Good morning and happy Monday!  I'm writing this on a Sunday morning, right before my son and I head out to the Sports Memorabilia show in Live Oak.  Even though we are approaching the dog days of summer, there's plenty going on in Velo land - lots of rides and socializing, the Long Beach Tour de Cure next week, the Oklahoma City Tour de Cure at the end of the month, and of couse, the legendary Bike to the Beach in less than 4 months.  Saddle up and enjoy the ride! 

Cruiser Bike Ride

After joining the family for dinner at the new Texas Roadhouse on 281 (highly recommended!) I raced downtown to meet up with the Cruiser Bikers for another night of hijinx on wheels, organized by former team captain and current USAA skipper, Rusty "Back Flip" Ferguson.  It was First Friday in South Town, and San Antonio's funkiest and freshest people were out and about.   The ride had more drama then a season of The Real World, but we all managed to make it back home safe and sound by 2 am.    We'll try to do one of these throughout the summer on First Fridays, because frankly, it's a great way to get a little exercise and have a whole lot of fun, plus enjoy the urban amenities of San Antonio in a way you don't normally get the opportunity to do.

Adoring fans gather around our ringleader Rusty at Beethoven Hall.  For more photos, click here.

Tall Texan and the B5

On Saturday, I leaped out of bed at 6:30 am and drove out to Boerne to join folks for the B5 (The Boerne Bicycling Babes Birthday Bash).   I joined John, Luis, Kyle, and Kirstin for the legendary Tall Texan route northwest of Boerne.   (Kirstin is training for an Iron Man this month, and actually swam for a mile before and a mile after we rode...she's amazing!)  About midway through the ride, after scaling some of the highest hills we do during the year and basking in the sweltering humidity of South Texas, it suddenly hit me like a ton of D'hanis bricks - I had been blowing and going non-stop for months, and I needed a break.  All the rides, all the travel, the stress of a new boss and a new set of duties at work, mom's surgery - well, friends, that takes its toll.  I somehow gutted out the second half of the ride into a monstrous headwind (although, I admit, I complained incessantly to an indifferent John the whole time), and when I made it home, I crawled into bed and took the first of 3 long naps that day.  It's Sunday morning, and already I feel 100% better.  I'm going to spend a few quiet weekends with the family in June, before cranking things up for the Bike to the Beach, and I'm really looking forward to it. 

Where's Peter

 Well, I have to admit - this caught me off guard, and it's funny as hell.  As many of you know, Andrea "Too Tall" Shull has been busting my chops for my acute lack of verticality as long as I've known her.  Andrea's a high energy person with a wicked sense of humor.   Last week, Edie sent me some photos from the Baton Rouge Tour de Cure that I posted to the site.  Lupe sent me an e-mail after I did so asking, "Who is the little guy on my shoulder?"  Well, after looking closely at the finish line photo, I saw him - a very small Peter.  According to Andrea, this is the first of many such photos she will be torturing me with over the next few months.  I, of course, won't take this lying down, and am currently formulating my counter attack - you've been warned, Andrea!

Evil Andrea peers at an impish Peter on Phoebe's shoulder

Bike MS: Valero Bike to the Beach

 I'm so excited - we have over 100 people already signed up for the Bike to the Beach on October 4-5, which puts us ahead of where we were last year.  We'll begin planning in earnest for the event at our Board Meeting on Tuesday, and Lucy is already plotting the hijinx for our Saturday Night Team Experience.  For more information about the BTTB, click here.

Thursday Night Ride

Here's an account of a very blustery Thursday night ride from Glennis -  

- Glennis

Thanks for the write-up Glennis - and once again, congratulations on the diploma, Trey!

More Accounts of the Baton Rouge Tour de Cure 

Here's another account of the Baton Rouge Tour de Cure.  This one is from Troy Green from the Valero Memphis Refinery, who in addition to being a strong rider, has a Darrel Plants-like sense of humor.  He wrote this for the folks who donated money to him, and is a great example of a way to involve your donors in your ride experience after it's over.

To my Generous Friends and Family who Deaux-nated to the American Diabetes Association 2008 Tour de Cure on my Behalf:

 A VERY BIG THANK YOU!!  When I began soliciting, begging, groveling, and bribing for deaux-nations, I completely underestimated the caring and sharing!  I had originally set a $500 fundraising goal.  Thanks to 39 wonderful people, my fundraising totaled nearly $1700!!  WOW!!!  I am in total awe!!  I cannot say enough about just how much I truly do appreciate your generosity!  And, as promised, I gave you your money’s worth of riding!  I did the full “long” route which was actually 95 miles…not the advertised 100 miles.

The ride was hilly, humid, and HOT!  I was fortunate enough to enjoy the first forty miles with a great group of Velo-Valerians from the San Antonio Corporate office, the Krotz Springs Refinery, and the St. Charles Refinery.  I was a little late getting started thanks to my “I know what I’m doing motor sensors.” For some reason or another, I knew my way to St. Francisville from Baton Rouge was via west on Hwy. 190 instead of North on Hwy. 61!  About thirty minutes out, I began thinking about the hills and realized, there were no hills to be seen anywhere on the horizon…and I should be in St. Francisville by now!  (And I was not one of the San Antonio folks who stayed in New Orleans the night before!!)  I managed to get turned around and arrived in time to get into a couple of group photos.  I missed the 95 and 55 mile starts because I was filling water bottles and getting ready to ride!  A little “double time” pedaling had me catching up to folks wearing Velo-Valero jerseys in short order. 

By the first rest stop, there was pretty good Valero representation riding together.  We road together enjoying great scenery, great companionship, and lots of good conversation!  One really neat aspect of having the San Antonio folks was having our own personal SAG vehicle (a company van!) which was able to support us between the organized SAG stops…and we had a photographer!  I really enjoyed riding with the Velo-Valero team the first 40 miles.  Ah, but all good things must come to an end.  At the 40 mile mark, we parted ways.  The other Velo-Valerians turned right heading back towards St. Francisville on the 55 mile route.  I went left at the intersection to complete the 95 mile route.  Only one other team member braved the 95 mile route and he was well ahead of me! 

The 14 miles to the next rest stop were very lonely, very hot, and at a much slower pace than what I had been riding.  The heat radiating from the asphalt road began to wear upon me.  Several times I questioned whether or not I was still on the correct route.  Then the occasional Tour de Cure “Pep Sign” stuck in the ground would come into view.  I thought about how easy it would be to just turn around and ride back into town on the 55 mile route.  But, I kept thinking about how 39 generous folks were counting on me to push my way through the thick, hot air.  Thoughts of everybody’s support kept me pedaling forward!  No doubt, your generosity gave me “geaux” power and somehow fueled me through the day!  I waited at the 52 mile rest stop until some other riders arrived.  Riding with a group is generally safer and is certainly much more motivational than riding alone.  We left out and managed our way to the 68 mile rest stop.  Here, we had misting water and freeze pops waiting!  But from there, things started heating up.  A couple of cyclists threw in the towel at the 68 mile rest stop opting for SAG vehicle rides back to the finish.  On the way to the next rest stop, another rider and I came upon two separate individuals suffering from muscle cramps.  I gave each of them liquids from my water bottles knowing I could very well be the next victim!  I felt I could just ration myself until the next rest stop.  We managed getting the other riders back on their bikes and slowed our pace to ride with them, which probably helped me out having less fluid supply.  The first rider we left at a convenience store to re-hydrate and call for a ride back to the finish.  The next rider we came across managed to make it to the 85 mile rest stop.  The rider originally riding with me began cramping just several miles from the rest stop but managed to make it over the hills and to the rest stop.  Knowing there was only 10 miles left to ride; I refilled both water bottles and rode out from the rest stop at a faster pace than what I had been riding since leaving my cohorts at the 40 mile mark.  Another rider caught up and joined me.  It was nice to “spool it up” just a little bit.  I was not going fast; just faster than what I had been riding.  I ended up dropping the other rider about 5 miles out and rode the remainder of the route, alone.  It was okay, though.  The end was near!  Thank Heavens!!

It was nice to arrive at the finish area.  There were a few volunteers still there cheering the riders as they finished.  All the other Velo-Valerians had long since left.  I rinsed off and changed into some street clothes.  Walking back to the truck, the rider that rode with me earlier who had began cramping just before the 85 mile rest stop arrived on his own power, but struggling.  He was glad to be back.  I was very proud of him for sticking it out and finishing and let him know he had done an awesome job!

The day started out at a mild 71 degrees.  By mid-afternoon, it had risen to 91 degrees!  Add another 10 degrees to the radiant heat generated from the black, asphalt roadways and it was easy to see why there were quite a few people unable to finish the 95 mile route.  We enjoyed very well supported rest stops (called “SAG” stops in the cycling world).  The roads over the first half were rather rough but had some gorgeous scenery.  The roads over the second half were much smoother asphalt…but radiated much hotter air!

Once again, from me, and on behalf of the American Diabetes Association, I thank each and every one of you for your kindness and generosity!

- Troy 

Velo riders assembled at the ride start - Troy is second from the left

NOTE:  I should get the Baton Rouge TDC photos this week, and will post them as soon as I do!

See ya' on the road!

- El "Mini Me" Hefe