07/09/2004 | W9XS/BICYCLE MOBILE Now don't we think that there should be a separate category for bicycle mobile stations? No,eh? OK,in that case we'll just have to submit as a "1C IL" station.

I've been playing /BM for the last two years are was curious how many QSOs I could make from the bike during contest conditions - I was also curious how long my butt would hold out.

All 163 Qs were from the bike while in motion and 140 of them were on CW. Had to make a few adjustments to the original Trek 830 steel framed off road bike to keep things going that long. The first of which was to swap the bike for a nice Cannondale city bike with shock absorbers and a nice cushy seat. Also had to add a tuner and a steel whip for quick band changing. It worked. Managed to put on 87 miles during the 163 Qs. (Lesse now ... that would be 1.87 Q/mile)

I've decided that CW from the bike is more fun than SSB. Watching the pedestrians and joggers snap their heads around when they hear the CW spewing from the radio is priceless. One guy in a car doubled back and asked "Is that GPS?". I told him yes. It's OK to lie about such things on Field Day, right?

My orthopaedic surgeon says the lumbar vertebrae should be good-to-go by next Field Day. Next year's goal: 200Qs/100miles. Oooouch.

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73, Ron -- W9XS