On Sunday, October 12th thirteen amateur radio operators provided communications for the Annual Unpaved of the Susquehanna Valley bicycle race.  Five hundred plus riders started in Lewisburg, PA at the Miller Center.  Multiple routes were available to riders based on their capabilities/desires.  However, the longest component of the ride was over 100 miles through the Bald Eagle State Forest.

In addition to the Headquarters station and Incident Communications Command in Lewisburg there were eight aid stations at locations on the route.  Amateurs provided communications among all of these locations.  For many of these stations amateur radio was the only form of communication.  Amateur radio operators assisting were:

• W3AND, Andy Mummert
• KC3FVN, Keith Comp
• K3CWP, Carmine Prestia
• K3ERP, Elaine Prestia
• K8QR, Yi Zhang
• WA3TM, Tom Majweski
• KC3JVG, Keith Kintzel
• KC0QJX, Gordon Vanauken
• K3HOT, Greg Guise
• KC3LYV, Todd Landry
• KC3OPJ, Rina Landry
• KB3VDG, Ryan Vanauken

Fortunately the weather was good and there were no serious crashes or calls. Most of the communications related to supplies for the aid stations, administrative questions, and the transport of riders who could not complete the race for one reason or another.

All of the amateurs provided their own equipment.  Due to the remote locations external antennas and VHF/UHF mobile type radios were needed. The W3YA, 146.850 repeater near State College, PA was the primary communications channel and served the entire race. As usual it provided excellent coverage for the stations.

Thank you to the above operators for taking time out of their day and to the Unpaved for inviting us to participate.  Events like this are valuable training should we be called out in emergencies or disasters.

Carmine Prestia, K3CWP, EC Centre County, PA