed to, as their status is a frequent question from everyone
  13. Can we use APRS messaging (data under voice on same repeaters) to automate messages to MSS Logistics?
  14. Should we set up for Net control to record traffic, for quick review, or historic record?
  15. Should we have a Ham bird dog the MSS coordinators (Lori and Amanda) to make Logistics requests more efficient? Space in a truck cab could be an issue, but bird dog could follow in car with mobile, and maybe use FRS for quick contact.
Let us know what you think, and thanks for helping out!

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