Subject: Team Shell Cycling Newsletter - March 23, 2016
From: <[email-masked]>
To: Undisclosed recipients:;
Date: Wed, 23 Mar 2016 20:47:38 +0000

MS 150 April 16-17, 2016

Team Shell Riders - 226
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TEAM SHELL CYCLING DASHBOARD
Team Fundraising Goal

Collected to Date

% of Goal

Avg. Collected per Rider

Group Riding Skills  Compliance

Online Safety Training Compliance

$200,000

$87,789

44%

$388

91%

  142 - 63%

     Dear Team Shell Cycling,

Surprise!  This newsletter is a day early.  I'm planning on taking a couple of days off and make it a long weekend.  I will be out at the Clay Walker bike ride this weekend; if your schedule permits, come join me.

We are just 24 days away from this year's MS150.  Last Sunday was the last free Team Shell training.  We have over 90% of the team that have satisfied the bike safety requirement. THANK YOU!!!  So if you haven't completed your hands on bike training, you will now have to get it done at one of the community cycling training.   There are still several remaining but they do fill up fast as we get closer to the event.  We still need to close the gap on the online safety training.

I have also posted the link for volunteers for the ride weekend April 16th & 17th.  We really could use your help in recruiting volunteers for the MS weekend.  In the past, family members and friends have made a huge effort in assisting our riders throughout the event.  Our biggest need for volunteers will be Saturday and Sunday mornings of the ride in LaGrange.  Please help us be sending this link out to your family and friends.          Click Here<https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/6BFQ8P7>

     In this Week's Newsletter

*         Safety First Message

*         Team Shell Registration Fee

*         Volunteers Needed

*         Massages in LaGrange

*         Online MS 150 Safety Training

*         Bike Safety Training

*         Transportation back from Austin

*         Packet Pick Up Locations

*         Fundraising

*         Bike Safety Inspections

*         Training Rides

*         Handy Links

SAFETY FIRST MESSAGE:   Safety When Riding Hills

Coach Alan Bazard - Shell Safety Coordinator

Hills really are one of your friends!  They make you stronger going up, and give you a fun ride on the way down.  Going up is tough.  It's also where riders run into one another.  Riders go up a hill at different speeds.  When laboring hard during the climb, many riders tend to look down at the pavement and not watch out for other riders in front.  Another problem is riders weaving back and forth across the lane as they work to climb the hill.

Be safe when climbing hills and look up and around periodically as you climb and ALWAYS look back before you start to pass another rider.  Hold your line straight going up the hill.  Watch out for other riders weaving and call out to them ("Hold Your Line!").  Let them know you are near them.

Also, Keep as Far to the RIGHT as possible, and single file when going up a hill (Shoulder is best if available).  Unseen oncoming traffic topping the hill may be across the centerline in your lane.  Do not drift to the left or ride 2 abreast going up hills.  Listen for cars coming up behind you.

On the downhill, enjoy the coast, but remember you're going faster so objects come at you quicker and passing and braking take more distance.  Before passing, check that you're clear in front AND in back.  If there is a car behind, be prepared to brake harder than normal.  If the downhill is long, feather your brakes (short pulls engaging the brake) to slow and control your speed.  Just like in a car, don't ride down the entire length of the hill with brakes applied.  Overheating the rims may cause a flat tire when going downhill (faster), which may cause a fall or crash.  Again, enjoy the hill and be SAFE!
For questions or more information on Group Riding Safety, contact Coach Alan - [email-masked]<mailto:[email-masked]>

2016 Team Shell MS150 riders
We still have about 60 riders who still need to pay. Please get this in to me now.  These funds help pay for the tents in LaGrange and Austin as well as for all the food and beverages at the team tent.

We have aligned with the Shell Employees Club (SEC) to handle our financial administration going forward. SEC can only take cash or check.  Please don't send cash in the mail.  If you would like to pay by cash, please get in touch with me to make arrangements.

Thank you for your support!

Please make your $80 check payable to SEC (Shell Employees Club) and mail or interoffice to the attention of:

                Shell Employees Club
150 N. Dairy Ashford, bldg. E -0238 F
Houston, TX  77079

                Attn: Mark Poindexter

Volunteering during the MS 150 Weekend

MS 150 Volunteer Opportunities.  We need lots of volunteers to help Team Shell throughout the ride.  Please pass along this link to your friends and family members and encourage them to support the team by volunteering during this weekend.  MS 150 Event Volunteering<https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/2016TeamShellMS150VolunteerSignUp>

Massages in LaGrange
   We will again offer massages in LaGrange after Saturday's ride.  The fee is still $1/minute.  Once you roll into the Shell Tent in LaGrange, make sure you sign up
   for your massage.  The therapist are all license and do a wonderful job of rejuvenate those tired muscles in preparing you for Sunday's ride into Austin.  Please
  bring cash.

Online MS 150 Safety Training Quiz
     If you haven't yet completed the online training, here is your weekly reminder to get-r-done. Take the Safe Cycling Challenge<http://biketxh.nationalmssociety.org/site/R?i=VFofAHdnAxkMp6RNRcCjOA>
     All of Team Shell is required to take this online quiz.  It will take just a few of minutes to complete.  We need 100% compliance!

Bike Safety Training

If you still need to meet your bike safety requirement, you will need to take a community bike safety course.  Group Riding Skills Course<http://biketxh.nationalmssociety.org/site/R?i=uRb0rILCc3jP-_Img4-RMw>.

Transportation

      The Passenger Busses and Bike Transport is $35 each way from Austin to Houston on both Friday and Sunday.

      Book your transportation now.

      Sunday, April 19, 2015 - On Sunday, Passenger Busses & Bike Transport go back to all three start sites.

      Riders who wish to purchase transportation at this time may do so on-site at the Bus Depot in Austin for $35:

Need transportation from Austin to Houston on Sunday? Purchase transportation online in advance<http://main.nationalmssociety.org/site/TR?fr_id=27003&pg=informational&sid=13233>. (Click on Austin transportation.)

This is for transportation for the rider, bike and luggage from Austin to Houston on Sunday. ($35.00)

Hotel/Motel shuttles in LaGrange - If you are not spending the night in the Team Tent and would rather rough it in one of the local hotels then the MS Society will provide convenient shuttle service.  The MS Society organizes regular bus service to local hotels just steps away from the Team Shell Tent.  The bus will pick you back up in the morning and you can start your ride with the team.

When you arrive back to Tully Stadium, Team Shell will have a courtesy shuttle bus to transport you back to the Shell Woodcreek campus to pick up your vehicle.  Just remember where you parked your car so that you get on the correct bus in Austin.  There are 3 official starts, Tully Stadium, Katy and Waller; make sure you get on the bus back to where you start your ride on Saturday.  For those of you leaving from Shell Woodcreek, you will get on the bus back to Tully Stadium.

Packet Pick UP information, Dates and Locations

*         Packets only given out for those riders who have met the $400 minimum; we do count matching forms and will give credit if we have the forms in our hands.

*         No need to send waivers or bring them to this packet pick-up. Person picking up the packets will sign the roster. Only need notarized waivers of any underage riders on the team if picking their packets up.

*         Can turn in money as well

General Packet Pick-Ups - Only 2 packet pick-ups in Houston this year.

April 6th - Memorial Park Houston
11:00am-7:00pm
6501 Memorial Drive (South Picnic Loop and Memorial Drive)
Houston, Texas 77007

April 15th - Houston Expo, Omni Westside
13210 Katy Freeway
Houston, Texas 77079
2:00-8:00pm

Team Shell Jerseys and Kit

Our jersey manufacturer has a small inventory of Team Shell jerseys still available.

The new design will be delivered directly to your home for under $30.

http://www.peak1bikestore.com/shell

Fundraising

Thank you for all of you that are doing in outstanding job at fundraising.

We are only at 44% of our fundraising goal, let's hard over the next 7 days to see if we can crack the $100K barrier.  You can do it!
                        Top Fund Raisers to Date

$4,000 +

$1,000+

Chris Russell

Mark Cockram

$3,000 +

Courtenay Clifford

Todd Nunnally

Haley Chilek

$2,000 +

Christian Cuellar

Todd Jones

Billy Euell

James Kinzler

Ramon Berrocal

Allen Broyles

Chuck D'Angelo

$1,000+

$900+

Michele O'Keefe

Minhtuan Nguyen

Jim Pirnik

Lorena Derington

Geoff Donnelly

Michael Lombardi

Tjalling Terpstra

Peggy McElroy

Training Rides

Ready2Roll Cycling Training Series Ride 10
Saturday, March 26       7:30                                                                              Bellville, TX                               52.7 / 69.6 mile routes

MS 150 Recommended rides
                Saturday, March 26         8:00 AM               Clay Walker's BAMS<http://www.bandagainstms.org/bamsride2016.html>                                        Humble, TX                                         20/ 35/65 mile routes
Saturday, April 02             8:00 AM               Head for the Hills<https://www.bikereg.com/ready2roll-chappell-hill-ride>                                             Chappell Hill, TX                                26/43/62 mile routes
Saturday, April 02             8:00 AM               Schlumberger Expedition<https://thedriven.net/event.race_reg/eid/4710014568?>                            Missouri City, TX                                      11/52/79 mile routes
Sunday, April 03                8:00 AM               Grand Fondo: Texas<http://www.granfondotexastmco.com/>                                       Montgomery, TX                              32/46/68/90 mile routes

MS 150 Bicycle Safety Inspections

Not only does your body need to be in the best shape possible for the BMS 150 but your bike should be finely tuned and road worthy as well. To ensure your bike is in the best shape please take it, along with your clip-less cycling shoes, to one of the BP MS 150 Official Bike Stores for a FREE thru April 12 for a professional safety inspection. Pedal inspection is a critical component of the overall safety inspection, so don't forget your clip-less cycling shoes.

Once your bike passes the safety inspection you and your bike will be awarded a BP MS 150 Safety Inspection Sticker that you'll proudly display on the stem of your bike to show your safety focused and eligible for FREE labor (parts and materials are extra) if you are in need of mechanical repairs during the BP MS 150.

Locate a Bike Store<http://main.nationalmssociety.org/site/TR?fr_id=27003&pg=informational&sid=13228>

Handy Links

*         What to Pack?<http://main.nationalmssociety.org/site/TR?fr_id=27003&pg=informational&sid=13231#pack-anchor>

*         Packet Pick-up Schedule<http://biketxh.nationalmssociety.org/site/R?i=pWCEIKNzEV_wDv0gEjIvIQ>

  *   Packet Pick-Up FAQ<http://biketxh.nationalmssociety.org/site/R?i=9pdBunNbHjo7LvuZ8eCx5w>
  *   Rider Packet Acknowledgement Form<http://biketxh.nationalmssociety.org/site/R?i=TLqIcZWCfhFXxwTLmnSFXQ>
  *   Underage Waiver and Release Form<http://biketxh.nationalmssociety.org/site/R?i=_iWLrzXjraV8aP95EJG33A>
  *   How to Use Your Rider Numbers<http://biketxh.nationalmssociety.org/site/R?i=2xFIY_jHtnqWW8J7Q7ZYWw>
  *   Why $400?<http://biketxh.nationalmssociety.org/site/R?i=y5z1nOT-WWxz84xCGHUV4Q>
As the mileage, hills and winds increase in your training, please remember train safely, eat and hydrate properly.  Listen to your body and review Alan's safety tips.
Go out and have a safe and healthy weekend!

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