Subject: Team Shell Cycling Newsletter - January 24, 2018
From: <[email-masked]>
To: Undisclosed recipients:;
Date: Wed, 24 Jan 2018 15:46:28 +0000

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                                                                      2018 MS 150 Houston to Austin
                                                                                     April 28th – 29th

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Team Shell Riders – 114 and counting

Dear Team Shell Cyclist,

I wanted to get this week’s email out a little early as this Sunday is our first Group Rider Skills Safety Training Class.  All Team Shell riders must complete this class once every three years.  See registration link below to attend.

If you don’t haven’t ordered your Shell Team jersey, the final cutoff date is February 5th.   Click on the link in this newsletter to place your order. The jerseys can be delivered to your home for just under $30 again this year, so you may even want to order a second jersey for day 2.

Our goal is to have 200 riders on the team again this year.  We are currently at 114 already have committed to ride this year and 74 of you have already paid your team logistics fee. Thank you.  I have sent out confirmation emails to all that have already paid.  If you have not received a paid email from my, chances are that you still need to get your team fee in.  See mail-in instructions and address below.

Please help the team recruit others by inviting your family, friends and co-workers to the team.  I have to make a tent size commitment by mid-February.  It is critical to get registered and get your team fee in now.  This gives me an idea of what size tents we need to order.  The tents in LaGrange and in Austin are our biggest expense and will cost over $10K to provide our riders a place to meet, sleep, eat, drink and share your ride experience. So, if you have not registered or know someone who still needs to, be sure to now!
Team Shell Registration<https://www.surveygizmo.com/s3/3711977/Team-Shell-Texas-Registration>

In the News

  *   Safety First Message – Team Safety Captain, Alan Bazard
  *   Safe Cycling Quiz – Mandatory for all Team Shell Riders
  *   Team Shell Required Safety Training
  *   Team Shell Cycle Apparel – need to order by Feb. 5th
  *   Pay your Team Shell support fee before Feb. 1st
  *   Joining Team Shell Requirements
  *   Fundraising for Team Shell – HERO Matching funds program
  *   Recommended Rides

SAFETY FIRST MESSAGE:   Protect Your Front Wheel

Coach Alan Bazard – Shell Safety Coordinator

It's pretty amazing how strongly balanced we are when riding on two wheels.  For most cyclists, all of our weight, plus the bike's weight, is uniquely centered on just a fraction of an inch of road surface.  Amazingly we learn to pedal, roll and hold this balance without falling down (most of the time!). And, after our initial riding lesson, many of us don't ever think about maintaining balance. Of course, we are constantly making minor adjustments while we ride to maintain that balance. But, it does not take very much force to knock us out of balance and to the ground.

The most important area for balance is the front wheel. We balance the bike for the direction we expect to go. Most of our weight is sitting on the back wheel, leaving the front wheel lighter, and easier to turn and bounce around.  Very little force is needed to turn the front wheel. If something beside the rider suddenly changes the front wheel's course (i.e. the bike's direction), we will be out of balance.

When riding in a pace line, if your front wheel touches the back wheel of a rider in front of you, the Person in the Back Almost Always Falls Down!!  This is because the back wheel rotation forces the front wheel to veer to the side very quickly. Most cyclists don’t react quickly enough and go down.  When riding, you should always pay attention to other riders around you.  Do  all you can to keep your front wheel away from them.  You may have to slow down (feather your brakes) to allow more space, or speed up to pass the other rider.

Objects in your path / road can also cause you to lose balance and crash. A special concern is animals. As you ride you will come across squirrels, dogs and other creatures running loose.  You stand a good chance of falling if they run into you front wheel.  You’ll want to steer to keep your front wheel away from them as much as safely possible.  This is why it is important to watch ahead as well as call out any road hazards (logs, road kill, rocks, holes, critters, etc.). Your team mates will appreciate your courtesy.  At ALL times though, you have a responsibility to yourself to not let any objects touch your front wheel. YOU are ultimately responsible for your own safety.

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

Safe Cycling Challenge – This is a mandatory online safety training for Team Shell.
This online quiz is intended for educational purposes to increase a rider’s knowledge and awareness of cycling safety. This online training does not replace the Team Shell required Hands on Bike Safety Class, once every 3 years. This online quiz has been prepared by the BP MS 150 Safety Committee whose aspiration is for you and our team to complete this annual event with zero harm to all MS 150 riders, volunteers, organizers, and the wonderful communities who open up their hearts and communities to us.  The Safe Cycling Challenge can be accessed through the Training & Safety section of the MS 150 website at:

Take the Safe Cycling Challenge<https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/2018BPMS150>

Bike Safety Training dates – This Sunday!

The first Bike Safety training skills class is this Sunday, January 28th.   Please register below by Thursday to save your space. Remember that this class is mandatory to ride with Team Shell.  You need to only take this class once every three years.   So, if you have taken a bike safety class within the last three years, you will not need to register.  All others please don’t delay on your training class.  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.

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

Jan 28th -  Basic Class –  THIS SUNDAY
Location:          Shell Woodcreek Campus.  Please registered on the link below. Security will need to know who’s coming 😊
Time:                 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM

Feb 25th - Advanced Class (must have taken Basic Class- not a first time rider class)
Mar 18th - Basic Class

Register for your safety training class CLICK HERE<https://www.surveygizmo.com/s3/4103005/Team-Shell-Bike-Safety-Classes-for-2018>

If you cannot make one of the above safety classes you are still obligated to find another class in the community.  Once you have completed the class, send over proof of completion to [email-masked]<mailto:[email-masked]>

Other community dates and locations Group Riding Skills Course<http://main.nationalmssociety.org/site/TR?fr_id=29316&pg=informational&sid=14804> for Austin and Houston.  There will be a fee for these non-Team Shell cycle trainings.  Check the 2018 MS 150 website for schedule, locations and fees.

Pay your Team support logistics fee.
All Team Shell cyclists who plan to ride in the 2018 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 2018 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 March 1st to $80.  Get your check in the mail by this week.

Mail a check ($70), made out to Shell Employees Club to:

150 N. Dairy Ashford

Bldg. E – 0258 M

Houston, TX  77079

c/o Team Shell – Mark Poindexter

Team Shell Jerseys and Kit – Orders must be placed before Feb. 5th

The order window for the Shell Kit will be from December 1st through February 5th so that we can have your team kits delivered to you by April.  We will have the traditional jersey as well as a long sleeve and sleeveless option.

Click on the link to online Team Shell store – Click Here<http://www.peak1bikestore.com/shell/>.

Join Team Shell
To be eligible to ride with Team Shell you must be one of the following:

·         An active Shell employee

·         Shell retiree

·         Immediate family member of a Shell employee or retiree

·         Full time contractor at a Shell location

·         Any Shell employee may sponsor (vouch for) up to two guests to ride on the team.

Every rider must complete a Team Shell registration each year, including each family member.  We need all Ready2Roll participants to also complete the Team registration as well, as it is a requirement to be aligned with a corporate team to participate in this training series.

Guest Riders on Team Shell
As a Shell employee, retiree or full time contractor on a Shell site, you may sponsor up to two guest riders on Team Shell. Immediate family members do not count against your guest sponsorship.  We have this policy in place for a couple of reasons.  First, we need to limit the size of our team.  We have found that 200 - 250  riders is an ideal number we can support.  Second, we want to know who our guests are so that we all can best represent Shell in our weekly training rides and the weekend of the event.  I know you will help me in supporting this endeavor.

Please complete the following 4 steps to register with Team Shell Cycling:

  1.  Register with the MS Society: MS Society Registration <http://main.nationalmssociety.org/site/TR/Bike/TXHBikeEvents?pg=entry&fr_id=28263>

  1.  Register with Team Shell:  Team Shell Registration<https://www.surveygizmo.com/s3/3711977/Team-Shell-Texas-Registration>
You must complete this annual survey whether you are riding in the MS event or if you plan to do the Ready2Roll training series only.  We will need one registration filled out for each rider.
(i.e. If you are riding with your spouse and your son, you will have all three complete a Team Shell Registration Survey.)

  1.  Pay your Team Support Logistics Fee: This is in addition to the MS 150 registration 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 budgets will cover the other 50% of the expenses. If paying with cash please schedule some time with me to drop off.  I appreciate your support.
Please note: You are not fully registered on Team Shell until your team logistics are received.  So far we have only accepted fees from 36 team members.

·         $70 from January 1 – February 28th, 2018
·         $80 after February 28th 2018

Mail a check, made out to Shell Employees Club to:

150 N. Dairy Ashford

Bldg. E – 0258 M

Houston, TX  77079

c/o Team Shell – Mark Poindexter

  1.  Complete the Bike Safety Training Class: You must have completed a hands-on bike safety training class within the last 3 years.  We will host about four classes throughout the training season.  Register for your safety training class CLICK HERE<https://www.surveygizmo.com/s3/4103005/Team-Shell-Bike-Safety-Classes-for-2018>

Fundraising for MS

We have set our fundraising goal for 2018 at $200,000.  That’s an average $1,000 per rider.  Some riders will raise more some a little less.  Last year we were in the top 7 fundraising teams.  I know we can surpass this goal this year!

Shell 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://www.easymatch.com/HERO> to the HERO 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

Saturday, January 27th             8:00 AM               Katy, TX

Community Training Rides – Open to all      Schedule <http://main.nationalmssociety.org/site/DocServer/2018_TXH_Bike_MS_BP_MS_150_-_Recommended_Rides.pdf?docID=84436>

Date

                                            Ride

Location

Saturday, February   3

Pedaling the Prairie<http://www.pedalingtheprairie.org/>

Waller

Saturday, February 10

Humble Lions Bike Ride<http://www.humblelionsclub.com/bikeride_2018.html>

Humble

Saturday, February 17

The Bulldog Bike Ride<http://www.bulldogbikeride.com/>

Waller

Sunday,   February 18

Tri-County Hillhopper<http://www.hillhopper.org/>

Warrenton

Saturday, February 24

Texas Independence Bicycle Tour<https://portal.clubrunner.ca/3925/Stories/2018-texas-independence-bike-tour>

Deer Park

Sunday,   February 25

Kate's Ride<https://www.bikereg.com/36728>

Katy

Have a great weekend.  Be safe and stay healthy!

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