Tips for SAG drivers

Ed Stevens said:

My club just completed their annual century (400+ registered riders!) and my second stint as SAG
captain. Before our next event (a metric in the spring) I'd like to produce a "SAG Drivers Manual"
Nothing too elaborate (if it's not brief, it won't be read!) but more a checklist of items to have
on-board and some "do's and don'ts" for SAG drivers.

If you were putting together such a document, what would you put in it?

Illustrations. You're concerned about words, a good picture can save you a mouthful. All you have to
do is find someone who can draw or some existing artwork.

best of luck

I'm pressed for time tonight, so I'll just post a few items which immediately spring to mind. If I
have time I'll add more later:

1) Carry a dual-head floor pump. Seems silly to have to bring it up, but I have run into SAGs on
rides who did not have a floor pump with them.

2) Know how to change a tire and carry the proper tools for doing so.

3) Carry a variety of tubes which can sold to riders who need them for a nominal sum. If the club
has a good relationship with a bike shop, the shop might loan the tubes on consignment for the
event. Riders WILL forget to bring tubes or WILL run out of tubes.

4) Carry spare route sheets

5) Carry water and food for riders in need.

6) SAG should be provided emergency contact numbers and locations of nearest medical facilities.
Each SAG should also carry a basic first aid kit.

7) SAG should be provided with contact info for other SAGs (cell phone #'s or radio call signs) to
coordinate duties.

8) Additional bike tools are nice to have, but not necessary. Bikes needing extensive repairs
should be transported to the next rest stop where rest stop personnel can work on it.

9) Designate one SAG to "sweep" the course and track last rider.

10) SAGs should be plainly marked. Magnetic signs on the door and back of vehicle are good. I know
one event which used vehicle mounted flags (same design as the USA flags which you saw on many
cars after 9-11, except these said "SAG" - easily spotted!)

11) A smile and a friendly "Do you need help" are always welcome. If I rider needs SAG help, they
are probably having a bad day. A good SAG can turn that around.

Chris Neary [email hidden]

"Science, freedom, beauty, adventure: what more could you ask of life? Bicycling combined all the
elements I loved" - Adapted from a quotation by Charles Lindbergh

"Chris Neary" <[email hidden] > wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I'm pressed for time tonight, so I'll just post a few items which immediately spring to mind. If I
have time I'll add more later: snip< many useful things

maybe also, a front and a couple of rear wheels, with common clusters - to swap for broken spokes or
taco'd wheels

"Andrew Price" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

"Chris Neary" <[email hidden] > wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I'm pressed for time tonight, so I'll just post a few items which immediately spring to mind. If
I have time I'll add more later: snip< many useful things

maybe also, a front and a couple of rear wheels, with common clusters - to swap for broken spokes
or taco'd wheels

Wow. Never thought support could get so lavish! and here was me thinking that the Mavic "Service
Course" car was only for high-end pros.

Hey, Fab, ever have to use the yellow guys?

-Luigi

Richard Adams said:

Ed Stevens said:

My club just completed their annual century (400+ registered riders!) and my second stint as SAG
captain. Before our next event (a metric in the spring) I'd like to produce a "SAG Drivers
Manual" Nothing too elaborate (if it's not brief, it won't be read!) but more a checklist of
items to have on-board and some "do's and don'ts" for SAG drivers.

If you were putting together such a document, what would you put in it?

Illustrations. You're concerned about words, a good picture can save you a mouthful. All you have
to do is find someone who can draw or some existing artwork.

best of luck

What makes you think I'm "concerned about words." I will admit I hadn't *thought* of illustrations,
but I do like the idea. I'm sure I could find an artist, if I could provide some ideas. Got any?

On the other hand, all of my drivers are college graduates or better and assumed to be able to read
at least an 8th grade level . . .

Comments embedded . . .

On Tue, 26 Aug 2003 05:20:46 GMT, Chris Neary <[email hidden]

Quoted message said:

wrote:

Quoted message said:

I'm pressed for time tonight, so I'll just post a few items which immediately spring to mind. If I
have time I'll add more later:

1) Carry a dual-head floor pump. Seems silly to have to bring it up, but I have run into SAGs on
rides who did not have a floor pump with them.

Already on the list. Since the drivers will have to supply most of their own "kit" I can only
suggest that their pumps be dual-headed floor models, but thanks for reminding me to make a
point of it.

Quoted message said:

2) Know how to change a tire and carry the proper tools for doing so.

3) Carry a variety of tubes which can sold to riders who need them for a nominal sum. If the club
has a good relationship with a bike shop, the shop might loan the tubes on consignment for the
event. Riders WILL forget to bring tubes or WILL run out of tubes.

Believe it or not, we're already there on that one. One of my drivers did get some tires and tubes
on loan from our LBS. Next ride I'll make sure I approach them and get enough for all of the
drivers. The LBS is one of our major sponsers.

Quoted message said:

4) Carry spare route sheets

Excellent idea, one I hadn't thought of. And the relevent page from the Delorme Gazeteer. The maps
on our cue sheets are pretty skeletal.

Quoted message said:

5) Carry water and food for riders in need.

Done, though I will beef that up a bit next time.

Quoted message said:

6) SAG should be provided emergency contact numbers and locations of nearest medical facilities.
Each SAG should also carry a basic first aid kit.

Done.

Quoted message said:

7) SAG should be provided with contact info for other SAGs (cell phone #'s or radio call signs) to
coordinate duties.

Done. I provide each driver with a list of cell phone #'s for all drivers, all rest stops, and the
registration desk. Unfortunately, cell coverage is pretty spotty over most of the route. However,
one of our members is also in a ham radio club, so we get radio operators at all rest stops, the
registration desk, and a few points on the route.

Quoted message said:

8) Additional bike tools are nice to have, but not necessary. Bikes needing extensive repairs
should be transported to the next rest stop where rest stop personnel can work on it.

Yes. I don't want to scare off volunteers by making them think they need to be full-service
mechanics. I do ask them to have the usual bike sized screw drivers, hex keys, and box wrenches.
More to loan to the cyclist than to do acutal repair themselves.

Quoted message said:

9) Designate one SAG to "sweep" the course and track last rider.

This is handled in the way I make the assignments. Instead of having drivers "drive the course", I
assign a driver to patrol a section between two rest stops. They are back and forth along that
section until it is clear, then let the rest stop know the last rider has cleared.

In fact, the one complaint I got from riders was that one of the radio operators took it upon
himself to sweep the last section of the course. The rider didn't apprecieate the driver staying on
his tail the last 15 miles. Can't say as I blame him. I think if one is really sweeping the last
section of the slowest riders, a better technique would be to "leapfrog and park" to keep an eye on
the rider, never be too far away, but not be on his tail, pushing him.

Quoted message said:

10) SAGs should be plainly marked. Magnetic signs on the door and back of vehicle are good. I know
one event which used vehicle mounted flags (same design as the USA flags which you saw on many
cars after 9-11, except these said "SAG" - easily spotted!)

The club already has magnetic signs to put on the cars, but I like the idea of a flag, so that
riders could identify it from any direction, regardless of where the mag sign is mounted.

Quoted message said:

11) A smile and a friendly "Do you need help" are always welcome. If I rider needs SAG help, they
are probably having a bad day. A good SAG can turn that around.

Should be a given, but never hurts to be reminded!

Quoted message said:

Thanks for all the good ideas.

Quoted message said:

Chris Neary [email hidden]

"Science, freedom, beauty, adventure: what more could you ask of life? Bicycling combined all the
elements I loved" - Adapted from a quotation by Charles Lindbergh

"Ed Stevens" <[email hidden]> a écrit dans le message de
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Comments embedded . . .

On Tue, 26 Aug 2003 05:20:46 GMT, Chris Neary <[email hidden]

Quoted message said:

wrote:

Quoted message said:

I'm pressed for time tonight, so I'll just post a few items which immediately spring to mind. If
I have time I'll add more later:

1) Carry a dual-head floor pump. Seems silly to have to bring it up, but

I

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

have run into SAGs on rides who did not have a floor pump with them.

Already on the list. Since the drivers will have to supply most of their own "kit" I can only
suggest that their pumps be dual-headed floor models, but thanks for reminding me to make a
point of it.

Either that or having 2 pumps, because some of them don't convert easily. Would the LBS have a
few loaners?

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

8) Additional bike tools are nice to have, but not necessary. Bikes

needing

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

extensive repairs should be transported to the next rest stop where rest stop personnel can
work on it.

Yes. I don't want to scare off volunteers by making them think they need to be full-service
mechanics. I do ask them to have the usual bike sized screw drivers, hex keys, and box wrenches.
More to loan to the cyclist than to do acutal repair themselves.

Chain riveting tool and short section of 8-speed and 9-speed chain? Would a short, schematic repair
book be an interesting thing to carry? I don't know.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

9) Designate one SAG to "sweep" the course and track last rider.

In fact, the one complaint I got from riders was that one of the radio operators took it upon
himself to sweep the last section of the course. The rider didn't apprecieate the driver staying
on his tail the last 15 miles. Can't say as I blame him......

To what point does one need to sweep the course? What if an exhausted rider prefers to stop for 1-2
hours, take a good rest and continue? I think that you need to have a policy that states that "this
checkpoint is staffed from 2 to 5 p.m." (for example). For late riders, you should give them the
choice of either being swiped by the SAG or knowing they won't have any more support if they wish to
continue on their own.

Do you carry the bikes of people who abandon? If so, are you able to take care of special needs:
tandems, trailercycles, child trailers, etc.

Regards,

Michel

M Gagnon said:

Either that or having 2 pumps, because some of them don't convert easily. Would the LBS have a few
loaners?

Convert?  Most -- damn near all -- floor pumps have a dual chuck. Put the valve in the right hole,
and the air is directed there. No conversion.

--

David L. Johnson

__o | There is always an easy solution to every human problem - neat, _`\(,_ | plausible, and
wrong. --H.L. Mencken (_)/ (_) |

M Gagnon said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

9) Designate one SAG to "sweep" the course and track last rider.

In fact, the one complaint I got from riders was that one of the radio operators took it upon
himself to sweep the last section of the course. The rider didn't apprecieate the driver staying
on his tail the last 15 miles. Can't say as I blame him......

To what point does one need to sweep the course? What if an exhausted rider prefers to stop for
1-2 hours, take a good rest and continue? I think that you need to have a policy that states that
"this checkpoint is staffed from 2 to 5 p.m." (for example). For late riders, you should give them
the choice of either being swiped by the SAG or knowing they won't have any more support if they
wish to continue on their own.

There are liability issues here. We sweep the course, making sure no one is out in the woods past
5:00. They _will_ sue the club, even if you tell them they are on their own after a certain time.

Quoted message said:

Do you carry the bikes of people who abandon? If so, are you able to take care of special needs:
tandems, trailercycles, child trailers, etc.

There is always someone you can't take care of. I was SAGing our century a couple years ago, but
could not deal with this one guy's handcycle on the rack. He understood, though.

You either need a big van or a special rack to handle things like tandems, bents, handcycles. That
is beyond the usual expectations of a sag vehicle.

--

David L. Johnson

__o | Enron's slogan: Respect, Communication, Integrity, and _`\(,_ | Excellence. (_)/ (_) |

Ed said:

My club just completed their annual century (400+ registered riders!) and my second stint as SAG
captain. Before our next event (a metric in the spring) I'd like to produce a "SAG Drivers Manual"
Nothing too elaborate (if it's not brief, it won't be read!) but more a checklist of items to have
on-board and some "do's and don'ts" for SAG drivers.

Lots of good ideas herein. How about a couple of cans of spray paint, in case the route needs to
change? Also, a suggestion that the sag stop closing times, and attitudes, be a bit more
flexible. At Horsey this year I got caught in a storm (and without a radio for a weather report
in my room, this was something of a surprise). Rather than wait it out, I sped up to try to make
the sag before its closing time. Got there just before it was supposed to shut down, and it
already was: food all packed up ("sorry we already put it away"😉, canopy coming down ("we have to
clear out of here before we get wet"😉, and not much sympathy for a soaked chilly rider (the folks
were frankly very happy to be leaving). "All our cars are full, so you'll just have to ride in,"
grinned one helper. One of the guys did lend me a windbreaker (dark navy blue, perfect for a
rainy ride in rolling hills!). Anyway, the closing time posted to riders might be 2 pm, but for
the help, make it 2:15 so they aren't packed up and rolling out of the parking lot as someone who
really needs the sag help is rolling in. --Karen M. who usually doesn't need a sag

M Gagnon said:

"Ed Stevens" <[email hidden]> a écrit dans le message de
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Comments embedded . . .

On Tue, 26 Aug 2003 05:20:46 GMT, Chris Neary <[email hidden]

Quoted message said:

wrote:

Quoted message said:

I'm pressed for time tonight, so I'll just post a few items which immediately spring to mind. If
I have time I'll add more later:

1) Carry a dual-head floor pump. Seems silly to have to bring it up, but

I

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

have run into SAGs on rides who did not have a floor pump with them.

Already on the list. Since the drivers will have to supply most of their own "kit" I can only
suggest that their pumps be dual-headed floor models, but thanks for reminding me to make a
point of it.

Either that or having 2 pumps, because some of them don't convert easily. Would the LBS have a
few loaners?

All of our drivers are active club members -- hence, active cyclists. So they all have good pumps. I
just need to make sure it's on the info sheet/checklist I give them. Which it is, now.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

8) Additional bike tools are nice to have, but not necessary. Bikes

needing

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

extensive repairs should be transported to the next rest stop where rest stop personnel can work
on it.

Yes. I don't want to scare off volunteers by making them think they need to be full-service
mechanics. I do ask them to have the usual bike sized screw drivers, hex keys, and box wrenches.
More to loan to the cyclist than to do acutal repair themselves.

Chain riveting tool and short section of 8-speed and 9-speed chain? Would a short, schematic repair
book be an interesting thing to carry? I don't know.

Again, our drivers are expected to be able to lend assistance for adjustments or flats. Anything
more complex, and we transport. Some may say a chain repair is 'minor', but I doubt most of our
drivers (myself included) know how.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

9) Designate one SAG to "sweep" the course and track last rider.

In fact, the one complaint I got from riders was that one of the radio operators took it upon
himself to sweep the last section of the course. The rider didn't apprecieate the driver staying
on his tail the last 15 miles. Can't say as I blame him......

To what point does one need to sweep the course? What if an exhausted rider prefers to stop for 1-2
hours, take a good rest and continue? I think that you need to have a policy that states that "this
checkpoint is staffed from 2 to 5 p.m." (for example). For late riders, you should give them the
choice of either being swiped by the SAG or knowing they won't have any more support if they wish
to continue on their own.

This one's a tough question. The slow riders aren't the problem so much as the ones who start as
much as an hour after the official starting time. Worse, those who are late, and slow to boot. We do
publish a time when all SAG support ends, but that, in itself, has never been much of an issue.
Usually by then we are down to just a handful of riders who have cleared the last rest stop, so we
keep a driver out for them. The tricky one is the earlier sections and rest stops. If the first rest
stop is, say 15 miles out, even a 10-mph rider should have reached that point an hour-and-half after
the start. But if you have a 10-mph rider starting 45 minutes late, and you've got SAG and rest stop
workers that are due to leap-frog to a later section/stop . . . just how long do you wait? Or do you
simply tell people that check in after a certain time that you will not guarentee support? An
important question we are going to have to deal with.

Quoted message said:

Do you carry the bikes of people who abandon? If so, are you able to take care of special needs:
tandems, trailercycles, child trailers, etc.

We've never had to deal with anything more exotic than a soft-tail mt. bike. We have several pickup
trucks available, either being driven by SAG people or owned by other workers. In a pinch, we could
call for one.

Quoted message said:

Regards,

Michel

Quoted message said:

Again, our drivers are expected to be able to lend assistance for adjustments or flats. Anything
more complex, and we transport. Some may say a chain repair is 'minor', but I doubt most of our
drivers (myself included) know how.

Another issue is that if a driver is spending time in an involved repair, he is not out on the route
looking for other problems.

You have the right idea with transporting anything beyond a flat or simple adjustment.

Chris Neary [email hidden]

"Science, freedom, beauty, adventure: what more could you ask of life? Bicycling combined all the
elements I loved" - Adapted from a quotation by Charles Lindbergh

What does SAG actually stand for?

"Ed Stevens" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

My club just completed their annual century (400+ registered riders!) and my second stint as SAG
captain. Before our next event (a metric in the spring) I'd like to produce a "SAG Drivers Manual"
Nothing too elaborate (if it's not brief, it won't be read!) but more a checklist of items to have
on-board and some "do's and don'ts" for SAG drivers.

If you were putting together such a document, what would you put in it?

In article said:

What does SAG actually stand for?

Support and Gear but you can just call us Saint and Gods.

The ride I do sag for every year is fundamentally a double century with triple, quad and a tough
almost a metric with lots of climbing options.so most of the riders have enough experience to look
after themselves but always appreciate getting their tires up to full pressure without using a lot
of energy with their own pumps and getting a refill of fresh cold water. I find that's 90 percent of
the job. If you know more and have more tools and know how great but with what I mentioned above and
a few extra tubes you can make most riders happy most of the time.

In terms of sag driver behaviour one thing I haven't seen mentioned is that when there isn't a
parking lane, I try to park behind the rider so that my truck and its hazard lights create a buffer
between us and the traffic. That is we work in the space out in front of the truck but not so
immediately in front that a rear hit would push the truck into us.

Our club has pretty high ideals about sag and rest stops so even though there's usually grumbling
about late riders someone at least will sit on a tailgate with a few essentials even if the supply
truck has made its pick-up. Later in the evening, (the ride is officially open till
4:00 a.m.) there's a core of about 3-4 driver for whom the ethic is "if there's riders out on the
course, I'll stay out until I know they're safely in."

My favorite story about riders helping riders is when a fellow I was bringing in from about 35 miles
out on the double immdiately offered his bike to a guy who had lost his derrailer in the dark with
about 9 miles to go.

Kurt

Quoted message said:

In article said:

What does SAG actually stand for?

Support and Gear but you can just call us Saint and Gods.

I thought it was for riders who "Sag" behind the ride. <G>

Barry

At one time, Michel Gagnon suggested:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Chain riveting tool and short section of 8-speed and 9-speed chain? Would a short, schematic
repair book be an interesting thing to carry? I don't know.

"Ed Stevens" <[email hidden]> then replied:

Quoted message said:

Again, our drivers are expected to be able to lend assistance for adjustments or flats. Anything
more complex, and we transport. Some may say a chain repair is 'minor', but I doubt most of our
drivers (myself included) know how.

I agree with the principle. I was just thinking about tools to _lend_ to a cyclist if necessary.
IOW, the SAG driver could lend the tool, have a cyclist sign a short form so he knows who has it.
Then, the cyclist would do the repair and bring the tool to the next pit stop or would give it back
to the SAG driver at his next sweep.

No idea if it would work. Or maybe it would work for a smaller more intimate group. My experience is
riding solo.

Regards,

Michel Gagnon

"M Gagnon" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

At one time, Michel Gagnon suggested:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Chain riveting tool and short section of 8-speed and 9-speed chain? Would a short, schematic
repair book be an interesting thing to carry?

I

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

don't know.

"Ed Stevens" <[email hidden]> then replied:

Quoted message said:

Again, our drivers are expected to be able to lend assistance for adjustments or flats. Anything
more complex, and we transport. Some may say a chain repair is 'minor', but I doubt most of our
drivers (myself included) know how.

I agree with the principle. I was just thinking about tools to _lend_ to a cyclist if necessary.
IOW, the SAG driver could lend the tool, have a cyclist sign a short form so he knows who has it.
Then, the cyclist would

do

Quoted message said:

the repair and bring the tool to the next pit stop or would give it back

to

Quoted message said:

the SAG driver at his next sweep.

No idea if it would work. Or maybe it would work for a smaller more

intimate

Quoted message said:

group. My experience is riding solo.

Regards,

Michel Gagnon

Sorry, what does SAG mean. I understand what a SAG driver does at a ride, I just don't know what the
word means. Thanks.

Fred

"Fred" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

Sorry, what does SAG mean. I understand what a SAG driver does at a ride, I just don't know what
the word means. Thanks.

Fred

Sheldon Brown, that authority on all things two-wheeled, defines it thusly:
<http://www.sheldonbrown.com/gloss_sa-o.html>

***begin verbatim*** Sag Wagon A car or truck that picks up or otherwise assists riders who have had
to stop riding, either due to fatigue, injury, or mechanical failure. This is primarily a touring
term, racers call the corresponding vehicle the "broom wagon."

Some people believe that the term derives from the verb "sag", others maintain that it is an acronym
for "Support And Gear."

***end verbatim***

I would add that I have noticed that references to this practice in bike books and such like from
the 1980's and earlier do not capitalize "sag." A google of usenet traffic since 1984 seems to bear
this out: references before 1990 are all lowercase. After the first instance of
capitalization/acronymization in 1990, the use of SAG (as opposed to "sag"😉 was pretty rare (notable
proponent: one Jobst Brandt), but it grew steadily more common during the 1990s, until the present,
where the capitalized form predominates.

This leads me to believe that the phrase was originally meant to be figurative: the sag wagon
sagging under the weight of additional gear, tools, etc.

There is, however, evidence that the SAG usage predates its 1990 first appearance on Usenet. In
fact, the first appearance of the capitalized form was in a thread asking what the letters of the
supposed acronym meant: <groups.google.comgroupsOpen ↗
r24.213041.14200%40murdoch.acc.Virginia.EDU&rnum=569&prev=/groups%3Fq%3D%2522sag%2Bwagon%2522%26sta-
rt%3D560%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D%26ie%3DUTF-8%26oe%3Dutf-8%26scoring%3Dd%26selm%3D1990Apr24.213041.14200%-
2540murdoch.acc.Virginia.EDU%26rnum%3D569>

Anybody out there with further thoughts?

-Luigi It's amazing how self-reflexive Usenet is!

(Luigi de Guzman) said:

This is primarily a touring term, racers call the corresponding vehicle the "broom wagon."

My runner brother-in-law calls it "The Loser Bus". <G>

Barry