Subject: Team Shell Cycling Newsletter - January 28, 2016
From: <[email-masked]>
To: Undisclosed recipients:;
Date: Thu, 28 Jan 2016 21:53:20 +0000

Team Shell Riders - 150 and counting

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Dear Team Shell Cyclist,

It looks like this weekend will be ideal for cycling.   Important, if you don't have a Shell Team jersey, the final cutoff date is February 12nd.   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.

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 Quiz - Mandatory for all Team Shell Riders

*         Volunteers

*         Team Shell Required Safety Training

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

*         Pay your Team Shell support fee before Feb. 1st to save $10

*         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]

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<http://biketxh.nationalmssociety.org/site/R?i=VFofAHdnAxkMp6RNRcCjOA>

Volunteers Needed - I need your help for Feb. 13th!

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. .  We still have volunteer opportunities on the following two rides.

We only have 4 volunteers registered for Saturday, February 13th.  We need 4 SAG divers and 7 folks to work the rest stop.  Please if you are participating in the R2R training series it is expected that you volunteer at one of our 3 training rides.  You may have a family member or friend serve in your volunteer role.  Please register on the link below, I will need to turn in our list of volunteers by next Friday for the Feb. 13th 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
*         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.
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.  Get your check in the mail by this weekend and save $10.

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

If you ordered your jersey and kits in the first order, I've been told that they will be shipped out by next Tuesday.  Hopefully in time for next weekend's ride.

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               Fulshear, TX

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

1/302016                                 Open Weekend for MS sponsored rides
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 healthy!

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