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Director's Shadow

A Director's Shadow is partnered with a National MS Society staff member to provide communications concerning important issues and problems that arise during the event.

Experience working a NMSS event is preferred.

End Location

This HAM is stationed at the finish location for each day.

In the event of a medical emergency, this HAM notifies the event staff so that they can prepare for the arrival of the cyclist's family (retrieve the cyclist's belongings, etc.).

Please see the Sagger-Do page for more information.

Motorcycle Monitors

Motorcycle Monitors monitor the flow of the bicycles, assist law enforcement officers with traffic control if requested, and communicate with medical volunteers.

Motorcycle Monitors will need HAM radio capability on the motorcycle. All Motorcycle Monitors are required to wear a helmet.

Please see the Sagger-Do page for more information.

JOB DESCRIPTION: MOTORCYCLE RIDE MARSHAL

PURPOSE: Provide safety at key intersections and along the route

Special Note -- Please see also the Safety Team and SAG Wagon job descriptions.

•	Check in each day to pick up your reflective vest, route guide, and cue sheets
•	Patrol the route in your assigned section. You may be asked to: act as lead vehicle for the cyclists, you may ride with the main bulk of the cyclists and remind them to ride single file, you may be asked to go directly to an intersection to provide bicycle traffic control (you should never have to stop motorists or other vehicles).
•	Communicate with SAG Wagons and HAM radio operators whenever you see them along the route. They are in direct contact with ride organizers and will know where you are needed.
•	When patrolling the route, drive with your hazard light flashing. Drive cautiously. Keep alert, and look for signs that might indicate trouble (such as a bike at the side of the road with no rider in sight). Don’t shadow riders; it makes them nervous.
•	Please be flexible. The benefit of having motorcycles on the ride is that they are so mobile. You may, therefore, be asked to change assignment or wear lots of different hats over the course of the weekend. We appreciate your help!

Physician's Shadow

Physician's Shadows are partnered with a physician mobile on the route. Your team will be responding to any medical situation that may arrise during the ride. These situations can vary greatly from road-rash to broken bones to diabetic crisis.

You may be the first on the scene of an accident. You must have a reliable mobile radio and be able to effectively communicate your location at all times.

Please see the Sagger-Do page for more information.

Rest Stops

Cyclists stop at rest stops for food, drink, medical support, mechanical support or just to simply take a break. Each route has at least six rest stops.

Rest Stop HAM Operators provide communications concerning supplies and medical problems at the rest stops. When you first arrive at your rest stop, introduce yourself to the rest stop Captain, the bike mechanics, and the medical person. Explain that you are there to provide communications with the event organizers. Very early during the net, the net control will ask you the status of your rest stop. You then reply that you are fully staffed, have all your supplies, and are set up and ready to go.

Take names! When a supply truck pulls into your rest stop, note the truck number (ie.: NC6) and ask the driver his name. Keeping track of the trucks that come to your rest stop will help the net run more smoothly should a particular truck or driver need to be found.

Things to take with you: a personal water bottle (cups are not provided at the rest stops), folding chair, and personal shade (ie: umbrella/tarp). Generally, a mobile rig is necessary to reach the repeaters. Many HAMs carry a handi-talkie so that they can listen to the net while they are away from their vehicle. When called by net control, they go back to their mobile rig to reply.

SAG (Support and Gear)

SAGs are volunteers who drive the support vehicles along the bike route to pick up riders and bikes as needed. Vans with bike racks and pick-up trucks are the preferred vehicles for transporting bikes and cyclists. SAG drivers need to be able to drive and maneuver through tight cyclist and pedestrian areas. You will need to be able to load bicycles onto your vehicle sometimes without assistance. You may be first on the scene of an accident and must be able to effectively communicate your location at all times.

Please see the Sagger-Do page for more information.

SAGS DEFINED
SAG stands for Support and Gear. Regular SAG vehicles (usually pick-up trucks or vans) patrol back and forth between each rest stop to transport a cyclist and their bike ahead one rest stop for mechanical or medical reasons, or just because they’re tired. Emergency bicycle repairs provided by volunteer mechanics from sponsoring bike shops will be available at each rest stop.

JOB DESCRIPTION: SAG WAGON (Driver/Assistant)
PURPOSE: Transportation and communications along the route

•	Check in each day to pick up your box of water, food, and SAG banner.
•	Secure the banner and the flag to your vehicle.
•	Transport cyclists needing repairs or minor medical attention forward to next stop.
•	Pick up anyone who's simply too tired to pedal. If cyclists don't want to ride anymore that day, let them know they can leap-frog via SAG up to the lunch stop where the Super SAG can take them straight to the finish line.
•	Offer water, supportive words and a smile when you pick up a cyclist.
•	Pick up volunteers if more support is needed at a rest stop.
•	Transport food, water or supplies if a rest stop has a shortage.
•	Fill out the appropriate forms for each transport.
•	When patrolling the route, drive with your hazard lights flashing. Drive cautiously. Keep alert, and look for signs that might indicate trouble (such as a bike at the side of the road with no rider in sight). Don't shadow riders; it makes them nervous.
•	Remember: as the day goes on riders grow wearier and more of them will be shuttling.
•	Each SAG may have to cover more than one assignment. After the sweep spells you from your first assignment, use the HAM to request another assignment farther down the route.
•	Whenever you pass a police officer supporting the bike ride with traffic control at an intersection, share your food and a drink of water.
•	At the end of Saturday, turn in your supply box at Broadway. It will be restocked and waiting for you Sunday morning.
•	Completed incident report forms should be given to the HAM to be forwarded to net control.

Medical Emergencies -- IMPORTANT INFORMATION

• Review samples of all incident report forms prior to the bike ride. Fill out for any incident.
• In the case of severe medical problems, do not move the rider. Radio for paramedic support.
• Address the Crisis Management Plan.

SUPPLIES:
Food
Water
SAG banner and flag
First Aid box
SAG Manual/Handbook
Route/Map
Route marking kit with 3 colors of arrows

Start Location

The HAM at the Start location needs to arrive very early in the morning, but the working day is short. As soon as everyone has left the start location, the HAM is done for the day.

On Saturday morning, the Start location HAM directs the SAG and Medical HAMs where to pick up their supplies for the day.

In the event of a medical emergency, this HAM notifies the event staff so that they can prepare for the arrival cyclist's family (retrieve the cyclist's belongings, etc.).

Please see the Sagger-Do page for more information.

Sweep / Broom

The Sweep HAM drives behind the last cyclist. This person notifies intersection monitors, police, and rest stop workers that the last cyclist has passed their location.

This position requires a lot of patience and a vehicle that won't overheat rolling at a slow speed all day.

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