3-9-2010 Newsletter

Only 39 days until the 2010 MS150!

This week's newsletter contains updates on:

1. Safety
2. Fundraising
3. Jersey, Packet & Bike Inspection
4. CP Training Ride
5. Other Training Rides

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1. Safety:

March 21st is the deadline for completing the MS150 online safety quiz. Here's the link and please remember to use your Last Name as your Rider ID:
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/2010bpms150safetyquiz_ts

For those still needing on-bike safety training, the last free training class offered by Team Shell will be on Sunday March 21, 2:00 - 5:00 PM. To sign-up, please visit:
http://www.zoomerang.com/Survey/WEB229ZT2QWCDH

Similar training classes are available through the MS Society on different dates but for a small fee.  For more details and to sign-up
for one of these classes, please visit the following site:
http://www.nationalmssociety.org/chapters/bp-ms-150/safety-information/safety-and-training/group-riding-skills/index.aspx

For any training by a non-Shell party, please remember to pick up a completion certificate and e-mail me a copy so I can update your records.

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2. Fundraising:

As a team we are at $116,721.69 or 29% of our $400,000 goal.  This is a good jump from last week but we cannot afford to let our guard down, and we could definitely use some help from approx 200 teammates who are yet to start their fundraising campaigns.

For team fundraising details, please visit the team page at:

http://main.nationalmssociety.org/site/TR/Bike/TXHBikeEvents?team_id=177325&pg=team&fr_id=12962

Congratulations to the 5 new-comers into the $1000+ Club.  We now have 25 team members at or above $1000 and they have collectively raised approx 37% of the team's total.  Well done!

Peter Birckhead David Steele Karyn Penney
Afif Halal Ferdi Mostert Cathy Porter
Charles Ward Mario Menendez Linda Lara
Ben Boldt Rick Menniti Eric Crabb
Chris Holan Snehal Patel Alison Frey
Kate Spry Allen Broyles Mike Pitre
Jim Thompson Herbert Yuan Jennifer Welshons
Jeff Hoye Christopher Normyle Frank White
Erin Lattin

We also have 11 riders who are on the verge of crossing the $1000 milestone-- they are: Joseph Young, David Early, Ken Stoll, James Kauderer, John Zavala, Laura Lopez, Calum Macaulay, Barend Dronkers, Andy Cables, Brent Bergt, and Michael Mahoney.  Keep it up folks!

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3. Reminders:

Jersey Pick Up:
- Sunday March 21, 5:00 PM, immediately after safety training at Shell Woodcreek.
- Thursday, March 25, 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM, at our private packet pick-up at One Shell Plaza.
- Friday April 16, 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM, by the team luggage truck at Shell Woodcreek.
- Saturday April 17, 5:30 - 6:30 AM, at the private team start at Shell  Woodcreek.
- Anytime at my office, Shell Woodcreek room 6428, but by prior appointment.

Packet Pick UP:
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.

Bike Inspection:
MS150 bike inspection has begun on Monday, February 15.  Take your bike in for a FREE inspection at any of the MS150 Official Bike Stores and receive free labor for repairs during the MS150.  Bike inspections are free until April 9, after which there will be a $15 fee.

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4. CP Training Ride:

This week's CP training ride will be on Saturday, March 13, 8 AM, from the town square in Fayetteville.  This ride will feature some of toughest hills of the training season but also some of the most beautiful and quiet country roads.

Parking in Fayetteville is limited.  Please carpool and give yourself enough time to get there, park, sign-in, and get your bike/gear ready. Refer to the team roster 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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5. Other Training Rides:

Here's a list of the MS-Recommended training rides through the end of March.  Visit our team website for more details
http://shellcyclingteam.com/MSrides.htm:

- Sat Mar 13: Brookwood's BP MS-150 Bike Rally
- Sun Mar 14: Great Escape, 14/44/52/70/86 miles
- Sat Mar 20  B-Geo Magnolia Miles, 23/41/71 miles
- Sat Mar 20: Spokes N Spurs, 6/14/28/44/63 miles        
- Sun Mar 21: Guaranty Bank Tour de Houston, 20/40/70 miles
- Sat Mar 27: Schlumberger Education Expedition, 35/45/63/73 miles
- Sat Mar 27: Rosedale Ride, 20/43/63 miles
- Sun Mar 28: Bluebonnet Express, 24/48/62/80 miles

You might also consider the innaugural 2010 Texas Independence Bike Tour.  This year, the Deer Park Rotary Club is hosting the first of what will become an annual charity bike ride event on March 27th, 2010. The bike ride will start and end in Deer Park and will have 3 different ride distances: 30, 45 and 60 miles.  For more details and to register, please visit: http://www.deerparkrotary.org/bike/index.html

Looking forward to seeing you on the road.

Afif  Halal
Team Captain, Shell
Office: 281-544-5656
Email: ShellCyclingTeam@Shell.com
Website: www.ShellCyclingTeam.com