[Troop139] 2012 Ramapo Rally

[Jim Cooper]

On 20 Aug 2012 at 1:12, J.Gordon Beattie, Jr., W2TTT wrote:

> If you have comments, observations and suggestions, please consider
> writing them down and sending them to me 

Post Ramapo Rally notes ...

Cue sheets should be available at the registration table, 
OR riders should be DIRECTED to the table by the registration 
people -- many riders did not get cue sheets. 

Cue sheets should be available at all rest stops; 
many riders lost or damaged their cue sheets enroute, 
and were unable to replace them during the ride. 

Cue sheets should have the TOWN shown on each line; 
especially for support personnel who have to go to a particular 
location indicated by a mileage or line number of cue sheet, 
it is difficult to know exactly where that location is. 

There should be some indication on the very nice, new web page 
map and cue sheets that the NUMBERS on the maps refer to the 
LINE NUMBER on the cue sheets. Now, the reference on the printed 
cue sheets is an accumulated mileage number while the reference 
on the maps are sequential numbers. 

If pre-registration includes selection of which route will be taken, 
then the NUMBER CARDS should be color coded for the route. This would 
enable riders who have lost their cue sheet to join with or follow 
riders on the same route. If route is not selected at pre-registration, 
then perhaps the option to COLOR the number card with markers at or 
after registration would accomplish the same goal. 

Support staff (SAG, Rest Stop, etc) should be supplied with 'expanded' route 
maps such as those I created the day before the Rally (located at 
http://w2jc.org/bctnj/complete-package_2012_Ramapo_Ride.pdf )
PRINTED so they can quickly find locations on each route. 
Map location numbers (integers) should be added to the cue sheets, 
in addition to the cumulative milage, for easy cross reference. 

Net discipline on the ham radio circuits seemed to be excellent this time. 
Having WX2BC on BOTH channels was a big advantage several times. 
At Montville, I found that being able to monitor the channel not being used to 
transmit was a valuable asset. 

Many riders commented that the road arrows used this year were TOO SMALL. 

At rest stops, thought should be given to which direction riders will approach the 
location and signs should be placed on the side of the road where the riders will 
be, and sufficiently before the turnoff so they can be prepared for the turn into 
the rest stop.  At Montville, some routes approached northbound on 
Changebridge Road while other routes approaced southbound.  Initially, the sign 
for the rest stop was found (by me) to be placed AFTER the turn into the rest 
stop area, and the arrow and message had to be hand written on the blank side 
because the printed arrow pointed the wrong way. When a second sign was 
requested, for the southbound riders, it was placed on the far left side of the road 
-- where the riders were not likely to be looking as they road past. When this was 
discovered, and the sign was placed on the same side as the riders and 25 feet 
prior to the turn into the rest stop, no riders were seen missing the turn.

Many riders were anxious to provide feedback at the rest stops (regarding road 
arrows, signage, and other ride features) but capturing that input was informal 
(support staff had to either make quick notes, or just thank and ignore the input). 
A "feedback form" supplied at the rest stops could be given to such helpful riders 
- who could fill it out as they snacked and rested (and the ideas were fresh in 
their mind), or the riders could take the form and submit it later from home.   Cue 
sheets could contain another info note with a reminder that feedback forms 
would be available at rest stops OR riders could send suggestions and ideas to 
an email address shown on the cue sheets. 

Apparently support staff at Montville rest stop were told not to (or actually 
stopped while in the local grocery store) procure additional needed supplies 
locally, but rather to wait for them to be transported from Campgaw via courier 
vehicles. Ice needed at 1pm, which could have been obtained from a local gas 
station, was not delivered until after 4pm -- at which time there was little need for 
it any longer. 

A rider suggested having a LARGE map at each rest stop showing the routes, so 
that a rider can see where they are and what is ahead.