"What kind of vehicles do SAG drivers use?" is often asked. The answer is: just about anything.
Cars, Trucks, & Vans - It goes without saying that most people who work as SAG drivers for an event have one of these.
All are useful. Smaller cars are great SAG vehicles because they can get around the course easily and, more importantly, they can get around the cyclists easily. Larger vehicles come in especially handy when carrying equipment or when transporting a rider or two (or three).
Generally though, the larger the vehicle, the less useful it becomes on the course with the riders, as it takes up their useful space and can easily become a safety hazard. The larger vehicles are most useful before and after the ride in the transportation of equipment.
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| SAG vehicles lined up prior to the 2013 Big Hat Century. |
Motorcycles - Motorcycles are
excellent vehicles for getting around a course quickly, through cyclist traffic safely and easily, for being at eye-level with the cyclists, and for carrying the most used of SAG supplies: water and air. Watch any professional road race and you'll see a fleet of motorcycles chasing the peloton providing support, media coverage, and split times.
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| SAG Moto during the 2013 Ranchos Cycle for the Seniors Century |
As far as the type of motorcycle used, just about anything will work, but some definitely work better than others. The best type of motorcycle for a SAG vehicle are Sport-tourers (
BMW RT,
Honda ST,
Kawasaki Concours,
Yamaha FJR, etc.), or large dual-sports (
BMW GS,
KTM Adventure,
Suzuki VStrom,
Triumph Tiger, etc). The ability to haul a lot of gear (tools, parts, food & water), and to be able to sit up higher than the riders helps a lot. The ability to ride the MC slow for long periods of time is also an advantage. Some air-cooled motorcycles don't like this, especially in the Central Valley heat where the temperatures are routinely 100°-110°. (Or summer heat anywhere, for that matter).
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| SAG Motos during the 2003 Climb to Kaiser |
One other important thing is the ability to be quiet and unobtrusive. The job of the SAG crew is to be there when the cyclists need you, and nearly invisible when they don't. A
Yamaha R1 with a full
Akrapovic exhaust system, or a tricked Harley with slash-cut drag pipes may sound freaking awesome (to the motorcyclist), but they're the epitome of obnoxious in the middle of a bicycle ride. If it's loud enough to "scare small children", as they say, it's probably not the best rig to use as a support vehicle where entire families with young kids attend.
Helicopters - Useful, yes, but generally not immediately near the riders. These are most beneficial to media and communications. I also don't know any local rides that would be willing to comp the fuel of a helicopter either.
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| A helicopter follows the Peloton during Stage Nine of the Tour de France, July 13, 2010. (AP Photo/Bas Czerwinski) |
Other - I don't know what other type of vehicle you've got - horse, quad, glider, catamaran - but let me know, we'll talk. We may be able to use it at an event.
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| Start of the Cat 3 race of the 3rd Annual Sisters Stampede (2013) in Sisters, Oregon | Photo © Brian Nelson, www.541images.com | (http://www.bikearoundbend.com/2012/05/race-report-sisters-stampede/) |
