From the beginning, the amateur radio community has provided critical route safety support for the National Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Society bike fund raisers. We are called in for several of their races in Minnesota: the MS City Ride, the MS-150 (two days, 150 miles), and the Ride Across Minnesota, which usually runs four to five days.

We had big changes for this year’s 150. The course used to run from Duluth/Proctor, Minnesota, about 75 miles to an overnight in Hinckley, and then another 75 miles to the Twin Cities. The stretch required the use of many repeaters, and there were four rest/medical stops on each daily ride. We lost our overnight lease in Hinckley, so there was a course change to the southwest. The overnight was near St. Peter. Our leadership rounded up some hams in that area to help us.

Normally, a large net control station/operation is set up as we also take emergency calls from the riders. An MS Society staff member sits in net control as Incident Commander. We drive eight supply and gear (SAG) vans designed for non-emergency transport of lightly injured or tired participants. There were about 2,200 riders this year, who organized donations of $1.4 million. This is an operations role versus the normal AUXC comms support tasking.

I was unable to attend the first day this year, but was involved in the planning. A request came in to use our new-to-us large ex-FEMA 32-foot comms trailer. The trailer was donated to Minnesota VOAD, and is intended to coordinate large scale disaster recovery. Our trailer needed more testing and an actual live deployment. At 7,000 pounds, it takes a major effort to tow it 60 miles. We also used our Starlink capability. There were calls and meetings about the trailer: who had the Starlink Wi-Fi password; why the door key did not work; was there a bad wheel bearing, etc.

We had another wrinkle. We usually rent passenger vans with trailers. These could handle eight bikes and riders. This year, however, bikes and riders had to fit in the hitch-less vans, reducing our capacity. Event leadership is focused on SAG response and wait times. We, as usual, had non-ham motorcycle volunteers and support van drivers who could be rapidly on scene to incidents to respond and assess the situation. These were coordinated via Zello@Work. Rented UHF business band radios were ditched years ago due to poor rural coverage.

I accidentally signed up for rest stops versus ham radio support. I checked the current first aid and AED box. Then I got a note that I was assigned Rest Stop Lead for the Montgomery stop, and an invite to the Leads call. I called the Comms Lead: he said he was well stocked with hams. Then I got another note — the Chamber of Commerce stepped up at #2 stop and instead could we just assist at #3 stop.

On Sunday morning, I arrived at the site with donuts at 0630. There was a large rented tent, a pile of tables, and a row of portable toilets, but no supplies. I looked at the ICS-205 communications plan, and called Net Control to report this. Moments later, a convoy of trucks and cars appeared with our supplies.

The first aid kit was unloaded and I gathered the leadership and asked who had current first aid credentials. The site lead was a 28-year retired paramedic, check. No one else spoke up. It was later revealed one of the hams was a retired paramedic and firefighter. I was the least trained but still with current credentials, so I was the standby reserve backup.

The day went well. We were busy and the riders were happy; they thanked us. The weather was good but there was a steady headwind the rest of the 34 miles. Sunscreen was a popular request. A hose rig was used to fill water bottles — a ham had the only tool that could open the handle-less water valve at the park and we had to improvise a rubber washer for the leaking water system. We struggled with SAG capacity, but teamwork, planning, and professionalism from the hams and team paid off.

Conclusion

We use an unusual radio system: SAG vans are controlled by the nearest rest stop. I would vote for a central database under the direction of net control as each rider has an event bib number. Jason Godfrey, NØRPM, has been writing an application for this event that combines APRS® and Zello data, which seems ideal. An open ticket dashboard has been a popular emergency manager request. Peter Corbett, KD8GBL, is adding a dashboard like this to our Trivnet system as we speak. My only comment on these systems: We and our EMS/911 partners never, ever talk about or record actual person-specific medical conditions over radio or on unencrypted data platform as this enters the realm of HIPAA privacy where we, unless directed, never go. That you need a medic at a location does not seem to be private.

At these Multiple Sclerosis Society events, we meet a lot of MS patients, who are sincerely grateful for our efforts. MS Society staff was careful to greet and thank us each personally. It is nice to feel wanted. — Erik Westgard, NY9D, Assistant Section Emergency Coordinator for Events, ARRL Minnesota Section