Subject: Team Shell Cycling Newsletter - January 21, 2016
From: <[email-masked]>
To: Undisclosed recipients:;
Date: Thu, 21 Jan 2016 22:02:13 +0000

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       2016 MS 150 Houston to Austin
                                                                                             April 16th - 17th

Dear Team Shell Cyclist,

I would like to start by saying thank you for all the folks who have volunteered to assist in next weekend's Ready2Roll training ride. We have quite a lot of support for our first volunteer ride on Saturday, January 30th. Thank you so much!  I am still looking for volunteers for February. 13th and March 5th.
Important, if you don't have a Shell Team jersey, now is the time to order.  There are only 22 days left to get your order in to have it to you before the MS 150 event in April.  The final cutoff date is February 12th.  Click on the link in this newsletter to place your order. The jerseys are only about $23 again this year, so you may even want to order a second jersey for day 2.

We are currently at 125 Team Shell riders.  We will cut off our ridership at 200 in order to be fiscally responsible during this challenging time in the energy business.

The MS 150 REGISTRATION is still $100 now thru Jan. 31st.   So if you have not registered or know someone who still needs to, be sure to register now<https://t.e2ma.net/click/6yfhg/mvrszf/qexo4c> for $100 and save!  The non-transferable, registration fee is $100 until Jan. 31, 2015.  On Feb. 1, it rolls to $130.  The required minimum fundraising is $400.  The required $400 minimum fundraising must be raised prior to picking-up your Rider Packet.

Team Shell Registration - Click Here<https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/BLWKYPS> to register

In the News

*         Safety First Message - Team Safety Captain, Alan Bazard

*         New Rider Orientation

*         Volunteers

*         Bike Safety Training

*         Lodging in and around LaGrange

*         Pay your team support fee

*         Team Shell Cycle Apparel - need to order by Feb. 12th

*         Ride Marshal Recruitment - Deadline January 31st

*         Fundraising

*         Upcoming Training Rides

SAFETY FIRST MESSAGE: Left Turn - Turn your head and LOOK BACK

Coach Alan Bazard - Shell Safety Coordinator

Safety needs to always remain Priority One.   Keeping as far to the right as possible and allowing cars to pass is safe Riding.   However, frequently we will be required to make a left turn or move left into the traffic lane (road obstacles, parked cars, etc).   If we are in the far right side, or shoulder, we'll need to cross into the traffic lane to turn at an intersection.   Before making any move to the left, it is ABSOLUTELY essential to know if it is clear behind us.  First make sure the area to your front and sides is clear then turn your head around and look back. Don't just turn your head around to look back, as this will also rotate your shoulders and cause your bike to "steer" left into the lane.  The proper way to move your right hand to the center of the handlebars (next to the stem), and take your left hand off the bars and twisting your waist to the left to look back over your shoulder.  You can place your left hand on your hip or back of the seat while looking back.  This keeps your bike going in a straight line and not pulling to the left - into traffic.  Practice looking back until you can execute it in a straight line comfortably.

*         If you are in a group / line, the last rider in the back should be the first to look back. If the traffic is clear, call out "CLEAR BACK" and start moving to the center of the left turn lane.  I recommend moving to the left lane at least 100 feet before the intersection (this is called "Taking the Lane").   If there is a light or stop sign, STOP, if needed.   Do not go around or pull alongside of cars, rather wait your turn in line just like any other vehicle.   Cars behind you should (don't always assume) be slowing for the intersection and stay behind you.   When the intersection is clear, proceed through the turn and move immediately to the right hand side or shoulder.

*         For questions or more information on Group Riding, contact Coach Alan - [email-masked]<mailto:[email-masked]>

Team Shell New Rider Orientation
We will host a new rider orientation again this year.
We have scheduled two orientations; the first will be on February 4th at One Shell Plaza and the second on February 11th at our Shell Woodcreek location.
Both will start at 11 AM.  We will have an option to call into the meeting if you cannot be present.
Click on this link to enroll: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/MRR35QL

Volunteering
Thank you to all of you who volunteered for the first training ride we are supporting on January 30th.  We have met our team support requirements for the ride.  I will be sending out further instructions to those who volunteered next week.  We still have volunteer opportunities on the following two rides.     We will need a dozen volunteers to support the three training events that Shell is responsible for.  Your support is very important.  If you cannot volunteer, a family member or friend can take your place while you are on the training ride.

Volunteer Link - https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/9LXYKXZ

*         8 Volunteers needed are for break point set up, take down and serving riders.

*         4 SAG wagon drivers - drivers will drive the ride route and assist riders with transport if needed.  Truck, SUV helpful but not mandatory.

*         4 Water Wizards - Will pick up and fill water containers at the end of the ride and return them back to next week's ride start.  Need to be able to pick up 3-4 five gallon water containers.  This service the last 3 weeks of the training series.

1.    Saturday, January 30th - Fulshear ride - Full

2.    Saturday, February 13th - Sealy ride -SAG drivers and Rest Stop support needed

3.    Saturday, March 5th - New Ulm ride - SAG drivers and Rest Stop support needed

The last three training rides of the Ready2Roll Training series, we will need some Water Wizards.  The responsibility of a water wizard is to simply pick up a few empty water/Gatorade 5 gallon
coolers and return them filled with 4 gallons of water to the next week's training ride.

Bike Safety Training dates
The first Bike Safety training skills class is next Sunday, January 24th.   Please remember that this class is mandatory to ride with Team Shell.  You need to only take this class once every three years.   Schedule your class now.  All bike safety training classes will be held on Sundays from 2 - 5 PM at our Shell Woodcreek campus.  Our goal is to have zero accidents in all of our training rides and in the MS event.  I will remind you the week of your scheduled training class.

Please help us meet Goal Zero by getting into one of these classes.

*         January 24th   - Basic Cycling Safety Skills Training  - If you want to attend this Sunday and haven't signed up, you may email Alan Bazard<mailto:[email-masked]> directly to let him know.

*         February 21st - Basic Cycling Safety Skills Training

*         March 6th - Advanced Cycling Safety Skills Training.  (You must have already completed the basic cycling safety skill class to register for this class).

*         March 20th - Basic Cycling Safety Skills Training

Click on this link to register for a Safety Skills Training Class: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/X5KH2W8

MS 150 Lodging LaGrange
All Riders are responsible for arranging their own accommodations during the MS 150 Bike Tour. Team Shell will provide a large corporate tent in the
           LaGrange Fairgrounds where you can lay out your air mattress and sleeping bag.  I would say that about 60-70% of Team Shell will spend the night under the team tent.  Team
            Shell will transfer your gear from Houston to LaGrange and then on to Austin on Sunday.   You can go on the MS website to purchase transportation back to Houston for
            yourself and your bike.  If you would like other sleeping options there are area hotels, but make arrangement now, as many of the local hotels book up quickly.  The MS Society
            will provide transportation to local hotels and bring you back before the start on Sunday. Be sure to mention the "BP MS 150" to receive a special rate. Check out a complete list
            of BP MS 150 Hotels<http://main.nationalmssociety.org/site/DocServer/TXH_2014_BP_MS_150_-_Accommodations_-_Lodging_List.pdf?docID=67020>.

Pay your Team support logistics fee.
All Team Shell cyclists who plan to ride in the 2016 MS150 event is required to pay this activity logistics fee.  The logistics fee helps in supporting 50% of what it takes to support a large team during the MS 150 weekend in LaGrange and Austin.  It covers such expenses as Team tents, food, beverages, audio sound, shuttle transport, and luggage transport.  The Shell Health and Wellness budget will cover the other 50% of the expenses.  I have been sending out confirmation emails to all who have turned in their fee.  If you are planning on riding in the 2016 MS150 and haven't received a thanks for paying email from me than you still need to turn in your team support fee.

Team fee goes up on February 1st to $70 and goes up again on March 1st to $80.

Mail a check ($60 till January 31st), made out to Shell Employees Club to:

150 N. Dairy Ashford

Bldg. E - 0238 A

Houston, TX  77079

c/o Team Shell - Mark Poindexter

Team Shell Jerseys and Kit - Orders must be placed before Feb. 12th

The next order window will close on Friday February 12th in order to have your order arrive before the MS150 event in April.  The new design will be delivered directly to your home for under $30.

http://www.peak1bikestore.com/shell

Ride Marshal Recruitment - January 31 Deadline
Ride marshals are key to having a successful BP MS 150. Each team is strongly encouraged to have a ride marshal on the team. The actual ratio is for every 50 riders on the team, one ride marshal submitted to MS Society. Ride Marshals are registered cyclists who act as both Good-Will and Safety Ambassadors for the BP MS 150 Recommended Rides and BP MS 150. Ride Marshal applicants must be 18 years of age, have up-to-date certification in CPR/First-Aid training, be passionate and knowledgeable about safe cycling, and be willing to work with fellow cyclists to promote safe cycling. Ride Marshals must have completed at least two (2) BP MS 150 rides from Houston to Austin within the last 5 years.

The National MS Society provides CPR/First-Aid training, if you don't already have certification, but it must be completed BEFORE you can perform ANY Ride Marshal functions such as supporting any BP MS 150 Recommended Rides. Ride Marshals are required to support at least two (2) BP MS 150 Recommended Rides during the training season (January through April) and must complete a hands-on (8-hour minimum) Cycling Safety Class provided by the National MS Society.

Download the Ride Marshal Manual<http://main.nationalmssociety.org/site/DocServer/RIDE-MARSHAL-MANUAL09-21-09.pdf?docID=54558> and the Ride Marshal Code of Conduct<http://main.nationalmssociety.org/site/DocServer/Ride-Marshal-Code-of-Conduct-rvsd-11-15-09.pdf?docID=54557>.  Please contact Barron Lozano for more information:
Email:  [email-masked]<mailto:[email-masked]>

Fundraising for MS

We have set our fundraising goal for 2016 at $200,000.  That's an average $1,000 per rider.  Some riders will raise more some a little less.  I know we can surpass this goal this year!

Matching Gifts Program - Double up your donations!
If you are a Shell employee or retiree, then you are able to double your personal donation and that of other Shell employees who sponsor you through our HERO giving program.  Here is the link<http://sww.shell.com/us/about/social_investment/main/hero_homepage.html> to the homepage for more information.

All riders will be required to turn in the minimum of $400 fundraising requirement before picking up your rider packet.  If this seems like a big challenge to you, please let me know and we can brainstorm ways to help you with your fundraising.  I am very proud to say that our team average fundraising efforts are $1,000 per rider.  Fundraising for MS is such a worthy cause, let's all do are part to help stop this dreaded disease in its tracks.

Upcoming Training Rides

Ready2Roll - You must be registered for this training series

1/23/2016            8:00 AM               Waller     28, 37, and 50 mile routes

Community Training Rides - Open to all               Schedule<http://main.nationalmssociety.org/site/TR?fr_id=27003&pg=informational&sid=13477>

1/23/2016        8:00 AM          Bike Through the Forest         http://www.kingwoodfillies.net            Coldspring, TX       12, 25, 33,& 46 mile routes
1/24/2016        8:00 AM          Frost Bike 50                           www.frostbike50.com<http://www.frostbike50.com>                         Cypress, TX                   17, 33, & 55 mile routes
2,06/2016        9:00 AM          Pedaling the Prairie                 www.pedalingtheprairie.org<http://www.pedalingtheprairie.org>                Waller, TX                        24, 45, 55 & 71 mile routes

Have a great weekend.  Be safe and stay healthey!

Be Well!
Mark Poindexter
Shell Health - U.S. Wellness Manager
Tel: +01 832 337-2149