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October 2007 - Posts
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Happy Halloween!
Tour de Gruene
On November 3rd, the annual Tour de Gruene will be held in Gruene, TX. This short ride (32 or 36 miles) goes along scenic River Road, and is always a lot of fun. I'll be doing the ride, then enjoying the Antique Bike Show and the band and beer at the historic dance hall, then heading to Wurstfest to meet the family for a little gemutlichkeit. The weather Saturday is supposed to be fabulous - low 80s with plenty of sun. Let's wear our jerseys and ride as a team again! NOTE: No fundraising is required for this ride, but there is a registration fee - $30 ahead of time, and $40 the day of the event. All riders get a commemorative t-shirt, and the first 500 riders that register get a free ticket to Wurstfest.
Fallen Rider
 Sue crossing the Day 2 finish line
There are so many incredible stories in an event as large as the MS 150 Bike to the Beach that some of them unfortunately fall through the cracks. Thanks to team members Bob Serna and Tim Ellis for remindering about one of them. Long time team member Sue Erhardt took a nasty spill on Day 1 - she didn't break any bones, but got skinned up pretty bad (and is still pretty sore, according to Tim). But, she got back on her bike and finished the ride. Here's a photo from BrightRoom of her crossing the Finish Line on Day 2 covered in bandages - way to go Sue!
Status of MS 150 Fundraising
Our fundraising dollars continue to creep up. As of this morning, we are at approximately $182,000, which is 73% of our target of $250,000 - to see our latest totals, click here. I'm confident that we'll continue to make progress, because some of the money has not been accounted for yet, and we still have some fundraisers up our sleeves for November. If you haven't raised the minimum yet, what are you waiting for? We don't ask for much from team members, but we do ask this.
All of you who rode the MS 150 should have received a letter from the MS Society listing your fundraising totals as of October 23rd, and indicating that you have until November 20th to submit any funds you have received in order to qualify for any of the fundraising prizes. If you are close to one of the qualifying pledge levels and you are interested in winning one of the prizes, make a little push to raise the money needed to get there! For fundraising tips and tricks, click here. Also - if you haven't sent a "Thank You" note to your donors, now's a good time to do so.
 NOTE: Between now November 20th, Fundraising Board Member David Sloan or I will be making a weekly trip to the MS Offices on Fridays, so if you have any checks or cash you need to submit, contact us and we'll take it over for you.
Valero View Article on MS 150
 Diane and Peter at the finish line of the 2006 Texas Tour de Cure
Long time Velo Valero team member (and good friend of mine) Diane Mitchell wrote a wonderful article in the Valero View on the MS 150 Bike to the Beach. Only someone who experienced the ride from the seat of a bike could have written a piece like this. To read the article, click here.
See ya' on the road!
- Peter
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Spinning Success: Valero Takes the Lead in 2007 MS 150 Charity Ride
 This wonderful article was written by Diane Mitchell from Valero's Corporate Communications Department. Diane has been a member of Velo Valero for many years.
Under clear, blue skies and heady winds, nearly 600 Valero employees, friends and family members came together in early October for a 150-mile charity ride to fight multiple sclerosis.
The 2007 Valero MS 150, which takes riders from San Antonio to Corpus Christi over two days, helped raise nearly $2 million for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society’s Lone Star Chapter – a record fundraiser for this event. Velo Valero, the company’s official cycling team, raised about $200,000 through pledges made in their support.
 Cool weather set the stage for an early-morning start Oct. 20 at San Antonio’s AT&T Center. Rider No. 1 – Valero Chairman and CEO Bill Klesse – was the event’s top fundraiser for the second straight year. With excitement in the air, Klesse thanked the crowd of participants for doing their part to help find a cure for multiple sclerosis.
“That’s a terrific feat,” Klesse said. “It’s just a matter of time before a cure for this debilitating, chronic disease is found. With everyone’s help, that cure will be here soon.”
 Klesse’s remarks set the stage for an inspirational, a cappella performance of the National Anthem by Valero employee Alisa Lomas. Silenced by Lomas’ sensational voice, the crowd began to cheer only after the release of dozens of white doves.
 “There is just something very special and unforgettable about rallying with 3,500 fellow riders and countless volunteers and spectators to help raise money to research the cure for multiple sclerosis,” said rider Megan Lehnhoff, an advisor in Valero’s Organizational Development department.
Lenhoff was among 243 Velo Valero cyclists who pedaled 94 miles from San Antonio to Beeville, Texas, on Saturday, and 60-plus miles from Beeville to the finish line at Corpus Christi’s Texas State Aquarium on Sunday. That group was joined by hundreds of Valero volunteers, including Valero’s Motorcycle Club, who served as Support and Gear (SAG) volunteers and were staked out in various towns along the 150-mile route.
Riders and volunteers represented 10 Valero locations: Aruba, Corpus Christi, Houston, Krotz Springs, McKee, Memphis, Port Arthur, San Antonio, Texas City and Three Rivers.
“This has turned into a huge event,” Valero Volunteer Coordinator Sammy Nieto said. “We can’t even use our one, big barbeque grill for all of the brisket that we cook for Saturday’s dinner in Beeville.”
 Saturday evening’s entertainment included a performance by an Elvis impersonator and other rock ‘n’ roll fanfare. Valero employee Lucy Hernandez and her team of volunteers staged the entire event on a $300 budget.
“Who would’ve thought Valero would turn this into something this huge,” former Velo Valero Team Captain Rusty Ferguson said. “It’s amazing how things have changed. Eight years ago, I would have thought you were crazy if you told me Valero’s CEO would ride. Bill Klesse has impressed me greatly in not only his ability to ride but his leadership in this event.”
Klesse served as an inspiration for donors, sponsors, volunteers and fellow cyclists.
“Saturday’s ride goes 94 miles with an option to do a Century Ride (to hit 100 miles),” rider Lenhoff said. “All along, I planned on doing the century ride, but by Mile 80, I said, ‘Scrap that!’ Everyone in my group agreed. When we got to our last rest stop … we ran into Mr. Klesse. I asked him if he was going to do the Century Ride, and he enthusiastically said, ‘Of course!’ So, we felt inspired to do it, too.”
Eddie Gamez, business services manager at the Valero Bill Greehey Refinery in Corpus Christi, agreed the ride was grueling but fun. “You know it’s windy when you have to pedal downhill,” he said.
 First-time riders included Valero Chief Information Officer Hal Zesch; Jim Kuhl, Vice President of External Reporting; and Keary Lambrecht, Senior Vice President of the Valero Federal Credit Union.
“This was my first 150, and I can only imagine how much work and energy went into pulling off such an event,” said another first-time rider, Ronnie Hatter, IS Project Manager at the Valero McKee Refinery. “Thanks so much to all who poured their heart and soul into making this a great ride.”
 Several Velo Valero members also rode alongside their children. Veteran rider Glenn Dodson and his two sons completed parts of the ride. And Jeff McCracken and his son, Davis, completed the 150-mile ride.
“Talk about managing the emotional game plan!” McCracken said. “One time, I kicked into coach mode and tried to explain to Davis that if he couldn’t master the mental aspect of this challenge, then he had no chance of conquering the physical challenges. Davis fired back (we were a bit testy by then) … ‘Dad? I lost the physical challenge about 15 miles ago!’ So much for being the Vince Lombardi of the road cyclist scene.”
The challenges only made the finish sweeter, however, as everyone celebrated raising a record amount toward finding a cure for multiple sclerosis. No doubt, they’ll be ready to do it again in 2008.
Velo Valero team members get pumped up for the 2007 MS 150 Bike to the Beach. The 150-mile charity ride from San Antonio to Corpus Christi raises money to fight multiple sclerosis. Valero was title sponsor of the event
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...Like many of you, I took a break from cycling this weekend, so this blog will be pretty brief.
Upcoming Events
Mark you calendars for the following events -
- On November 3rd, the annual Tour de Gruene will be held in Gruene, TX. This short ride (29 or 42 miles) goes along scenic River Road, and is always a lot of fun. I'll be doing the ride, then enjoying the Antique Bike Show and band at the historic dance hall, then heading to Wurstfest to meet the family for a little gemutlichkeit.
- On December 1, the annual Mission to Mission ride will be held on the south side of San Antonio along the historic Mission Trail. We are no longer promoting this as a ride for the entire team, but I do recommend it as a great end of season recreational ride that you can do with friends and family who are new to cycling. I usually do a slow-paced 15 miles with boys from my son's Scout Troop.
- On December 5th, the MS Society will hold the annual Valero MS 150 Awards Banquet at Cowboy's Dance Hall. All team members and volunteers are encouraged to attend! To see pictures from last year, click here.
MS 150 Video Gallery
When I was at the MS National Conference last week, I attended a workshop on using digital technology to promote your team. Well, I always thought we had a state of the art team web site, but I was blown away by what another team was doing with their site (www.wefightms.com). The webmaster worked as a professional videographer during the day when he wasn't cycling, and he did some amazing things with video clips on his site. (He said he never went on a team ride without a video camera, which to me was a little extreme...) Well, in the interest of keeping up with the Joneses, I am debuting the first ever Velo Valero Video Gallery with clips from the recent Valero MS 150 Bike to the Beach - enjoy! Hopefully we'll do a lot more of this going forward.
Weekend Ride Updates From Carl
 I got this e-mail from Carl on the rides he did this weekend -
The Saturday ride out of Gruene had 4 riders. We rode 36 miles out to Sattler and did the loop up to Canyon Lake Dam. The weather was great and the route is going to be spectacular next weekend. At times when we were riding along the river we could see a light fog just above the water. When we were getting ready to go riding there were several two man teams that were going to ride the 26 mile time trial loop to get ready for the race next Sunday.
This morning I did the Sweatin Burnt Orange bike ride in Blanco. At the ride I say fellow Velo Valero riders Gene Clapp and Leah Flores. I believe that Gene was riding the 45 mile loop. I rode the 27 mile loop with Leah. She did a great job on the hills and seemed to have a great time on the ride even with the cooler weather. The ride was amazing and it was another Chamber of Commerce day in the Texas Hill County. The 27 mile loop had 3 really good climbs and some really great down hills. After the ride the UT Cycling team had BBQ and beer. I wish that more Velo Valero riders could have come out for this ride. It is very well supported and a lot of fun. This was my third year to do this ride (mainly because of the beer). We should plan on doing the 27 mile loop as a training ride in the near future! Blanco has a great town square. Among the Burnt Orange Faithful
Speaking of UT...Since I wasn't cycling this weekend, I had lots of time to do things I also enjoy doing - such as venturing up to Austin to attend a Longhorn football game. The atmosphere of big time college football up there is absolutely unbelievable, with all of downtown Austin one big tailgate party, and 86,000 fans in the stadium roaring along with every touchdown. Every time I attend a UT home game it's like a time warp - it's 1985 all over again and I'm a bright-eyed underclassman with a head full of hair, and I'm doing all those silly chants and cheers for the first time. As the afternoon shadows descended across the stadium and the air began to cool, the Horns came from behind to beat Nebraska 28-25, with Jaamal Charles rushing for over 200 yards and 3 touchdowns in the fourth quarter. When the game ended and Deb and I made the Hook 'Em sign high into the air as we sang the fight song - she in tears, of course - it was good to be among the burnt orange faithful again.
El Hefe enjoying the rich pageant that is big time college football in the fall
See ya' on the road!
- Peter
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National MS Conference
...Well, I write this from the 10th floor of the Hyatt hotel on Reunion Boulevard in downtown Dallas. I'm here with Andrea, PJ, and Lucy attending the National MS Conference, along with lots of folks from the San Antonio MS Society office that we worked closely with for the last 6 months on the Valero MS 150. Just like last year, I'm learning a lot about the message and the mission of the MS Society, meeting a lot of great people, and coming up with lots of new ideas for the team in 2008. It's so humbling to see so many people with the disease, and to realize that, yes, all of us who rode the 150 last week faced an incredible physical challenge for two days, but the people with MS face challenges every day of their lives. This is why we ride.
At the Corporate Partners and Stars luncheon. Valero is doing as much or more as any of the big corporate partners of the MS Society - I'm so proud of what we're accomplishing! For more pictures from the conference, click here.
Fundraising
I said it on Sunday so well, I'm going to say it again -
Oh, by the way, there's still a little fundraising work to do between now and the Awards Banquet on December 5th. If you rode with us this weekend, and you haven't raised your minimum yet, what are you waiting for?? If you have money you've collected and haven't turned it in yet, there's no time like the present.
I haven't had a chance to update the team roster this week, but to check your individual totals, click here.
Texas Tour de Cure
It's not too early to start thinking about rides for next year. Our traditional team event for the spring is the Texas Tour De Cure for ADA, which is a two day cycling event from San Antonio to Austin, with an overnight at the dorms at Texas State University. This year it will be held on on May 17-18. To register, click here.
...Tomorrow I'm going to Austin to see the Horns play Nebreska, plus do a little tailgating in downtown Austin. Carl has a ride scheduled, and the Tour de Gruene is next week - check our schedule for details!
See ya' on the road!
- Peter
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Thank You, Part Deux
Well, it was inevitable - when I wrote my summary of this weekend's Valero MS 150, I tried to thank everyone I could think of, but in my exhausted state, I left a few people out. This was not intentional, and I apologize for the omission. So here goes Round Two -
There were a few groups of volunteers I left out.
- Deborah Matheus from Three Rivers Refinery, who organized a group of volunteers that did the Kenedy Rest Stop (my personal favorite)
- Anthony Jackson, who led a group of riders from the Valero Motorcycle Riders who supported us this weekend
- Mark Jones, who drove the luggage truck to Beeville, to Corpus, and back to San Antonio for us
- And finally, Eddie Torres and Maria Araiza from Corpus Christi, who organized the finish line volunteers
The snacks and drinks we had in the Team Tent Saturday and at the luggage truck on Sunday were courtesy of Hal Adams and Richard Garcia from Valero Retail.
Our wonderful team hats were sponsored by Roland Neaves and Microsoft, and our socks were once again sponsored by my good friend Pearl Guiterrez from HP. Both companies are strong business partners of Valero, and Roland and Pearl were both excited to support our cause - maybe one day I'll get them to ride!
  Schmoozing with our 2007 sponsors
On a personal note, there are two other thank you's I need to get on the table.
...First of all, thanks to all the folks who helped me at age 44 get into possibly the best shape of my life. This is really important to me because a few years ago I was in the company Cardiac Risk Management Program because of high cholesterol and bad habits, and got the scare of my life when my brother (3 years older than me) had a heart attack. It takes a village to make you healthy, and this includes all the staff at the Valero HQ Fitness Center (Lisa, Amber, Nathan, along with instructors like Deedra and Debbie), along with the folks at the Corporate Wellness Center, especially Board Member Donna Escobar (who is also one hell of a Spin instructor). It also includes my team mates who have participated in so many training rides and organized events with me this year. And I can't leave out friend and Board Member Zora Bilicich, who on more occasions than I could count shamed me into not going to Happy Hour and working out instead. Over the last 6 months, I've managed to lose 20 pounds of dead weight in my mid-section, and I feel so much better because of it. There really is no secret to losing weight and becoming healthier - you just need to exercise more, eat better, and (for me) drink less beer. Finishing strong on Sunday was my reward for all these long hours in the gym, on my bike, walking around the HQ campus, playing basketball, doing yoga, saying "No" to hot wings and and "Nein" to heavy German beer, and so on. And it felt good!
Finally, I need to thank my wife Debbie and my two teenage kids, Veronica and Alex, who for the last year had to deal with an absentee husband and father as, week after week, I wasn't home because I was either doing administrative work for the team, working out, doing weekend training rides, or going out of town for rides. This is really hard on Debbie, who really likes to sleep late on weekends. For eight years, I've asked her to get up at the crack of dawn on Saturday mornings and drive me to yet another cycling event, and for eight years she's done it without complaining - well, not too much. After the National MS conference this week (more on this later) I definitely owe her and the kids a lot more of my time.
Peter and Debbie at the entrance to Chandon during the Napa Valley Tour de Cure this year. There would be no El Hefe without her support.
Rider Testimonials and Photos, Team Video
I'm humbled that I've gotten so many positive e-mails from participants in this year's MS 150. Every decision we made on the Board this year was directed towards creating a more positive and memorable experience for each of our riders in this event. I'll admit there were some mishaps - folks who didn't get the goodie bag in time, or got the wrong sized team jersey, or whose luggage was sent to San Antonio when it really needed to go to Houston - and for this I'm truly sorry. I hope that at the end of the day, the positives outweighed the negatives, and each of you wants to ride in the MS 150 Bike to the Beach again, you want to ride with team Velo Valero again, and maybe, just maybe, you'll coerce a friend, a family member, a business partner, or co-worker into joining us as a rider or a volunteer.
To see the Rider Testimonials we've collected so far, click here, and to see the Photos we've received, click here. The testimonials are amazing, especially the ones from first year riders Megan and Jeff (who rode the entire route both days with his son Davis). If you have a testimonial you want to share, or some pictures, send them to cycling@valero.com.
Finally, we've started work on the event video. I've got lots of footage from the Team Tent Experience that is truly amazing, some good Day 1 Starting Line footage, plus some great photos from throughout the event. I'll keep you posted.
Message from Team Member, Top Fundraiser, and Valero CEO Bill Klesse
Your team member Bill Klesse sent a message to all Valero employees today talking about his experience during the MS 150, and the incredible work performed by all the volunteers and riders. To read it, click here.
Bill on the road on Day 1
National MS Conference
I'll be out Wednesday through Friday at the National MS Conference in Dallas. I'll be joined by three of the most high energy women I know, Board Members PJ, Andrea, and Lucy. As I learned last year when I attended the one in Orlando, the conference is a great way to learn more about the message and mission of the MS Society, plus to network with Team Captains from cycling teams from across the country. Many of the ideas I implemented this year were the result of things I learned in Orlando, and I hope to pick up some more tips and tricks this year. We'll also be sharing the Velo Valero "secret sauce" with the other Team Captains, so that hopefully they can grow their teams and their events the way we've done Velo Valero and the Bike to the Beach. Each one us going is proud to represent the team and Valero during this conference.
Team Rides
...Just because the MS 150 is over doesn't mean you have to stop cycling. As we did last year after the 150, we'll continue to schedule team rides throughout the winter leading up to the Salsa Ride next March. In fact, Carl has a dry run of the Tour de Gruene scheduled this week - check our Training Schedule for details.
See ya' on the road!
- Peter
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Bill and Alissa, who sang the National Anthem for us
Having just participated in the MS 150, I continue to be proud of our employees' overwhelming commitment to volunteerism and great causes.
This year’s charity ride from San Antonio to Corpus Christi will raise nearly $2 million for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society’s Lone Star Chapter. Velo Valero riders alone will raise about $200,000 for MS through pledges raised to support the two-day, 150-mile ride. Valero employees who participated included more than 250 Velo Valero cyclists and more than 250 volunteers. These riders and volunteers came from 10 Valero locations: Aruba, Corpus Christi, Houston, Krotz Springs, McKee, Memphis, Port Arthur, San Antonio, Texas City and Three Rivers. Volunteers from Three Rivers and Corpus Christi took care of all of the riders at the Kenedy, Texas break point and the finish line in a way that demonstrated an awesome volunteer spirit.
Our MS 150 success comes directly on the heels of the Valero Texas Open and Benefit for Children, which raised a record $8 million for children's charities across our system.
The success of these events would not have been possible without the hard work and dedication of hundreds of volunteers, who gave up entire weekends to support participants and spectators.
Although the time with friends is fun, the MS 150 is truly grueling work for volunteers from sunrise to late at night: preparing and serving food, transporting luggage, riding SAG support vehicles, organizing sleeping tents, and much more.
While these are big volunteer events, they are only two examples of the thousands of concerted volunteer efforts that happen throughout the year, across the country, in Canada and Aruba. As we move into our holiday season, I know you all will touch thousands of lives with your generosity and kindness.
For all of your hard work and commitment to your communities - Thank you!
Bill Klesse
Bill on the road on Day 1
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Rider Testimonials | Photos | Videos
Well, it's 09:00 pm on Sunday, and I'm drinking the first of a few beers to hopefully help me wind down from the incredible high I've been on for the last 48 hours. To be quite honest, I didn't sleep Friday or Satuday night, because I was going over in my mind the million and one details that are part of the an event the scale of the Valero MS 150 Bike to the Beach - Who was sleeping where? Did we have enough food? Where was Elvis going to park his RV? Did I pump up my tires to 120? Where was my other glove???
There are so many things I'll never forget for so many reasons -
- Alissa singing the National Anthem for us on Saturday morning, with a voice so pure and so powerful, and then the pigeons being released into the clear South Texas sky
- Jacque blowing into her whistle at the starting line along with the song "That's What I Like About You", reminding me when I needed it most that this event was above all about having a good time
- Seeing the fear and the energy in first year riders like Megan, Hal, Ben, and Kerry at the Day 1 starting line as we waited for the ride to begin
- Being part of high speed, precision pace lines with friends and teammates John, Chuck, Pat, Lori, etc., for most of Day 1, and then after being dropped due to some mechanical problems, having to ride the last 15 miles by myself into that ferocious head wind
- That unbelievable Saturday night Team Tent that my good friend, Board Member, and miracle worker Lucy assembled for us on a $300 budget.
- Watching the 2007 Velo Valero Pink Ladies squeal like school girls as Elvis crooned sweet love songs to them
- Sharing a good cigar and a little Crown Royal with my Board of Directors Saturday night at the Cobb Ranch, as the coyotes howled in the distance
- Seeing my 69 year old father-in-law Stan complete 50 miles on Day 1 and 22 miles on Day 2 in his first ever cycling event - he had such a hoot, he's already planning on doing it again next year! I'm sure he's going to start a fad with his unorthodox Hill Country training regimen of Bag Balm and dried deer sausage...
- And on Sunday, after roaring across the causeway like a cruise missle, crossing the finish line at the head of 20 Velo Valero friends and teammates, finishing strong and definitely feeling like the Team Captain I've worked so hard all year to be - not just a guy who can order a team tent or write a few blogs, but a guy who can actually do a little cycling....
There's so many people I need to thank. First of all, Velo Valero would not exist without the hundreds of hours of work performed by the Valero Volunteers, and the people who coordinate them - folks like Jana who ran the Massage Tent, Joey who coordinated 7 SAG vehicles, Nerissa who managed the food servers, Fausto for riding herd on the cooks, Sammy who held it all together like he does every year, Effie and Maria for handling the Corpus Christi finish line, Deborah and the Three River folks for doing the Kennedy rest stop, Darian who organized our first ever Team Sleeping Tent , and of course Lucy and the team she assembled to provide our Saturday Night Team Experience. (Did I tell you she did the whole thing for $300????) I'm sure there are people I left out, and for that I apologize - I'm really tired, and I'm sure I'll remember them tomorrow...
I need to thank the Board of Directors, and the unbelivable work they do for me - Chuck, John, and Carl for leading training rides, PJ for counting our beans and managing our jersey sales, Zora for all the incredible artwork and signage she does for us, David for making us all better fundraisers, Andrea for having the energy and enthuiasm of 10 people, Donna for making you and I the healthiest we've ever been, Stan for doing all the little things, and so on. I'm truly blessed to have the support of these folks.
Finally, I'd like to thank Laura for giving me to the confidence to try and do a job she did so well. For the last 7 years I was just a rider in this event - I had no clue how much work went into this. Now I know. Laura, I'll never cease to be amazed at the ways you grew this event, and the magnitude of the heart and soul you put into it. I've said it over and over - you gave me big stilettos to fill, and I'm working hard as hell to fill them.
Well, there'll be more later, but that's all that's in the tank tonight. I will be asleep soon, and I guarantee, it will be the sleep of the dead. Please let me know what you thought about Velo Valero and the support we provided you as team members this year in the MS 150. So many of the things we did this year - the sleeping tent, pasta for dinner, the team wrist bands, the Saturday Night Team experience - were in response to a survey of team members we did at the the end of the 2006 MS 150. You spoke, and I like to think the Board and I listened. If you have any comments or concerns - good or bad - please send them to cycling@valero.com. We'll look at all of them, and do everything we can to make the 2008 Valero MS 150 the best ever!
There will be lots more photos soon, but I put a few out there already. To see some of my favorites, click here. If you have photos you took during the event, send me your five favorites with captions, and I'll post 'em to the site.
Oh, by the way, there's still a little fundraising work to do between now and the Awards Banquet on December 5th. If you rode with us this weekend, and you haven't raised your minimum yet, what are you waiting for?? If you have money you've collected and haven't turned it in yet, there's no time like the present. We all had a great weekend with great friends, but don't forget the real reason we ride.
- Peter
Team Member Alissa Lomas belting out the National Anthem while wearing our team colors
Dancing with my friend of so many years, Lucy Hernandez. She did everything I asked of her and more with our Team Tent. Hopefully we've added a new dimension to the Bike to the Beach that other teams will follow in the years to come.
Celebrating at the finish line in Corpus Christi. It felt so good to ride at the head of so many strong riders and good friends - it was one of those times when the job of being Team Captain didn't feel like work....
Team Member, Top Fundraiser, and Valero CEO Bill Klesse on the road on Day 1
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Last Minute Details for the MS 150
For the complete Participant Guide, click here.
If your company doesn't object, plan on wearing your team jersey to work on Friday. Let the whole world know what you are doing this weekend, and who you are doing it with. If you work at Valero HQ, you are allowed to wear jeans along with your jersey, if you supervisor does not object.
   NOTE: There has been a change in plans. The Team Luggage Truck won't get to Valero HQ until 5:00 pm. As a result, we're asking team members to still deliver their bags to Valero HQ from 04:00 to 06:00 pm, but to load under the parking canopy in front of the main entrance until the truck gets there. Look for Board Members Laura, Ken, and/or Chuck when you get there. Riders are limited to two items of luggage. Make sure you put your rider number tags you got in your MS 150 Registration packet on your bags so you can retrieve them at the team tent on Saturday. Don't pack anything in your bags that you load in the truck that you will need Saturday morning. NOTE: If you can't drop your bags off Friday, you'll be able to drop them off Saturday morning. Just look for the yellow Penske truck with the Valero signs on it and the yellow light and give yourself some additional time to drop your bags off.
Out of town riders can pick up their Velo Valero team goodie bags at the MS Expo at the Omni Hotel on I-10 and Wurzbach between 5:00 pm and 8:30 pm on Friday. You'll also be able to pick up your MS 150 registration packet at this time, if you haven't done it already. We'll also be selling extra team t-shirts and hats at this time. NOTE: The Expo will be open from 4:00 pm to 10:00 pm, but we'll only have our table staffed between 05:00 pm and 08:30 pm.
The resturant at the Omni will be serving a pasta buffet from 05:00 pm to 9:00 pm. The cost is $10. from Friends and family are invited - this is not limited to riders only.
Friday night we'll be using a slightly different format for our team get together. It will be a more informal meet and greet vs. a formal set of presentations. I'll have the videos from previous years playing and we'll have a room where we can socialize, some of the Board Members and I will be there to answer questions, but that's about it. I want to make sure everyone gets a good night's sleep before the ride.
The ride start is at 07:30 am on Saturday. Plan on getting to the AT&T Center no later than 6:45 am (6:30 is better) to beat the traffic. Look for the Velo Valero jerseys at the front of the line, and join us there. The National Anthem is guaranteed to knock your socks off.
Dinner is served from 05:00 pm to 07:30 pm on Saturday. You and any of your guests will need the teal Velo Valero Rocks wrist bands to get into our tent compound. Our entertainment will start around 5:30 pm - you won't want to miss this. Afterwards, we'll have a team picture. Please wear your yellow t-shirts and black team hats.
Valero will provide shuttle service to and from the hotels in Sinton and Beeville; the schedule will be posted in the team tent. The MS Shuttles will also be servicing the hotel in Beeville - if you see an MS Shuttle and there's room on it, please jump aboard - there's no reason to wait for one of ours.
Breakfast will be served from 05:30 am to 07:30 am on Sunday. Once again, you'll need your teal Velo Valero Rocks wrist band to dine with us.
- Peter
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Dear MS 150 Riders -
In 48 hours we’ll be gathered at the starting line of the Bike to the Beach. Our hearts will be pounding as we await the countdown over the loudspeakers. When the National Anthem is sung, you’ll feel chills travel up and down your spine you will never forget. When you finally see the waters of Corpus Christi Bay on Day 2, adrenalin will surge though your veins overwhelming any fatigue or muscle ache you are experiencing. As you pedal faster and faster towards the finish line and hear the roar of the crowd grow louder and louder, you will know what it means to be truly alive. For these two days, we will be doing the extraordinary - something very few people have the courage, the stamina, or the will to do.
I’m so proud of each of you for accepting this challenge. When you put on that team jersey Saturday morning, I want you to pause for a moment to think about what it means to be part of this team. As the 2007 members of Velo Valero, every one of us is standing on the shoulders of giants. Those that came before us grew this event and grew this team in extraordinary ways, and have set a standard of excellence that we need to meet or exceed to properly honor their efforts. Year after year in this event, we are the Largest Team and the Top Fundraising Team. We have consistently won awards for the Most Spirited team, the Best Looking Team Jersey, and the Top Individual Fundraiser. This year I guarantee we will win an award we have never won before – Best Team Tent – thanks to the incredible efforts of Board Members Lucy Hernandez and Sammy Nieto. Like the Patriots or the Spurs, Velo Valero is a dynasty among fundraising cycling teams – consistently the best at what we choose to do. Wear that jersey with pride, and let’s keep the dynasty going!
So what do I want you do this weekend?
- 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 on both days, even if you have to wash it Saturday night. Plus, wear your yellow team t-shirt and black team hat after you ride 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. Team Captain Monika Harper is bringing a big group from Louisiana. We’ll have folks from all over Texas, including Erik and the Port Arthur boys, Eddie, Wayne, and the other Corpus Christi folks, plus riders from Three Rivers, Dallas, Austin, Houston, and so on. I think Jeff will be coming down from Memphis, but he’s so damn fast, most of us won’t see too much of him. And so on. 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 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…
That’s it for now. I’ll have some last minute details Friday morning. As always, if you have any questions about the MS 150, please contact me or any of the Board Members.
See ya’ on the road!
- Peter
This is why we ride. Danica being hugged by a young fan at the finish line of the 2007 Baton Rouge Tour de Cure. Of the 1000s of team photos I've seen this year, this remains my favorite.
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MS 150 teams on track to top $1.5 million raised in '06
Web Posted: 10/12/2007 06:15 PM CDT
David Uhler
Express-News Staff Writer
To see the full article, click here.
Even with five days to go until the Valero MS 150 bicycle race, several of the teams are already off to flying starts.
The annual, two-day ride from San Antonio to Corpus Christi is a fundraiser for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, and Velo Valero — a team of riders from race sponsor Valero Energy Corp. — has already passed the $100,000 mark.
Last year's MS 150 raised $1.5 million for the Multiple Sclerosis Society and officials at the organization's Lone Star Chapter in South Texas think this year's edition is on track to top that.
"Eighty-one cents out of every dollar raised goes to research and providing programs in support of people living with MS," says Lone Star Chapter Vice President Tony Ralf.
Velo Valero is a team on a mission. Two years ago it was the first team ever to raise more than $100,000. Last year, it topped its own record by becoming the first to raise more than $200,000. This year the team's goal is $250,000.
Peter Ray, a Senior Manager in the IT department at Valero, is the leader of the 250-rider group. The team has a board of directors that reports directly to him, including one member whose sole function is fundraising and fundraising instruction.
The team includes Bill Klesse, CEO and chairman of the board at Valero. Klesse has raised more than $40,000 on his own. This is Klesse's second year riding with Velo Valero.
"He's a tremendously positive influence on our team and very inspirational to a lot of our riders," says Ray, who has ridden in the MS 150 for eight years. "He raises money and he rides his bike out there in the trenches with the rest of us."
Unlike the corporate teams, the Third Street Grackles are an amalgam, with equal numbers of riders from Lake/Flato Architects, the San Antonio Express-News and the remaining third from all corners of the city. Like the grackles that congregate nightly downtown in the live oaks on Third Street between the architects' office and the newspaper, the 85-member team has flocked together for a common cause.
"We're definitely kind of a ragtag group," says Jeremy Fields, one of the team's Lake/Flato "lieutenants," a designer who helped create the riders' distinctive jerseys.
"The diversity has really helped the team a lot. We're not all sitting around talking about shop or this and that, but really getting to know interesting people who are outside of the spheres that we typically know."
The Mustang/Wood Group, currently in fifth place in the MS 150 fundraising push with $15,000 pledged, also gets out a lot. They're based in Houston, but they typically bike in all three MS events in Texas — there's a 150-mile ride every April from Houston to Austin and another one in May from Frisco to Fort Worth — and some members even ride in MS events in Colorado. The team expects to field 50 riders next weekend.
The team leader is Hilary Trammell, a safety trainer for Mustang Engineering. She rode in her first MS 150 in 2000 after someone dared her to ride the Houston-to-Austin event.
Halfway through the ordeal — hot, thirsty, exhausted and somewhere out in the country — Trammell spotted a lone woman in the middle of the road, sitting next to a van. The woman held a sign that read, "Thank you for riding. I have MS." Trammell straightened up in her saddle, finished the race and has rarely missed an MS event ever since.
"She has been the fuel of my fire," Trammell says.
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Good morning and happy Tuesday! Well, I'm through with on-line Defensive Driving (highly recommended), and am reasonably caught up at work, so I can do a real blog entry for you today...
Valero MS 150 Bike to the Beach Final Week Checklist
What should you be doing now to get ready for the MS 150? Click here to see our final week checklist.
MS 150 Fundraising
There was an article in the SA Life section of the San Antonio Express News yesterday which talked about the fundraising being performed for the MS 150 this year. (Click here to read the article.) I'll summarize the main points for you: Velo Valero is once again the top fundraising team for this event (by a huge margin), and we are described as a "team on a (fundraising) mission". As of 09:15 am this morning, we were at almost $140,000, which is 56% of our target goal of $250,000 - and the dollars keep pouring in! As I mentioned last time, we still have a lot of upside potential, because 139 team members (60%) are still below the minimum of $300, and 105 team members (46%) have not had any funds posted to their accounts. If everyone who is registered to ride with team Velo Valero who is currently below the minimum raises at least the minimum, our fundrasiing would be at $176,367, or almost 71% of our target. Moreover, we have another round of t-shirt sales during lunch tomorrow, and we have a few more fundraisers up our sleeves for November. The glass is more than half full, and getting fuller every day! To see our current fundraising totals, click here.
If you haven't started your fundraising yet, what are you waiting for? I don't ask for much, but I do ask for this, and I'm not taking no for an answer. Everyone who rides with Team Velo Valero needs to raise at least the minimum for this event ($300) - this, my friends, is the real reason we are riding!
As always, please contact our Board Member in charge of fundrasing, David Sloan (david.sloan@valero.com), if you have any questions or concerns. And, please check out list of fundraising tips if you haven't done so already.
I'm so proud of each and every one of you for what you are doing to help the victims of MS.
Oklahoma MS 150
Somehow I let this item slip through the cracks, and for that, I apologize to the good folks at the Valero Ardmore Refinery who rode in the Oklahoma MS 150 a few weeks ago on September 22-23. Here's the report from Steve Evans -
Thanks again for the jerseys. Appreciate everyone's help in allowing us to look like a team. We had six people ride the Oklahoma MS150. We lost a few others to scheduling conflicts and such. Still we made up a nice mix of riders from very avid, experienced riders, to the beginner. For me, it was my first event of this type, on my bike. It's a whole new experience from what I saw as volunteer during Tour-de-Cure events. We all rode the entire distance, not including the "eye-opening" hill within the first mile of day 2. I'll just admit now to the rest of the world that I did fall on that hill trying to unclip my shoe. I only suffered a bruised ego, especially when I saw our Matt Bailey come up behind me. I took some ribbing by not disclosing my spill to the rest of the team. So I now share my embarrassing moment with all of you, with a smile.
After all was done, it was a satisfying feeling knowing that we completed this ride. Made a few friends along the way. And, rose over $6,000 to help find a cure for MS. Again, thanks for the loaner jerseys. Good luck with the Bike to Beach.
- Steve
Rider of the Week
 Our New Rider of the Week is - drum roll, please! - Hal Zesch, SVP and CIO of Valero Energy Corporation. Hal has made tremendous progress as a cyclist since he started training with us in August - to read more about him, click here.
Special Instructions for Valero Employees Riding the MS 150
Flu Shots
 Board Member and Wellness Center Nurse Donna Escobar recommends that folks riding the Valero MS 150 do not get their flu shots this week. It will be much better to wait until next week, after the ride. The Wellness Center will have extra doses available for team members then. Please call the Wellness Center ahead of time to schedule an appointment to get your shot.
Volunteer Credit for Riding
If you are riding in the MS 150, don't be bashful about it - go to the Intranet SignUp Facility and sign up for the event - get the volunteer hours you deserve for participating. Look under Valero Volunteers + 2007 Valero MS 150 Bike to the Beach + Riders.
That's it for now - I'll have more for you later in the week.
See ya' on the road!
- Peter
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Good morning and happy Monday!
I'm taking a mandatory 10 minute break from taking defensive driving on-line (and watching the Cowboys-Patriots game), and I'm using this time to post this weekend's blog. I'll provide more hardcode MS 150 information later in the week, so for now you're going to get just a quick and dirty photo gallery featuring some of the hijinx that occurred during our final training rides this weekend.
Safety Officer Chuck Divelbiss leads team in a round of the Hokey Pokey before the Saturday ride at Judson
What are these guys thinking?? - El Hefe in his "My Lucky Pajamas" and Carl sporting a groovy two-tone arm tan in his new sleeveless jersey.
Stella bursts into song and dance during the River Region Classic
Tony and Leah before they were stopped for speeding on the outskirts of New Braunfels Sunday. Leah distracted the officer with tears while Tony stole his wallet. No charges were filed.
A tireless El Hefe attempts to recruit 50 ft woman for the team at toob rental facility on the Guadalupe River. She was interested in joining us for the ride, but I was unfortunately unable to find a 50 ft bike for her...
El Hefe and El Hefe Grande at the Churchill Freshmen football game Saturday morning (I think Grande's gaining all the weight I'm losing...)
Kevin Saunders from KGS Bikes enjoying the dawn's early light with friends at the Livestrong Challenge on Sunday
Got to get back to the Defensive Driving course...which is sort of like sticking a fork in your eye in for six hours, but what can you do?
See ya' on the road. MS 150 in 5 days - I can't wait!
- Peter
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Good morning and happy Friday! The weather is cooling down, and the MS 150 is a week away - it doesn't get any better than this!
Weekend Rides
We have rides of various distances scheduled on both Saturday and Sunday. Click here to see our training schedule. This is your last training weekend, so you need to spend some time in the saddle if you can!
Getting Ready for the MS 150
What should you be doing now to get ready for the MS 150? Click here to see our final week checklist.
Message from Valero CEO Bill Klesse
 In case you didn't know, Valero CEO Bill Klesse is not just a huge supporter of Velo Valero, he's a team member of yours, and we are so happy to have him on board. He will be riding in his second MS 150 this year, he was last year's top fundraiser, and he's on a blistering fundraising pace this year. To read a message he sent to employees on the Valero MS 150 this week, click here.
New Rider of the Week
 Our new rider of the week is - drum roll, please! - Jeff McCracken. Jeff will be riding the 150 this year for the first time with his son. I got to meet him while avoiding dogs in the fog on the Toyota ride last week, and he's a wonderful guy. For more details, click here.
...That's it! Have a great weekend, and see ya' on the road!
- Peter
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Bill Klesse with Danica Evans and Monika Harper from the Krotz Springs Refinery during last year's MS 150
| Date: |
10/9/2007 |
| To: |
All Employees |
| From: |
Bill Klesse |
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Valero MS 150 Bike to the Beach |
The Valero MS 150 Bike to the Beach charity ride is two weeks away. This year's event - scheduled for Oct. 20-21 - will take more than 3,500 participants on an exciting two-day ride from San Antonio to Corpus Christi to raise money to fight multiple sclerosis. Funds generated from the ride will be used by the MS Society's Lone Star Chapter to support critical research programs and to help the 17,000 individuals in Texas who are fighting MS.
Whether you are an expert cyclist or a first-time rider, please register for the Valero MS 150 and join the company's cycling team, Velo Valero. Last year's team was not only the biggest, with 241 members, it was also the top fundraiser with a $201,000 donation. This year, Velo Valero hopes to raise $250,000. Overall, the MS 150 hopes to raise $1.75 million.
If you would like to ride, please register online at http://www.ms150.org/b2b/register/ List Velo Valero as your riding team and Peter Ray as Captain. If you do not feel conditioned enough to ride the full 150 miles, shorter options are available. You can ride from San Antonio to Falls City (about 50 miles), eat lunch and then return to San Antonio by shuttle. Or, you can catch a ride to Beeville - the official midway point of the event - and complete the final 60-mile stretch to Corpus Christi on Sunday.
If you would rather be a volunteer during the event, sign up through the Intranet home page. Click on Valero Volunteers > HQ Events > 2007 Valero MS 150 Bike to the Beach. Or, simply sponsor one of our riders by pledging a donation. For more information about Velo Valero, as well as training dates, go to www.velovalero.com.
Velo Valero will hold a T-shirt sale fundraiser at Valero Headquarters before the ride, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Oct. 10 and Oct. 17 in the south lobby, near the cafeteria. In keeping with tradition, anyone who purchases a T-shirt may wear it with jeans on Friday, Oct. 19.
Please help make the 2007 Valero MS 150 Bike to the Beach the best in history, and join in Valero's commitment to finding a cure.
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Happy Hump Day! ...It's less than two weeks away from the MS 150, and I don't know about you, but I'm getting really PUMPED UP!
Upcoming Events
Packet Pick-up
If you live in the San Antonio area, remember to mark your calendars for our team Packet Pick-up on Wednesday, October 10th, from 05:00 to 08:00 pm in the Cafeteria of Valero HQ. At this event, you'll be able to pick up your official MS 150 packet, plus the Velo Valero team packet and goodie bag. If your ordered a team jersey, you'll be able to pick it up at this time, too. NOTE: To speed this process up, riders should download, print, and fill out the a MS 150 Waiver of Liability prior to the event - click here to access it.
For non-employees, park in the main Visitor Parking lot at Valero HQ and enter through the main entrance. Tell the guard you are there for the Velo Valero event, and then follow the signs to the cafeteria.
Out of town riders will be able to pick up Velo Valero items at the Friday night Expo on Friday, 10/19, or at the team tent in Beeville on Saturday, 10/20. Jerseys for out of town team members were mailed last week and should be arriving shortly, if they haven't arrived already!
Thursday Lunch and Learn
Our next Lunch and Learn will be on Thursday, 10/11, from 11:45 am to 1:00 pm in the Private Dining Room of Valero HQ. The speaker will be Presten Tyree, Eduction Director of the League of American Cyclists, and the the topic will be (surprise!) Cycling Safety. All team members who are riding the MS 150 for the first time are required to attend this session if at all possible. (The rest of you should come also if you can). I want you to have a great ride, but more importantly, I want you to have a safe ride. For more details, click here. All attendees will get a surprise gift that will make packing for the Bike to the Beach next week much easier. What is it, you ask?? I guess you'll have to come to the Lunch and Learn to find out...
For non-employees, park in the main Visitor Parking lot at Valero HQ and enter through the main entrance. Tell the guard you are there for the Velo Valero event.
Team Fundraiser
Our next team fundraiser will be on Wednesday, 10/10, and Wednesday, 10/17. We'll be selling our Velo Valero Rocks team t-shirt in the foyer outside the cafeteria at Valero HQ from 11:30 am to 1:00 pm. T-shirts are going for $15, and all monies raised goto our team fundraising total. If you work at Valero HQ, tell your co-workers to come on down and buy a shirt - if they do, they can wear it with jeans again on the Friday before the MS 150 - what a deal!!!
Status of Fundraising
Friends, we are a fundraising force that grows stronger and more powerful everyday. As of 6:00 pm Tuesday, we were up to 218 riders, and almost $99,000. Keep up your efforts - maybe you'll be the person who pushes us over the top for our first $100,000! Click here to see our latest totals.
If you have any questions about fundraising, please feel free to contact our Board Member in charge of fundraising, David Sloan (david.sloan@valero.com). Click here for a copious compendium of fundraising tips and tricks.
Riders of the Week
 Our new riders of the week are - drumroll, please! - Amber, Lisa, and Nathan from the Valero HQ Fitness Center. I'm very excited to have these three high energy athletes, trainers, and motivators on our team this year - to read more, click here!
Last Training Weekend
This is the last training weekend before the Valero MS 150. As usual, we have training rides throughout the week for all skill levels - check our Training Schedule for details.
BP MS 150 Registration Filling Up Quickly
 Even though we are all focusing like a laser on the Valero MS 150, Board Member Andrea Shull pointed out to me today that the registration for the BP MS 150 on April 12-13, 2008, is rapidly filling up. If you want to be part of this amazing cycling experience next spring, you need to register quickly!
That's it for now - see ya' on the road!
- Peter
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