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July 2007 - Posts
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Greetings, and happy Tuesday! ...I didn't get a blog entry done on Monday morning as usual because I was traveling back from upstate Michigan where I joined with Rays from across the country to celebrate the 75th birthday of my Aunt Mary (more on this later). Much happened in my absence - team members heroically attempted to hold training rides in the face of the relentless Texas rain, the team store re-opened, and the Tour de France ended...
Training Rides
On Saturday morning, John Tenison led a small but focused group of riders on a route that began at Judson High School. This ride had more fog than a Gothic novel, and the riders encountered a portion of roadway under water that forced them to change routes midway (see picture below). Here's John's account of the ride -
Here are some pix of the low water crossing we encountered on the road Saturday. In spite of overflowing creeks and heavy fog that didn't lift until after 9:30 AM, we had a great turnout. PJ, Carl and a number of non-Valero folks rode, including some from Team Methodist. We also picked up a member of the USAF team on the way (Forrest - not in Iowa this week since he has rotator cuff surgery scheduled for today). We started off across Lower Seguin Road and were stopped at the low water crossing on the other side of 1518. We decided to take 1518 and Trainer Hale and made it safely over to New Berlin (turn around, don't drown!!). Most of the group opted for a shorter route and headed back; Pat O'Brien, Forrest and I did the full route, riding through beautiful country via Church Rd and rt 539 and 2772 to Lavernia. We then took 1346 to St. Hedwig (most of the road work is done and the new shoulder is great) and 1518 back for 55 miles altogether. I woke up to rain on Sunday AM, so I guess we lucked out. Next weekend it's the Luckenbach ride - let's hope the weather is in our favor! John
I ain't crossing that! - A flooded roadway the group encountered on Saturday. To see more, click here.
On Sunday, the morning rain scared everyone from doing the Pancake ride route except for Donna Escobar, who ended up riding by herself (and she had a great time doing so!).
This week we plan on the following rides, weather permitting. If the rain continues to cancel rides for us, find some indoor way to exercise - spin classes, treadmill work, aerobics, yoga, juggling your kids - anything to get your heart rate up and keep your muscles toned! The pattern of freaky, wet weather will eventually break, and we'll be able to get our long rides in again - and when that happens, you'll be glad you kept working out.
- The Wednesday night Valero HQ ride leaving from the North Garage at 5:45 pm
- The Thursday night family friendly ride from Spechts store - wheels up at 06:30 pm
- Our Saturday morning ride, which will be the legenday Luckenbach route - wheels up at 07:30 am
- A Sunday ride (to be determined - check our training schedule later in the week)
Team Store Open - Time to Order Your Team Jersey
 The team store is open again, and it's time to order your team jersey featuring the award winning design from artist extraordinaire and Velo Board Member, Zora Bilicich. Remember - all riders participating with us in an organized event like the Valero MS 150 Bike to the Beach must wear a current team jersey - we are representing Valero, the title sponsor, and we all want to look good for the cameras. You'll be able to order your jersey between now and the noon CST on Friday, September 7th; we expect delivery in early October in time for the Fall MS rides. Ordering is quick and painless via our on-line shopping cart, and you can pay using your choice of credit card, PayPal, or check. Click here to access our team store.
Defend Your Sport!
 It happens every year - the non-cycling world becomes temporarily interested in cycling because of the Tour de France, and all they hear about is how "scandal plagued" and "dope marred" the sport is. And, this can lead them to have a negative view of what we do as recreational cyclists who participate in fundraising events. For example, my mom's boyfriend is constantly accusing me of "doing steroids" just because I ride a bike (you probably get a variation on this sort of comment all the time). Well, you need to fight back! Not everyone who rides a bike is getting blood transfusions. Unfortunately, at the highly competitive apogee of the sport such as the Tour, many people do and some get caught - but that doesn't undermine the good things we are doing as a team for ourselves, our families, and for our communities. I like to compare this to baseball. Just because someone like Barry Bonds may have used steroids to help him break Hank Aaron's record, it does not make the sport of baseball a bad thing. For the Little League player who hits his first home run and circles the bases to the roar of the crowd, there is purity and exhileration and pride that no amount of scandal at the highest levels can taint. Be proud of the fact that you are a cyclist, and defend your sport whenever you get a chance.
...On the plane I read a great illustrated history of the Tour by Marguerite Lazell called, surprisingly, "Tour de France: The Illustrated History" (click here to see the Amazon review). I really liked the sections on the first few decades of the Tour, when riders who trained on beer and cigarettes travelled on largely dirt roads using bikes that weighed as much as tanks. If you are a little jaded about the current state of professional cycling, pick up a copy of this and be inspired by the early days of what is truly the greatest athletic challenge in the world.
Family Reunion
...I spent the weekend in upstate Michigan with 22 of the direct and indirect descendants of Milton and Veronica Ray. We were there to celebrate the 75th birthday of my Aunt, Sister Mary Ray, a truly marvelous woman who has spent her whole life in service to others, including mission work in Central American during the 60s and 70s, and decades of work in the inner city of Chicago. We went four wheeling, hot rodding in vintage cars (the '65 Mustang was my favorite), built a bonfire under a brilliant harvest moon, and spent more time than is probably healthy in the pool and hot tub. The only exercise I did was 12 ounce curls, but I did a lot them (we are, after all, Irish). It was a great, relaxing weekend with a side of the family I should really spend more time with because they are really a heck of a lot of fun. If you haven't been to a family reunion recently, what are you waiting for? Organize it yourself if you have to!
El Hefe with his amazing aunt, surrounded by Rays of all shapes and sizes
See ya' on the road!
- Peter
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...I'll be heading to Michigan for 4 days to celebrate the 75th birthday of my Aunt Mary, so I'm sending this out early. Once again I leave the team in the capable hands of Patricia Jones, John Tenison, and David Sloan.
Weekend Rides
 Weather permitting, Andrea Shull will lead our usual family friendly Thursday night ride from Spechts Store. Wheels up at 06:30 pm.
 Our scheduled Saturday ride starts from Judson High School on the east side at 07:30 am. John Tenison will lead riders on a 45 mile loop on the rolling hills in and around New Berlin. Click here for the map.
 Patricia Jones and  Donna Escobar will be doing a variation on the eastside Pancake Ride route on Sunday, with wheels up at 07:45 am. The 32 mile ride starts at the Chevron Station at I-10/Foster.
Some of our folks will begin the six-week San Antonio Wheelmen new rider program on Saturday, 07/28.
Click here to see our complete training schedule.
MS 150 Kick Off Event
Last night a small but enthusiastic group of Velo Valerians braved the endless south Texas monsoon to attend the Valero MS 150 Bike to the Beach kick off soiree. There were lots of pirates in the house to spice things up, and CEO Bill Klesse received an award on behalf of Valero for our work sponsoring the MS Champ Camp in March. Click here to see pictures from this event.
Group shot at the kick off party - what a good looking team!
- Peter
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Greetings! I return to action after an exhilerating week in the Davis Mountains (more on this later). Hats off to PJ, David, and John for rowing the boat while I was gone. In fact, "rowing the boat" is an apt metaphor, given the unbelievable amount of rain we've been having. San Antonio has received more than 40 inches of rain this year, which is double our average annual rainfall of 18 inches - and it's still the month of July! In the long run it's all good, but in the short run, it can sure wreak havoc with your training schedule.
Rides
Andrea Shull continues to lead a family friendly ride on Thursday nights beginning at 06:30 pm. They are now starting from Specht's Store, since Bullis County Park closes at 08:00 pm. Give her a shout at andrea.shull@valero.com if you'd like to join in. Here's her report from last Thursday -
We had a great ride last night. There were 11 riders in our group and all did a fantastic job riding the rolling hills of Ammand Rd. during our 20 mile route. Most of the riders were new riders so I was very impressed with the dedication they showed in climbing the hills. We had one minor incident. One of our riders made a wrong turn and got a little lost near the mid way point of our ride. A search and rescue rider was sent out to get her back on track.
John Tennison's Saturday morning ride was rained out and rescheduled for 1:00 pm on Sunday afternoon.
Continue to monitor our training schedule to see the list of upcoming rides, and if you haven't done so yet, download a training journal so you can keep track of your miles. If you're doing a 15 week program to prepare for the Bike to the Beach, your training started the week of July 9th. If you are doing 12 weeks, it starts the week of July 30th. Like the Black Eyed Peas sang, "Let's get it started!"
Finally, the list of Velo Valero riders planning to do the Hotter than Hell ride the weekend of August 24-25 seems to grow larger each week. If you are intersted in participating, give me a shout. It now looks like we'll be driving two of the team trucks up to the event!
MS 150 Bash
 (This is one of those things I must shamelessly plug each week...) If you are riding in the Valero MS 150 Bike to the Beach this year, please mark your calendar for Wednesday, July 25, from 05:30 to 08:00 pm. The MS Society is having an event kickoff at Cowboys Dance Hall in San Antonio, and it will have a Pirates of the Caribbean theme, including prizes for best custumes. This will be a great chance to meet some of your fellow Velo Valerians, and to also show off your inner Jack (or Jackie) Sparrow. If you have registered for the ride yet, you will be able to do so at this event for the low, low price of $25 (what a deal) - if you have a friend or colleague thinking about riding with us, bring them along and get them to sign up. Hope to see ya' there!
Cycling the Davis Mountains
As mentioned, I just returned from a week in the Davis Mountains where I volunteered to be one of the adult leaders for my son's Boy Scout Troop as they spent a night a Balmorhea State Park and a week at Buffalo Trail Scout Ranch (BTSR). This was truly an amazing experience for me for a variety of reasons, not the least of which was some truly gnarly cycling...
...For years a number of folks - Paige, Donna, Terry, and so on - have raved to me about the quality of the cycling in the Davis Mountains. It has been described to me as a "biker's paradise" - wide shoulders, smooth pavement, sparse traffic, challenging mountain passes, and cool mountain air. As a result, I hauled the burnt orange Specialized along with me, thinking I'd get a ride in here or there. Little did I know that I'd do over 125 miles over 6 days - and I would have done more if I had the time! We definitely need to organize a team excursion out there some day...
My goal during the week was to do a few short practice rides to get used to the altitude, and then to scale the 18 mile ascent to the McDonald Observatory on Friday. My first ride was Saturday night. The troop arrived at Balmorhea State Park, did some afternoon swimming and then set up the tents. After dinner, I got on the bike and did a 20 mile out and back on 17 South heading to Ft. Davis. This was mostly flat with some climbs near the turnaround point. The sun was setting as I rode, and as it dropped behind the mountains, the air cooled down quickly and the sky filled with bright orange and red hues. I got back to the park, swam for 15 minutes in the spring-fed waters, and then slept under the stars. It was a great introduction to cycling in West Texas, and as I watched the satellites zip through the night sky, I thought about the week ahead.
On Monday, I talked to the staff at the camp about cycling the 12 miles of Ranch Road 1832 that leads into BTSR. They gave me lots of advice, including where all the cell phone hot spots were. (For those of you that got e-mail from me during the week, know you know how...) They told me about all the wildlife I'd encounter - snakes, rabbits, deer, and cattle - and they warned me to be careful around the bulls, because they would occasionally chase you "if you looked at them the wrong way". This turned out to be the ride from hell, and one on which I ignored everything I've learned about safe cycling in the last 8 years. I left at 2:00 pm in the afternoon on day with no clouds when the tempuratures would get into mid-90s. I was riding by myself on a route with no C-stores and limited cell phone coverage. I had on headphones, and was listening to music at deafening volumes. Plus, I was wearing a red cycling jersey in buzzard country... Midway through the ride, I encountered a group of Angus steer in middle of the road. I was beginning a fast descent, and had to decide quickly - did I stop and turn around, or did I blast right by them? I have a friend who insists I become more reckless, so heeding this advice, I opted to blast right by them. Unfortunately, as I neared the group, they shifted positions, leaving only a 4 foot gap between them I could ride through. As I roared towards them, I thought about all the Friday rides Mike and I have done to and from work, and how he taught me to demonstrate grace under pressure when pedaling between lines of cars on the 1604 frontage road. So, this is what I did. My heart was pounding as I neared the animals and shot through the gap. Unbelievably, they did not move an inch; in fact, I don't know if they even noticed me. (I found out later that the camp staff was pulling my leg about the bulls chasing you...) On the return loop, the heat began to really affect me. The hot afternoon air burned my lungs, and my water was going fast. The scary thing was as I looked at the pavement ahead of me, I saw the shadows of two vultures circling above me. As I started to do the last series of climbs into the camp, my speed began to slow, and the shadows became larger. Fortunately, I passed the fresh carcas of a dead deer, which the vultures stopped to dine on... I retrurned to camp in time for dinner, and vowed to never again ride in the afternoon out there...
On Wednesday morning I couldn't take it anymore - I left camp after breakfast, and drove to Ft. Davis to do the ride to the top of the Observatory. Ft. Davis is a mile high city like Denver, meaning right away the altitude (5200 feet) was going to be an issue. Moreover, the highest point at the Observatory is 6900 feet, meaning you have to do almost 2000 feet of climbing to reach the top. This ride was a personal fitness challenge I had issued to myself. I've worked hard to get in better shape this year - I've managed to lose 15 pounds through all the long rides, spin classes, basketball games, and fast paced walks around campus - and I felt I was ready for this. The first part of the ride was relatively flat with a few gradual ascents. About midway, it got interesting. I could see the white dome of one of the telescopes way in the distance at the top of the mountain, and it seemed that regardless of how many climbs I did, it was getting higher and further away. My legs were throbbing and my lungs burning as I reached the Visitor Center, and began the last leg of the journey which was one continuous winding climb. I dropped into my granny gear and slowed down to 10 mph. I focused on my breathing and took it one painful stroke at a time. I kept telling myself, "You are too close to quit now - keep pedaling..." After what seemed like hours, I reached the parking lot of the 107 inch telescope, which was the end of the route. I ripped off my helmet, and drank in the incredible view. Friends, I can't tell you how good it felt up there on that mountain! After about 20 minutes (and countless celebratory e-mail blasts from the Blackberry) I began my descent. This was the payoff for all the hard work getting up the mountain - at one point, I was going 45+ mph and pushing hard for 50. I got back to Ft. Davis, slammed down a Dr. Pepper - I needed the carbs, and couldn't have a beer since I was, after all, at a Boy Scout camp - and then returned to BTSR for lunch.
...On Friday, I did the 50 mile loop from camp to Balmorhea and back to get coffee for Saturday morning. After Wednesday's ride, this was a little anticlimatic, but still very enjoyable. I did it in the morning, and saw a totally different side of Ranch Road 1832 than I saw on Monday. There was a lot more wildlife active - I had to dodge at least 10 rabbits darting across the road, and the cattle were everywhere. I returned to camp in time for lunch, and packed up the bike for the week.
All in all, a great week in the saddle.
Wild Week in the Wild West
Warning: This is another rambling personal odyssey. If you are interested in only bike team news, you can skip this section.
Posing with the seven first year scouts - I was so proud of these guys!
First of all, I have to confess one thing - I'm forty-four years old, and up until last week, I had never been to a summer camp before. When I was growing up there was never any money for it, and even though I've been sending my kids to various camps for almost a decade, I've always been too work-obsessed to take the time off to join them. This is the year I said I'd do it, and man was it worth it. Just being around my son and his peers for a full week, getting to know them and what makes them tick, talking to them at all hours of the day (and night) about any and everything, including the many challenges they face growing up in the 21st century - this my friends was time well spent. In many ways, I was like a surrogate father to 32 boys for a week, in addition to being a real father to Alex. Day after day, I had to gve them confidence when they heard what they thought was a snake or a mountain lion in the bushes, comfort them when they became homesick (a daily occurrence for some), and calm them down when they came running up to me shouting, "Mr. Ray! Mr. Ray! - I lost my <insert item>".
 The setting we were doing this in - Buffalo Trail Scout Ranch - was really unbelievable. The camp is nestled between high canyon walls, and at night, the West Texas stars put on an eleven hour light show that dazzles the senses. I either slept in the open air on my cot, or in a tent where I could see the stars through the mesh opening in the roof. The kids had lots of different activities they could do, including things like shotgun, rock climbing, trail riding, and Mountain Man, where a group of hardy souls hiked to the top of one of the mountains and did primitive camping for 6 days. I went through digital withdrawal as expected, but it was brief and painless. We were way out of cell phone range, there were no TVs or video games, and even though they had a a satellite Internet connection (primarly to get weather data), I avoided it like the plague. And you know what? It felt good to be so disconnected from everything.
On Thursday night, we drove to the McDonald Observatory outside of Ft. Davis for a special "star party" for the Scouts. This consisted of a lecture in an open air ampitheater as the sun was setting and the stars were bursting into view, and then an opportunity to look at different objects in the sky using a variety of telescopes scattered throughout the grounds. This was a highlight for me. I've always been a closet stargazer - I grew up during the Apollo moon missions, was an avid science fiction fan, and wanted to be an astronaut for many, many years. Seeing the craters on the moon, the rings and moons of Jupiter, the atmosphere of Venus, and binary star formations in distant galaxies through high-end telescopes was truly a once in a lifetime experience. If you ever get a chance to do this, by all means, do it!
On Friday, we did a short hike to see the Needle, a 10 story free standing rock formation, and then to the Notch, which was a swimming hole nestled in the canyon wall that had a 30 foot cliff the boys could jump off. It rained the whole time during our hike and swim, but at that point in the week, it didn't matter. It was wonderful to see the transformation in the boys. The older Scouts helped the younger ones climb out of the water and scale the cliff, and then one by one they jumped off into the water - the first time a little apprehensive, then each time after that, with more and more confidence. As I listened to the sounds of their shouts and laughter echo off the canyon walls, I thought to myself, "This is what growing up is all about..."
El Hefe and El Hefecito (my son Alex) posing by one of the camp-issued tents, with one of the posh latrines in the distance.
Posing with the Scouts and adult leaders on Saturday morning, the last day of camp. You are lucky you can't smell this picture!
- El "I Love Indoor Plumbing" Hefe
See ya' on the road!
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6:15am: Spoke to John. The Saturday Training Ride is cancelled due to weather. For those who are interested, the ride is rescheduled for 1pm on Sunday, same place and route, weather dependent. --PJ
Join us for a ride beginning at Roger Soler’s Try Sports in Helotes this Saturday (see map). We’ll be taking a 50 mile route to Castroville via Talley Road and Rt 211, returning on the newly paved and glassy smooth Rt. 471 (see map ). There’s a number of other route choices for those wanting a shorter (or longer, or more hilly) ride, so visit with me at the ride . We start at 7:30 AM sharp (wheels down), so be sure to arrive a little early to sign in, air up tires, review the routes, etc.
See ya' on the road...
--John
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Happy Monday!!
As previously noted, El Hefe is enjoying a "leisurely" time at scout camp in the Davis Mountains of West Texas this week...so we will do our best to keep you apprised of team activities in his absence. I am sure we will get a blow by blow from him next week... In the meantime, the weather cooperated (sort of) this past weekend, so please see the update below regarding the weekend rides.
John Tenison - Castroville Ride (Saturday)
We had a good turnout on Saturday for a new Castroville ride. Chuck Divelbiss, Carl Crawford, Dave Shorr, Larry Gallo and 4 of his USAF buddies came out, also Lewis and Stella Rocha, and Pat O'Brien - a great turnout for July! We were clipping along at a Tour de Cure pace of 26 mi/hr heading into Devine (of course the Tour does that on the up hills, but never mind) and the route back on 1343 was really nice with hardly any traffic to speak of. Everyone had a good ride, beating the rain that moved in that afternoon and early Sunday AM.
 David Sloan - Katy Flatland Ride (Sunday)
If you aren't satisfied with the weather in Texas, just wait a few minutes.... We had quite a variety on Sunday.
It poured between 6:45 until after 7:00 am, and with thunder and lightening, the "official" start was delayed to around 7:20 or so. We were still sitting in the truck at that time waiting for it to hopefully clear up for awhile. The bikes were ready, we were ready, but it kept raining. Finally, around 08:00, there was a lull - it was only a light sprinkle at that time - and we hated to come all that way and not ride, so we just got out of the truck and decided to get wet.
What we didn't know was that, up by the start line, they had announced that there was another downpour coming… Anyway, we took that one while on the road. At least there was no hail. The first 15 - 20 miles were wet, with rain falling most of the time. I ended up doing the 43 mile route since I didn't want to over-do my still-recovering right leg. Just after the 43/60 mile route split, I picked up another rider that was about my speed and we rode the remainder of the ride together. Just before the end, we picked up one of her colleagues who expressed interest in riding with us on the MS-150.
I digress. By the time we got to the mid-point rest stop in Brookshire, the rain had pretty much stopped, and for the final 14 miles, the sun came out! That part was pretty good - wind at your back, partly cloudy, not too hot - luckily, before it had time to get really steamy, we were finished!
While waiting for Andrea to finish her 100 miles, I went back to the hotel, showered, changed, had lunch, and drove to the Brookshire rest stop and spent the next hour or so recruiting. The truck was a real attention getter, and that led to lots of Velo Valero business cards being handed out.
The organization of the ride seemed to have slipped this year, especially at the start / finish area, but much of that was probably due to the rain. There seemed to be plenty of SAGs, except when people were looking for them. I heard several complaints about that. There were no motorcycle patrols along the route to help monitor the ride / riders, and communications seemed to be an issue between the rest stops and SAGs. It didn't cause me any bother, but there were LOTS of inexperienced riders out there that didn't know to stay to the right if they were going slow, didn't know how to change a flat and just waited either for another rider to stop or wait for a SAG to change it for them, didn't have any tools / spares. Probably the worst I've seen on a large ride from that standpoint.
Anyway, it was a great ride, and I enjoyed it despite the rain. Now, I've just got to spend the hours to clean & oil my bike to get it ready for the next ride...
See you on the road....
Team News:
As for other team news, Diane Mitchell asked me to relay a somber note. I am sad to say that our team member, Jerry Bedell, passed away in a motorcycle accident over the weekend. As many of you know, Julie Bedell is Jerry's wife. Julie worked at Valero since late 2001, and her late husband Jerry and her son Blake are both active members of Velo Valero and rode in the MS 150 for several years. The accident occured at 10:35 p.m. Friday evening, and he was officially declared deceased at about 4 p.m. on Saturday. Because his accident was a serious head injury, with no injuries to his internal organs, he was an excellent candidate for organ donation, which is what Julie and her family did.
There will be a memorial service later this week. The date and place have not been finalized, so please refer to the Express News obituary section (probably in tomorrow's paper) for the details. I will try to update this blog when the details are finalized. In the meantime, Diane Mitchell is having a card crafted on behalf of the team and Valero for the Bedell family. Please drop by her office at Valero (B2G-165) to sign the card or contact her at diane.mitchell@valero.com.
Update 7/16/07: The memorial service will take place on Thursday, July 19 at 6:30 p.m. at Northwood Presbyterian Church, 518 Pike Place, with a reception following. Friends and family members have established a scholarship fund for the children. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Bedell Scholarship Fund, c/o Frost Bank, P.O. Box 1600, San Antonio, Texas 78296. We know that you join us in keeping Julie and her family in your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time. Thank you for your support.
MS 150 Kick Off Bash
More details will be provided next week by Peter, but if you are riding in the Valero MS 150 Bike to the Beach this year, please mark your calendar for Wednesday, July 25, from 05:30 to 08:00 pm. The MS Society is having an event kickoff at Cowboys Dance Hall in San Antonio, and it will have a Pirates of the Caribbean theme, including prizes for best custumes. This will be a great chance to meet some of your fellow Velo Valerians, and to also show off your inner Jack (or Jackie) Sparrow. Obviously, given my nickname (aka, the Funky Pirate), I look forward to meeting you there...
Upcoming Rides:
So, what’s planned for this week?
- John Tenison plans to lead the 5:45 pm Wednesday night ride from the North Garage at Valero HQ. Send him an e-mail at John.Tenison@valero.com if you want to join in.
- Andrea Shull plans to lead the 6:30 pm Thursday night ride from Specht's Store this week (please note the location change from Bullis County Park because the park closes at 8pm, which causes parking issues). This family friendly ride is a joint event with Bicycle Heaven. Give Andrea Shull a shout at andrea.shull@valero.com if you'd like to join. Kids are welcome, but require adult supervision.
- Our Saturday ride will start a Roger Soler's in Helotis, with routes varying from 25-65 miles! I am excited about this ride because it will be my first time to ride with the team after an injury in June!! More to come later this week.
For now, that is all for this week. Hope to see you on the road.
- Patricia (I don't want to ever do a blog again) Jones
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Happy Friday!
...I'm leaving tomorrow for a Scout summer camp with my son's troop. We'll be up in the Davis Mountains in West Texas, and, I'll be completely off the grid - no Internet, no e-mail, no cell phone reception, no HBO in hi-def, and (I'm told) no indoor plumbing. I'm such a wired guy that I'll probably go through major withdrawal symptoms, but in a few days I should be a better man for it. I'm bringing my bike, and hope to get some miles in on the mountain roads, particularly the 18 mile ascent up to the McDonald Observatory. In my absence, I leave the team in the capable hands of Board Members Patricia Jones, David Sloan, and John Tenison - please contact them if you have any questions or concerns about Velo Valero. When I get back, planning and training for the Valero MS 150 Bike to the Beach begins in earnest!
David Sloan is leading a hearty band of Velo cyclists on the Katy Flatland ride this weekend. Click here for more details.
John Tenison will lead a ride that starts and ends in Castroville on Saturday. This is a new route that heads south to Devine and back. Distances are 25 and 42 miles, and the terrain is relatively flat. Click here to see the details. Wheels up at 07:30 am! (NOTE: There will be no SAG support on this ride because the Team Truck is going to Katy...)
If you are riding in the Valero MS 150 Bike to the Beach this year, please mark your calendar for Wednesday, July 25, from 05:30 to 08:00 pm. The MS Society is having an event kickoff at Cowboys Dance Hall in San Antonio, and it will have a Pirates of the Caribbean theme, including prizes for best custumes. This will be a great chance to meet some of your fellow Velo Valerians, and to also show off your inner Jack (or Jackie) Sparrow. (PJ, aka the Funky Pirate, will be in her element...) If you have registered for the ride yet, you will be able to do so at this event for the low, low price of $25 (what a deal). Hope to see ya' there!
 Laura Vaccaro asked me to throw in a plug for a jersey sale that is raising money and awareness for breast cancer. They are short sleeve, with a very breathable fabric; sizes are xs-xxxl. Price for each will be $61.25, plus shipping. If you are interested, please call 818-676-0446, ext 0. Deadline for orders is Thursday, 07/19.
See ya' on the road (when I get back)!
- Peter
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Just a very quick note today about some upcoming rides...If you do any of these rides, I can't overemphasize the importance of proper hydration...summer has arrived in Texas (finally) and it's pretty damn hot out there - it's been so cool for so long, this heat will catch you off guard...
Upcoming Rides
Just talked to John Tension at the airport. He's heading back to San Antonio, and is eager to get back in the saddle. Our Wednesday evening ride will begin at 05:45 pm (note the time change!) from the North Garage at Valero HQ. Distance will be approx. 25 miles. Send John an e-mail at John.Tension@valero.com if you plan on riding. Lots of folks have asked about resurrecting the tradition of the HQ Wednesday night ride, and here's our chance!
The Thursday night Bullis Country Park is still on, and there's a rumor (I'm starting) that the Velo Valero Team Truck will make an appearance. This family friendly ride begins at 06:30 pm and is a joint event with our friends at Bicycle Heaven. Give Andrea Shull a shout at andrea.shull@valero.com if you'd like to join. Kids are welcome, but require adult supervision.
We do have a Saturday morning ride planned that will start and end in Castroville - check the training schedule later in the week for more details.
Katy Flatland
David Sloan (david.sloan@valero.com) will be our Event Captain for the Katy Flatlands ride, which will be held on Sunday, July 15th. Click here for more details.
MS 150 Kickoff Bash
...I'll provide more details on this later, but if you are riding in the Valero MS 150 Bike to the Beach this year, please mark your calendar for Wednesday, July 25, from 05:30 to 08:00 pm. The MS Society is having an event kickoff at Cowboys Dance Hall in San Antonio, and it will have a Pirates of the Caribbean theme, including prizes for best custumes. This will be a great chance to meet some of your fellow Velo Valerians, and to also show off your inner Jack (or Jackie) Sparrow. PJ, aka the Funky Pirate, will be in her element...
See ya' on the road!
- Peter
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Another Rained Out Ride
Well, another San Antonio Saturday morning ride got rained out. PJ called me at 6:30 am, and told me she had discussed the ride with safety officer Chuck, and both agreed that it was a no-go. I checked the KSAT weather map, and all of the east side of San Antonio was engulfed in a bright red cloud of thunderstorms. I called a few folks who I knew had planned on doing the ride and quickly figured out that folks on Velo Valero are pretty smart - if it looks like a monsoon outside your window, you go back to sleep - you don’t need an over caffeinated El Hefe telling you the ride is cancelled. (I’m sure more than one person is blocking my incoming cell phone calls now…)
This was unfortunate, because I was on a fitness roll. I did 25 miles of the Wednesday morning ride. I walked during lunch on Thursday, and did the “Brick” class with Deedra from 5:15 to 6:15 on Thursday night at the HQ Fitness Center. Zora “You Can Do It” Bilicich recommended this to me. The class consists of (in rapid, heart pounding succession) spinning, running on the treadmill, running up and down four flights of stairs, and lunging up and down four flights of stairs – repeat, alternate, don’t stop when you pass go. It’s a great workout – give it a shot if you can fit it into your schedule! …On Friday, I rode to and from work with Mike again, and played a few games of full court hoops during lunch. I was ready for more Saturday morning, buy the weather gods had other ideas…
Journey to Aggieland
So, since the ride was cancelled, I packed up the Element and drove to College Station to make my bi-annual visit to my mom's house. At the recommendation of a friend, I tried a new route, and got to see parts of central Texas I’ve never seen before, including some amazing countryside just south of Giddings. Texas is starting to remind me of the jungles in I saw a few years ago when the family and I took the Love Boat from Los Angeles to Puerto Vallarta on the western coast of Mexico. We took a tour into the interior where they filmed the movie Predator. Yes, there are parts of Texas that, because of the 40 days and nights of rain, are becoming Predator-like – I passed fields where the grass and wildflowers were so high and out of control, all you saw were the horns of a longhorn steers poking through the sunflowers….
The real reason I went to Aggieland was to see my nieces Mary and Michelle perform in a production of Godspell. I was really blown away: thirty-seven kids, aged 7 to 17, many who had never acted before, rehearsed for 3 short weeks and managed to stage a compelling version of a pretty complex musical. The kid who played Jesus was only 13 years old, and had the audience weeping during the crucifixion and resurrection scenes. Theater camps like this are some of the best things kids can get involved in, because acting can give them so much self-confidence, and help them discover and channel their emotions - which, as any parent of a teenager knows all too well, they have in abundance...
Sunday morning, I got up early, hopped on my bike, and rode 30 miles around town. People who know me well know I am constantly bashing the Aggies for one thing or another (in a lighthearted way, of course), but I want to go on the record saying one positive thing about College Station – it’s a great place to bike. Traffic density is low, there are plenty of bike lanes, and there is an unbelievable number of parks, given the population of the city…
PJ Back on the Road
While I was pedaling around Aggieland, PJ was getting back on the road after a few weeks of being on the IR (injured reserve). She sent me this note Sunday afternoon –
Hi Pete! Hope your trip to College Station was a good one. I am excited!! I rode my bike for the first time in three weeks this morning with Stan and Cindy. We started from the C-Store near rt. 211 and rode down 471 to Rio Medina and back. My knee did pretty well. I didn't want to push it much, so we didn't ride to Castroville as originally planned. I am out of town Saturday (14th), but I plan to ride with Stan and Cindy again on Sunday all the way to Castroville and back. I am hopeful I will be able to ride with the team on 21st and the 28th since the rides are not very hilly. These are good rides to break my knee in as well as train for the Hotter Than Hell.
Way to go PJ!
Upcoming Rides
So, what’s planned for this week?
- John Tenison is going to resurrect the 5:45 pm Wednesday nights rides from the North Garage at Valero HQ. Send him an e-mail at John.Tenison@valero.com if you want to join in.
- The 6:30 pm Thursday night ride from Bullis Country Park is scheduled again, as it is all summer. This family friendly ride is a joint event with Bicycle Heaven. Give Andrea Shull a shout at andrea.shull@valero.com if you'd like to join. Kids are welcome, but require adult supervision.
- Our Saturday ride is a new route that starts and ends in Castroville – more details to come later!
- And, the Katy Flatland is scheduled for this weekend. David Sloan is our Event Captain, and will be driving the team truck. Give him a short at David.Sloan@valero.com if you plan on doing the ride.
NOTE: I’ll be heading to West Texas to camp with my son’s Boy Scout troop over the next two weekends. Between the merit badge workshops, campfires, snipe hunts, and endless jokes about flatulence, I’m hoping to get some miles in on those winding Davis Mountain roads. If you have any suggestions on routes, send them to me!
See you on the road!
- El "Gig 'Em" Hefe
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Due to heavy rains on the east side of town, our Saturday morning ride is cancelled. To see the KSAT weather map, click here.
Just a quick reminder -
On Saturday, July 7th, John "the Punisher" Tenison will be leading a ride on the East side that begins at Judson High School at 07:30 am. The route will travel through the rolling hills of New Berlin and has distances of 35 and 50 miles.
Patricia "the Funky Pirate" Jones has agreed to drive the 2007 Team Truck as a SAG (support and gear) vehicle this week, since she's still on the IR (injured reserve). This will mark the first time this season the Team Truck will be used for SAG. If possible, wear a current or 2005 team jersey if you have one, so we can get photos of everyone with this marvelous machine.
NOTE: If you plan on doing a 15 week program to prepare for the BTTB (Bike to the Beach), your training begins this weekend! To download a training journal, click here. Use the training journal to log all the miles you do each week leading up to the BTTB on 10/20-21. If you average 67 miles a week in total workouts between now and then, you'll do a total of 1000 miles before the ride - always an impressive number!
Two other amazing things are happening this weekend -
- The 2007 Tour de France starts today! This year there's a real twist to the event - the Prologue and the First Stage take place in and around London!
- Also, at the Live Earth Concert at Wembley Stadium in London on Saturday, the band Spinal Tap is reuniting in a live performance not to be missed.
There you go - a great training ride opportunity for you, the start of the world's greatest cycling event, and a yet another reunion of the world's greatest fake heavy metal band - what more could you ask for!?!#
See ya' on the road!
- Peter
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Just a quick note today to show off our new team truck, and to announce some upcoming rides...
Team Truck in da' House
Tony Ralf from MS delivered our team truck to us on Monday. It is a thing of beauty! For those of you that work at Valero HQ, it is parked outside the main entrance to the building. For the rest of you, click here to see the photos. NOTE: For those of you that are wondering, the rider on the side of the truck is Wayne Genzer from our Corpus Christi refinery. To read more about Wayne and his incredible story, click here. Wayne has been a member of Velo Valero for years, and represents the best things about our team in terms of his commitment to cycling and the community.
We want to get a lot of use out of this vehicle in the next four months. It will be making road trips to Katy and Wichita Falls for team rides, plus we'll be sending it down to the Corpus Christi and Three Rivers refineries to promote the MS 150. Plus, it will be used as a SAG vehicle during training rides...
Training Rides
John "the Punisher" Tenison is back in the house, also. He has a ride scheduled for 07:30 am on Wednesday, July 4th, for you folks that want to get a ride in before you settle into a holiday haze of beer, barbecue and fireworks. The ride will start at Valero HQ, and will do the clockwise loop around Camp Bullis including Fair Oaks, Amman Road, and Blanco. Give JT a shout at john.tenison@valero.com if you want to join him. NOTE: John is also contemplating resurrecting the Wednesday night rides from Valero HQ during the summer. These rides start from the North Garage at 05:30 and usually cover 30 miles or so. Let him know if you are interested.
On Thursday, July 5th, we're encouraging new and intermediate riders to do the Bullis Country Park ride that begins at 06:30 pm. This family friendly ride is a joint event with Bicycle Heaven. Give Andrea Shull a shout at andrea.shull@valero.com if you'd like to join. Kids are welcome, but require adult supervision.
I'll be riding into work again on Friday, July 6th. I meet Mike at his home in Deer Hollow at 07:00 am, and we pedal up to the 1604 Frontage Road, and take it into Valero HQ. If you want to join us, send an e-mail to peter.ray@valero.com.
Finally, on Saturday, July 7th, John Tenison will be leading a ride on the East side that begins at Judson High School at 07:30 am. The route will travel through New Berlin and La Vernia. Patricia "the Funky Pirate" Jones has agreed to drive the Team Truck as a SAG vehicle this week, since she's still on the IR (injured reserve). This will mark the first official time this season the Team Truck will be used for SAG - it will be an event of historic proportions! NOTE: If you plan on doing a 15 week program to prepare for the Bike to the Beach, your training should begin on July 7th. To download a training journal, click here.
See ya' on the road!
- Peter
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Good morning and happy whatever day you are reading this!
Weekend Rides
This was an up and down weekend as far as cycling was concerned.
The Thursday night ride was cancelled because of flooding, but is scheduled again for 6:30 pm this week and every week this summer. (Send an e-mail to Andrea Shull at andrea.shull@valero.com if you are interested in joining this family friendly ride that leaves from Bullis County Park and is done jointly with Bicycle Heaven).
On Friday, I once again pedaled to and from work with Mike and Francois. This is the fourth time I've done this, and I'm really beginning to enjoy it, especially in the morning when it's cool and you feel so exhilerated when you get in. Since we have the early dismissal on Fridays, we can usually get on the road and back to the hacienda before the traffic gets too bad. NOTE: I've biked home a few times during rush hour and it a can be a little nerve racking, but I'm working through all my anxiety issues of being attacked by angry commuters with the help of my therapist :>. We do the 1604 access road route between Stone Oak and Valero HQ if you are interested in joining us on Fridays during the summer...
Saturday was, well, one of those mornings. The alarm clock went off at 06:30, and I immediately turned it off. I thought to myself, "Not another early Saturday...please be raining...". I looked out the window, and yes it was raining - maybe I would get a weekend off where I could do exciting things like, well, sleep late. I called Chuck, who told me the weather was fine in Helotes and to come join the ride. Just knowing Chuck had gotten up earlier and was working hard to insure a safe and enjoyable ride for folks (again) was all the motivation I needed. I joined up with a very fast group of riders who scorched the usual Talley Road - Rio Medina - 471 45 mile loop. We went through the hills of Potranco like a hot knife through butta', and then stopped briefly to catch our breath at the Rio Medina store. After that, it was a powerful pace line blazing through the flats of 471 back to Helotes. At one point, Luke and I were dropped and then furiously pedaled 22+ mph for a few miles in a futile attempt to catch the line. We just gave up and watched 'em roar into the distance, and then enjoyed the last few miles at a more human pace. NOTE: I'd really like to thank Chuck Divelbiss who coordinated the ride for us, and since his bike is on the injured reserve, drove his truck as a SAG vehicle for us - the Chuckster is such an avid cyclist, I know it was painful for him to watch us do the ride....
For Only $100!
Saturday afternoon I met a few of the Velo folks at a brewery in Blanco that was celebrating its anniversary. Beer nuts from all over Central Texas were there to tour the brewery, enjoy the beverages, and listen to bands. At one point I had a very excitable pair of women approach me and try to sell me on the idea of joining their beer co-op. For mere $100 in annual dues, I could become a member of the co-op, which would allow me to get special member discounts from their brew pub in Austin...that wasn't open yet...and drink beer brewed at their state-of-the-art microbrewery...that wasn't built yet... I looked them in the eye, carefully considered all the ramifications of their offer, consulted both my lawyer and my accountant via a few quick text messages on the Blackberry...and then said, "No thanks..." ...Offers too weird to be true aside, this was a great afternoon. Kirstin suggested we try to combine this event with a training ride next year, because there are plenty of great routes in the Blanco area, and for some of us, there's nothin' better then a cold beer after a long hot ride. We'll definitely look into it...
Official Valero MS 150 Bike to the Beach Truck
On Monday morning the MS Society delivered to us the official Valero MS 150 Bike to the Beach truck. This 2007 Toyota Tundra Crew Cab belongs to Valero and the team between now and the event; we'll be using it as a SAG wagon during training rides, plus using it to haul people and equipment to events like the Katy Flatland and the Hotter than Hell ride. The truck is covered in team and event logos, and has pictures of Velo Valero team members on the sides and tailgate - I guarantee that when you see it, you'll be proud to be part of this team and part of this event! Click here to see pictures of the truck, click here to see the team site for the MS 150, and click here to register on-line (if you haven't done so already!)
 Finally, Confronting a Fear of Heights...
While my son was enjoying NoCal with his mom - the two saw Barry "Baroid" Bonds hit home run number 750 Friday night - I had the distinct pleasure of spending the weekend with my daughter Veronica, who asked to be picked up from math camp this weekend so she could spend some downtime at home (away from math), and hang out with her buds. During dinner Saturday night, after V tried in vain to explain the theory of indecent polynomials to me and her friends, I told her about a recent fear of heights I'd developed. We agreed that the only way to deal with something like that is to confront it head on. So, after dinner we headed to the tallest structure in San Antonio - the Tower of the Americas. We took the 60 second elevator ride to the observation deck, and walked around it enjoying the view of our glorious city at night. And you know what? - she was right, I had a great time, and didn't care that I was dangling 560 feet in the air... (I'm sure there's a lesson in there somewhere...)
See ya' on the road!
- Peter
P.S. I hope everyone has a safe and enjoyable Fourth of July!
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