Subject: Team Shell Cycling Newsletter - January 26, 2017
From: <[email-masked]>
To: Undisclosed recipients:;
Date: Thu, 26 Jan 2017 20:00:31 +0000

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       2017 MS 150 Houston to Austin
                                                                                                 April 29th - 30th

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Dear Team Shell Cyclist,

It looks like this weekend will be ideal for cycling.  It will be a little cooler but should be less windy than last Sunday!   Important, if you don't have a Shell Team jersey, the final cutoff date is February 26th.   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.  Below is the link to take the online safety challenge.  To ride with Team Shell, we have two mandatory requirements.  First, you must take the hands on Bike Safety Skills training.  Team Shell offers this as part of your logistics support fee.  The second requirement is that you must complete the online Safe Cycling Challenge survey<http://biketxh.nationalmssociety.org/site/R?i=eidQHJL2SVdiqpJYCGcnWw>.

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 - Register Here<https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/37JQWSN>

In the News

*         Safety First Message - Team Safety Captain, Alan Bazard

*         Safe Cycling Challenge - Mandatory for all Team Shell Riders

*         Volunteers

*         Team Shell Required Safety Training

*         Team Shell Cycle Apparel - need to order by Feb. 26th

*         Pay your Team Shell support fee now

*         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 Online 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<http://biketxh.nationalmssociety.org/site/R?i=eidQHJL2SVdiqpJYCGcnWw>

Volunteering

Volunteering is critical to the success of Team Shell.  I need your help.  We have our first volunteer opportunity on Saturday February 18th at the R2R training ride in Sealy.    We will need a dozen volunteers to support each of the three training events that Shell is responsible for.  Your support is very important.  We would love to have you to support one of these rides.  If you cannot, a family member or friend can take your place while you are on the training ride.  Please sign up early; let's fill up all the 3 volunteer spots this week.  I will send out a reminder the week of each support ride to each of the registered volunteers.

Volunteer Link - CLICK HERE<https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/R2R2017>

*         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.

1.    Feb 18, Ride 4 in Sealy

2.    Mar 18, Ride 7 in New Waverly

3.    Apr 8, Ride 10 in Cat Spring

In weeks 5-8 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
We had about 30 team members out to take the first Bike Safety training skills last Sunday.   It was a little windy but all who participated learned a lot.   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.

*         Jan 22 - Basic Class

*         Feb 26 - Basic Class

*         Mar 19 - Advanced Class (must have taken Basic Class- not a first time rider class)

*         Mar 26 - Basic Class
Register for your safety training class CLICK HERE<https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/BikeSafetyClass2017>
*         Other Group Riding Skills Course<http://biketxh.nationalmssociety.org/site/R?i=uRb0rILCc3jP-_Img4-RMw> for Austin and Houston.  There will be a fee for these non-Team Shell cycle trainings.
*         The Group Riding Skills Course is conducted by the League of American Bicyclists. The LAB is the Society's education partner and a national organization dedicated to cycling, cycling advocacy and cycling education
Pay your Team support logistics fee.
Please get your check turned in by the end of the month.  I need to pay the tent rental, up front, in February and so far we have only collected from about half of you.  All Team Shell cyclists who plan to ride in the 2017 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 2017 MS150 and haven't received a thanks for paying email from me than you still need to turn in your team support fee.

Mail a check ($70), 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. 26th

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

Upcoming Training Rides

Ready2Roll - You must be registered for this training series

1/30/2016            8:00 AM              Katy, TX                          21, 38, 48 mile routes

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

2/06/17            9:00 AM                      Pedaling the Prairie <http://www.pedalingtheprairie.org/>                           Waller, TX                   24, 45, 55 & 71 mile routes
                2/11/17            8:00 AM                      Humble Lions Bike Ride<http://www.humblelionsclub.com/bikeride_2017.html>                     Humble, TX                 22, 44, & 55 mile routes
            2/18/17            8:00 AM                      Bulldog Bike Ride<http://www.bulldogbikeride.com/>                               Waller, TX                   25, 32 & 50 mile routes
2/25/17            8:00 AM                      Texas Independence Bicycle Tour<https://endurancecui.active.com/event-reg/select-race?e=39311153>     Deer Park, TX             30, 48, & 62 mile routes    Shell sponsored
3/25/17            8:00 AM                      Clay Walker's Band Against MS<http://www.bandagainstms.org/ride2017.html>        Humble, TX                 20, 35, & 65 mile routes    Shell sponsored

Have a great weekend.  Be safe and stay healthy!

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