Bicycle tour of Sebring Sept. 3rd 2006- Safe and successful - Thank you checkpoint volunteers!
The fist riders to arrive at our first check point at an early 8:20AM. They rode in on a 'Tandem' bicycle, 14 minutes ahead of the fast pack of riders. Riders on approach for Rest Stop 1 on Lake Reedy. Did you take pictures or notes from the tour? Send them to John KC4KLM to be compiled.	Cyclists from all over State once again made the journey through a section of East Polk on Sunday September 3rd 2006. About 400 riders came through the Lake Reedy area which is a turn-around point for many as they will have traveled 62 miles round trip. Only 100 chose to take the 'Century ride' which takes them into Lake Wales, which is a 100 miles round trip. The LWRA provided seven safety checkpoints at critical locations along the way. Due to a shortage of volunteers, much later on in the tour, other Hams in SAG wagons covered one unmanned checkpoint on the final barren stretch. Member Glen KA2EUM also upon securing his checkpoint, moved to the other remaining unmanned checkpoint. The biggest issue this time would seem to be a high number of flat tires (11+) and no spare inner tubes unless the riders brought their own. If not, they are out of the tour. There were no major accidents this year in our area, just minor bruising and scrapes. We did have a weather (rain) issue on that final stretch that had to be patrolled by SAG wagons due to our volunteer shortage. A rider was asked how would affect them with those thin tires. The reply was that it is very dangerous as they have not traction on wet roads. It's hoped that next year we will have more volunteers for this interesting event.
Rick WB9IJW once again did and excellent job handling the Lake Wales Rest Stop support and net control position along with the help of his wife Janet. Checkpoint 5 went off the air unexpectedly and so after Rick secured the rest stop, he went to point 5 to see what happened. Rick ended up taking over point 5 which turned out to be good timing. A rider encountered a flat and so Rick had to call a near by wagon to get the rider back on the road. From this point Rick was also determined who the last rider was, which makes it easier on the checkpoints ahead on what to expect. Again great job all around Rick. The volunteers this year were John KC4KLM, Chet AB4XK, Mike KG4LTZ, Rick WB9IJW, Jack K4BYF, Glen KA2EUM, and Pete K4APX. It's a good thing volunteers showed up to their designated checkpoints early as some riders came through at 8:20AM. (early). Each checkpoint experienced riders passing through for a duration between 2:15 to 3 hours, depending on where the breakdowns occured adding time to make bike repairs. By 1:30PM had completed the loop and exited our coverage area. As a note, around 3PM a severe storm pounded Lake Wales, with hail and heavy rains which dumped 4.5" of rain for over an hour. Good thing the tour was long over! ...Another note, the Repeater enjoyed all the use it got today and held up with no issues today.