Velo Valero

The Tale of Tony Ralf

peter.ray@valero.com — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 13:20:00 GMT

...As many of you know, Tony Ralf is the VP of the Lone Star Chapter of the MS Society. He's been the heart and soul of the Bike MS: Valero Bike to the Beach for many, many years. He has the awesome responsibility of coordinating this bike ride each year, and more importantly, for energizing people to raise money for the cause he cares so deeply about. His commitment and passion is so intense that he has done all sorts of crazy things in the past to raise money, including selling the right to shaving his head, to dying his hair and eyebrows. I've worked with Tony for years, and my commitment to this event is largely the result of his inspiration.

Tony (right) during the 2006 Friday Night Expo with his twin Ken Mayfield, the 2008-2009 Valero Tour de Cure Event Chair

Well, as you may also know, this summer Tony's sister Pauline passed away after a long bout with MS. He immediately boarded a plane to attend the funeral. After 8 years of doing the Bike to the Beach and raising money for MS, this was the first time that I found myself truly impacted by the disease - Tony was my friend, and his pain was my pain. This is what I blogged at the time -

This weekend Velo Valero experienced a loss in our extended cycling family that I have to share with you. As many of you know, Tony Ralf, VP of the Lone Star Chapter of the MS Society, has been the heart and soul of the Bike to the Beach for as long as I can remember - and this will be my ninth year to ride the event. His humor and boundless energy and enthusiasm have enabled the BTTB to grow from 500 riders during my first year to the over 3500 riders expected this year. This past Friday Tony's sister Pauline passed away after a 20-year battle with MS. Although grieving his loss, the very next morning Tony led a group of us on a dry run of the new Corpus Christi finish line route which included riding over the Harbor Bridge. Tony was as upbeat as usual, anxious to get our feedback on the proposed changes, which he believes deeply will add that extra new wrinkle to the event, which in turn will attract even more riders and raise even more dollars to battle this disease. Those of you who are part of the Velo community who look forward to the Bike to the Beach each year know that Tony is family and his loss is our loss. Tony's currently on a plane heading for Austraila to attend the funeral, but we can all still do something to show we care. If you can, go to the his team site at Pauline's Last Hurrah and make a donation - no amount is too small. As part of the online donation, write a small note to Tony letting him know how much he and the BTTB have meant to you over the years. I think this will mean more to Tony than any of us can imagine.

...After writing this, I logged into the Pauline's Last Hurrah web site and donated the first $500 for his team - and I was the first of many to do this, my friends. Tony told me when he got back to San Antonio, he had countless e-mails from friends wishing him well, and he had countless donations to his team.

But this is not the end of the story.

Tony with his brother in Sydney, in front of the bridge that became the inspiration for us to ride the Harbor Bridge this year in Corpus Christi

...A week or so later, I was eating dinner with Tony, his boss Mark, and a few of the big dog event coordinators and contributors, including guys like Chris Shaw and Steve High that have been huge supporters of the ride for years. It was at this time that the topic came up that since Tony had a team on the web site, why wasn't he planning on doing the ride? As the evening went on, the discussion became more animated (the margaritas may have had something to do with this). I immediately became convinced it was the right thing to do, and it would be a gargantuan inspiration for all the other riders in the event, particularly folks riding it for the first time. Plus, it would make Tony a better event planner, because he would know what a ride was like from a cyclist's perspective. Finally, Tony's boss Mark laid down the gauntlet - he said he knew someone who would match Tony's fundraising dollar for dollar up to $50,000 - if and only if Tony raised $50,000 and completed the ride. (Mark was convinced Tony would never complete the ride, so felt this was a no risk proposition.) I looked into Tony's eyes and saw over a short period of time a wide range of emotions - disbelief, denial, acceptance, and then, a gradual but growing enthusiasm that yes, he would do this, and he would do it like everything else he has done - with gusto, and with an undeniable Aussie flair.

Tony at one of the Velo Valero family friendly rides earlier this year

Tony trained like any newbie - short, painful rides in the beginning that grew longer and faster each week. And, as you will read below, he did the Bike to the Beach, all 164 miles of it, and he did it just the way I thought he would - with gusto, and an undeniable Aussie flair (although those yellow socks have to go!).

Yesterday, I checked his fundraising on the web site, and he was just south of $50,000. Once again, overcome by an emotion which obviously comes from the Irish side of the family, I decided that I wanted Velo Valero to be the contributor to push him over the top. At around noon, I transferred enough funds from our shared team fundraising to push him over $50,000, and therefore make him eligible for the $50,000 match. Tony knows that he has a friend in Velo Valero, but I just wanted to give him one more reminder.

...Since not all of you can get to Tony's blog at work, I'll include the entire entry he wrote after completing the Bike to the Beach this year. You are also welcome to send him a congratulory e-mail at TRALF@NMSSLONESTAR.org.

Thanks Tony, for being a great leader for us in this event, and congratulations on finally manning up and doing the ride with the rest of us!

Surprised Myself; Rode the Entire 164-Mile Route

It's been busy since Sunday, when I crossed the Finish Line for the 19th annual Valero Bike to the Beach! Yes, that's correct; with just 9 weeks training I completed the 164-mile, 2-day fundraiser. I felt so strong on the first day that I opted to ride the 100-mile route...I need to be BOLD in all that I do to make a difference, just like you did with your donation! Thank you so, so much for your support.

This note it going out from my heart to all donors and supporters of my personal cause, as I attempted to fundraise in Pauline's memory, and also raise as much money to maximize the $50,000 matching offer made to me 10 weeks ago!

You'll remember, somebody dared me. Actually they challenged me, basically saying that they doubted my ability to even be ready to line up for the ride, and if I did ride I wouldn't finish! You know me well, that kind of challenge is like a red flag to a bull, right?

So I slogged through high temperatures, leg cramps (aided later by heavy Pickle Juice consumption), very high and relentless head winds on both days (gusting to 28 MPH).

Pauline's Last Hurrah team lined up with 69 members! We crossed the Finish Line having fund-raised $105,000...and counting! This does NOT include the matching of $50,000 for my fundraising. As of today my personal total is at $49,100, just shy of $50K. There is a fundraising momentum in place that I believe will carry me beyond $50,000 by this weekend.

My brother David, and Pauline's youngest son Jeramie (a.k.a Jez) flew in from Australia to ride with me and for Pauline. Actually, I ended up riding in her memory, but also adopted a little girl (Mallory Reid) as my Champion, a program at the Society that allows us to connect with someone living with MS. Mallory is all of 6 years old, and was diagnosed with MS at the ripe old age of 2! Unacceptable, right?

The ride was a hugely emotional-filled adventure. It was an awesome time for the three amigos. Lots and lots of "ata boys" coming from the crowd, riders, volunteers, staff and other folks living with MS, all proud of the three of us riding in Pauline's memory. We were quite the buzz of the weekend!

David is quite the athlete, and of the three of us the Lance Armstrong equivalent. David finished both days in record time, taking no prisoners, just getting it done! But I'm proud of our first-day accomplishment, because the three of us took up and completed the 100-mile optional route! Geez, I hope Pauline appreciates that, my bum hurt all night... :-)

Youth is wasted on the young! Jez raced ahead and finished well ahead of his uncles on the first day. Dave waited for his older brother at the 93-mile mark, which was the ending mark for almost everyone else, but the two Ralf brothers met up and made it a Century Ride together. We circled through the route and headed for the finish line, and rode across the line in victorious salute to Pauline to thunderous applause and lots and lots of "yahoos" and praise from the announcer of the PA system. Then my boss doused me in ice-cold water...

David headed out on Sunday with the HOLT CAT team at 7 a.m., 30 minutes before the official start. They wanted to get a head start on the anticipated 28-knot head winds forecast for Sunday, the second day.

The PA announcer was calling my name to come up to the front of the Start, as my boss grabbed the microphone and sought encouragement from the 3,000 cyclists for me to lead off the group...I was pumped!

The day proved to be very difficult. The head wind was constant throughout the day, exhausting and relentless! But we weren't to be denied our victory. David finished the event at about 11 am, 4 hours after he started the 64-mile journey. Jez unfortunately was hit by another cyclist as he was helping another cyclist with a flat tire. Jez rode to our lunch stop, and the Medical staff diagnosed a strained Achilles tendon. Strapped it up and told him to call it a day! So my boss drove him from lunch to the Finish Line. He was disappointed, but was in no condition to pedal the remaining 30-plus miles with such an injury.

That left just one family member out on the route. It's amazing how lonely it can be riding in an event with 3,000 riders! The wind just strung us all out, and when we did pass each other we were so exhausted it was difficult to even say "hello!"

We passed a beautiful field filled with thousands of sunflowers in full bloom, tracking the sun across the sky, Pauline grew sunflowers at home. That began the emotional turmoil in me, as it conjured thoughts of Pauline, and so began the hardest leg for me. But I wasn't about to give up.

I arrived at the last rest stop before the finish, just 12 miles away. A good friend and cycling mentor rode back out from the Finish to escort me along the final leg of this journey. I noticed some of the official vehicles (vans, police escort, motorcycles) giving me the thumbs up as rode this final leg. I found out later that the entire HAM Radio network, about 150-200 operators, had been given instructions to track my every step for the entire 2 days. So the radio chatter had increased during the final hour.

Then we met the Corpus Christi Harbor Bridge, the last mile of the journey. The arc of the bridge's road surface is as steep as the arc of the Sydney Bridge! So you can imagine I wasn't looking forward to this final challenge. But I did it, my friend was encouraging me all the way, riding alongside me as I slowly, ever so slowly pedaled. It hurt so much. I didn't ever look for the top of the bridge. Just kept looking at the road surface, thinking of Pauline and hearing my friend's encouragement, "Come on Tony, you can do it for Pauline..."

I reached the top, physically drained, and that's when the realization hit me like a truck...I'd done it! Coasting down the other side of the bridge was exhilarating, picking up speeds of 30 MPH.

There had been a stream of riders standing out of my way, hugging the side of the bridge, which I thought was a bit odd, but later found out they'd been asked to wait there for my passing...

Then I saw police flashing lights ahead of me as two local police pursuit vehicles pulled out in front of me. I thought I was going to be busted for speeding!

What happened was that the HAM radio chatter had cleared the course for my arrival. The police were there to escort me the final 1,000 meters to the finish, sirens on and lights flashing.

Sorry, but here's where the emotion bubbled up and the tears I'd been holding back ever since the sunflower field 2 hours earlier just poured fourth. I was greeted by thousands of onlookers, the DJ was saying something about me, Pauline, the team and the fundraising, but it didn't mean anything to me. I was sobbing like a new born baby as I crossed the finish line to the roaring applause. It's got me welling up now just reliving it and writing it for you!

I rounded the corner heading along the final 200 meters to the parking lot where I was met by my ever-supportive and sobbing wife, Bow, Jez...David hiding his tears behind his sunglasses (he has to remain cool), and a mass of people just wanting to share in the emotion of the moment.

It was a wonderful outpouring for Pauline's memory.

R.I.P. my dear Pauline...this one was for you xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Way to go Tony - we are all so proud of you!

- Peter

Valero View Article on the 2008 Bike to the Beach

peter.ray@valero.com — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 17:28:00 GMT

Diane Moore from Valero Corporate Communications Department (and your Velo Valero teammate) published the following article on the Valero Intranet today.

Valero Sets the Pace for Fundraising, Cycling Event

“The ride over the Harbor Bridge put the perfect exclamation point on this year’s Bike to the Beach,” exclaims Velo Valero Team Captain Peter Ray, who is a 10-year ride veteran of the 160-mile fundraising, cycling event.

The Grande Finale of the two-day ride from San Antonio to Corpus Christi emphasized Valero’s grand participation at this year’s event. Velo Valero led the way on many fronts. With its nearly 100 volunteers, and 293 riders - including those who suffered great losses from hurricanes Ike and Gustav - Velo Valero was the largest team with the largest team and individual fundraisers -- raising a record-breaking $261,000 (and counting) for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society’s Lone Star Chapter. The Chapter hopes to raise about $1.8 million with this year’s Bike to the Beach event, a 20 percent increase over last year’s $1.5 million fundraiser. The money raised supports research to find a cure and better treatment for those suffering from multiple sclerosis (MS).

Participating in this year’s Bike MS: Valero Bike to the Beach event were volunteers and riders from Valero’s San Antonio, Three Rivers, Corpus Christi, Port Arthur and former Krotz Springs locations. Even Valero’s Motorcycle Club members served as Support and Gear (SAG) volunteers, helping riders as they pedaled 96 miles from San Antonio to Beeville, Texas, on Saturday, and 65 miles from Beeville to the finish line in Corpus Christi, Texas, on Sunday.

Setting the pace for Valero’s most dedicated team and rider were five cyclists from Valero’s Port Arthur refinery, who despite losses due to Hurricane Ike still managed to participate in this year’s Valero Bike to the Beach.

“The decision to go ahead with ride was an not an easy one since many of us spent countless hours at work rebuilding and preparing the plant for start-up, not to mention the disruption to our weekly training rides,” said Velo Valero member Reggie Ramirez, operations supervisor at Valero’s Port Arthur refinery.

Dave Hanson, Port Arthur refinery Velo Valero team captain, who serves as senior planner for Turnaround Planning, not only lost his road bike but lost his entire house to the hurricane.

“With all that he and his family have suffered over the past weeks, he decided that he would still ride in the Bike to the Beach,” said Ramirez. “Last Friday morning, he picked up his replacement bike and drove to San Antonio for the ride. By taking part in ride and the fundraising effort to raise money for those suffering from MS, if you don’t call this service to others then I’m not sure what is. If anyone had a good excuse of not riding, well it probably wasn’t as good as the one that Dave could have used,” he said.

And there were plenty of excuses that could have been used. The grueling 20-mph headwinds, plus rough pavement combined with the afternoon sun, made the two-day ride a true test of will, especially for new riders, such as Hal Adams, vice president of Valero’s Retail Merchandising group, and Eric Moeller, vice president of Valero’s Wholesale Marketing group.

Moeller made the event a family affair, cycling alongside his 13-year-old son Jack.

“The Bike to the Beach was a great way to spend father-son time together and a wonderful opportunity to teach Jack about setting and reaching challenging goals,” Moeller said.

Forty-four percent of Velo Valero’s riders were like the Moellers and had never ridden in an organized cycling event. Another family duo and new rider was 16-year old Elise Holmes, who rode alongside veteran rider Lyn Holmes, manager regulatory affairs – Environmental.

“Elise hit the wall at mile 62, but pulled herself together and finished strong,” said Holmes. “She had biggest smile on her face at the top of the (Harbor) Bridge (near the finish line of Day 2) – and I’ll remember that forever,” he said.

Other memorable moments for first-time and veteran riders alike were the inspiration and support received from people along the route who cheered the riders on -- some folks were in wheelchairs and pick up beds. Others had hand-lettered signs thanking the riders for riding to help cure MS -- signs that displayed quotes like “Thank you for riding for my mom since she can’t.”

Plus, there were hundreds of people at the start and finish lines cheering riders on, hundreds of volunteers were at break stops handing out water, oranges, bananas, pickle juice, thanks and encouragement. In addition, the riders encouraged one another all along the way.

Longtime riders, such as Ray, Andrea Shull, senior commercial analyst at corporate headquarters, and Eddie Gamez, business services manager at the Corpus Christi refinery, find different inspirations for their rides.

“I ride for two reasons. First, it is a challenging but enjoyable event that I can share with friends. Second, I feel that I can at least struggle riding 150 miles on a bike over two days if it supports finding a cure for everyone that struggles with MS every day,” Gamez said.

Longtime rider Shull added that, “Why do I get up for months at 5:30 a.m. on a Saturday? Why do I push myself to the point of exhaustion? Why do I do so much for so many people that I don’t know? The answer is that I met my pedal partner this year at an MS camp for Kids in March. He was diagnosed at the very young age of 9 and can no longer talk or walk. I ride so that some day he can kiss his mother and tell her he loves her.”

The National MS society hosts about 100 Bike MS events across the country as its premier fundraising event. San Antonio’s is one of the bigger rides, and Valero has participated in the event for more than a decade.

View more photos of the 2008 Valero MS Bike to the Beach

Even More Bike to the Beach News

peter.ray@valero.com — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 15:22:00 GMT

Good afternoon and happy Thursday! This is the third blog this week, and I'm sure there will be another one tomorrow - there's just so much good news to share about the team these days!

Port Arthur Team

I received this note from Reggie Ramirez from the Port Arthur Team, which participated in the Bike to the Beach with us this year -

As you all are aware, the majority of Southeast Texas was recently affected by the Hurricane Ike ,including the Valero Port Arthur Refinery. There were five cyclists from the refinery that still managed to participate in this year’s Bike MS: Valero Bike to the Beach. The decision to go ahead with the ride was not an easy one since many of us spent countless hours at work rebuilding and preparing the plant for start-up, not to mention the disruption to our weekly training rides.

Some of the other team members as well as myself thought that one of our team members deserved special recognition. Dave Hanson, our team captain, not only lost his road bike but lost his entire house to Hurricane Ike. With all that he and his family have suffered over the past weeks, he decided that he would still ride in the Bike to the Beach. Last Friday morning he picked up his replacement bike and drove to San Antonio for the ride. Dave participated in the ride and the fundraising efforts for those suffering from MS - if you don’t call this service to others then I’m not sure what is. If anyone had a good excuse for not riding, well it probably wasn’t as good as the one that Dave could have used. Not only did he show up for the ride, but he was able to ride all 150 miles. Please help me in congratulating and applauding Dave in completing the ride and thanking him for his unselfish effort demonstrated this past weekend. - Reggie

Way to go Dave - we are proud to have you on this team!

Port Arthur team - from left to right, Reggie Ramirez, Dave Hanson, Donald Lyons, Scott Binagia and Peter Mondello

Update from Our Friends from Krotz Springs

I got this note from Monika Harper, Captain of our team in Krotz Springs. She and her team were also adversely impacted by the recent hurricanes, but they saddled up and joined us for the ride anyway, mixing in a little well-deserved R&R along the way.

Well, we survived another one!! And I mean survived. This was a last minute, "let's go"! None of us had trained/prepared like we should have and we felt it about half way through Saturday. But everyone pulled, pushed and encouraged each other through the day and the next until we were over the bridge and felt like we had just tackled the biggest obstacle we have ever faced!

...I've got to admit, it was because of people like Phillip, Andre', Danica and Richard that I made it through Day 1. It was the fellowship and friendship of our former Valero family that got me through Day 2. Peter, Laura, Dora, David, Zora, Chuck, John, Donna, Deanna, Paige, PJ, and everyone else just made us feel so welcome and at home that we were inspired to go on. Bill Klesse went out of his way to visit with us and thank us for coming this year in spite of the problems we recently had (Hurricane Gustav). We had a blast. After 3 years for Danica and 2 years for Andre' going to San Antonio, they finally went to the Riverwalk. This was my 4th trip to Corpus Christi and my first time to visit the beach and enjoy the area. We made a mini vacation out of this event and had a great time. Peter please pass this on to the Velo Valerians in San Antonio. Tell them thank you from Krotz Springs. We love all of you guys! You are the best!

- Monika Harper

Thanks so much for joining us Monika - you and the rest of your team have a lifetime membership in Velo Valero!

Brightroom Photos

Brightroom once again took the official event photographs for us. In particular, they had a cameraman on the Harbor Bridge taking photos of us as we climbed it and reached the top. They had a spotter who looked for bib numbers, which is how they are sorting the photos. They will e-mail you when your photos are ready for you to view, but you have to register in their site first. To get on the mailing list for your photos, click here. Here's a sample below -

Laura "The Queen" Vaccaro, Team Captain from 2005-2006, roaring down the Harbor Bridge. Laura coordinated our SAG and courtesy shuttles, along with the luggage truck, and worked around the clock for three straight days. It was so wonderful to see her take a break from this job for a few minutes, slip into her cycling gear, and pedal the last leg of the ride with us.

Valero View Article on the Bike to the Beach

Diane Moore from Valero Corporate Communications Department (and your Velo Valero teammate) published the following article on the Valero Intranet today. Click here to view the article.

Organized Rides Between Now and the End of the Year

Well, just because the Bike to the Beach is over doesn't mean our cycling year is over - there are still a few organized events out there we will participate in as a team. Our next Board Meeting is next Tuesday, and we'll be discussing our schedule between now and December 31st then. If you have a ride you'd like the team to participate in, send an e-mail to cycling@valero.com and I'll bring it up at the meeting. Here are two that we traditionally do -

On November 1st, the Tour de Gruene will be held in New Braunfels, with distances of 15, 30, and 40 miles, including the very scenic River Road. The first 500 riders to register get a ticket to Wurstfest, where El Hefe will probably be celebrating his birthday again this year. Click here for more details.
On December 6th, the Mission to Mission ride will be held. This ride along the scenic San Antonio Mission Trail has distances of 15, 34, and 58 miles. I'll be there leading scouts from Troop 307 again, as I've done in year's past. Click here for more details.

El Hefe partying with the Wurstfest Opas at last year's Tour de Gruene

...see ya' on the road!

- Peter

More Bike to the Beach News

peter.ray@valero.com — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 14:17:00 GMT

Good morning and happy Wednesday! ...It's hard to believe that just a few days ago many of us were climbing up the massive Harbor Bridge in Corpus Christi. Hopefully everyone has recovered physically from this incredible challenge (and forgotten about the brutal headwinds and the lines for the showers), and is ready to saddle up do it all again next year. As I mentioned earlier, if you have a story you want to share and/or some photos, please send them to cycling@valero.com and I'll get them posted to our web site. We already have a number of Rider Testimonials loaded, and our Photo Gallery is growing every day.

Lost and Found

...We had a few items show up after Sunday that are in our lost and found. If you lost any of the following items, please send an e-mail to cycling@valero.com and we'll get you reunited with your stuff.

Ladies silver watch
Green bag with camera
Blue bicycle helmet
Cateye Micro Wireless Cycling Computer

Message from Bill Klesse

CEO Bill Klesse (and Bike MS Top Fundraiser) sent the following message to all employees Tuesday.

I would like to thank the nearly 300 volunteers that worked last weekend to make the Bike MS: Valero Bike to the Beach a successful fundraiser and an exceptionally well-run event. Thank you for giving up your weekend for a wonderful cause. For all the cooks, servers, motorcycle riders, SAG drivers, our Team Captain and Board, and the organizers, thank you for a terrific job.

Now we are fully engaged in the Valero Texas Open and Benefit for Children Golf Classic. Between these events we have over 1,500 volunteers from Valero along with many others. You can recognize our Valero volunteers by their red volunteer shirts and their company pride. These two golf events are key events for Valero and we are so thankful to our incredible volunteer corps for making them happen. I am sure we will have fun and hopefully, no rain on Sunday.

Thank you for volunteering.

- Bill

Teammate Bill Klesse on the road during Day 1

Fundraising Status

We are off the charts and breaking new records almost daily with our fundraising - we are now up to $260,141 and counting, which once again makes us the top fundraiser this year and the largest fundraising team ever in the event. But, as impressive as this is, our work isn't done. A full 42% of our registered riders have not raised the minimum yet, and 28% of you have not raised any funds at all. I want each of you that rode to think about all the incredible work the volunteers put into this event, along with the staff from MS. Also think about the herculean effort it took for you to get over that Harbor Bridge, how you didn't think it was possible to reach the top after 160 brutal miles on the road. We all did this not for ourselves but to raise awareness and funds for the MS Society - end of story. ...The good news is you have until November 5th to turn in any moneys you have raised to be eligible for any of the prizes they offer for various fundraising levels. To see a list of prizes, click here - anyone who raises $500 or more is gonna' win something. Also, anyone who raises $1000 or more has the possibility of winning two round-trip tickets to the Land Down Under (i.e., Australia) courtesy of everyone's favorite Aussie, Tony Ralf. What are you waiting for?

To see our current fundraising totals and team roster, click here.

Awards Banquet

Mark your calendars, friends - the end of year Awards Banquet this year is scheduled for December 4th from 5:00 to 08:00 pm at Valero HQ. We'll be on the 4th Floor of the D Building, the same place we had our Kickoff Party at. As in year's past, I want as many team members and event volunteers to attend as possible, in addition to as many friends and family members as you can muster. This is our time to celebrate what we have accomplished as a team. We are certain to win a number of awards as in years past, and I want each of you to participate in the celebration because each of you contributed to our success.

Team members at last year's Awards Banquet

Call for Board Members and Officers

...As our cycling season winds down this year, we will soon turn our attention to electing new Board Members and Officers for 2009. If you are interested in learning more about these positions, please don't hesitate to contact me. You may also want to peruse the Team By-Laws we ratified this year, which explains the roles and responsibilities of each position. (Thanks again to PJ and Patrick for putting these together for us!) As it stands, we'll elect new Board members in November, and the Board will then choose our officers (including National Team Captain) in December.

Louisiana and Bay to Bay MS Rides

Once again, I've spent so much time focusing on our Bike to the Beach, that I've neglected rides that our members in other parts of the country are doing. For example, I received this from Dennis Ross from our St. Charles refinery, who did the Louisiana ride this year:

The Louisiana MS-150 was this weekend. I don't have the exact number, but there were over 1000 riders. The route was from Southeastern Louisiana University to Percy Quinn State Park in Maccomb Mississippi. The ride was attended by Chris Marrion and me. Mississippi being at a higher elevation than Louisiana, it was uphill most of the way there. Then as a practical joke, some gremlins reversed all of the hills during the night, and turned the wind around so the return ride would also be uphill and into a stiff headwind.

Dennis Ross posing at the entrance to Percy Quin State Park along the route

Also - the Bike MS Bay to Bay Tour ride will be held this weekend, with riders in Southern California (including folks from the Valero Wilmington Refinery) riding from Orange County to San Diego in what will once again be one of the most scenic MS rides on the calendar. I'll have photos and stories for you next week - good luck guys!

Wilmington Riders during the 2007 Bay to Bay Ride

A Few More Photos from the Weekend

...I'll end with a few more of my favorite photos from the BTTB. To see all the photos from the event, click here.

El Hefe dragging Board Member and "Hostess with the Mostess" Lucy Hernandez to the front of the stage for a well deserved round of applause. (Look at that smile!) I can't thank Lucy enough for once again creating a memorable team tent experience for us on very limited funds. Although she worked a very long 14 hour day, and got bitten by way too many mosquitos, and said she's NEVER dolng this again, she's already kicking around ideas for next year...

So close, and yet so far! - Steve DiPaola fixes a flat on the Harbor Bridge'

Laura "The Queen" Vaccaro, Team Captain from 2005-2006, roaring down the Harbor Bridge. Laura coordinated our SAG and courtesy shuttles, along with the luggage trucks, and worked around the clock for three straight days. It was so wonderful to see her take a break, slip into her cycling gear, and pedal the last leg of the ride with us.

Team members go undercover during the Saturday Night team experience

Team photo we took after our pre-ride Lunch on Friday at Valero HQ. It was so great to get together with everyone the day before the big weekend to watch some of our team videos and just hang out together.

A very proud El Mamacito poses with El Hefe and friends at the finish line in Corpus Christi

...that's it for now. See you on the road!

- Peter

The English Language, As Rich and Expressive As It Is, Lacks the Adjectives to Describe this Weekend

peter.ray@valero.com — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 02:43:00 GMT

I actually wrote this last night before I collapsed, but because of a glitch with our web site, it didn't go out until this morning...sorry!

I'm at home after the 48-hour whirlwind that was the 2008 Bike MS Valero Bike to the Beach. As usual, I didn't sleep all weekend, and I'm starting to feel it. Before I descend into a sleep so deep that it will take a stun gun to wake me, let me spend a little time trying to summarize what was once again an amazing two days in the saddle on the road to Corpus Christi for a truly great cause....

...First of all, let me set the record straight. Yes, at the begining of the ride, as almost three hundred Velo Valero riders started off from the AT&T Center with the energy and force of a tsunmai, with yours truly at the helm and a full nine years of experience with this route - well, there's no way to sugar coat this - I took a wrong turn. An officer of the law, with a big ol' badge on his chest and who seemed to know what he was doing, pointed right and I followed. Little did I know that he was telling a truck to turn right, and not the three hundred amped up cyclists ready to commence on a 160 mile fast-paced odyssey to the coast. I will forever be known as "Wrong Way Ray" from this day forward, and it's a cross I have to bear - yes friends, I am navigationally impaired, and I need help. I like to think it's a testament to my leadership skills that the team followed me even though most of you knew we were making the wrong turn, because hey, everyone knew things would end up all right.

And they did - and it was amazing. The English language, as rich and expressive as it is, lacks the adjectives to describe this weekend. When I arrived at our team tent compound in Beeville, I was overwhelmed - Board Member and miracle worker Lucy Hernandez somehow topped what she did last year (which, frankly, I didn't think was possible). She and her crew created a small cycling village that we could all enjoy in the middle of a hard ride, to help us forget for a few hours the endless chip seal, the constant headwind, and somewhere far away in Washington and New York, the financial crisis. We tried to add a few new things this year - chocolate milk to aid the Day 1 recovery for riders, an air conditioned set of porta-potties (which, unforunately, ran our of water very early on Saturday), and on-site bicycle repair from our friends at Performance. Hats off to all the volunteers that made this happen - Sammy Nieto for coordinating the cooks, Jana Borie for arranging our massage tent, and Laura Vaccaro for coordinating the SAG vvehicles and the luggage truck, which I know now is a job of biblical proportions with a team this size.

What were my favorite memories? Here's a few...

Watching my 70 year old father-in-law Stan deliver the prayer at the beginning of the ride to a sea of 3000 riders, and then seeing him ride 100+ miles over two days, including the climb up the massive Harbor Bridge at the end
Being shanghaied into wearing a straw skirt and singing some Beach Boys song that I really didn't know the words to (I'm a man of many talents, and as you all know now, singing is not one of them!)
Trying as hard as possible Saturday night to meet everyone on the team, and in the midst of shaking so many hands and making so much small talk, forgetting to eat any of the incredible dinner the volunteers had prepared
Sucking wheel on some amazing pacelines led by Velo Valero hammerheads Luis, Lori, Chuck, Pat, and Mike, as we battled the wind, the chip seal, and a couple of slick roads for two days, and having to put up with Andrea's constant sarcasm and short jokes the whole time
That ferocious and relentless headwind south of Sinton that once again proved to be 20 miles of some of the most challenging cycling many of us will every do
After nine years of doing this, having my mom finally present at one of our finish lines, and seeing the pride in her face in what I've accomplished (although it did cost me two nights at the Omni to get her there!)
And finally, joining up with so many of my teammates and friends at the base of the Harbor Bridge, and then struggling to climb it together, enjoying the awesome vista at the top, and then rolling down to that incredible finish line. Included in the group were folks like Laura, PJ, and Donna, who have been such a huge part of the team for so many years and have done countless Bike to the Beach rides, but this year for some reason or another were unable to do the entire ride. I can't describe what it was like to finally cross a finish line with the Queen Laura Vaccaro, who has been such an inspiration to me in my job as Captain.

I need to crawl into bed and call it a weekend, so I'll end this for now. I promise I'll have more in the days to come. Please send an e-mail to cycling@valero.com if you have any stories you want to share or any great photos from the ride. As in year's past, I'll post them to the web site in the 2008 - Bike MS - Bike to the Beach - What Did You Think? thread. Limit the photos to your two or three best ones if possible, and I promise to publish as many as I can.

I'll end with a few pictures I took - there's lots more to come!

Luis and Stella, the First Couple of Velo Valero, at the Day 1 Ride Start

Jacque and Dora workin' that whistle!

Stan saying a prayer before the start, and before completing his own personal century over two days (actually 110 miles!)

El Hefe with the Coffee Beaners, aka Zora and her niece, at the Day 2 Breakfast

Tony Ralf, VP of the Lone Chapter of MS, who completed the entire route in his first year as a rider, hogs the mike at the Day 2 Start to distract us from his socks

The group that crossed the Harbor Bridge and finished together - it was such a thrill to ride in with the Queen! I've had so many great times with some of the these folks that they have become more than just teammates and friends, they are now more like an extended family

This mohawk from one of the strong new riders on the team survived two days, 160 miles, and the Harbor Bridge under a bike helmet. I asked him how it stayed straight the whole time and he said, "Lots of wax!"

First year rider Hal Adams and his wife. Hal finished strong, and was one of over 100 riders on the team this year who participated in the Bike to the Beach for the very first time

Velo Road Warrior who injured her wrist during a fall while climbing the Harbor Bridge, but who finished the ride anyway!

Valero CEO and Velo Top Fundariser Bill Klesse signs autographs for fans at the end of the ride. Throughout the ride as I passed rest stop after rest stop, people would ask, "Where's Bill? Is he coming soon?"

Finally, one of the many Father-Son combinations that rode with us this year. I was so proud to see these young people rise up the challenge of doing our ride!

...see you on the road (when I wake up!)

- El "Wrong Way" Hefe

2008 Bike to the Beach - We Are the Next Generation of Giants

peter.ray@valero.com — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 22:22:00 GMT

The Bike to the Beach is almost here! Hopefully, you are packed and ready to go. (Make sure you charge that cell phone!) The most recent weather reports show an increasingly strong headwind predicted in Corpus Christi on Sunday, but don't let that bother you - by then the adrenalin will be kicking in and you won't even notice it! NOTE: Please check out our Participant Guide for all the information you need to ride with Velo Valero this weekend.

We Are the Next Generation of Giants

...I was able to sneak off and catch some of the Churchill homecoming game tonight, which has me so pumped because we finally won a game - this means so much to all the parents and the kids who have endured a very long season already (your teammate Glennis was really jazzed!) ...Inspired by the Chargers' performance on the field, it's time for me to do a little chest thumping about our team this year, which is turning out to be one for the ages. The 2008 Velo Valero Team for the Bike to the Beach is now officially the largest team in our history, and most importantly, we are the top fundraising team ever in the history of this event. And, we have accomplished this even before the ride has taken place! In years past, it took us weeks after the ride to reach our fundraising target; this year we reached our goal of $200,000 two weeks ago, and we are now on track to reach the almost unimaginable sum of a quarter of a million dollars. I really pushed hard this year, and asked each of you to fundraise early because I wanted us to be a pacesetter in this event, the way our Corporate sponsor Valero is in our United Way campaign. I wanted us to be the beacon for the other riders and teams in the event, the team everyone looks up to because we are doing all the right things on a grand scale. It started with Bill Klesse, Valero CEO and your teammate, making the single largest individual contribution in Bike MS history, and it has just snowballed from there. Last year I wrote at this time about how we had a tremendous burden on us as members of Velo Valero because of the heights the team has achieved in the past - that we were in fact standing on the shoulders of giants. In 2008, I can only say that we are the new generation of giants, the team that all future teams will be measured against. I am humbled by this in a way that I will never be able to adequately communicate. For this I can only say, thank you. Knowing that I had some small part in our accomplishments fills me with an immeasurable pride. When you ride this weekend, don't be ashamed to feel that same sense of pride - we are making a difference, and we are doing it on a massive scale.

What I Need You To Do this Weekend

(It's rare that I plagiarize myself in this blog, but I looked over what I wrote last year, and it was so damn good, I'm going to use it again...)

First of all, have a great time and don’t be bashful. You can’t put on too many Velo Valero tattoos or blow your whistle too loud. (If you need more tattoos, I’ll have extras at the Friday Night Expo). It’s not a crime to enjoy his event, or to show pride in our team.
Wear your team jersey and socks on both days, even if you have to wash them Saturday night. Plus, wear your white team t-shirt in the team tent on Saturday. I want us to look like a team all weekend.
If you see another Velo Valero rider on the road or at a rest stop, introduce yourself if you don’t know them. One of the great things about the Bike to the Beach is that we get riders from all over the country joining us - but, this means there are lots of folks on the team you probably don't know. To paraphrase Marge Simpson, a stranger in a Velo jersey is just a friend you haven’t met…
If you see a Velo Valero Board Member or Team Captain, introduce yourself and thank him or her for all the incredible hard work they have done for you and the team. (To make it easy to identify these folks, I've put "Board Member" or "Team Captain" on the back of their t-shirts and on their hats.) All these folks are unpaid volunteers who have families and real jobs, in addition to the countless hours of work they do for the team - Velo Valero would not exist without their efforts.
Be kind and courteous to all the Valero volunteers who are helping out this weekend - the army of folks being coordinated by super volunteers Lucy Hernandez, Laura Vaccaro, and Sammy Nieto. These people are giving up their free time this weekend to insure we have a great cycling experience. They will load and unload our luggage and bikes, cook and serve our meals, decorate our team tent, and (I believe) lead a conga line or two. These folks are also not getting paid - they do it, like all Valero Volunteers, because of the caring and sharing spirit that is the hallmark of Valero corporate culture. As I said earlier, if something goes wrong this weekend - if a suitcase gets lost for a while, or we run out of food, or you have to wait a long time for a courtesy shuttle - please avoid the urge to yell at these folks. Back off, take a deep breath, stop to think about the real reason we are riding - and, if you still feel the need to yell, come yell at me.
BE SAFE! Follow all the safe riding techniques we stress during our training rides – call out hazards, let folks know when you are passing them, and don’t join pace lines without asking for permission and taking your turn at the lead. Be extremely careful at the starting lines on each day, and when entering and exiting rest stops. Don't listen to music on headphones. When it comes to safety, let's be role models for the other riders!
Finally, take good care of yourself. This means keeping yourself hydrated, and eating enough to replenish the calories you burn at the rest stops, at lunch, and at the team dining tent. Ride at a pace you can sustain for the distance you plan on riding. Take advantage of SAG support if you are between rest stops and can’t go any further. It’s important that each and every one of you complete this event in good health – I’ve promised each of your bosses that you’ll be at work next week.

A Stroll Down Memory Lane

I'll end with a short stroll down memory lane. This is, after all, my ninth year doing the Bike to the Beach, and my second as Captain, so I'm feeling a little nostalgic - I apologize, but it's the Irish in me coming out.

...The chart below shows how much money Velo Valero has raised in the 9 years since I"ve been involved with the team. It's an impressive looking graph , but I want you to stop and think about the 1000s of people who are behind these numbers - the volunteers, the riders, the Captains and Board Members, and most importantly, those with MS we have benefited through out fundraising.

...One picture that I really like is from the Friday Night Expo in 2006, the last year that Laura "The Queen" Vaccaro was the Captain, and right around the time it began to dawn on me that I was going to become the next Captain of this incredible team. The picture has me posing in the midst of the Captains who proceeded me - (from left to right) Laura, Rusty, Monica (in the legendary bumblebee jersey), and Terry. I invited each of them to attend, and asked them to wear the jerseys from the teams they led. To be quite honest, I was scared to death (you can see it in my eyes), because I thought there was no way I could carry the torch that each of these incredible leaders had so brightly lit before me. I knew how hard each of them had worked, and I wondered if I had the will in me to work that hard - did I have Laura's heart, Rusty's sense of humor, Monica's sweetness, or Terry's commitment? Each of them had willed the team to a higher level in terms of size, organization, culture, and fundraising - what was I going to bring to the table? ...I can only say that I've accomplished what I have because each of them was such an outstanding role model and mentor, and I've worked as hard as I could to continue the good things they started. (To watch a great video on the history of the team, click here.)

Another picture I really like is from the finish line of last year's ride. This was the end of my first year (and first Bike to the Beach) as Captain, and I felt such an enormous sense of accomplishment and relief when it was over. Nothing could have prepared me for the amount of work involved in the ride - the pressures of fundraising to meet or beat last year's number, the organizational headaches of creating a two-day rolling village for 250 riders and almost a hundred volunteers - all this on on top of the physical challenges of the ride. When I finished strong with this amazing group of cyclists, I really felt that I was starting to earn my stripes as El Hefe. I don't think I slept for a week after that ride. I'm sure that's how I'll feel again in 72 hours...

...Finally, I will end with a picture I also really enjoy. It is from a training ride last winter, one in which only Chuck, PJ, and John rode with me on the famous "Puckenbach" route outside of Boerne. John and I are each enjoying a Dublin Dr. Pepper, one of our favorite guilty pleasures when we need to hydrate. We have been riding year round the whole time I've been Captain, and much of this is due to the genuine love of being on the road together that so many of us feel. Whether it's on a road trip to Napa for a big Tour de Cure event, or just a winter training ride with a handful of folks, it's all about the simple and enduring joy being outdoors under the open sky with the best of friends. Think about that when you ride this weekend.

...see you on the road to Corpus Christi!

- El Hefe

All the News You Need for the 2008 Bike to the Beach

peter.ray@valero.com — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 20:29:00 GMT

Well, the big ride is only 4 days away. The weather report at this point is absolutely amazing - mid 60s to mid 80s, with marginal winds. Friends, it doesn't get any better than this!

This e-mail should help answer any and all of the questions you may have. If you have more, please send them to cycling@valero.com and we'll answer them as quickly as possible.

Lunch at Valero HQ on Friday

On Friday, I have the private dining room next to the Valero HQ cafeteria reserved for team members. You can pick up lunch at the cafeteria, then join your friends and team mates in the private dining room for a little gemutlichkeit before the big weekend. I'll play the videos from previous Bike to the Beach rides to get everyone in the mood for a great 165 miles in the saddle! Please wear your team jersey on that day, because I'll try and get a group photograph taken. NOTE: If you work at Valero HQ, and you are a team member and wear your team jersey to work, you can wear it with jeans (woo hoo!)

Participant Guide

Check out our official Participant Guide for all the dirty details of the event. I just updated this yesterday, so it is the latest and greatest information.

Goodie Bags

If you haven't picked up your goodie bag yet, you have two chances left.

Wednesday, October 1st, from 11:30 am to 1:00 pm in the foyer outside the cafeteria at Valero HQ.
Friday Night, October 3rd, from 05:00 pm to 08:00 pm at the MS Expo at the El Tropicana Hotel

Why do you need the goodie bag? We have lots of cool swag in there, but here's what's most important -

White wrist band with Teal "Velo Valero" on it is required for you to get into the team tent Saturday night. If you have friends and family who need to get into the tent also, you'll need to get a wrist band for them also
White T-shirt with "Back to the Beach with Velo Valero" on the back - wear this Saturday night in Beeville
2008 Team Socks with the red band above the ankle
Laminated card with cell phone numbers for Velo Valero Board Members and key Valero volunteers

What and When to Pack

Click here to access our packing list. Please try and pack early in the week, so you're not doing it in a last minute frenzy on Friday night when you should be relaxing. Make sure you take the tags from your MS Packet and put them on your luggage - that's how we'll identity and sort them for you.

Our luggage truck will be at Valero HQ Friday afternoon. You can drop off your luggage between 3:00 and 4:00 pm at the main entrance. Board Members Andrea and Pheobe will be there to assist. Otherwise, drop them off Saturday morning at the AT&T Center. Look for the Yellow Penske Truck with the flashing yellow light and the Valero sign on it!

Safety Video from the Lunch and Learn

As promised, I've posted the most important video from the Lunch and Learn last Wednesday to the web site. Click here to access a short but very useful discussion of safe cycling during a big organized event like the Bike to the Beach that was presented by Board Member and Team Safety Officer Chuck "the Rock" Divelbiss. If you are riding in the Bike to the Beach for the First Time this year, I highly recommend you watch this video in its entirety. For even more great information on cycling safety, check out this great set of resources from the MS Official Site.

How to Turn In Fundraising That Consists of Checks or Cash

Lots of people have asked me how to turn in fundraising that was made on your behalf in the form of a check. To handle this, download the the Pledge Form, print it off, fill it in, and send it to the address of the Houston MS office that is on the form.

Get Those Bikes Inspected!

One key to a successful ride this weekend is no mechanical problems. We'll have bike mechanics for you at the ride start and in Beeville for any last minute tweaks, but you need to get your bike inspected before Saturday. Click here for a list of shops that will inspect your bike for free. Finding a problem with your bike before the ride is a hell of a lot better than finding a problem when you are on the road somewhere in South Texas and a looooong way from a rest stop.

...I'll have more information for you later in the week, plus my annual pre-ride pep talk/blog.

- Peter

The Time To Train is Over - It's Show Time Baby!

peter.ray@valero.com — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 00:38:00 GMT

Good morning and happy Monday! The Bike to the Beach is next weekend, so this was your last weekend to train if you are participating in this event. Your base conditioning is established, so this week you just need to get plenty of sleep, eat three solid meals a day (this is no time to diet), and hydrate, hydrate, hydrate (i.e., drink as much water as you can stand). I'll have a more detailed blog later in this week with all the last minute details you need to prepare for the ride, so for now, I'll keep it short and sweet with a just few pictures and embarrassing anecdotes about the weekend rides...

NOTE: There is one more packet pick-up scheduled for San Antonio. It will be Monday night from 5:30 to 8 pm at the new Arby's at 11043 Culebra on the West Side. (Arby's is our lunch sponsor again this year). And, if you didn't pick up your jersey or your Velo Valero goodie bag yet, you have two more chances - between 11:30 am and 1:00 pm on Wednesday, October 1st, at Valero HQ, and Friday night, October 3rd, between 5 and 8 pm at the Expo.

Saturday Ride

Our Saturday ride was a hard and hilly 65 miles, including the short but painful Hansel Rd. in Fair Oaks. The group that I rode with was an an all-male, Frat House version of Velo Valero and we had a fast, solid ride.

John and Luis pose with Model T enthusiasts at a C-Store in Bergheim

Rider has a wardrobe malfunction while an incredulous Jim looks on

The Frat House version of V2 pauses for a photo after the ride, just before heading off for the kegger

Sunday Ride

I had to leave for Fredericksburg Saturday afternoon to attend the birthday party for my father-in-law (and your teammate) Stan, who was celebrating his 70th. (Stan is not only riding the BTTB again this year, he'll be delivering the prayer to start us off Saturday morning!) As a result, I missed the Sunday ride. I did get a call from a very excited Andrea Shull Sunday afternoon who relayed to me the story of a a rider (who shall remain nameless) who was going too fast on River Road and ended up in the Guadalupe River. The good news is the rider did not suffer any major injuries to his body or his bike, and actually joined folks for lunch in Gruene afterwards. I'll have more stories about the Sunday ride and (hopefully) photos in the next blog.

...Sunday morning, I got up early and did a solo 20 mile out and back on Crabapple Road outside of Fredericksburg. The sun was just rising as I hit the road, and the air had a hint of Fall in it - so cool, in fact, I had to wear a jacket. And friends, it was wonderful! I've been visiting the Texas Hill Country for over a quarter century, ever since I met the wonderful woman who became my wife so many years ago, and we began celebrating holidays with her family there. We've spent so many Easters amid a sea of dazzling bluebonnets, so many Thanksgivings and Christmases enjoying the cool, crisp weather, and the wild turkeys, the deer, the goats, the sheep, and (most recently) one headstrong llama. The Hill Country is a special, spiritual place for me, and the ride Sunday was one of the most enjoyable I've ever done, complete with lots of deer, incredible hills and endless vistas, and a few hulking, angry bulls loitering next to the road that made me feel just a little bit uncomfortable as I passed 'em as quickly as I could. ...I was so pumped after doing the ride that I decided to do something I've always wanted to do, and to be quite honest, something I don't think is completely legal. As I returned to the city, I saw Cross Mountain in the distance, and I thought to myself, "Hmmm...I'm on my mountain bike, I've been training for months, I have 24 gears - hey, I think I can climb that thang!" Well, I pedaled into the park, paused for a second to study the winding gravel road that led to the top, tossed my bike over the fence and then passed through the narrow gate to join it, and then clipped in and started grinding away. I didn't set any world records for my speed, but I did get to the top. I used the self-timer on my camera to take a few celebratory photos, then descended at a rate that was fraction of what it took me to get to the top (duh!). It was absolutely exhilarating, and a great way to end an incredible training season for the Bike to the Beach....

Cattle seen along Crabapple road - the guy on the left obviously has a bad attitude...

One of the gnarly hills that takes you to the top of Cross Mountain

El Hefe at the top

Posing with the historical marker for Cross Mountain, in a photo that will NOT make the cover of GQ magazine

...See you on the road!!!!!!!!!!

- Peter

One Week and Counting!

peter.ray@valero.com — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 15:00:00 GMT

Good morning and happy Friday!

...WOW! - New Riders Make Up Almost Half our Team This Year

The data from the Rider Profile we're doing shows an amazing statistic - almost half (44%) of registered Velo Valero riders this year are participating in the Bike MS: Valero Bike to the Beach for the very first time. I think this is a testament to the work that folks like Andrea, Carl, Megan, and Tanya have done with our new rider progams and all those rides on Wednesday night from Bullis County Park and all those early Sunday mornings starting from Cibolo City Hall. I tip my hat to all the ride leaders, and to all you riders who are taking on this 165-mile challenge for the first time. To each of you, I promise that when you ascend that Harbor Bridge in Corpus, and you see the city and the sea spread all around you and feel that amazing breeze blowing across your weary body, your heart will beat like it never has and you will experience a sense of pride and accomplishment unlike almost anything you have ever felt before. This will be my ninth year doing this ride, and I'll confess, I feel it every time - it's what keeps me coming back year after year. I almost envy you folks who get to feel it for the first time!

View from atop the Harbor bridge, looking East. Many of you will be able to experience this personally in a week!

Rides This Weekend

On Saturday, The Punisher has a 65 miler scheduled on the Northwest side of town. We'll start and end at Mays Elementary on Chase Hill, so folks going to the Valero Family Fun Day at Fiesta Texas can go to Valero HQ and shower after the ride. We'll be leaving at 07:30 am sharp (and that means you need to show up on time, El Hefe!).
On Sunday, the newVcrew will leave from Gruene Hall at 08:30. The ride will end at Gruene Hall around noon, where folks can then have lunch at the Grist Mill and enjoy a little live music at Texas' oldest and coolest Dance Hall that afternoon.

As always, please check our Event Schedule for all the details.

Bike to the Beach Packet Pick-Ups and Goodie Bags

There are only two more opportunities for your to pick up your MS Packets. There is one more packet pick-up tonight from 5 to 8 pm at Alamo Toyota on 410. If you can't make that, your next and final opportunity is to come by the El Tropicana Hotel during the Friday Expo between 4 and 10 pm on October 3rd. The MS Packet has your bib number and your luggage tags, among all sorts of other things you need to participate in the event, so you definitely need to get this puppy before the big day.

You also have two more chances to pick up your Velo Valero goodie bag. In the bag is the white wristband you need to get into our team tent Saturday in Beeville, so you need to get this bag. We also have the team t-shirt in there that I want everyone to wear on Saturday after you shower. You'll be able to pick up the bag next Wednesday between 11:30 am and 1 pm at Valero HQ while we are doing our final t-shirt sale. Finally, we'll have a Casual Meet and Greet room at the Friday Expo from 5 to 8 pm, and you'll be able to get your goodie bag then. (I'm told we'll be next to the pool.) We are going to shut this down promptly at 8, since my volunteers want to go home and get some sleep before the ride, so please try to get there before 8 if you can.

As we've been saying all along, we'll only distributing the goodie bag to folks who have raised the minimum ($300) in the event. We really want to be a pacesetter in this event, and lead the other riders and teams by our example. If you are close to the minimum, talk to me - if you're making real progress, we'll accommodate you. It's the folks who have made no effort with their fundraising that I'm concerned about, because it's not really fair to the rest of you who are making an effort.

Fundraising Status

...The numbers continue to blow me away! As of this morning, we are officially the largest Velo Valero team in the history of the Bike to the Beach. The previous largest team was in 2005, when we had 274 registered riders in the event. As of this morning, we are at 277 and counting. I feel a great deal of pride in this but there are two things that I'm focusing on to keep this in perspective. First of all, this is a huge team, and we are going to do everything possible to give you the best cycling weekend you have ever experienced. But, given the size of the team and the logistics involved, a few things won't go right - someone may not get fed, or some luggage may get misplaced for a few hours. If something like this happens to you, I ask in advance that you remain calm and civil when dealing with the hundreds of unpaid volunteers who are working long days and nights to support the team this year. Instead of yelling at someone, step back, take a breath, and remind yourself of the real reason we are pedaling to Corpus. If you still need to yell at someone, track me down and yell at me. As Captain of this cruise ship, it is ultimately my responsibility to insure you have a positive and safe ride - as I've said for years, the Board and the volunteers deserve all the credit for the good things, but I willingly take the blame for the things that go wrong.

The second thing is a matter of priorities. After 2005, we made a concious decision to focus more on what really matters in the event - the money we raise for MS. So, while I got the puffed up rooster thing going in regards to the team size, I'm even more pumped about the amount of money we are raising. As of this morning, we are at $189,502, and this doesn't even include any of the team fundraising we've done from things like the bake sale, the t-shirt sale, and the raffle (which we are extending until the Awards Banquet in December - more to come on this!). We are almost at our goal of $200,000 more than a week before the ride, and the money keeps pouring in. If everyone who has registered in this event raises at least the minimum ($300), we'll be at $235,622, which is 118% of our target, and will also make us the top fundraising team in the history of this event (breaking the record of $222,234 we set last year). To see the current individual fundraising totals, click here.

Bike to the Beach Ride Profile

If you registered to ride the Bike to the Beach with Velo Valero this year, I need you to fill out our updated Rider Profile form by Monday, September 29th, at noon. Knowing the exact number of folks I need to feed, transport, massage, and so on, can save us a some money we can then donate to MS, and that' what this is all about! Also - I'm going to try and group riders based on planned distance and pace, and to appoint some paceline Captains, so that everyone who wants to has a chance to start and finish the ride with a group, which believe me, is a lot easier on your body and a lot more fun!

Lunch and Learn Slide Deck and Video

Apparently, our Lunch and Learn on Wednesday was a big hit - everyone I talked to told me it was the best one we've ever done. As mentioned ealier, LEAD filmed the event for us, and I should be able to get the video posted early next week on our web site for those of you who couldn't attend. If you want to view the slide deck, click here. The deck includes a number of useful pieces of information, including maps of the AT&T Center, Coastal Bend College in Beeville, and the finish line complex in Corpus Christi.

Upcoming Article in the Express News - Let Your Voice Be Heard

Got this from Team Member Diane Moore, who works in the Valero Corporate Communications department.

San Antonio Express-News Reporter Lauri Gray Eaton is working on an article about the Bike to the Beach for the Monday edition of the paper. She is interested in quotes from Velo Valero members and needs them by this Sunday at noon. She’d like to know why you are riding in the Bike to the Beach, and in particular, is there someone you know with MS that inspires you to ride in this event. If you are interested in responding, send her an e-mail at leaton@primetimenewspapers.com.

...that's it for now! Have a great weekend - get a ride or two in if you can, but more importantly, spend time with your friends and family, and get out and enjoy this (finally) cool weather!

- Peter

What a Day!

peter.ray@valero.com — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 13:01:00 GMT

Well, it's Thursday morning and I'm still recovering from an incredible day for Velo Valero yesterday. We scheduled three big events on the same day, and miraculously, we got them all done. I'd like to thank all the folks who helped to make this happen - all my Board Members, longtime riders like Jacque, Dora, Stella, and Steve who helped out, and of course Tony, Cindy, Lisa, Deanna, et al, from MS who do such a great job on this event for us and with us. It takes a village to run a bike team the size of Velo Valero and an event the magnitude of the Bike to the Beach, and I have one hell of a village helping me out!

We had the first of our two t-shirt sales events during lunch, where we sell t-shirts to Valero HQ employees, who can then wear them on the Friday before the Bike to the Beach with jeans. We sold almost $2500 worth of shirts with little or no advertising, and expect to sell at least that much (and probably more!) next week. (All proceeds go towards MS, of course!)
Also during lunch, we had our final Lunch and Learn for the Bike to the Beach, and we had almost 40 new and nearly new riders attend. Cindy and Lisa from MS kicked things off, then John "the Punisher" Tenison described the route to Corpus for us mile by mile, stop by stop, elevation profile by elevation profile. Finally, in the 15 minutes he had left, Chuck "the Rock" Divelbiss did a very effective safety briefing for the team, focusing on the safety issues of a large event like the Bike to the Beach, in particular, the very congested starting lines and rest stops. We filmed the event and will post to the web within the week; for now, click here to download the presentation.
Finally, from 4:00 pm until around 8:00 we held the Valero Packet Pick-up in the Cafeteria. We passed out jerseys and goodie bags to team members, which gave the volunteers and I an opportunity to meet and greet folks which is always wonderful. I had to leave at 6:30 (my son had a rank advancement at a Boy Scout Court of Honor I could not miss) but folks like David "Show me the Money" Sloan and David "Guido" Gross did a great job shutting things down for us.

Weekend Rides

This is the last weekend to train for the Bike to the Beach. We have two rides planned to help you get ready. In addition, there is always the Conquer the Coast in Corpus Christi for those of you that want to actually try the Harbor Bridge out one week early!

On Saturday, The Punisher has a 65 miler scheduled on the Northwest side of town. We'll start and end at Mays Elementary on Chase Hill, so folks going to the Valero Family Fun Day at Fiesta Texas can go to Valero HQ and shower after the ride. We'll be leaving at 07:30 am sharp (and that means you need to show up on time, El Hefe!).
On Sunday, the newVcrew will leave from Gruene Hall at 08:30. The ride will end at Gruene Hall around noon, where folks can then have lunch at the Grist Mill and enjoy a little live music at Texas' oldest and coolest Dance Hall that afternoon.

As always, please check our Event Schedule for all the details.

Article in the Express News

Got this from Team Member Diane Moore, who works in the Valero Corporate Communications department.

I'll keep this short and sweet for now - see ya' on the road!!

- Peter