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October 2006 - Posts
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Lots of news on the Velo Valero front!
The results of the San Antonio Express News "Shoot the Ride" contest have been posted to our web site. Two of the winners are from Velo Valero - David Sloan and Charles Kizer. Way to go, guys! To view the winning photos, click here.
The deadline for submitting funds to the MS Society for the 2006 Valero MS 150 Bike to the Beach is Wednesday, November 8th. To see our latest fundraising totals, click here. Please make every effort to submit at least the minimum ($300) to the MS Society before this date. If you feel there is an error in the reporting of your fundraising, please send an e-mail to cycling@valero.com and we'll research it for you. This is the real reason we ride the MS 150 - to raise money to find a cure for this terrible disease.
The 2007 Tour de Cure is scheduled May 19-20 next Spring. This ride is from San Antonio to Austin, with a stopover on Saturday night in San Marcos. (Because we sleep in the university dorms, and schedule a toobin' event on the river, it has been occasionally referred to as "Animal House on Wheels".) The Tour de Cure is the traditional spring ride for Velo Valero, and our fearless leader Laura Vaccaro is once again the co-chair. The minimum amount of fundraising you must do is $150, and all monies raised go towards finding a cure for diabetes. If you register by October 31st, you'll save 40% on the registration fees and receive a special ADA Halloween treat! To register, go to http://tour.diabetes.org, and click on "Texas" and then "San Antonio". Make sure you register with team Velo Valero!
As mentioned before, the Mission to Mission ride is scheduled for Saturday, December 2nd, in San Antonio. Click here for more details. Once again, we are trying to get as many Boy Scouts in the San Antonio area as possible to paricipate in this ride. Please pass the word on to anyone you know who is involved in Scouting. Also, if you'd like to be the safety guide for a troop during this event, please send an e-mail to cycling@valero.com.
That's it for now!
- Laura/Pete  
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MS-150 Photo contest winners
Click here to access the original story.
Web Posted: 10/27/2006 03:16 PM CDT
Hats off to Velo Valero team members David Sloan and Charles Kizer for winning!
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The Mission to Mission Ride will be held in San Antonio on Saturday, December 2nd. It is a fundraiser for local organizations Mission Trail Rotary, Christian Senior Services and Meals on Wheels. We are trying to make this a new tradition for the Velo Valero team – a casual, family friendly, end-of-season ride for a great cause.
To learn more about the ride, click here. To see photos of the Missions, click here. 300+ riders have registered for this event already, which is twice as many as they had last year. Click here for safety tips specific to this ride.
If you register on-line, the cost is $18 per rider. (Make sure you register with team Velo Valero!). 100% of the registration fee goes to the local charities associated with the event. There is no minimum fundraising you have to do for this ride beyond your registration fee, although you are welcome to make a donation to any of these worthwhile organizations at any time for any amount.
Click here to register for the ride. |
The ride has 3 routes. There is a short, 15-mile recreational ride that passes each of the 4 historic missions along the scenic San Antonio River. This is an easy, flat ride on paved trails that is great for first time riders who are new to cycling. This is the ride you've been waiting for to introduce your non-cycling friends and family to your favorite sport!
There are also two longer, more challenging routes that were designed by none other than Velo Valero Board Member and Training Coordinator John "the Punisher" Tenison. For you hammer heads on the team, these are the routes for you!
This year we are going to try and get as many Boy Scouts in the San Antonio area as possible to do the 15 mile ride, since Scouts need to do a 15 mile bike ride to earn their camping badge. We’ll be asking for volunteers from the team to lead troops along the route and to teach them the “rules of the road”. I did this for my son’s troop last year, and it was a blast. If you have any interest in leading a troop, or you know some Scouts who would like to ride, let me know. It is my belief that if you give a kid a positive cycling experience when they are young, you will make a lifelong cyclist out of him or her.
Valero Valero team members pose with Troop 307 during the 2005 Mission to Mission ride.
We’ll be sending out more information on this event in the next few weeks. Check your schedule, go to the web site to learn more about the ride, and if "you can do it", we’d love to have you.
Please contact Peter Ray (peter.ray@valero.com) or Zora Bilicich (zora.bilicich@valero.com) if you have any questions regarding this event.
See ya’ on the road!
- Peter/Zora
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Sunrise on Saturday seemed too early to be alert and cheery. But more than 500 Valero employees who readied for the Valero MS 150 Bike to the Beach were just that.
Those employees included 275 Velo Valero cyclists and more than 225 volunteers who were staked out in various towns along the 150-mile route.
Even Valero’s Motorcycle Club members served as Support and Gear (SAG) volunteers, helping riders as they pedaled 97 miles from San Antonio to Beeville, Texas, on Saturday, and 60-plus miles from Beeville to the finish line in Corpus Christi, Texas, on Sunday.
With Velo Valero leading the way, riders raised an estimated $1.5 million overall for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society’s Lone Star Chapter. That’s a record and a 25 percent increase over the $1.2 million raised last year. Proceeds are used to fund research and services for those living with MS.
 Valero CEO Bill Klesse (left) and Velo Valero Team Captain Laura Vaccaro (right) take off at the start of the Valero MS150 Bike to the Beach ride between San Antonio and Corpus Christi.
"I am so incredibly proud to have been a part of the 2006 Velo Valero team,” said Laura Vaccaro, Manager of Learning & Education and Team Captain of Velo Valero. “The first Valero MS150 will be remembered in my mind as the year that we pulled out all of the stops ... from the loyal teamwork modeled by our board to the amazing time commitment demonstrated by our volunteers and team members.
“We truly lived our team's mission through this ride by enjoying the camaraderie of our friends, colleagues and family members throughout Valero and exceeding our goal to reach over $125,000 in fundraising. I am in awe of all that we've accomplished as a team. Thanks to everyone for their outstanding contributions," she said.
The Velo Valero team is on track to set several records, including the largest team, most funds raised and top individual fundraiser. Valero riders alone raised more than $150,000 for MS, topping last year’s tally of $108,000, which also was a record for the event. The ride’s top fundraiser is Valero CEO Bill Klesse, who has already raised $36,700.
“That a CEO of a major Fortune 500 company trained, prepared and did this ride is just fantastic,” said Peter Ray, a Senior Manager of IS Data Management & Integration Services who will captain the Velo Valero team next year.
John Maher, a Reliability Engineer from Valero’s Bill Greehey Refinery and a three-year veteran of the ride, echoed that sentiment. “It was great. I caught up with Mr. Klesse for a while, and I was talking to him. That was pretty neat. I had never met him before, so this was a great way to meet him.”
 Velo Valero team members from the Port Arthur Refinery gather at the halfway point of the Valero MS150 Bike to the Beach. Riders from seven Valero refineries, as well as the Corporate HQ, took part.
In addition to the corporate employees from San Antonio, Valero cyclists came from the Bill Greehey, Houston, Texas City, Three Rivers, Krotz Springs, McKee and Port Arthur refineries to ride in the MS150. The Velo Valero team, which includes present and former employees as well as friends and relatives, even had a member from as far away as Anchorage, Alaska.
But Alaska wasn’t the only non-lower-48-state to be represented on this year’s ride. Cyclists got a taste of Hawaii at the break point in Kenedy, Texas. Volunteers from Valero’s Three Rivers Refinery donned Hawaiian outfits, provided luau music and even had a team of cheerleaders spurring on riders.
Volunteer coordinator Debbie Matheaus, an Accounting Clerk from the Three Rivers Refinery, says the group will definitely be back next year.
“It was a great way to support the riders, and we had a lot of fun,” she said. “We never realized how much the bike riders put into it, and seeing all of them out there – including our CEO Bill Klesse who stopped at our break point and said ‘hello’ – was just awesome.”
Matheaus, who joined Valero one year ago, said she’s never worked for a company where everyone in the organization pulls together as a family like Valero does.
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Here's a few updates since Monday:
If you have any photos from the team dinner on Friday or the ride this weekend and you'd like to share them with the team on our web site, please send them to cycling@valero.com. Send no more then 20 of your best photos and include caption information. To see the photos that have been loaded so far, click here.
The San Antonio Express News is having a contest for the best event photos in various categories. Lots of prizes are available for you to win, and the best photos will be published in an upcoming edition of the paper. Photos must be submitted by October 13th! We've love to have someone from Velo Valero win this. Click here for more information!
Also, if you were a first time rider this weekend and want to share your experiences with the team, send a few paragraphs and your favorite event photo to cycling@valero.com and we'll publish it to our web site. Click here to see the testimonials we've received so far.
If there are any suggestions you have for improving Velo Valero, please send them to cycling@valero.com. We are always looking for ways to enhance the quality of our team, and to improve the experience you have as a rider, a fundraiser, and a volunteer. Click here to see some of the suggestions we've received so far.
Finally, if you have any funds that you have collected, please get them to the MS Society as soon as possible. Raising at least the $300 minimum is the last thing you need to do to complete a great cycling experience with Velo Valero! Click here to access the MS 150 Fundraising page, which includes all the information you need for mailing in any checks you may still have. Click here to access our current fundraising totals.
Laura/Pete
Laura Vaccaro and other team members at the Day 2 Finish Line, ready to ride another 150 miles!
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Hello Velo Valero!
It's hard to believe the big weekend has arrived. I know you have all been training hard and raising lots of money. Now it's time for some fun!
As of today, our team is 270 riders strong and our fundraising total is at $120,000+. This is an all time record breaker for Velo Valero! We could not be more proud and excited about this year's event. Thank you so much for your efforts thus far!! Click here to see details of our fundraising to date.
Also, the phone and e-mail has been going crazy today so I thought I would send the annual day before details e-mail. Please read through this carefully and let us know what other questions you have.
WHAT TO PACK
I suggest you pack as soon as you can, so you don't have to worry about it this weekend. Click here for a list of what to pack.
EARLY LUGGAGE CHECK IN
For those who are organized and want to drop off lugage before Saturday morning, a team of volunteers will accept bags tomorrow (Friday, Oct 6) from 4- 6 pm at the Valero Corporate Headquarters - cafeteria. Drop off your camping gear or items that you don't want to hassle with Saturday morning.
SATURDAY MORNING LUGGAGE DROP OFF
One of the many perks provided by the team is separate luggage transportation. Starting at 5:30 am on Saturday morning, riders and volunteers can drop off bags/luggage/camping gear etc. to the Valero truck. How do you find the truck? Just look for the FLASHING yellow light. Our amazing Valero volunteers have arranged to have a 26 ft truck yellow Penske truck parked on the grounds of the AT & T center - The truck will have a Valero Volunteer banner on the side and is typically parked in the middle of the lot once you drive in. Again, you will have to look for the light. Be sure to ask the volunteers if you are at the VELO VALERO truck before leaving your luggage behind. The MS truck is typically an 18-wheeler from HEB, so you should be able to distinguish ours from that. However, remember there are lots of corporate teams now, so you don't want to leave your l uggage on the wrong vehicle. PLEASE be sure to label all bags with your name and cell phone #. Also, there are luggage tags inside of your rider packet from the MS Society. There should be 2 of them. They have your rider # on them. This is also a helpful way to quickly ID your bags.
Once you drop off your things, you can proceed to the ride start.
When you arrive in Beevile, your bags will be under the Valero tent. Simply look for your tags! On Sunday morning, you can leave your bags in the spot and they will be reloaded and transported to CC. When you arrive in Corpus, you can look for the the Valero truck under the bridge, and again can claim your bags.
RIDE START
As Valero Energy is the official title sponsor for the ride, we will have the privilege of being the first team in the line up. So once you drop off your bags, simply proceed to the ride START and head to the very front under the START banner. Remember there will be 2 start times this year. THERE ARE 2 STARTING CHUTES. The first group will leave at 7:30 am. This is for those who ride 17-20 mph. The second group will leave at 8:15 am and will consist of those who ride at a more conservative pace. PLEASE, be honest with yourself about where you should start. The whole point of the staggered start is to promote safety and allow for the faster riders to get out ahead. There is no shame in lining up in the second chute.
Remember to get an early start in the morning as traffic will be awful. I suggest arriving by 6:30 am to beat the craziness.
TEAM SPIRIT
In your Velo Valero goody bags you should have found a whistle and some tattoos. We ask that you please wear your whistle during the ride so you can let people hear your team spirit. Also feel free to put your team tattoos on your face, arms legs, etc. Just hold a wet rag on top of them for about 30 seconds to apply.
On Saturday night, we ask that you please wear your green team T-shirts to show your team spirit. We will have a team photo some time in the evening.
RIDER NUMBERS
In your MS packet you have several important stickers and numbers. The big square with your rider number must be placed visibly on your back . Use safety pins to attach to your jersey or camel back. Be sure to complete the emergency information section on the back. This becomes real important if you are injured. There should also be a small square that is a sticker with your number. This goes on your helmet..preferrably in the front or on the side so it is visible. There should also be a wrist band with your number and 2 luggage tags that look like wrist bands. Finally, there should be a two-sided folder cardstock square with your number. This is for your bike . Place on the front by the handle bars or on the bike frame using twisty ties.
TEAM APPAREL
We ask that all Velo Valerians wear their new Velo Valero jerseys (and shorts too if you bought them) on Day 1 of the ride. You should also have a pair of matching socks provided in your team goody bag. Please wear those as well. On Day 2, we also request that you wear your Valero jerseys. If you want to wear last year's design, we are OK with that, but want to be sure we all show our team pride and team spirit by wearing our uniforms BOTH days. Valero has given us a tremendous amount of support both financially and in volunteer time, we appreciate the opportunity to recognize them for their efforts !!
LAST CHANGE APPAREL and VALERO PACKET PICK UP
For those who still need to pick up jerseys, shorts and/or team goody bags, no worries. We will be at the Crowne Plaza hotel tomorrow, Friday Oct 6th from 5- 8 pm. We have a ballroom on the 3rd floor of the hotel reserved exclusively for Velo Valero. Stop by there to pick up your packet. If you cannot find us, call my cell phone: (210) 379-1061.
NOTE: If you picked up your good bags at the packet pick up on Sept 18th, we did not have all items in at that time. Please stop by Friday night to get your whistles, water bottles, emergency # cards, power bars etc.
TEAM MEET AND GREET - SPAGHETTI DINNER
Please be sure to stop by the Crowne Plaza hotel on Friday to meet your fellow team members, participate in the team pre-ride briefing and program. We have a wonderful slide show and entertaining speakers lined up starting at 7:30pm. We promise to finish by 8:30 pm so you can get a good night's sleep. If you want to eat dinner, there is an all you can eat spaghetti buffet for $10 starting at 5 pm. Just grab a plate and pay on the first floor, then bring your food upstairs for the show at 7:30 pm. Or eat early, and come up the 3rd floor when you are done. We really hope to see as many of you there as possible!! It's going to be a great show.
MEALS
Another perk of Velo Valero membership is FREE meals on Saturday evening and Sunday morning. You MUST be wearing your RED Valero wrist band to be served. Dinner will start at 5:30 pm on Saturday and will go until 8:30 pm. We will have our traditional barbeque and spaghetti on the side. Valero volunteers have baked some wonderful desserts for all of you to enjoy after dinner. We will also have some mariaches playing music during dinner for your enjoyment.
Breakfast will begin at 5:00 am on Sunday and goes until there's no food left. Be sure to arrive early for some of Chef Fausto's delicious scrambled eggs, sausage, hashbrowns and juice.
* If you have a guest, they too will need a red wrist band. Please see me for this.
SHOWERS
When you arrive in Beeville, there are showers on the campus grounds that are open for our use. Remember to bring your towel and soap/shampoo. In Corpus Christi, there are portable showers set up on a first come first serve basis. Again, don't forget your towel and toiletries. Suggestion: pack these items last on Sunday morning so they are on top and easy to find when you pick up your luggage in CC.
BIKE PARKING LOT
When you get to Beeville, there is a secured bike parking lot where you can store your bike for the evening. Volunteers will take your bike for you and park it in order by your rider number. Be sure to remove all valuables from your bags. Also, its a good idea to cover your seat with a plastic bag so it won't be wet when you get on it on Sunday. There is typically alot of moisture in the air over night.
SHUTTLES
Free shuttles will be available to transport riders from the tent in Beeville to the Motel 6 in Sinton. Shuttles will depart every hour starting at 3 pm and going until 9 pm. In the morning, we will reverse the route. Shuttles will depart from the Motel 6 in Sinton starting at 5 am and will leave every half hour until 7:00am. A schedule with a phone # will be posted under the team tent. You also recieved a card with important phone #s. Be sure to keep this handy if you need to call Ken Mayfield for a ride. Shuttles will leave from the parking lot behind the medical building on the grounds of the college in Beeville. NOTE: Sinton is a 30 min drive from Beeville so plan accordingly in the morning so you have time to eat, air up your tires, fill your water bottles etc.
The ride starts anywhere from 7:30 - 9:00 am on Sunday depending on the fog and light conditions.
MASSAGE THERAPY
We will have 15 massage therapists on site starting at 12 noon and going until 8 pm. Cost is $20 for 25 minutes. Appointments can be made under the tent and will be offered first come first serve basis. There will be volunteers coordinating this service under the Velo Valero tent.
SHUTTLES TO SA FROM CORPUS
For those who still need a ride back from CC to SA or for those who already signed up, Shuttles will leave as they fill up. Each vehicle holds 12 -15 people. We have about 45 people already signed up for rides and have room for 10-20 additional people. Just call me at (210) 379-1061 if you want to sign up.
Bikes will come back to SA anywhere from 6 - 7pm and can be picked up at the AT and T center. Check with volunteer drivers to confirm the time. They cannont leave CC until the last riders come in. This is usually between 3 and 4 pm.
Phew!! I believe that's it for now.
See you tomorrow!
 Laura
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Board Member Patricia "the Pirate" Jones put together this great list of the benefits of riding with Velo Valero on the Valero MS 150 Bike to the Beach this weekend.
Valero offers wonderful support during the MS 150.
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Hotel Ballroom at the Crown Plaza Riverwalk on the 3rd Floor from 6:30-8:30pm Friday night. The formal program will be from 07:30 to 08:30. We'll review the ride in detail, answer any questions, and watch a few videos. This is a great chance to relax with team members before the big event!
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Goodie bag for the ride, including a team t-shirt, socks, wrist band for dinner in the Valero tent in Beeville, water bottle, whistle, laminated emergency Valero contact list card, etc.
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Luggage transport from San Antonio (AT&T Center) to Coastal College in Beeville...your bags will be under the Valero big tent when you arrive in Beeville.
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Luggage transport from Beeville to Corpus Christi (Texas State Aquarium)
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If you have preregistered with Valero to ride back to San Antonio on Sunday from Corpus, then we provide shuttle transport for you, your luggage and bike back to the AT&T Center.
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We provide our own SAG vehicles for our riders only during the ride. The laminated cards will have cell phone numbers of the designated SAG drivers if you run into trouble. Please note that our SAG vehicles are NOT intended to provide mechanical assistance (such as flats). They are really there for support should you not be able to physically ride any further.
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At the day 1 stopping point in Beeville, we provide the Valero Tent, which will have refreshments when you arrive, and will be the site of Chef Fausto's famous barbeque dinner for all team members and their families. We also have a couple of massage therapists available under a separate tent for a 20 minute massage (costs is $20 per massage). You need to pre-register for the massage as well as for the shuttle back to San Antonio on Sunday from Corpus through our website. Click here to access.
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There will be Valero Volunteers also helping in the Falls City lunch stop on Saturday, Beeville and at Corpus Christi....look for them! They will be wearing the bright green t-shirts.
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Since a number of team members have a hotel room in Sinton, TX, Valero will provide shuttles from the Valero Tent in Beeville to Sinton and vice versa.
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Most importantly, the best benefit of being a member of Velo Valero is TEAM CAMARADERIE before, during and after the ride.
 Thanks, Patricia
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From the San Antonio Express-News
Web Posted: 10/01/2006 12:00 PM CDT
Wayne Genzer has participated in the MS 150 six times, but for the life of him he couldn't tell you what he's seen as he's pedaled from San Antonio to Corpus Christi.
That's because Genzer, 59, is legally blind.
Yet Genzer's disability hasn't stopped the former Valero refinery worker from riding with his former company's team. This year, for the third straight time, he'll be a stoker — powering along in the back seat on a tandem bike — with captain Albert Castaneda, 45.
Genzer began losing the sight in his right eye when he was 35, then started having trouble with his left eye in 1992. Several unsuccessful surgeries could not reverse the inevitable.
"After I first went blind, that was the hardest thing in my life," says Genzer, who also gets around with the help of his black Labrador retriever, Heidi. "I was devastated for over a year."
Genzer credits his faith, his family and cycling for pulling him through the low times. Talking to young people about blindness and supporting events like the MS 150 keep him motivated.
"If they find a cure for MS then I know I helped make a difference, even with my disability" he says.
Genzer used to enjoy commuting to work on his bike and organizing cycling outings with co-workers. He assumed that he would never ride again after he lost his eyesight.
So he was bowled over when his former co-workers pitched in and gave him a tandem bike in 1994.
"I broke down," he says. "It really meant a lot to me."
That was about three tandem bikes ago. Today, Genzer hits the road at least three times a week and trains on a stationary bike when he can't find a captain.
"I'm healthy, I just can't see," says Genzer. "I found that I could do whatever I wanted to do once I got the blindness taken care of."
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Hello everyone!
Hope you had a great weekend! Just wanted to remind you that this week's training strategy should be REST! This is not the week to try to squeeze in extra mileage. Be sure to rest your legs, get plenty of sleep, maybe a massage, and start "carbing up" for the weekend. Between Monday -Wed, consider getting on a spin bike and just doing an easy work out, spin your legs with tension of "1-3". Or grab a quick training ride over lunch or after work of 10-15 miles of flat terrain and easy spinning. Be sure to REST after Wednesday. No riding at all for 2 days prior to the ride.
So what will you do with yourself instead of riding? Well consider getting a head start on your packing. Don't wait until the night before. Below you will find a "TO BRING" list that you might find helpful.
MS 150 PACKING LIST
Items to Bring on the Tour
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Helmet – REQUIRED
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Rider Numbers and wristband – REQUIRED
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VALERO Wrist band – Gives you access to the Velo Valero team tent and meals
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Team whistle and body tattoos (Show your team spirit all during the ride!)
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Padded bike shorts, Velo Valero jersey & socks
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Cycling gloves and shoes
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Sunglasses, lip balm and sunscreen
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Tire patch kit, spare tubes and
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Air source (pump or several CO2 air cartridges)
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Identification (driver’s license)
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Medical Insurance Card
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Velo Valero IMPORTANT #s card (Neon green)
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Emergency cash and credit card
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Water bottles/hydration pack
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GUs, Nutrition Bars, or favorite snacks
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Medications
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Rain poncho (or a large HEFTY bag)
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Camera and film
In Overnight Bag:
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Tent and camping gear (For outdoor campers only)
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Sleeping bag and pillow (For gym floor squatters)
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Travel alarm clock
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Towel(s) for shower
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Toiletries including soap, shampoo, toothpaste, deodorant, and bug repellent
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Toothbrush, hairbrush, hairdryer
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Medications
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BUTT BUTTER!!
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Quarters for laundry
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Travel size laundry detergent to rinse out jersey and shorts
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Comfortable clothes/shoes for Saturday evening. Please show your team spirit by wearing your green Velo Valero Team T-shirt!
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Plastic cover/bag for bike seat on Saturday night
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Riding clothes for Sunday
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Change of clothes for bus trip home
To keep your items dry, put all items in a garbage bag and smaller items in zipper-sealed plastic bags before placing them in your luggage.
Please note that there is a limit of two bags per rider with a maximum weight of 35 pounds each.
Talk to you soon!
Laura
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