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2-9-2010 Newsletter
Only 67 days until the 2010
MS150!
The keyword for this week is LONGER MILEAGE & SADDLE TIME. Also, refer to
a couple of my previous newsletters for tips about riding "comfortably" in
cold weather-- you might appreciate them this weekend!
This week's newsletter contains updates on:
1. Safety
2. Fundraising - New!!!
3. Spin-o-Thon Series - Last call...
4. Packet pick-up - New!!!
5. Tip of the week - Know the Lingo...
6. CP training series
7. Other training rides
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1. Safety:
THANK YOU to the nearly 400 riders who have met the team safety
requirements or have registered to take on-bike safety training in
February/March. This is a true testament to the values we all hold as
individuals and as a team!
For our colleagues who are yet to heed the team safety requirements, I
invite you to join the rest of us by making this week YOUR SAFETY WEEK...
please take 10 minutes to complete the online safety quiz (use your last
name as your Rider ID):
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/2010bpms150safetyquiz_ts
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2. Fundraising:
I'd like to take this opportunity to remind everyone of the main reason
we're in this event together! Individually, we all have personal
motivations for joining the greatest bike tour on earth. But
collectively, as a team, our common thread remains our passion for
helping people with MS by making available the means for things like
funding research and supporting community programs that impact the
everyday lives of children, women, and men stricken with MS. It is
through our fundraising efforts and generous donations that we are able to
impact their lives and hopefully, be able to look back someday and say "I
helped beat MS".
To date, since we started counting, Team Shell has raised a total of $1.4
millions for the Lone Star Chapter and we're just getting warmed up!!!
Our team target for this year is $400,000, or approximately $1000 per
rider when we factor in attrition. This is consistent with our
performance over the last couple of years and I'd like to urge you to keep
our strong tradition alive.
In this light, I'd like to present us all with a challenge to get our
fundraising campaigns in high gear and to raise a minimum of $100 each by
this time next week. Let's do it together!
I'd like to close this section by recognizing our $1000+ fundraisers so
far this year:
Peter Birckhead $3,885.00
Afif Halal $2,850.00
Kate Spry $1,535.00
Charles Ward $1,515.00
Erin Lattin $1,320.00
Alison Frey $1,000.00
Mike Pitre $1,000.00
As a team we are at approx 13% of our total goal (see the MS Society's
rider/team fundraising webpage):
http://main.nationalmssociety.org/site/TR/Bike/TXHBikeEvents?team_id=177325&pg=team&fr_id=12962
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3. Team Shell Spin-o-Thon:
A few spin bikes are still available for the 2-hr Team Shell Spin-o-Thon
Series. This fundraising series will be held at the Fitness Center at
Shell Woodcreek, located at 200 N. Dairy Ashford Rd. If you're interested,
reserve your bike NOW:
http://www.zoomerang.com/Survey/?p=WEB22A75JP6FLP
Each session will consist of 90-100 minutes on a spin bike followed by a
15-minute core/torso exercise. The spin portion of the workout has been
designed to suit all skill levels, beginners and experienced riders alike,
and will feature endurance building, hill climbing, and speed play.
For more details, feel free to contact me by e-mail at
A.HALAL@SHELL.COM or by phone at
281-544-5656.
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4. Packet Pick-Up (PPU):
Your MS150 Packet contains your bib number, luggage tags, MS150 weekends
information, meal wrist-band, etc. and must, therefore, be picked up prior
to the ride.
Team Shell has again been afforded a private PPU exclusively for our
riders:
Date/Time: Thursday, March 25, 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM.
Location: One Shell Plaza Auditorium, downtown Houston, next to Murphy's
Deli in the tunnel.
If you're not able to make our team PPU, the MS Society offers several
public PPU dates/locations:
Tuesday, March 23 9:00 - 7:00 Austin - NMSS Office
Wednesday, March 24 4:00 - 7:00 Houston - Fred Haas Toyota World
Thursday, March 25 4:00 - 7:00 Houston - Don McGill Katy (I-10 in Katy)
Week of March 15 6:00 - 8:00 Houston - Club 300 - Location TBD
Monday, March 29 4:00 - 7:00 Houston - Fred Haas Country (Hwy 249 North)
Tuesday, March 30 4:00 - 7:00 Houston - Sterling McCall (Hwy.59 / Bltwy 8)
Thursday, April 1 4:00 - 7:00 Houston - Champion Toyota (I-45S @ Fuqua)
Monday, April 12 11:00 - 7:00 Houston - Memorial Park
Wednesday, April 14 4:00 - 7:00 Austin - Hula Hut
Friday, April 16 2:00 - 9:00 Houston - MS150 Expo (Omni Hotel Westside)
Note the following PPU Rules:
* Each rider must turn in a Signed Waiver Form (the form will be shared
when available).
* Riders under the age of 18 must have a Waiver Form signed by a parent or
guardian and NOTARIZED.
* No packets will be distributed on either day of the MS150 weekend.
* You may collect packets for other riders but you must have their signed
Wavier Forms.
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5. Tip of the Week (Know the Lingo):
Safe cycling in groups requires effective communication by every rider in
the group. Vocal and hand signals are used as the primary tool for
relaying information such as approaching vehicles, presence of road
hazards, route turns, etc. In most cases, information is passed from the
front to the back of the group. However, in some situations such as an
approaching vehicle or paceline from the back, communication is passed
from the back to the front of the group. Therefore, it is essential that
you always stay alert, observe, listen, and speak loudly and clearly.
The following are the most common signals you may hear or see in group
rides:
* Passing on your left: This means a rider is approaching your left
side. Allow him/her room to pass.
* Car back: This means a car is approaching from the back. All
riders should make an effort to move as far to the right as safely
practicable. Remember, in most states, the law requires cyclists to ride
no more than two abreast to ensure safe passing by cars.
* Gravel - Pothole - Sand - Tracks: Each of these call-outs is to
alert the riders behind you of hazardous conditions. The words are
combined with a hand signal of pointing to the hazard well in advance.
* Flat: This indicates that a rider has suffered a flat tire. Allow
enough room for the rider to slow down and move to the right side
of the road for repair. Offer assistance if needed.
* Slowing: This indicates that you or the cyclist in front of you
is slowing down. Use caution and prepare to stop. Many cyclists use the
palm of their hand toward riders behind them to indicate slowing and
stopping.
* Stopping: This indicates that you or the rider in front of you is
stopping. Do not forget to unclip from your pedals before you come to a
full stop.
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6. CP Training Series:
This week's CP training ride will start at 8:00 AM from the Waller County
Fairgrounds complex near Hempstead. Directions to the
Fairgrounds are available at:
http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&q=30.078448%2C-96.036859
This ride will be in partnership with "Pedaling the Prairie" and will
feature route distances of 23, 41, 56, and 70 miles. It is expected to
draw a huge number of participants. Therefore, I suggest you carpool and
give yourself enough time to park, sign-in, and get your bike/gear ready.
Refer to the team roster I sent last week or visit the CP series carpool
forum for carpooling options:
http://bikebams.org/tinc?key=wFUJ1iR4&start=-1&reverse=1
As always, refer to the official CP Series website for up-to-date
information and call the Hotline in case of bad weather, 281-293-2931:
http://www.conocophillipsbikeclub.org/index.html
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7. Other Training Rides:
Here's a list of the remaining MS-Recommended training rides for the month
of February:
- Sat Feb 13: Pedaling the Prairie (8:00am, 23/44/56/70 miles
http://www.pedalingtheprairie.org/
- Sat Feb 20: Humble Lions Ride, 4/25/46.5/55 miles
http://www.humblelionsclub.com/
- Sun Feb 21: Tri-County Hill Hopper, 28/36/67 miles
http://www.hillhopper.org/
- Sat Feb 27: Bulldog Bike Ride, 26/32/40/55 miles
http://www.bulldogbikeride.com/
- Sat Feb 27: Team Shell Ride, Katy Mills Mall - Sun & Ski (44/63 mi)
- Sun Feb 28: Sun & Ski Sports Spring Breakaway, 24/36/50/65 miles
Be safe!
Afif Halal
Team Captain, Shell
Office: 281-544-5656
Email:
ShellCyclingTeam@Shell.com
Website:
www.ShellCyclingTeam.com
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