Bike MS Suncoast Challenge Information
n4b...@gmail.com
Hi all,
My apologies for the delay in surfacing information about the upcoming tour. We are a few weeks out from the event, and I wanted to get some information in everyone’s hands to help prepare. I have created a roster based on responses for the event, and we still need help! Those of you local to the area, please invite your fellow hams to participate in this great event. We can use a few more SAGs and definitely need rest stop operators. If you know anyone interested in being a mobile unit, please have them reach out to me directly. If they’re interested in working a rest stop, please refer them to Darrell Davis kt4...@gmail.com for support. The only response I had for a rest stop was from Rob.
The frequency plan remains the same as last year. The trustee of NI4CE have extended permission for use of their Verna repeaters for our event. There are both analog and NXDN repeaters that will be linked:
442.950 (+5, 100.0)
444.3125 RAN 1 TG 1231
442.400 RAN 1 TG 1231 at Laurel
This site is also equipped with APRS, and we will once again use APRS for the event. For those without APRS RF ability, there are apps for both Android and iPhone that will allow beaconing. Mobile units, please plan to have APRS available one way or another and we will commence testing of individual units the week of the event.
Finally, the question I have received a lot is about background checks. Now that I have a solidified roster put together, I will reach out and have the Society send links to the mobile units
Here is the route information and rest stops:
Route maps: Bike MS Suncoast Challenge 2026 RWGPS
AREA: | REST STOP 1 | REST STOP 2 | REST STOP 3 | REST STOP 4 | REST STOP 5 |
SITE NAME: | Good Shepherd Lutheran Church & School | Osprey Junction Trailhead | Shamrock Park and Nature Center | Manasota Key Beach | New Hope Christian Church |
Street Address | 5659 Honore Ave | 939 Bay Street | 3900 Shamrock Dr | 8570 Manasota Key Rd | 2241 Kilpatrick Rd |
City/State/Zip | Sarasota, FL 34233 | Osprey, FL 34229 | Venice, FL 34285 | Englewood, FL 34223 | Nokomis, FL 34275 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mileage | 11.3 and 42.5/63.3/79 | 18.2 | 34.9 and 43.8 and 59.8 | 39.4 and 54.9 | 30.4/51.2/67.1 |
Route | ALL | 54/74/90 | 74/90 | 74/90 | 54/74/90 |
Volunteer Shift Time | 7:00 AM | 7:30 AM | 8:15 AM | 8:45 AM | 8:15 AM |
Open Time | 7:45 AM | 8:15 AM | 9:00 AM | 9:15 AM | 9:00 AM |
First Cyclist Arrival Time | 8:32 AM | 8:52 AM | 9:38 AM | 9:52 AM | 9:27 AM |
Last Cyclist Arrival Time | 2:59 PM | 10:42 AM | 11:41 AM | 12:12 PM | 1:55 PM |
Hard Closing Time | 3:30 PM | 11:00 AM | 12:15 PM | 12:45 PM | 2:30 PM |
Below is the current roster, with the exception of rest stop staffing. Darrell will be working on that.
Position | Location/Role | Name | Callsign |
SAG 1 | SAG Mobile | Dana Rodakis | K4LK |
SAG 3 | SAG Mobile | Gene Giblin | KK4GNU |
SAG 4 | SAG Mobile | Bill Aten | K4JZ |
SAG 5 | SAG Mobile | Greg Madore | K1MGR |
Rover 1 | Route Rover | Spike McKenzie | N3EBF |
Rover 2 | Route Rover | Dick Hillyer | W2RHW |
Motor 1 | Route Moto Rover | Arthur Smith | K4PEI |
Bike 1 | Bike Marshal | John O'Connor | KL4J |
Admin 1 | Staff Shadow | TBD | Brandon Watson | N4BGW |
Admin 2 | Staff Shadow | TBD | Scott Roberts | KK4ECR |
NCS | Net Control Station | Paul Toth | NB9X |
As always, thank you for your participation. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out.
73,
Brandon G. Watson, N4BGW
RACES Officer,
City of Coral Gables RACES
Club Secretary,
Dade Radio Club of Miami
Net Manager,
Miami-Dade County RACES
http://www.miamidaderaces.org/
Communications Chair,
Bike MS: Breakaway to the Palm Beaches
http://bikefls.nationalmssociety.org/
Confidentiality Notice: The information contained within this email is intended solely for the stated recipient of this transmission. If you have received this transmission in error, please notify the sender immediately by telephone. If you are not the intended recipient, please be advised that dissemination, distribution or copying of the information contained within this email is strictly prohibited.
Greg Madore
Sent: Tuesday, March 10, 2026 8:01 PM
To: bikems-cent...@googlegroups.com <bikems-cent...@googlegroups.com>
Cc: 'MICHAEL MCKENZIE' <sp...@myctl.net>; artsm...@gmail.com <artsm...@gmail.com>; geneg...@bellsouth.net <geneg...@bellsouth.net>
Subject: [bikeMS] Bike MS Suncoast Challenge Information
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n4b...@gmail.com
Previously we used !CT! for Citrus Tour, which is probably still acceptable.
Brandon G. Watson, N4BGW
RACES Officer,
City of Coral Gables RACES
Club Secretary,
Dade Radio Club of Miami
Net Manager,
Miami-Dade County RACES
http://www.miamidaderaces.org/
Communications Chair,
Bike MS: Breakaway to the Palm Beaches
http://bikefls.nationalmssociety.org/
Confidentiality Notice: The information contained within this email is intended solely for the stated recipient of this transmission. If you have received this transmission in error, please notify the sender immediately by telephone. If you are not the intended recipient, please be advised that dissemination, distribution or copying of the information contained within this email is strictly prohibited.
Greg Madore
To: bikems-cent...@googlegroups.com <bikems-cent...@googlegroups.com>
Cc: 'MICHAEL MCKENZIE' <sp...@myctl.net>; artsm...@gmail.com <artsm...@gmail.com>; geneg...@bellsouth.net <geneg...@bellsouth.net>
Dana Rodakis
From: bikems-cent...@googlegroups.com <bikems-cent...@googlegroups.com> on behalf ofn4b...@gmail.com <n4b...@gmail.com>
Brandon Watson
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To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/bikems-central-florida/6BFFD439-160C-4E40-8395-433358A3564D%40gmail.com.
Greg Madore
Sent: Thursday, March 12, 2026 2:38 PM
To: bikems-cent...@googlegroups.com <bikems-cent...@googlegroups.com>
Brandon Watson
Confidentiality Notice: The information contained within this email is intended solely for the stated recipient of this transmission. If you have received this transmission in error, please notify the sender immediately by telephone. If you are not the intended recipient, please be advised that dissemination, distribution or copying of the information contained within this email is strictly prohibited.
n4b...@gmail.com
Good evening all,
Thank you once again for your participation in the Bike MS: Suncoast Challenge. This event is an important part of the Bike MS series, which is the largest charity bike ride series in the world. I’m sure most of us know at least someone suffering with MS, for which there is currently no known cure. Our efforts help fuel the research to find this cure, so thank you for giving your time and energy to this event.
So there are a few updates I need to share with y’all to get everyone on the same page:
Event Frequencies: This week, Paul Toth toured the command post location (which is off-site and not a location mobile units will visit during the event), we discovered the room is a windowless dungeon of RF signal with no ability to hit the conventional UHF repeater. So, we are making a switch. And don’t panic. We will make this work. All event communications will occur on NXDN, and equipment will be issued to you for the event if you are not already NXDN capable. Please note for those of you who had the TG before that the TG has changed.
These are the frequencies/TGs:
Verna 444.3125 (+5, RAN 1) TG 1233
Laurel 442.4000 (+5, RAN 1) TG 1233
Thank you to the West Central Florida Group for use of their repeaters for this event.
Net Control: I don’t have to tell you that Net Control is in charge once things get rolling on Saturday morning. Paul Toth has graciously agreed to run the net this year. The event will use the West Central Florida Group special event call WQ4U. For you, they’re still “Net Control”. I have attached the standing Net SOP, the only change to the document is the callsign.
Mobile Units: All mobile units are to stage at the Lakewood Ranch start line. We will meet in the parking lot behind 8141 Lakewood Main St. Bradenton 34202. Please be there at 0630 for check in, time to get breakfast and volunteer shirts, and then we will do a brief meeting and then head out for Paul to give your initial assignments on the air. Since he will be remote from us, we will receive first assignments over the air. I’m also attaching the mobile SOP. Other than Mike’s contact info at the top from last year, all information remains the same. I am waiting to see if the staff has a site map for Lakewood Ranch I can send that shows the meeting location.
Sweep/Final Rider: A SAG unit will be assigned as the sweep vehicle, who will follow the last rider and make sure the course is clear. The sweep vehicle is the only vehicle who is designated to determine when the last rider has come through. In this instance, do not take it from law enforcement. SAG 1 will be the primary sweep vehicle this year, and we will swap him out with coverage as needed. On top of Dana, who volunteers for the slow job of bringing up the rear, we have two non-SAG rovers and a motorcycle this year, so expect that the tail end will pivot based on route needs. We do not have as many SAGs as we’d like, so there may be times we need to make that move.
Assignments: Here is the mobile unit roster. Darrell will be sending out information about the rest stop assignments shortly.
Admin 1 | Staff Shadow | Robin Nunley | Brandon Watson | N4BGW |
NCS | Net Control Station | Paul Toth | NB9X |
Vehicle Signage: Attached is the Vehicle Sign template. You can fill in your unit number and press print. Thanks to Bill Aten for providing that file.
Background Checks: Mobile units should have received background checks for driver checks as well as driver training. Please make sure the background check is completed ASAP.
Fuel: Fuel costs are covered by the Society via fuel cards to use during the event. You will receive it at the beginning of the event and it will need to be returned afterwards. Receipts MUST be turned in with them.
Maps: Dana has been nice enough again to make the “pretty maps”, which are attached. I recommend you print a copy to have with you.
If anyone has any questions, please feel free to reach out. Thank you again for your support and patience as we prepare. It’s hard to recruit when I live 200 miles away, so thank you all for your help.
73,
Brandon G. Watson, N4BGW
RACES Officer,
City of Coral Gables RACES
Club Secretary,
Dade Radio Club of Miami
Net Manager,
Miami-Dade County RACES
http://www.miamidaderaces.org/
Communications Chair,
Bike MS: Breakaway to the Palm Beaches
http://bikefls.nationalmssociety.org/
Confidentiality Notice: The information contained within this email is intended solely for the stated recipient of this transmission. If you have received this transmission in error, please notify the sender immediately by telephone. If you are not the intended recipient, please be advised that dissemination, distribution or copying of the information contained within this email is strictly prohibited.
From: n4b...@gmail.com <n4b...@gmail.com>
Sent: Tuesday, March 10, 2026 8:01 PM
To: bikems-cent...@googlegroups.com
Cc: 'MICHAEL MCKENZIE' <sp...@myctl.net>; artsm...@gmail.com; geneg...@bellsouth.net
Rob Jacobson
* All NXDN usage means we won't be able to use our higher power mobile
stations, and we won't be able to use cross band repeat, at rest stops.
* My NXDN radio is a simple thing with only buttons P1 through P4. I
don't use it enough to readily know how to get to new channels. It does
not show NXDN frequencies, RANs, or TGs, it shows only codes and tower
names. I know that P1 with FL-* gets the regular NXDN channels on the
NI4CE system, and P3 with T-* get Skywarn channels. So how do I get
Verna on TG 1233?
* I noticed you have numbered the rest stops, rather than lettered them
like in the past. We're used to calling them by their associated
tactical, Alpha for Rest Stop A, Charlie for Rest Stop C, etc. Are you
going to be assigning new tactical call signs? It might be helpful to
add those to the map.
* I responded on the 11th to your first message, asking permission
(because of your email confidentiality restrictions) to pass on the need
for volunteers on various mail lists around Tampa, but never got a
response, and forgot about it. Perhaps it's in your spam folder?
Rob Jacobson, KJ4TSP
KJ4...@gmail.com
rj7.us/tbarg Tampa Bay Amateur Radio Guide
>
>
> Club Secretary,
>
> Dade Radio Club of Miami
>
>
>
> Net Manager,
>
> Miami-Dade County RACES
>
>
>
> Communications Chair,
>
> Bike MS: Breakaway to the Palm Beaches
>
> <http://bikefls.nationalmssociety.org/>
>
>
>
> <mailto:n4b...@gmail.com> n4b...@gmail.com
>
>
> Confidentiality Notice: The information contained within this email is
> intended solely for the stated recipient of this transmission. If you have
> received this transmission in error, please notify the sender immediately by
> telephone. If you are not the intended recipient, please be advised that
> dissemination, distribution or copying of the information contained within
> this email is strictly prohibited.
>
>
>
> From: n4b...@gmail.com <n4b...@gmail.com>
> Sent: Tuesday, March 10, 2026 8:01 PM
> To: bikems-cent...@googlegroups.com
> Cc: 'MICHAEL MCKENZIE' <sp...@myctl.net>; artsm...@gmail.com;
> geneg...@bellsouth.net
> Subject: Bike MS Suncoast Challenge Information
> Importance: High
>
>
>
> Hi all,
>
>
>
> My apologies for the delay in surfacing information about the upcoming tour.
> We are a few weeks out from the event, and I wanted to get some information
> in everyone's hands to help prepare. I have created a roster based on
> responses for the event, and we still need help! Those of you local to the
> area, please invite your fellow hams to participate in this great event. We
> can use a few more SAGs and definitely need rest stop operators. If you know
> anyone interested in being a mobile unit, please have them reach out to me
> directly. If they're interested in working a rest stop, please refer them to
>
>
>
> The frequency plan remains the same as last year. The trustee of NI4CE have
> extended permission for use of their Verna repeaters for our event. There
> are both analog and NXDN repeaters that will be linked:
>
>
>
> 442.950 (+5, 100.0)
>
> 444.3125 RAN 1 TG 1231
>
> 442.400 RAN 1 TG 1231 at Laurel
>
>
>
> This site is also equipped with APRS, and we will once again use APRS for
> the event. For those without APRS RF ability, there are apps for both
> Android and iPhone that will allow beaconing. Mobile units, please plan to
> have APRS available one way or another and we will commence testing of
> individual units the week of the event.
>
>
>
> Finally, the question I have received a lot is about background checks. Now
> that I have a solidified roster put together, I will reach out and have the
> Society send links to the mobile units
>
>
>
> Here is the route information and rest stops:
>
>
>
> Route maps: Bike MS Suncoast Challenge 2026 RWGPS
>
>
> Club Secretary,
>
> Dade Radio Club of Miami
>
>
>
> Net Manager,
>
> Miami-Dade County RACES
>
>
>
> Communications Chair,
>
> Bike MS: Breakaway to the Palm Beaches
>
> <http://bikefls.nationalmssociety.org/>
>
>
>
> <mailto:n4b...@gmail.com> n4b...@gmail.com
n4b...@gmail.com
Thanks for your comments. The digital repeaters should not have coverage issues with portable anywhere on the route, so we should have no issues.
As far as the TGs, I will need to defer to @Paul Toth or any of the NXDN experts in the group to help you here. I do not know enough about the equipment to answer your questions.
You may pass along information that we are looking for volunteers for the event, but the email with all the information, assignments, routes, maps, and frequencies should be restricted to those participating.
Brandon G. Watson, N4BGW
RACES Officer,
City of Coral Gables RACES
Confidentiality Notice: The information contained within this email is intended solely for the stated recipient of this transmission. If you have received this transmission in error, please notify the sender immediately by telephone. If you are not the intended recipient, please be advised that dissemination, distribution or copying of the information contained within this email is strictly prohibited.
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "bikeMS Central Florida" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to bikems-central-fl...@googlegroups.com.
Brandon Watson
Confidentiality Notice: The information contained within this email is intended solely for the stated recipient of this transmission. If you have received this transmission in error, please notify the sender immediately by telephone. If you are not the intended recipient, please be advised that dissemination, distribution or copying of the information contained within this email is strictly prohibited.
From: Paul Toth <pt...@nb9x.us>
Date: Mon, Mar 23, 2026 at 20:45
Subject: RE: [bikeMS] RE: Bike MS Suncoast Challenge Information
To: n4b...@gmail.com <n4b...@gmail.com>, bikems-cent...@googlegroups.com <bikems-cent...@googlegroups.com>
TG 1233 is also known as WCF-4 on radios that are using the programming profile we created over two years ago. The Verna and Laurel repeaters are in the WCF-4 ZONE.
If you need to ADD these frequencies into YOUR NXDN radio, here is the information:
VERNA 444.3125 RX 449.3125 TX RAN 1 TG 1233
LAUREL 442.4000 RX 447.4000 TX RAN 1 TG 1233
Best regards,
Paul Toth-NB9X
727-742-1665
Rob Jacobson
Verna, channel 3 is Laurel. They then show as "WC-VERNA" and
"WC-LAURL", 8 character limited. Thank you to you both, Brandon and Paul!
Brandon, have you decided what the tactical calls will be for each rest
stop?
On 3/25/2026 9:18 AM, Brandon Watson wrote:
> FYI for those asking about talkgroups.
>
> Rob, does this answer your question? Confirm if you have this in your radio.
>
> stops:
>>
>>
>> Route maps: Bike
> <https://www.google.com/maps/search/Route+maps:+Bike?entry=gmail&source=g>
n4b...@gmail.com
Good evening all,
We’re just a few days away from event time! Thank you again for your participation! I am sending again the below information and attachments for your use. We picked up an additional SAG and I am also sharing the assignments for the rest stops.
Mobile units: Please meet at 6:30am in the parking lot near the covered walkway where the breakfast will be served from. This is the easiest identifiable landmark I can provide. If you need any further information, please reach out.
Below is the updated assignment list:
Position | Location/Role | Name | Callsign | Times |
SAG 1 | SAG Mobile | Dana Rodakis | K4LK |
0630 |
SAG 3 | SAG Mobile | Gene Giblin | KK4GNU |
0630 |
|
|
|
|
0630 |
SAG 5 | SAG Mobile | Greg Madore | K1MGR |
0630 | ||||
SAG 6 | SAG Mobile | Tom Chance | K9XV | 0630 |
Ron Farley | KG4QIV | |||
SAG 7 | SAG Mobile | Bernie Schmelz | K1BES | 0630 |
Rover 1 | Route Rover | Spike McKenzie | N3EBF |
0630 |
Rover 2 | Route Rover | Dick Hillyer |
W2RWH | 0630 |
Motor 1 | Route Moto Rover | Arthur Smith | K4PEI |
0630 |
Admin 1 | Staff Shadow | Robin Nunley | Brandon Watson | N4BGW |
0600 | ||||
RS 1 | Good Shepherd Lutheran | Rob Jacobson | KJ4TSP | 0700 |
RS 2 | Osprey Junction Trailhead | Ron Balase | KE8B | 0730 |
RS 3 | Shamrock Park & Nature Center | Chuck Cooper | K1CHC | 0815 |
RS 4 | Manasota Key Beach | Darrell Davis | KT4WX | 0845 |
Paul Buchanan | KO4QWS | |||
RS 5 | New Hope Christian Church | Vito Gadaleta | KE2ASB | 0830 |
NCS | Net Control Station | Paul Toth | NB9X |
0600 |
Rob Jacobson
* Do you want rest stop operators to notify Net control about medical
and mechanics on site, or their arriving or leaving?
* Suggestion: since most of us will probably still have a VHF/UHF radio
with us, I'm going to have mine set to UHF National Call plus 20,
446.020, local Simplex, to make it easy for SAG's and trucks to
communicate with me. Might be a good experiment for all of the rest
stops. You won't have to hunt for us, if we're busy somewhere.