Subject: Team Shell Newsletter - February 9, 2017
From: <[email-masked]>
To: Undisclosed recipients:;
Date: Thu, 9 Feb 2017 23:56:09 +0000

Team Shell Riders – 181

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     FUNDRAISING DASHBOARD
Team Fundraising Goal

Collected to Date

% of Goal

Avg. Collected per Rider

$200,000

$42,795

21%

$236

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Dear Team Shell Cyclists,

If you haven’t ordered your Team Shell jersey yet, tomorrow (Sunday, Feb. 26th is the cut off).  So, if you need a jersey or know someone that does, please get your order in by Friday. http://www.peak1bikestore.com/shell

Also, it is official that Shell will be title sponsor again this year for Clay Walker’s Band Against MS Bike Ride.  It will be held on Saturday, March 26th.  It is a charity ride and will dove tail on this ride to make it a Team Shell ride.  Registration is now open, please see the link in Upcoming Training Rides below.

In the News

·         Safety First Message – Team Safety Captain, Alan Bazard

·         Safe Cycling Challenge – Online safety training

·         Team Shell Jerseys – order by this Friday, Feb. 26th

·         Bike Safety Training Class Dates

·         Transportation back to Houston on Sunday

·         Bike Inspections

·         Volunteers Needed

·         Fundraising

·         Pay your Team Shell registration fee

·         Upcoming Training Rides

SAFETY FIRST MESSAGE:  Ride Predictably, Communicate and Ride to the Right

Coach Alan Bazard – Shell Safety Coordinator

Ride Predictably.  This means riding smoothly and consistently. Don't try to take turns too quickly or make any sudden maneuvers, unless absolutely necessary to avoid a collision or other unsafe situation.  Look ahead when riding to identify possible obstacles or problems in your path and plan your "escape" well in advance.  Then communicate what you plan on doing. . .”coming out”, “stopping”, “slowing”, “rider on your left”, “car up”, “right turn”, etc.  Looking ahead and riding predictably will not only help you avoid a collision ahead of you, but it also makes it easier for others around you and can help you avoid a collision with another rider, or even a motor vehicle.

Communication: In addition to letting others know your actions, let your fellow riders know what you see.  Do NOT automatically assume that the driver of a car sees you.  Call out “CAR RIGHT” or “CAR LEFT” (front and back too) to alert riders around you.  Then they will be ready to take defensive action, if needed, too.

One more Safety Topic this week, Remember to Ride to the Right!
Riding with the direction of vehicular traffic, Cyclists should ride as far to the right of the road or shoulder as safely possible.  If the shoulder is maintained, then cyclists should be inside the shoulder (right of the white line).  If no shoulder, ride within 18 inches of the white line or curb.

Texas State law allows cyclists to ride no more than two abreast.  If riding two abreast impedes car traffic, then riders must ride single file.

Be safe, ride single file on busy roads and narrow roads. On quieter back roads it is nice to ride next to one another and talk. Just check behind frequently for vehicles approaching from the rear and move to the right to let them pass safely. And, if you hear a rider behind you call out “Car Back” don’t wait for the car to be directly behind you; start moving to the right, right away. Remember, we are sharing the road.

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>

Team Shell Jerseys and Kit – Orders must be placed before Feb. 26th

Your order will be delivered directly to your home for under $30.   http://www.peak1bikestore.com/shell

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.

•         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.  These classes fill up fast.

Bus Transportation

Wondering how you're getting home? We have you covered!  Passenger bus and bike transportation on Sunday from Austin to Houston (Tully Stadium, Rhodes Stadium, and Waller Stadium) is $35 per participant. If you do not purchase transportation online by the deadline (April 26, 2017 at 5:00pm) but wish to purchase transportation, you may do so on-site on Friday (cash or check only) and/or on Sunday at the Bus Depot in Austin (cash and checks accepted as well as Visa, MasterCard, Discover, and American Express).
Buy a ticket<http://biketxh.nationalmssociety.org/site/R?i=NzcqJRgGv5W_n2Cq0l8WQg>

Bike Safety Inspections

Free bike inspections are available at Official MS 150 Bike Stores<http://main.nationalmssociety.org/site/TR?fr_id=28263&pg=informational&sid=14154> This is a great way to get your bike checked out before hand to assure it is "fit" and safe to do the MS 150. Upon passing your bike, you will get a sticker that lets you have free labor for bike repair and adjustment during the MS 150 Ride (there will be a charge for parts).

Volunteers Needed for R2R Training rides
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 – 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 – Full

2.    Mar 18, Ride 7 in New Waverly – Still need vols.

3.    Apr 8, Ride 10 in Cat Spring - Still need vols.

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.

Fundraising for MS

We have set our fundraising goal for 2017 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 – Shell supports employees and pensioners gifts to select nonprofit agencies and schools throughout the U.S. and extend the reach of our personal and corporate giving. By matching employee and pensioner gifts, donor and company resources are leveraged for maximum community benefit.  Company will provide a 1:1 match up to a maximum match of $7,500 for Shell employees and $5,500 for Shell pensioners (who have retired directly from active service and are eligible to receive overall company benefits), per calendar year for the HERO Open Giving Program. The minimum gift is $25

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.

Pay your Team support logistics fee.
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 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 is now $70 and goes up again on March 1st to $80.

Mail a check ($70 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

Upcoming Training Rides

Training Ride #2 – Fulshear-Brookshire – Feb 11, 8:00 am – 23, 37 (or 51) miles

MS 150 Community Training Rides               Schedule<http://main.nationalmssociety.org/site/DocServer/TXH_2017_BP_MS_150_-_Recommended_Rides_Calendar.pdf?docID=82780>

February 11, 2017      8:00 AM          Humble Lions Bike Ride <http://www.humblelionsclub.com/bikeride_2017.html>                                 Humble, TX                   22, 44, 55 mile routes

February 18, 2017      8:00  AM         The Bulldog Bike Ride<http://www.bulldogbikeride.com/>                                    Waller, TX                        25, 32, & 50 mile routes

February, 25, 2017     8:00 AM          Texas Independence Bicycle Tour<http://www.deerparkrotary.org/>                 Deer Park, TX                   30, 48, & 62 mile routes    Shell

March 26, 2017          8:00 AM           Clay Walker’s Band Against MS Bike Ride<http://www.bandagainstms.org/ride2017.html>    Humble, TX                20, 35, & 65 mile routes    Shell

Golf Clubs of Houston                                    Official Team Shell Training Ride – Let’s have a great turn out.

Ok, let’s all go out and take advantage of the beautiful weather this week. Y’all be safe out there!!!

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