REST STOP OPERATORS BRIEFING #26-01

[Darrell Davis]

REST STOP OPERATORS BRIEFING #26-01
BIKE MS SUNCOAST CHALLENGE
THURSDAY MARCH 26, 2026

REST STOP OPERATORS ASSIGNMENT CHART - REVISION 1.1:  The latest Rest Stop Operators Assignment Chart is Revision 1.1.  I have attached is to this email.  To my knowledge, I have corrected any errors that have been submitted.  If there are any errors, please email me off list directly and I will correct those errors.

COMMAND HANDOFF:  Effective at 0600 on Saturday morning 3/28/26,  coordination of rest stop operations will be handed off to the Incident Command Post (and Net Control), and will remain there for the duration of the tour, as is standard practice and in compliance with the Incident Command System with which we run the Bike MS Suncoast Challenge.  All decision making from that point on will go through Incident Command.

NXDN NOTES:  This year, due to logistics, we will be using the NI4CE NXDN repeaters exclusively for communications for the MS Suncoast Challenge.  For those of you new to NXDN, be sure you set your radio, or loaner radio, to the correct talk group.  The talkgroup we will be using is 1233, also referred to as WCF-4.  This talkgroup brings up the Verna and Laurel repeaters.  This is the talk group we will be using for communications for the MS Suncoast Challenge.  If you are not on this talkgroup, you may not be heard.  

WEATHER FORECAST:  Here is the latest forecast from the NWS Forecast Office in Ruskin for Lakewood Ranch, which is in the northern end of the route:

Friday Evening: Mostly clear, with a low around 63. North wind 3 to 7 mph.

Saturday:  A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2pm. Sunny, with a high near 88. North wind 5 to 10 mph.

I have noticed there are some lower highs forecast closer to the coastline, but do not let that lull you into a false sense of security.  Be sure to bring plenty of water with you, and wear protective clothing to protect you from the sun.  Remember you can dehydrate very quickly so stay hydrated.  Also pay particular attention to any of our riders for dehydration symptoms, particularly after 1000 tomorrow morning.

  

MANY THANKS:  A sincere thank you to all of you for working a rest stop for the Bike MS Suncoast Challenge 2026.  Your role is critical to its success.

END OF BRIEFING

73 de Darrell KT4WX