4 Days until the MS150 Houston to Austin Ride!!!!
This communication contains the following TIME CRITICAL information:
* Captains Corner
* Call for MS150 Weekend Volunteers
* MS150 Weekend Information - Friday, Saturday and Sunday
* MS150 Weekend Weather - Good temps and some what unfavorable winds at
the moment
* Ride Safe and Obey the Rules
Team Shell Website: <http://www.shellcyclingteam.com/index.htm>
Captains Corner
Training is over, final preparations need to be in
order and fundraising is still on-going. Your top priority this week
should be getting plenty of rest, eating right, drinking lots of water
and ensuring your bike is ready for 180 miles of fun in the sun. Team
Shell has raised approximately $153,000 toward our team target of
$225,000. Spend some of your extra time (since you are not riding) on
your fundraising. We think it would be great if everyone could reach
the Team Shell $700 per rider goal. Our current team count is 319.
This communications will only cover items relating to the MS150 weekend
- Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Additional MS150 weekend information and
maps are available at
www.ms150.org/ms150.
Have fun, be safe, enjoy the great weather and remember why we ride – to
STOP MS!
Call for MS150 Weekend Volunteers
Team Shell is in need of volunteers on April 11-13,
especially folks to help unload the truck in La Grange beginning at 8
AM. Other activates are as follows:
* Drive the team truck to LaGrange on Friday evening, to Austin on
Sunday morning, and back to Houston on Sunday afternoon.
* Support the ride start at Woodcreek on Saturday morning, e.g. set-up
and take down, rider sign-in, jersey distribution, etc.
* Support the team in Bellville (site of the MS150 lunch stop) on
Saturday, e.g. set-up and takedown of Team Shell tent.
* LaGrange support on Saturday - set-up camp, unload truck, sign-in
riders, massage sign-up, etc.
* LaGrange support on Sunday - breakfast, load truck, camp take down,
etc.
* Austin support on Sunday - set-up camp, unload truck, sign-in riders,
massage sign-up, etc.
If you, a friend or family member would like to support Team Shell,
please sign-up here:
<http://www.zoomerang.com/Survey/?p=WEB22736PX5CGE>
Final Slide Pack:
MS150_Weekend_Only_Info-2008-Last_One.ppt
MS150 Friday (11 April) Info:
- Jersey Distribution: 7:00-9:00am and
11:00am-1:00pm, at Woodcreek in the visitor parking lot (you must have
met the 2 safety requirements).
- Final Packet Pickup: BP MS 150 Expo, Omni Houston Westside Hotel (end
of N. Dairy Ashford at Eldridge) - Fri., April 11, 2 - 10 p.m.
- Final Bike Inspection Opportunity: At BP MS 150 Expo above.
- Special Luggage Drop-off Downtown (CBD Only): 1-2pm in the surface
lot facing both One Shell Plaza and Two Shell Plaza. Robert Whitacre and
Robert Kissner have offered to help fellow Team Shell riders by picking
up their luggage downtown and driving it to Woodcreek on Friday - Thanks
guys. They will be in a Ford Excursion
about in the middle of the surface parking lot bordered by McKinney,
Walker, Milam and Louisiana from 1 to 2 pm. They'll be wearing our
Shell jerseys, so run your luggage over to them. Remember to put your
rider # tags on them.
- Woodcreek Luggage Drop-off: 7am-5pm at Woodcreek in visitor parking
lot. Remember to put your rider # tags on them. Truck leaves at 5pm
for LaGrange.
- Prep your bike and layout all of your gear as you have to get up real
early on Saturday and will forget things (like sunglasses and
sunscreen).
MS150 Saturday (12 April) Info (NO Baggage Drop at Woodcreek on
Saturday):
- Arrive at Woodcreek no later than 5:30am. Take
I-10 to the Eldridge (753A) exit and go North to N. Dairy Ashford. Turn
right on N. Dairy Ashford and look for Shell on the left.
- Final Jersey Distribution: 5:30am-6:15am, at the ride start at
Woodcreek (you must have met the 2 safety requirements).
- 5:40am Sign-in, prepare bike and gear.
- 5:50am Eat a small snack, drink 8 ounces of water and potty.
- 6:05 - 6:20am Safety, Announcements and Team Photo.
- Team Start at 6:40 AM - sharp.
- Vehicles are secure in Shell lot over the weekend.
- MS150 rest stop changes. Rest stops 3 and 5 will be on the LEFT side
of 529 and 969 respectively. Please use caution entering and leaving
these rest stops.
- Team Shell Tent in LaGrange is #503 on Lone Star Lane (same location
as last year).
FYI - Despite what looks to be a hot day, the temperature in LaGrange is
expected to dip into the low/mid 50's on Saturday night. The dew also
makes it feel several degrees below that. So MAKE SURE YOU BRING
LAYERED SLEEPING COVERS, including a warm blanket.
MS150 Sunday (13 April) Info:
- Early rise and breakfast in Team Shell tent or
the wonderful NMSS Pancakes.
- There will be only one start from the LaGrange Fairgrounds starting at
7am and releasing in waves of about ~200. Listen for details and
line-up early.
- MS150 route advisory. There is a 7 mile stretch of construction on
969 about 5 miles past the Bastrop lunch stop. Use caution and ride
safely due to riding surface, no shoulder, construction equipment and
cones.
- Team Shell Tent in Austin is Red Lot #16. Red Lot is just past the
finish line on the left.
- You are responsible for your own transportation from Austin back to
Houston.
Weekend Weather:
- Remind everyone to watch the weather. So far, it
looks like a gorgeous weekend. It will be chilly at the start and at
night in LaGrange. Be sure to dress in layers as well as bring an extra
blanket if sleeping in a tent in LaGrange. Weather Channel and Yahoo
show North East wind on Sat and SE wind on Sun with low humidity. Highs
in the low 80s and lows in 50s.
- There is a BP MS Hotline number - 281-657-3865 for last minute
updates, particularly if the weather causes event changes (but at this
point the 10 day forecast seems most favorable).
Ride Safe and Obey the Rules:
We
learned in the Ride Marshal meeting that marshals and other MS officials
will be recording rider numbers of riders that behave dangerously or
break the rules. These numbers will be turned into the MS organization
and the riders and their team captains will be talked to. The riders
will have to take a safety course to get into future rides. Notably,
your number may be taken without you being talked to (for those fast
riders doing dangerous things). So let's keep Team Shell off "MS150's"
naughty list by riding SAFE & FRIENDLY.
Cell phones should be turned off when not being used. There is limited
capacity in the rural areas and it may be needed for emergency
situations.
Your Team Shell
Captains,
Afif, Jim and
Pat
The Team Shell organizing committee can be contacted via
shellcyclingteam@shell.com
