CERT AND THE BP MS150

1
CERT AND THE BP MS150

• MAKING A DIFFERENCE

2
WHAT IS THE MS150?

• ONE OF THE LARGEST CHARITY EVENTS IN THE STATE OF
  TEXAS AND THE US.
• THIS IS AN ANNUAL TWO DAY BIKE RIDE FROM HOUSTON
  TO AUSTIN WITH 13,000 PARTICIPANTS.
• LAST YEARS RIDERS RAISED 16 MILLION DOLLARS FOR
  MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS (MS) RESEARCH AND TREATMENT

3
THE EVENT ROUTE
4
SUPPORTING THE EVENT

• APPROXIMATELY 3000 VOLUNTEERS ARE NEEDED TO
  SUPPORT THIS EVENT.
• SEVENTEEN RESTSTOPS/BREAKPOINTS MUST BE
  ESTABLISHED AND OPERATED ALONG THE RIDE ROUTE TO
  SUPPORT THE RIDE.
• SUPPORT VEHICLES (SAGS) OPERATE BETWEEN
  BREAKPOINTS TO ASSIST WITH MECHANICAL OR PHYSICAL
  BREAKDOWNS.

SAG 12
SAG 7
SAG 3
5
WHAT IS A BREAKPOINT?
A TEMPORARY SUPPORT FACILITY PROVIDING FOOD,
DRINK, PORT-O-LETS, MECHANICAL AND MEDICAL
SUPPORT TO THE EVENT PARTICIPANTS.
6
BREAKPOINT FROM THE AIR
Provided by the Tomball Sheriffs Department
7
LAYOUT OF A BREAKPOINT
Breakpoint info from Bomanski.com
The Bayers
8
BREAKPOINT IN ACTION
Saturday BP 7 looking south
Saturday BP 7 looking north
9
VOLUNTEER ELEMENTS OF A BREAKPOINT

• LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT
• BREAKPOINT ENTRANCE CONTROLLERS (CERT)
• BREAKPOINT SPONSORS WHO DISTRIBUTE FOOD AND DRINK
• BIKE MECHANICS AND SUPPLY TENT
• MEDICAL PERSONNEL AND EMS
• HAM RADIO COMMUNICATIONS OPERATORS (ARES)
• SAG STOP PERSONNEL
• SUPPLY TRUCK PERSONNEL
• BREAKPOINT MANAGER

BPEC and ARES Volunteers Sat BP 1W
10
VOLUNTEERS IN ACTION
Communications
Sponsors
Traffic Flow
SAG Drivers and Loaders
Medical
11
WHAT IS THE ROLE OF CERT?

• CERT HAS TWO ROLES IN THE BREAKPOINT
• BREAKPOINT MANAGERS.
  SELECTED FROM CERT VOLUNTEERS
  BASED ON PRIOR EXPERIENCE AND ABILITIES.
• BREAKPOINT ENTRANCE CONTROLLERS (BPECs). THE
  MS150 ORGANIZERS PREFER CERT TRAINED INDIVIDUALS
  IN THIS POSITION FOR SAFETY REASONS.

The Breakpoint Plan
Manager
12
WHAT ARE THE DUTIES OF A BREAKPOINT ENTRANCE
CONTROLLER?

• PREPARES THE NECESSARY BIKE TRAFFIC FLOW
  MECHANISMS FOR THE BREAKPOINT.
• CONTROLS THE FLOW OF RIDERS INTO AND OUT OF THE
  BREAKPOINT.
• PROVIDES DIRECTIONS AND INFORMATION TO RIDERS
  ENTERING AND EXITING THE BREAK SITE.
• KEEPS AN EYE OUT FOR RIDERS WHO MAY BE IN MEDICAL
  STRESS.

13
BPEC TEAM IN ACTION
Sunday BP 5 BPEC Team setting up traffic flow
barriers
14
BPEC TEAM IN ACTION
Sunday BP 5 BPEC Team making direction signage
Saturday BP 1W BPEC Team directing riders to
laydown area
15
BREAKPOINT IN ACTION
Sunday BP 5 at full capacity
16
THE WEEKEND IN A NUTSHELL

• SATURDAY
• ASSEMBLE AT PARK RIDE _at_ 530am AND LOAD
  PERSONAL AND TEAM GEAR INTO TEAM VANS.
• DRIVE TO ASSIGNED BREAKPOINT AND PREPARE SITE FOR
  ARRIVAL OF RIDERS.
• PERFORM THE DUTIES OF THE BPEC.
• AFTER THE TURTLE (LAST RIDER) HAS PASSED, TEAR
  DOWN THE BREAKPOINT AND DRIVE TO LAGRANGE.
• BBQ DINNER AT THE KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS HALL WITH
  OTHER CERT ARES VOLUNTEERS.
• DRIVE TO OVERNIGHT FACILITIES AT CAMP LONE STAR
  OR PINE GROVE.

17
THE WEEKEND IN A NUTSHELL

• SUNDAY
• LEAVE OVERNIGHT FACILITIES _at_ 530am AND DRIVE TO
  THE KIGHTS OF COLUMBUS HALL IN LAGRANGE FOR
  BREAKFAST
• DRIVE TO ASSIGNED BREAKPOINT AND PREPARE SITE FOR
  ARRIVAL OF RIDERS.
• PERFORM THE DUTIES OF THE BPEC.
• AFTER THE TURTLE HAS PASSED, TEAR DOWN THE
  BREAKPOINT AND DRIVE BACK TO HOME CITY.
• ARRIVE BACK TO PARK RIDE AND HEAD FOR HOME.

THIS WEEKEND WILL PROMISE TO BE ONE OF THE MOST
EXHAUSTING, EXCITING AND REWARDING EXPERIENCES A
VOLUNTEER CAN LEGALLY HAVE.
18
WHY DO WE DO IT?
TO HELP THE PEDALING PIXIES AND THE OTHER
12,995 RIDERS MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE RACE TO
CURE MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS. GO PIXIES!