Assignment Types

This is an overview of the various assignments that we seek to fill for the bike tour. Unless otherwise indicated assignments are for BOTH days of the bike tour.

  • Most assignments will start at 5:00am Saturday.
  • Two day assignments can last until 6:30pm Sunday.
  • Most assignments complete prior to 6:30pm on Sunday.
  • There are a range of one day assignments on Saturday or Sunday too, so there are varying levels of time commitment available.
  • The full detailed list of assignments available varies each year, but the main ones are outlined in the below section.

Assignment Categories

    • Houston Command Post
      • DAY / TIME VARIES BY ASSIGNMENT
      • The HCP (Houston Command Post) is set up at the Lone Star Chapter MS Offices that are by Reliant Stadium. It is in operation 24 hrs a day from before the bike tour starts on Saturday to late Sunday night. All Ham Radio repeater systems used on the ride get linked back to the HCP where they get monitored and controlled by Net Control operators. The 1-800 number for the tour goes to the phones setup here and APRS location information gets displayed for tracked resources along the bike tour route. Hams act as Net Control Operators for the various nets (ham and other) as well as answer incoming calls.
    • Break Point
      • ONE OR TWO DAYS
      • TIME VARIES BY BREAK POINT
      • A fixed location station is set up at the break point to facilitate communication with supply trucks, medical teams, SAG vehicles, and tour officials. The ham stationed here will interface with the Break Point Manager and other leads at the break point. This is often the go-to location at the break point for updated information on the ride. The portable setup will is self-contained and power to operate the station comes from a vehicle battery or other means.
    • SAG Stop Communicators
      • ONE OR TWO DAYS
      • TIME VARIES BY BREAK POINT
      • Teams of Ham Radio Operators and CERT Team members that assist with the dispatching of SAG vehicles as they approach a SAG Stop at a Break Point. Hams communicate with SAGs via business band radios to give instructions and directions. Though most communication is over non-ham radios, the hams on the team utilize Ham Radios to assist with coordination. In SOME cases the hams of this team may also act as the Break Point communications for the break point (details listed above).
    • Stadium Start
      • SATURDAY MORNING ONLY
      • A Ham or a small group of Hams get stationed at the three (3) starting points on Saturday to provide communication for the start line and race officials located there.
    • Supply Trucks
      • BOTH DAYS
      • ALL DAY
      • Hams get paired with a supply truck for the duration of the bike tour. They provide a communication link between the supply truck and various break points, tour officials, and Houston Command Post. The ham will temporarily setup their mobile radio in the supply truck.
    • Motorcycle Marshall
      • BOTH DAYS
      • ALL DAY
      • This resource is coordinated by another group separate from communications. Please check out their website for additional information HERE.
      • Motorcycle Riders who have gone through special training to provide bike traffic and rider support along the bike tour. A good portion of them are also Ham Radio Operators and have radios setup on their motorcycle allowing them to also call in incidents and request other support when needed.
    • SAG Vehicle
      • BOTH DAYS
      • ALL DAY
      • Volunteers who are driving a 15 passenger van OR a box truck paired with a bus that drive along the route. The vans will pickup riders who have bike problems or who are unable to continue and they give them a ride to the next break point. The box truck and bus combos are the heavy lifters and focus their use on transporting riders from break point to break point. A good portion of the SAG drivers are also Hams Radio Operators (either the driver is or navigator or both) and they provide additional logistical communication links among the SAGs. They temporarily setup their mobile radios in the vehicle.
    • Bike Tour Official
      • BOTH DAYS
      • ALL DAY
      • Hams get paired with various bike tour officials and their vehicles. They provide the communication link between other bike tour officials, Break Points, Medical Leads, Houston Command Post, and other resources. The hams will setup their mobile radio in the assigned vehicle and in some cases also carry a hand held radio. They will also assist the tour official in the use of any of the commercial radios that may be assigned to them.
    • Communications Support
      • BOTH DAYS
      • ALL DAY
      • Hams get assigned to a communications support van or their own vehicle and work the route providing communication support for the ride, but focus on dealing with radio communication issues that may arise and transporting some hams to and from their assignments each day.

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