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July 2008 - Posts
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Good morning and happy Wednesday! As always, let's get right to all the cycling news you can use...
Weekend Rides
As usual, we have a multitude of cycling options for you to partake in.
 John Tenison will lead the Wednesday Night Hillfest from Mays Elementary on Wednesday with wheels up at 5:45 pm.
 Andrea "Android" Shull will lead the Family Friendly Ride from Bullis County Park on Wednesday with wheels up at 06:30 pm. SAG support will be provided in the Team Truck by Board Member Phoebe "I Know Pressure Points" McCallum, and there's a rumor that Tony Ralf, Bike to the Beach cycling neophyte, will be joining us.
JT will lead the Saturday morning Team Ride on the west side of town. Saturday we ride from Castroville to Devine, returning via rt 1343 for 42 miles. We start at 7:30 AM from the park-and-ride across from Sammy’s Restaurant in Castroville (at the intersection of US Hwy 90 and rt. 471). The terrain is generally flat to rolling. For those who want to add some extra distance, you can add Hondo via Yancey for 65 miles. There’s also a good 25 mile option if you prefer. - John
 On Sunday, Megan Lehnhoff will lead another newVcrew ride from Cibolo City Hall. Last week the newVcrew’s riders doubled from 6 to 12! This Sunday, we’ll be leaving from the same place at the same time (7:00 am) and doing a 35 mile “no drop” ride. You can expect our route to be very similar to last two weeks… minimal traffic and fairly flat roads. Maps will be provided at the start of the ride. Also, your newVcrew ride leaders have a surprise in store for everyone who comes to ride this week’s ride!!! - Megan
As always, check our complete Event Schedule for all the details.
Use the Force, El Hefe
Speaking of the Bike to the Beach, it is only 66 days away on October 4 and 5th! This is such an exciting time for me, because friends, we are cycling and fundraising force growing bigger and stronger each day. As of today, we have 178 riders registered with team Velo Valero, and we've raised $22,377, 11% of our target of $200,000. We already have 7 riders who have raised $1000 or more, and so are eligible for a chance to win the round trip tickets to Sydney. (To see our complete team roster, click here.) We are once again the largest team in the event, and more importantly, the top fundraising team - and we aren't even breaking a sweat yet! I expect great things from Velo Valero this year, and I know we won't disappoint.
...In addition to training and fundraising, look around at your friends, family members and co-workers - maybe you have someone you can recruit to be a cyclist or volunteer. If you turn him or her into an avid cyclist, you will be doing them a favor - trust me! Last year my father-in-law Stan rode the BTTB for the first time, and he has been cycling around the Texas Hill Country ever since. (The sight of Stan in spandex has become very common in downtown Fredericksburg these days.) He's lost weight, and is in the best physical shape he's been in for a long time. In fact, he tells me he plans on completing both days of the Bike to the Beach this year, including the Harbor Bridge at the end. The amazing thing about Stan's story is that he had knee replacement surgery a few years ago and he turns a very young seventy this September. If he can do it, then your friends, family, and co-workers can too!
Stan (on the right, with friend Arno) at the start of the LBJ 100 this spring
Hotter N Hell
 The legendary Hotter N Hell ride is coming up quick - it's only 24 days away on August 23rd! Team Vice President David Sloan will be our event Captain for the day, and will be driving the Team Truck up for the ride. This event requires no fundraising, and is huge - 13,000+ riders. As David says, "This is a true no-drop ride. You'll always have someone ahead of you, beside you, and behind you." If you are a true cyclist, you need to get this notch on your belt - completing a full century in what is usually 100+ degree weather is quite an accomplishment. Plus, they have a great Expo during the weekend where you can get all sorts of fabulous deals and steals on cycling stuff. Send an e-mail to cycling@valero.com if you plan on riding the event. As usual, we'll encourage everyone to wear a current team jersey, and ask Velo Valero team members to gather at the ride start for photos and schmoozing.
Around the World
I continue to receive photos and accounts of Velo team members traveling the globe in seach of the perfect Chinook (Chuck) and incredible outdoor adventures (PJ). To see all the 2008 photos in our Around the World Gallery, click here. As always, if you have a photo and story you want to share with the team, send it to cycling@valero.com.
Chuck fishing on the West Coast (check out the Mission to Mission shirt!)
Ms. Jones chilling on an Alaskan glacier, sporting that very stylish Velo Valero headgear
...see you on the road!
- Peter
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Good morning and happy Monday! I will admit I did not do any rides this weekend, other than noodling around the neighborhood Sunday evening with my son, Alex. It's his 15th birthday this week, and he said what he really wanted for his birthday was to go tent camping with his family and the dogs, so that's what we did. We spent a wonderful weekend at Goliad State Park, enjoying the great outdoors. I slept on a cot under the stars and the massive trees along the San Antonio River, and it was wonderful - although the young and skittish Hannah barked all night at unseen snipes in the darkness, which unfortunately reduced the quality and quantity of my sleep.
Corpus Christi Kickoff Party
On the way to Goliad on Saturday, I stopped off in Corpus Christi to attend the Bike to the Beach Kickoff Party at Brewster Street Ice House. This was a wonderful event with a bigger than expected turnout, and it was held right in the shadow of the Harbor Bridge and within spitting distance of Whataburger Field, our new finish line destination. Seeing the bridge and seeing the stadium has got me even more pumped up about the amazing Whatafinish MS has planned for us this year. Here's a few photos from the event.
Effie from the Bill Greehey Refinery gives a great speech on the importance of volunteerism
Val hangs out with the Hooks mascot
Velo riders and volunteers at the Corpus Christi Kickoff Party
Weekend Rides
Received this update from Megan Lehnhoff, who is leading the Sunday morning newVcrew Rides -
The newVcrew is growing! We went from 6 riders our first week to 12 today! Carl "Teddy Bear" Crawford gave our safety briefing this morning, and we were off bright and early a few minutes past 7am. Everything was going smoothly, and we stopped at a Valero for our rest stop. Several minutes later, back on the road, we realized that the road we turned on wasn't the road we thought it was. Looking at our maps, we realized that they weren't going to help us either. I told the group, we have two options: Option A) which stands for Adventurous. We just start riding (we knew the general direction that we needed to aim), and hope we recognize something, or Option B) which stands for go Back the way we came. The group rallied, wanting to be adventurous. So off we went to find our way. After about a half mile, I saw a mailbox with a road name. We were already on the right road and it didn't turn out to be an adventure after all! We finished up the rest of the ride without any dogs or other issues. It was a great 27 miles!
Great job Megan! If you are a new or nearly new rider, consider joining the newVcrew on Sunday mornings - looks like they have some real cycling mojo going on!
Group shot at the newVCrew ride start
As always, check our Event Schedule for the rides we have scheduled this week.
Tony Ralf Does 30 Miles!
 Yes - the cat's out of the bag. Tony Ralf, VP for the Lone Star Chapter of the MS Society, has stepped up to the challenge of actually riding the Bike to the Beach this year. This is the first time he's been on a bike in 42 years, and he's serious about it - I got a celebratory message from him Sunday indicating he had actually completed a 30-mile training ride, his first of the training season. Friends, if Tony can do the Bike to the Beach - including the Harbor Bridge at the end - you can, too! If you haven't signed up yet,what are you waiting for?
Tony with CEO Bill Klesse at the San Antonio Kickoff Party
Around the World
I continue to get photos from team members who are traveling the globe this summer. To see all the Around the World photos, click here. If you're traveling for work or for play, bring your jersey, get a photo in front of something interesting, and send to cycling@valero.com.
Glennis (a regular on Andrea's Wednesday night rides) at La Fortuna waterfall in Costa Rica
Long time team member Alice in Hood River, Oregon. "We traveled to Hood River Oregon to the Kite and Wind surfing capital of the world. My daughter Katie and I took the bikes out to explore. She took me to the wineries, orchards and the beach."
...see you on the road!
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Good morning and happy Friday! After our big rains in Texas this week, the air is cooler and the grass is greener - which means it's a perfect weekend to get on your bike and enjoy the countryside.
Weekend Rides
We have two rides planned this weekend to help tune you up for the Bike to the Beach -
On Saturday, John "the Punisher" Tenison will lead a ride from downtown Boerne.
We’ll meet at the parking lot next to the Fiserv Building on Main Street at Rosewood Ave. in downtown Boerne for a 7:30 AM ride start. We’ll ride up to Comfort (excellent breakfast tacos at the c-store), then return via Waring and Welfare with 45 mile and 35 mile options. Click here for the map. The weather forecast looks great, and we should be back in Boerne before the thermometer reaches 90 degrees. Following the ride those who are interested can join us at the Dodging Duck (River Rd. and Mesquite St.) where some of us will be meeting for lunch. Come out and join us! - John
On Sunday, Megan "Movie Star" Lehnhoff will lead the New V Crew Ride from Cibolo City Hall. This no-drop, 27 miler will hit the road at 07:00 am to beat the heat and the traffic. Click here for the scoop on the NVC.
As always, check our Event Schedule for all the details.
Corpus Christi Kickoff Party
 The Corpus Christi Bike to the Beach Kickoff Party will be held this weekend from 11:30 am to 1:30 pm. Velo Valero will have a table at the event where Board Member Eddie Gamez and I will be dispensing the sweet gospel of the team to potential riders. The event will be at the always fun Brewster Street Ice House, which is right across from Whataburger Stadium, where the Whatafinish for this year's Bike to the Beach ride will be held. If you live in the Corpus Christi area, come on down! If you haven't registered yet, the fee is being rolled back to $25 during the event - what a deal! Hope to see you there!
 ...One last note about the San Antonio Kickoff Party. It's no surprise, but I need to announce it anyway - Velo Valero won the award for the best Team Table at the event, and it's all due to the incredible work of Board Member Lucy Hernandez, who did her usual amazing decorating job. All I can say is - if you think that table looked good, wait until you see our team tent during the Bike to the Beach!!!!!
Jerseys
 As mentioned earlier, we'll be taking orders until August 15 for delivery in mid-September, prior to the Bike to the Beach. The cost of the jersey is $70, and if you are an out of town person participating in the Bike to the Beach, we won't ship the jersey to you - you'll need to pick it up at the Friday Night Expo before the ride. Just to clarify things - If you are out of town and you are ordering a jersey but NOT participating in the Bike to the Beach, we'll mail you your jersey. (NOTE: We are trying to minimize the amount of shipping we are doing, to keep the jersey costs low). Remember - all riders participating in an organized fundraising event with Velo Valero such as the BTTB need to wear a current team jersey each day of the event. We don't ask you to pay dues to be on this team - we just ask you to buy and wear the best looking jersey on the road (which you get to keep afterwards!!) To access the jersey order site, click here.
Quirky Little Movie
Because of the rain, we cancelled the Thursday night Hillfest, so instead of riding the heavenly hills along Babcock and Scenic Loop, I did the 5:15 pm spin class at Valero HQ with new instructor Stephanie. (I've never done her class before, but I'll be a regular from now on - she really gives you a workout!) Afterwards, I went home and watched a quirky little movie about a 14-year-old boy who decides to run the Boston Marathon to help rouse his mother from a coma. The movie is named Saint Ralph, and although it sounds like a depressing topic for a film, it really is quite funny and inspiring. The boy who plays Ralph is amazing - he's so quirky and so intense, and in the end, his quest to complete the marathon is completely believable and utterly compelling. If you're looking for an offbeat film to help motivate you in your Bike to the Beach and/or Rock and Roll Marathon training, rent this one - you won't be disappointed.
Around the World
...I've mentioned this a few times this summer, Velo Valero continues to span the globe. As I type this blog, Patricia "the Funky Pirate" Jones is cyling the mountains of Alaska. And, I received this photo from Trey Robertson by way of Andrea "the Skyscraper" Shull. It documents the rare sighting of a Flat Peter in the jungles of Guatemala... To see all our Around the World photos, click here. If you have any photos you'd like posted to this gallery, send them to cycling@valero.com.
...see ya' on the road!
- Peter
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Just got home from the Best Bike to the Beach Kickoff Party EVER!!!!!!! This year we had a change of scenery - instead of Cowboys Dance Hall, we had it at the Valero HQ D building, which was a spacious, well lit venue that allowed us to stretch out a bit and gave us great views of the Texas Hill Country. We also tried to make it more family friendly, and allowed teams to set up team tables to strut their stuff and recruit new members. And, as someone who's been to a few parties in his day, I can tell you - you can't go wrong with a beach theme. (Hats off to Board Member Lucy Hernandez for decorating what is sure to be an award winning team table - we were so over the top, we were off the charts!) ...There were so many way cool moments - from Mr. Klesse accepting the key to the 2008 Team Truck and raising the bar (again) for individual fundraising, to the showing of Board Member Megan Lehnhoff's award winning event video, to Chris Shaw's inspiring speech, to Pappasito's always awesome catering, and, finally, to Tony Ralf from MS announcing that's he's going to man up and actually be a rider this year. Throw in the details on the Harbor Bridge that is being added to the end of the route, along with the "Whatafinish" at Whataburger Stadium - friends, it just doesn't get any better than this. If the KO party was any indication, then the Bike to the Beach this year will be AWESOME. If you haven't signed up yet, what are you waiting for?? (Click here for all the details.) Here's a few quick photos to get you pumped up!
Bill Klesse accepts the keys to the 2008 Toyota Tundra
Megan accepts the award for the Best Event Video from Cindy Rodriguez, aka, C-Ro
It wouldn't be a Kickoff Party without a picture of Jacque! (Posing with, from left to right, Peggy, Amy, Monica, and Lisa, after they abducted my camera...)
EL Hefe poses with members of Team ETC and a fake pineapple.
Tony, Peter, and Laura, the Queen of the Hills. I'm so proud Tony's gonna' ride, but we really need to work on the matching socks thing...
To see all the Kickoff Party photos, click here.
...I'll have info on the training rides later in the week, along with an update on the Corpus Christi Kickoff Event. As always, check our Event Schedule for the latest scoop!
See ya' on the road!
- Peter
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It's a rare Tuesday edition of the blog, 'cause I want to make sure those of you that can make it have all the details on the Kickoff Party tomorrow, plus I have some tales to share from last weekend's 2008 Katy Flatland Century...
Bike to the Beach Kickoff Party
Here's seven (count 'em!) good reasons you should attend the Kickoff Party on Wednesday from 05:00 pm to 08:00 pm on the 4th Floor of the D Building at Valero HQ. Parking is in the covered parking lot next the D Building; look for the signs.
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We are having a beach theme, and all team members and volunteers are encouraged to dress accordingly. In fact, I'm offering to contribute $25 to the fundraising of the Velo Valero team member that wears that most outrageous beach-themed costume. Loud Hawaiian shirts, brightly colored sandals, wide straw hats, gaudy seashell necklaces - use your imagination, my friends, and win some dough to help this great cause! You are also welcome to wear your team jersey, socks, hat, etc.
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If you haven't registered for the Bike to the Beach yet, the fee is being rolled back to $25 if you register at the Kickoff Party. This saves you $15 off the current $40 registration fee.
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If you are need a workout, then we have the answer for you. "Prima" Donna Escobar, Spin Instructor to the Stars, is teaching one of her legendary spin classes from 05:00 pm to 06:00 pm.
- If you are a registered team member, and you bring a new recruit by our team table, both of you will receive incredible leftover items from our goodie bag archive from years past.
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You'll get to see the winning video from the contest MS held for event themed videos. (I know who the winner is, but I'm not talking!)
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Come hungry and come thirsty - a variety of beverages (some adult) will be served beginning at 05:00 pm, and at 6:00 pm, amazing food from Pappasitos will be served
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Finally, you'll be present when the "riveting surprise" that Cindy from MS announced in her last event Newsletter is revealed to the world....
So, what are you waiting for??? Get that wardrobe picked out, and get ready to enjoy the best kickoff party ever!
NOTE: If you can't make the party and want to take advantage of the $25 registration promotion, send an e-mail to cycling@valero.com and I'll send you a promo code you can use between 6:00 pm and 08:00 pm to register.
Team members enjoying the pirate vibe at last year's Kickoff Party
Katy Flatland
Received this note from Vice President David Sloan. On Sunday, he rode the Katy Flatland on Sunday, along with Chase, Andrea, Ralf, Gene, and a few other Velo Valerians -
We had a few Velo Valero riders that went to Katy for the Katy Flatlands Century this weekend. Andrea and Chase Shull and Ralph Plaza all rode the 100 mile route with Andrea averaging 18.5 mph. Chase finished the 100 miles with an average of over 14 mph. Ralph also finished the 100 miles, but we didn't get his average speed on the road. We also saw Gene Clapp and a friend of his wearing a Velo Valero jersey, and they must have scorched the route since we never saw them again after the start. I rode with Rudy Seiler and we both did the route that was sometimes advertised as a 100K, 60 miles, or 58 miles but my bicycle's computer said it was 56 miles. I had personal best averages of 17.4 mph at 30 miles and finished the 56 miles with a 16.2 mph average. The Katy Flatlands ride is pretty unique because it is soooo flat. It's like a 4 1/2 hour spin class. You never stop pedaling because there are no downhills. At least this year the weather cooperated and there was no rain. By the time we finished, we were just hoping for that occasional cloud to give a small respite from the sun, which was getting pretty intense by 11:00 or so. The Bike MS - Valero Bike To The Beach truck got lots of attention. As we were stopped in New Braunfels at a red light on the way home, a motorcyclist pulled alongside to tell us that he has ridden his bicycle in the past 6 BTTB rides and that he will be there again this year. He said that he had just purchased the motorcycle, but that he would be riding his bicycle with his wife for BTTB!
Also received this from Ralph Plaza, a new team member who rode his FIRST CENTURY Sunday. For those of you new to cycling and wondering if you can do the entire two days of the Bike to the Beach, read Ralph's story. These long rides are a physical challenge, but the sense of accomplishment and personal satisfaction you will feel more than makes up for it!
It just "HIT ME" as I was waiting at the startline, already sweating from the humidity at the Katy Flatland event, ONE HUNDRED MILES is a long long.... way!!!
During the first 10 miles I started gently until I found a line of riders and discovered how fast you can go without much effort - it is like riding in cruise control. It was so cool to say to slower rides, "On your left!"
At the 33 mile at made my first stop to refuel on fruits and sport drinks, I already consumed one 20oz bottle. I think that was my first mistake I should had consumed more fluid. I stayed at the break for 6 minutes, I used the rest room and left.
I try to joined a few pacelines again but they were a little too fast. skipped the next break and stopped at the 52 mile break. I had consumed 1.5 20oz bottles from the last break. F or some reason I started to feel weak, however was only 10:30AM and I knew it would get hotter so after refueling with some cold energy drinks and fruits, I hit the road again after 10 minutes.
I was feeling a bit tired but my cyclo was reading 61 miles, so hey 39 more miles to go!
At the 63 mile I was glad to stop. Refuel, same old stuff, and used the rest room.
From there on the heat and humidity was tough. I was feeling so hot - suddenly pedaling wasn't much fun. My feet felt like they were on fire - it was so painful that I had to stop. After a few minutes I was ok until I hit the break at mile marker 82. I was totally bonked. I stayed there for 15 minutes then got back on the bike.
At the 86 miles, I started feeling a small muscle discomfort (cramp) on my right calf and by the 92 miles my left calf started to feel the same. I was so tired and hot that it was obvious I needed to train better in the future . However just when I was starting to feel good seeing 98 miles in my cyclo, my right leg suddenly started cramping and it didn't stop. I couldn't move it all, so I pulled over. It was so painful that I thought I could go no more. However, after a long 5 minutes I was able to ride again at a low gear and about 9 mph. I finished my last 3 miles and completed my first century.
The Katy Flatland event didn't have a finish line to welcome you and congratulate you, however that didn't stop the proud feeling I felt. I can't wait for the next one! I'll be telling my riding friends at the startling line, "Let's roll!"
Way to go Ralph!
Chase and Ralph lined up at the start
Valero lined up at the start
...see ya' on the road - and hopefully at the Kickoff tomorrow!
- Peter
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Good morning and happy Monday! It was an awesome weekend:
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Got to see The Dark Knight with my son, a longtime Caped Crusader aficionado who proclaimed it the best Batman movie ever
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On Saturday morning, rode 55 wonderful (but hot, damn hot!) miles across the rolling countryside on the East side of town
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Spent Saturday afternoon splashing around the pool with my mom, my sister, and two of my favorite nieces, Presley and Katlin (aka, "Baby Buddha")
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Got up early Sunday and attended mass downtown at the glorious San Fernando Cathedral with my mom, who wanted to see the grand old church in action
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Then zipped over to the Steven Stoli Playhouse to catch the matinee of the unbelievably hilarious "The Senator Wore Pantyhose" (highly recommended!)
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And most enjoyable of all, tweaked the wireless network at my house so that the signal strength on my Playstation 3 is now averaging 70%, which allows me to watch YouTube videos with no jitter on the big screen.
Life, my friends, is good and getting better all the time! Let's get this blog rolling...
BTTB Kickoff Parties
The official Bike to the Beach kick-off parties will be held this week in San Antonio (Wednesday, July 23) and Corpus Christi (Saturday, July 26). Velo Valero will have a team table at both events, and we'll be showing off the new team truck then - a swank new Toyota Tundra with amazing artwork on it (see photos below!). If you're not riding this year, come to the party anyway - we'd love to have as many past, present, and future Velo Valero riders and volunteers as possible. It's a beach theme - so you are welcome to wear either your team jersey, festive beach attire, or some zany combination of both (that's what I'm gonna' do). There's an award for most spirited team that I don't plan on losing!
...For those of you that plan on riding the BTTB but haven't registered yet, this is a great opportunity to save some money. Between 5:00 pm and 08:00 pm on Wednesday, the registration fee is being rolled back to $25. This applies if you are registering at the event, or registering on-line. If you register on-line, I'll send out a promotional code you can use later in the week.
NOTE: Because of the San Antonio Kickoff Event, our usual Wednesday night rides are being moved to Thursday. Check our Event Schedule later in the week for all the details.
Zora meets Chris the Pirate at last year's Kickoff. This year's event has a Beach Theme, so who knows what this guy will be wearing????
Weekend Rides
As mentioned, I rode with John, Chuck, etc., Saturday morning on the Eastside of town. For the first time ever, I enjoyed a taco at Brietzke Cafe in New Berlin, and I really needed it.
Board Member Megan kicked off the New V Crew rides Sunday morning, and here's her report.
We had six folks total (including us) and had a great ride! Although it was really humid and pretty warm, it did stay overcast which was nice. We didn't have any accidents, missed turns, or serious canine encounters. Afterwards, five of us went for tacos at Garcia's Mexican Restaurant on FM 3009.
New V Crew riders in front of Cibolo City Hall
Board Members Andrea and David drove our new Team Truck to Katy for the annual Katy Flatland ride. I'll have a report from them later in the week.
Team Truck is in Da' House!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The Team Truck is in da' house! The Team Truck is in da' House! You'll be seeing plenty of it on the road the next few months, but here's the world debut photos, courtesy of David Sloan...
Side view of the 2008 Event Truck
Tony Ralf poses with the best looking truck on the road for the next 3 months!
Triple Bypass
 Received this update from Darrel Pearman from Valero's Credit Card Center in Amarillo. Last weekend he rode the incredible Triple Bypass jn Colorado.
I have never attempted a more challenging anything as this was. The total climb for the ride was over 10,000 feet. Although my average speed was 10mph (120 mile @ 12 hours) the downhills definitely skewed the average. I was actually only able to maintain about 6 - 7 mph for most of the day, and nearly burned out my brakes. I am not as carefree as years past when I let it go and hit speeds like 58 mph, this time I kept it down to around 37. Lots of winding roads and some sand still on the shoulders. I don't heal as fast as I used to, so I kept it slow.
Anyway, the scenery was breath taking, or maybe that was the altitude. We started in Bergen Park at an elevation around 8000 ft, then immediately started climbing to get over Juniper/Swan Pass at an elevation of around 11,100, with the temperature hovering around 40. Then a cold fast downhill to Idaho Springs, we started climbing again. This time following I 70 until just short of the Eisenhower Tunnel, we turned off to go the rest of the way up Loveland Pass, the temperature around 50 at the rest stop, and around 40 at the top (thus to jacket). This is followed by another cold fast downhill to Dillon. The road over Squaw Mountain was under repair, so they added 2 miles and diverted us the long way around Dillon Reservoir. I was running out of fuel by this point so I rested longer and ate a lot at the rest stop in Dillon. The ride up and over Vail Pass was not as long or as hard, but at the end of the day, I could not get my speed over about 9 mph. The downhill to Vail and Avon was on a narrow bike path and in full sun, so it was neither cold nor fast for me. At the finish line they had BBQ, and I ate almost a whole chicken before going back to the hotel. I still managed to be 3 pounds lighter when I got back to Amarillo.
Awesome story, Darrell - hopefully we'll see you at the Bike to the Beach this year!
Darrell at 12,000 feet
Tripe Bypass Route - 120 miles and 10,000 ft of climbing
...see you on the road!
- Peter
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Happy Wednesday!
Rides This Week
As in years past, we are committed to providing a variety of training options for you throughout the week. We got something for everyone this week!
The Wednesday night Hillfest will start at Mays Elementary with wheels up at 05:45 pm. We are planning on pedaling all the way to the Dodging Duck Brewhaus and Resturant in Boerne, and having a craft beer or two along with dinner. We are coordinating with a few folks with trucks to meet us there, and then bring us back to the ride start afterwards. If you are interested in doing the ride (or just meeting us), send an e-mail to cycling@valero.com. In honor of my daughter who is attending a six-week math camp again this summer, we are referring to this event as the first ever "B Cubed, D Squared Ride" (i.e., the Bike to Boerne for Beer at the Dodging Duck).
NOTE: Andrea will NOT be leading her family friendly ride this Wednesday. She's going to do the B3D2 ride instead...
Our Saturday morning ride will be on the relatively flat East side - we need a break after last week's hills and thrills. We'll be leaving from Judson High School with wheels up at 07:30 am.
Andrea, Chase, and David will be traveling (hopefully in the new team truck - see below) to participate in the Katy Flatland ride on Sunday. Contact David (David.sloan@valero.com) if you are planning on doing this ride.
 Sunday morning we'll have the kickoff ride for the New V Crew, hosted by Megan, Tanya, and Carl. There will be a 20 mile route and a 40 mile option. Wheels up at 07:00 am from Cibolo City Hall. (See below for more news on the New V Crew!)
Finally, Pat O'Brien will be leading his Sunday morning ride from Comal Elementary at 08:30 am. Route and pace to determined based on who shows up.
As always, please check our complete Event Schedule for details.
Update from the New V Crew
Here's a message from Board Member Megan Lehnhoff, who is coordinating our New V Crew this year.
My name is Megan Lehnhoff and my partners Tanya Carrasco and Carl Crawford and I are very excited to be starting up our Sunday “No Drop” rides this week, 7/20! Our purpose for doing these rides is to provide folks new to cycling with a comfortable environment to gain confidence and experience on the road. While these rides will be geared towards beginners, with minimal hills and traffic, we welcome cyclists of all experience levels just looking for a nice Sunday morning ride. We plan to have rides every Sunday between now and the MS Bike to the Beach (BTTB). We’ll start with 20 miles this week (some may do the loop a second time if wanting more miles), and increase by about 5 miles per week. We’ll work up to 70ish by the end.
For more information, click here.
Bike MS Kick-Off Parties
The official Bike to the Beach kick-off parties will be held next week in San Antonio (Wednesday, July 23) and Corpus Christi (Saturday, July 26). Velo Valero will have a team table at both events, and we'll be showing off the new team truck then - a swank new Toyota Tundra with amazing artwork on it (see the photo of the tailgate and the side below). If you're not riding this year, come to the party anyway - we'd love to have as many past, present, and future Velo Valero riders and volunteers as possible. It's a beach theme - so you are welcome to wear either team attire, beach attire, or some zany combination of both (that's what I'm gonna' do).
Tailgate of the 2008 Team Truck
Side view of the 2008 Team Truck
Volunteers Needed for the Bike to the Beach
 The Bike to the Beach is coming up quickly, and we are already beginning to organize the army of volunteers we'll need. If you have friends and family who cannot ride for one reason or another but would like to participate, encourage them to be a volunteer. There's a wide spectrum of things they can do - from cooking and serving the meals, to providing SAG support, to coordinating the massage tent (always a popular activity). If you have any questions regarding the available volunteer positions, please send an e-mail to Board Member Phoebe McCallum (Phoebe.McCallum@valero.com). NOTE: Friends and family can participate as volunteers, but for insurance reasons, only employees can drive the SAG vehicles.
ADA Award - 2007 Top National Fundraising Team Award
Team Veep David Sloan and I attended the ADA Board Meeting last night. At the meeting we received special recognition for being a first time National Team in 2007. Over the two years we've been a National Team, we've raised over $200,000. Of all the things we've accomplished together, my friends, this is one of them I'm most proud of. Hats off to all the 2007 Team Captains all over the country, and to all the riders and volunteers - this really was a joint effort.
(NOTE: Previosly I reported we were the TOP fundraising team. This was incorrect - we were actually #5 on the list.)
David Sloan, Event Chair Ken Mayfield, and Peter Ray
Posing with Erica Rogeau and Lori Hawkins from ADA - these ladies did a great job coordinating the event in their rookie year, and already have some surprises planned for us next year
Holy Moly - Stage 10 of the Tour de France!
Someday I'm gonna' ride stage 10! I recorded it on my DVR and have watched it a few times, and each time I get chills watching that incredible downhill and then the heroic climb to the finish at Hautacam - unbelievable! For the best Tour de Cure updates, click here.
Imagine yourself roaring down one of these mountain passes!
...see ya' on the road!
- Peter
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Good morning and happy Monday! I hope you had a glorious weekend, and are ready for the week ahead.
Bike to the Beach Kickoff Ride
We had our Bike MS: BIke to the Beach kickoff ride this Satuday. We had a great turn-out, considering it was mid-July and hot as hell. David Sloan led approximately 15 folks on the 20 mile no drop route, and the rest of us headed off on a 45+ mile odyssey into the hills north of Valero HQ, and quickly broke into smaller groups based on pace. I love these kickoff rides, because they feel like a family reunion of sorts - I get to see team mates that I haven't seen since the previous year's BTTB training season. Tony Ralf from MS provided SAG support, and Cindy Rodriguez coordinated mission control at the ride start. We had one accident that required a visit from EMS, and a few people had to SAG in at the end, but from what I understand no serious injuries occurred. (NOTE: Tony called me Sunday evening and confirmed that the two riders from Team Seb had some gravel rash, but that was about it.) Afterwards, Cindy, David, and Deanna Stansbury (also from MS) conducted another round of training on the new Convio On-Line Fundraising system for approximately 14 students during lunch.
At the ride start, I ran into Trey Robertson, who mentioned he is heading out of the country to do mission work in Guatamala - way to go Trey, although I did see you sneaking off with a few Flat Peters... I also talked to PJ, who will be leaving early this week for Alaska - I'm sooo jealous - I bet it won't be 100 degrees in Anchorage! As I mentioned last week, Velo Valero continues to span the globe! If you're traveling this summer, take a few photos and share them with us in our V2 Around the World Gallery.
Riders assemble at the ride start for the joint Bike MS Kickoff Ride
Cindy from the MS Society prepares to lead the the On-line Fundraising Training session
A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words
...I received the following picture from Glennis, a new team member who rides regularly with Andrea and crew on the family friendly mid-week rides. Last Wednesday, Andrea was given a bottle of wine and some flowers, because the folks who have been riding with her were so appreciative of the time she has taken to help them become better riders. I've said this before, and I'll say it again - each of us on this team is an ambassador for the Valero corporate culture, and as such, we serve our communities in so many different ways - from raising money for causes such as MS, to being a mentor and friend to folks new to our sport. Andrea without question is one of the best ambassadors we have, and I'm proud to have her on this team (even if she did start this whole Flat Peter bidness, and will always be taller than me!).
Andrea with surprise gifts. Glennis titled this photo simply "Gratitude".
Amazing Story from the Tour de France
 There was an article in the San Antonio Express News on Thursday about a 32-year-old San Antonio native who is riding all the stages of the Tour de France this year as a tribute to the memory of a friend who passed away. Jesse Czelusta is his name, and according to his web site, he is "riding solo, without a support vehicle, and carrying twenty-five pounds of gear across the Tour's formidable mountain passes. He will begin each day at five o'clock in the morning, about seven hours before the peloton, in order to finish before the route is closed to bicycles." This is quite a monumental and inspiring story - click here to read more.
Training Options this Week
Here are the training options we have this week-
 If you work at Valero HQ, try to fit some of the Spin Classes hosted at the Fitness Center into your week. I try and do the Monday and Tuesday classes led by former Board Member and long time Velo Valerian "Prima" Donna Escobar, because she does such an outstanding job as an instructor. She has a class at 5:45 pm on Monday, and 5:30 pm on Tuesday.
Andrea will lead her family-friendly ride on Wednesday night from Bullis County Park with wheels up at 06:30 pm.
The Wednesday night Hillfest will start at Mays Elementary with wheels up at 05:45 pm. John Tenison should be back from Chicago then, and will lead the ride. We are planning on pedaling all the way to the Dodging Duck Brewhaus and Resturant in Boerne, and having a craft beer or two along with dinner. I went to this place for the first time on Friday, and it's amazing - don't know how I lived here so many years without partaking of their excellent homebrew and exquisite cuisine. We are coordinating with a few folks with trucks to meet us there, and then bring us back to the ride start afterwards. If you are interested in doing the ride (or just meeting us), send an e-mail to cycling@valero.com. In honor of my daughter who is attending a six-week math camp again this summer, we are referring to this event as the first ever "B Cubed, D Squared Ride" (i.e., the Bike to Boerne for Beer at the Dodging Duck).
Will wait until the Punisher is back before publishing the route for our Saturday morning ride. I promise we'll do something a little less hilly than we did for the kickoff ride. Come back soon for more details!
Sunday morning at 07:00 am, we'll have the kickoff ride for the NewVCrew, hosted by Megan, Tanya, and Carl. This no-drop ride is for folks brand new to cycling. Click here for more details on the Crew.
Finally, Pat O'Brien will be leading his Sunday morning ride from Comal Elementary at 08:30 am. Route and pace to determined based on who show sup.
So many rides, so many options - what a great problem to have! As always, please check our complete Event Schedule for details, and send an e-mail to cycling@valero.com if you have any questions, concerns, or suggestions on future routes. Finally if you haven't done it yet, please download our BTTB Training Journal and start keep track of your progress.
Training Tips
I only have one training tip today - STAY HYDRATED! Drink before you ride, as you ride, during any breaks, and after you ride. It's summertime, and it's hot, and dehydration is a real threat to every one of us. My preference is a mix of 50% water and 50% gatorade - the colder the better - in fact, I like to fill my water bottles halfway with ice during the breaks, and let it slowly melt while on the road to fill the bottle and keep things as cold and refreshing as possible. Also: Monitor your body as your ride. It is normal to sweat this time of year - it's what your body is designed to do to cool itself. If you stop sweating for any reason, you are not sufficiently hydrated and you need do engage in seriously fluid intake immediately.
2008 Texas Tour de Cure - and the Winner is..
 Finally, I received this note from Erica Rougeau from the San Antonio Chapter of the American Diabetes Association. The final numbers are in for the 2008 Texas Tour de Cure, and Velo Valero did not do too shabby - we were the top fundraising team (again), and we had 3 of the top 10 fundraisers (David Sloan, #1 - El Hefe, #6, and Amanda Burden, #9). Erica recognized Valero for all the support we provided -
We could not have had another successful Tour de Cure without the hard work and dedication provided by our valued Presenting sponsor, Valero Energy Corporation! Valero has been our presenting sponsor for 7 consecutive years and every year their employees have given hundreds of hours to making this event a success. Not only is our Top Fundraiser Overall a Valero employee, but David Sloan also gives his time by serving on the ADA Tour planning committee. On top of their presenting sponsorship, Valero continues to provide additional exceptional support to the Tour de Cure. This can be seen in so many different aspects. From hosting Rider Packet Pick-up’s to their in-kind sponsorship of route signage so that we can continue to contribute more dollars to the cause! One of the highlights, that has become a Tour favorite is Valero’s traditional Saturday Night Celebration Dinner. This team lead by Sammy Nieto, graciously prepares the delicious BBQ meal for our 1,300+ riders all the while with a positive attitude!
David and I will be recognized at the ADA Board Meeting soon, and as I mentioned earlier, the two of us will accept this on behalf of the team with enormous pride for what we all accomplished this year!
Peter and David Sloan, shortly after David's car accident. It was so great to see David back on the road again this year!
...see you on the road!
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Greetings! To quote my friends from the Red Hot Chili Peppers, it's Hump de Bump Day, meaning we are officially half way to the weekend. We got so much going on in VeloVille, that I stayed up to 11 last night typing this up. Let get de bumping...
Training for On-Line Fundraising Tools
Tonight's the night! On Wednesday, July 9th, fundraising Ninja David Sloan is going to share his secret sauce with us on how to construct a world class web site for performing on-line fundraising. The event will be held from 06:00 pm to 08:00 pm in room FB-114 at Valero HQ. If you can't make the Wednesday session, he'll repeat it on Saturday, July 12th, from 11:30 am to 1:00 pm in room FB-114 after the kick-off training rides.
Please RSVP for either event by sending an e-mail to crodriguez@NMSSLONESTAR.org. For both sessions, enter the Valero HQ campus through the main entrance off of One Valero Way, park in Visitors Parking, and enter through the main entrance.
Rides, Rides, and Mo' Rides
Andrea "Too Tall" Shull will lead her family friendly ride on Wednesday night from Bullis County Park, with wheels up at 06:30 pm. If it gets rained out tonight, she will try again Thursday at the same time. NOTE: Got an e-mail from Trey indicating that there's a story from the Wednesday ride I need to hear, although I may get different accounts from different people...
 The Wednesday Night Hillfest is being held on Thursday this week, so that El Hefe can attend the Fundraising Training on Wednesday. We'll start at the same Bat Time at the same Bat Cave (5:45 pm at Mays Elementary). John is out of town, so Luis and I will lead the ride.
On Saturday, we have our Bike to the Beach Training Season Kick-Off. Wheels are up at 7:30 am from Valero HQ. Go through the main entrance off of One Valero Way, and park in the Visitors Parking. We'll have two distances - 20 miles and 45 miles. David Sloan will lead the shorter distance, and Luis, Chuck, and I will lead the longer distance. Riders who want to participate in the On-line Fundraising Training Session need to be back at Valero HQ by 11:30 when the training starts (see above).
Pat O'Brien will be leading his Sunday morning ride from Comal Elementary School with wheels up at 08:30 am. (Hopefully it will be drier this Sunday, because he got drenched last week...)
Finally, if you're brand new to cycling, the New V Crew has it's maiden voyage on the road scheduled for Sunday, July 20th, at 07:00 am. Check the New V Crew zone for more details...
As always, check our complete Event Schedule for all the details.
Twelve Week Training Journal, EH's Secret Training Sauce
We at Velo Valero Mission Control always recommend a twelve week training program to properly prepare to ride the full distance on both days of the Bike to the Beach (you don't have to train as hard if you are riding a single day, and/or doing one of the available shorter distances). Coincidentally, the twelve week period starts this weekend on Saturday, July 12th. To assist with your preparation, we've once again developed a spreadsheet based training journal you can use to track all the exercise you do to prepare you for the event. To download the journal, click here.
How does El Hefe get ready for the BTTB? It's changed over the nine years that I've been doing it, but recently I've found it much more enjoyable to mix up the types of training I do to keep it from becoming repetitive (aka, boring). During the week, I try to play basketball, do yoga, run on the treadmill, do a spin class or two with Donna, and (of course) do one or two medium to long bike rides with my teammates. (On top of this, a couple days a week I have to take the high-octane Hannah for a brisk strut around the neighborhood when I get home.) As the Bike to the Beach approaches, I increase the workout duration and intensity, increase the ratio of cycling I do, and use the journal to set weekly goals and to track progress. Non-cycling workouts are counted as "bonus", and I assign 10 to 20 miles per hour to them, depending on the intensity. Nothing fancy, but it works.
We'll be discussing more training tips and techniques over the next 12 weeks to insure you are ready for the big weekend! If you have any personal conditioning tales you want to share with the team, you can post them to our Conditioning Forum. You must be logged into the web site as a registered user to post to our forums.
Bike to the Beach Video Contest
The MS Society is conducting the first ever Bike MS Viva Valero Video Contest. The rules are very simple -
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Your video should not be longer than three minutes
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It must be in good taste; you can't harm or ridicule anyone
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Cyclists in the video MUST be practicing safe riding skills (such as wearing their helmets) and be in a safe environment
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Your video should be centered on the MS mission and raise awareness.
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The top three finalists and the winner will be announced at the San Antonio Kick-Off Party on July 23rd. In addition, the recognized films will be shown at this event! The winner will also receive a $100 Valero gas card - very handy for that summer driving season! If you're a budding videographer, what are you waiting for?
Board Member Megan Lehnhoff prepared a video with her buddy Gus and submitted it to MS, and it's really good. To see it, click here. (NOTE: This site is hosted on YouTube, which may be blocked depending on where you work, but you should be able to get to it at from home with no problems).
Jerseys
As mentioned earlier, we'll be taking orders until August 15 for delivery in mid-September, prior to the Bike to the Beach. The cost of the jersey is $70, and if you are an out of town person participating in the Bike to the Beach, we won't ship the jersey to you - you'll need to pick it up at the Friday Night Expo before the ride. Just to clarify things - If you are out of town and you are ordering a jersey but NOT participating in the Bike to the Beach, we'll mail you your jersey. (NOTE: We are trying to minimize the amount of shipping we are doing, to keep the jersey costs low). Remember - all riders participating in an organized fundraising event with Velo Valero such as the BTTB need to wear a current team jersey each day of the event. We don't ask you to pay dues to be on this team - we just ask you to buy and wear the best looking jersey on the road (which you get to keep afterwards!!) To access the jersey order site, click here.
Link to the Official Tour de France Web Site, Plus Google Street View
A couple of people have asked me for the link to the official Tour de France web site, so you can keep track of all the action rider by rider, mile by mile, and stage by stage. Lots of infomation is on the Official Tour Site, but another cool way to experience the Tour is to use Google Street View. (NOTE: these sites may be blocked, depending on where you work, but you should be able to get to it at from home with no problems). This year's Tour has lots of new faces, and no clear leader (yet) - there's lots of drama ahead in the next few weeks.
Velo Valero Around the World - Updates from the Bear and the Pirate
Velo Valerians are high-energy, high-octane people, always on the go, always - warning: cheap Star Trek rip-off coming - boldly going where no cyclists have ever gone before. But you know this already because we've got the photos, baby. I've been mentioning this in the blog for years, but I'll mention this again for the new additions to our cycling family. If you travel on vacation this summer (or anytime for work), bring your jersey and pose with it in front of something interesting and send us the photo. If it meets our rigorous standards (ha!), we'll post it to our Velo Valero Around the World Photo Gallery. We got folks coming and going all the time - Board Member Carl "Teddy Bear" Crawford just returned from hiking Glacier National Park (see photo below), and Patricia "the Funky Pirate" Jones is leaving for the coast of Alaska shortly for what promises to be an absolutely fabulous two weeks of cycling in the last great American frontier (watch out for those moose, PJ!).
Bear (aka, Carl) spotted near watering hole at Glacier National Park. For more photos of V2 Around the World, click here.
- EH
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Happy Monday! I'm back to work after a truly relaxing staycation (I just love that word!), and am ready to rumble. I want to get some rides in, including commuting to work, but for some reason there is this strange wet stuff falling from the sky in San Antonio that may limit my opportunities this week. This front may be here for a few days, so if you plan on doing one of our scheduled rides, please check the Event Schedule and the weather reports before heading out to the ride starts.
Lots going on in the world of Velo Valero, so let's crank it up.
Upcoming Bike to the Beach Events
David Sloan will be conducting an evening workshop on web site customization on Wednesday, July 9th, from 06:00 to 08:00 pm in room FB-113 at Valero HQ. Don't miss this opportunity to pick the brain of a fundraising Jedi Master. Please RSVP by sending an e-mail to crodriguez@NMSSLONESTAR.org.
Next Saturday, July 12th, there will be a joint training ride for all Bike to the Beach riders, along with a work session on how to customize your personal web site to maximize fundraising. Wheels up at Valero HQ at 07:30 am, with the session occurring in room FB-113 from 11:30 am to 1:00 pm. More details to come later, including the routes. Please RSVP for the training by sending an e-mail to crodriguez@NMSSLONESTAR.org.
Tour de France Begins
As many of you know, the Tour de France began on Saturday. The Tour is one of the world's great athletic challenges, and requires riders to pedal over 2,200 miles in 23 days, much of this over steep mountain passes in the Alps and Pyrenees in the southern part of the country. My family thinks I'm nuts, but this time of year I race home to watch the television coverage of the Tour, and sit for hours on my couch marveling at the stamina of the riders and the tactics the teams use. I'm particularly amazed at the mountain passes, both at the unbelievable speeds they attain on the downhills, and how hard it is to do some of the never ending climbs. It's a little known fact that some of the older members of the team and I competed in the Tour back in the day - in fact, here's some photographic evidence.
John, Chuck, Peter, and Luis compete in early Tour stage back in the day. I'm the one lighting up, because conventional wisdom back then was that smoking improved your "respiration" for the mountain stages. Our bottles were full of beer, because we needed the carbs and Gu hadn't been invented yet. That's Grant in the row of riders behind us waving his bottle.
Cautionary Tale
 Received this note from Alan Dedman, one of the hammerheads on the team from California.
While out on a bike ride this afternoon, 07/04/2008 a Chevy Impala, brand new, with paper plates crossed in front of me and I couldn't avoid him. I went into the right front wheel panel then over the top, onto his hood, and landed in the road the other side of the car, with a thud.
I was traveling north on Garey Ave, Pomona, CA and just got to the DMV Offices. The lights were green and I was moving along, when this guy just turned left in front of me, he obviously didn't see me. I'm okay, I temporarily lost consciousness and was winded, my ribs ached on the upper right side, my left knee was a bit stiff and I had a few scratches; but my bike will have to go in for repair.
The driver of the vehicle asked if I was okay, and then told me he would move his vehicle out of traffic, I didn't realize he was going to move it that far, and I didn't see him again.
A female passenger in the car stayed with me for a while but needless to say she disappeared before the police got there. I made a report, and they are going to do their best to locate the car and driver. I’m hoping a surveillance camera located on that DMV Building may have captured the incident. I also hope I put a bloody great dent into his side panel and a decent size scratch and dent into the hood.
I refused medical treatment from the EMT and Fire Department, I have a slightly swollen knee and some bruised ribs, along with a little road rash, nothing to be too concerned about, however my immediate focus was more on the condition of my precious Felt bike.
Saturday 5th: I took my bike to my local bike store, “Incycle”, Chino, CA, and they fixed it up really good. My wheel set was replaced; my original rear wheel took the brunt of the impact, I think from the way I landed in the road after going over the top, and my derailleur was bent into the wheel.
They returned the bike to me 3 hours later, all ready to go. I did take it for a few turns tonight just to see how I felt and the new wheels performed. I will go out for a quick spin tomorrow, to see how the ribs and knee holds up.
Sunday 6th: Went out this morning for a spin, to check out the knee and ribs. The initial stage of the ride I was a little stiff; on the initial 1½ mile climb, my breathing appeared somewhat labored due to the expansion of the chest which let me know that the ribs had been injured. At the top of the climb I got a break, when my front tire flatted, so I repaired that and carried on a short time later.
Just over an hour and a half later I returned home, with 32 miles on the clock and feeling better than expected, but still the ribs hurt. They will repair in time, but it’s good to know I can still get out there and ride; oh yes the new wheels worked out fine.
Yes, I saw stars on the 4th but not the stars I had planned!
- Alan
...Thanks for the update Alan, and good to hear that the injuries weren't serious and your bike was repaired so quickly.
...See ya' on the road!
- Peter
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Good morning and happy Thursday! I'm still at home enjoying the most relaxing, do-nothing staycation ever, but wanted to take the time to get a quick weekend blast out. Hopefully everyone gets to enjoy a long holiday weekend, and is ready to start gearing up for the Bike to the Beach when we all get back.
Special Holiday Ride
Andrea Shull has volunteered to lead a holiday ride on Friday. Wheels up from Bullis County Park at 07:30 am. We currently have no rides scheduled for Saturday or Sunday, but check our Event Schedule periodically - things could change...
Bike to the Beach Dates to Mark on Your Calendar
As mentioned, the paceline is beginning to accelerate for the Bike to the Beach -
Next Saturday, July 12th, there will be a joint training ride for all Bike to the Beach riders, along with a work session on how to customize your personal web site to maximize fundraising. Wheels up at Valero HQ at 07:30 am, with the session occurring from 11:30 am to 1:00 pm. More details to come later. Please RSVP for the training by sending an e-mail to crodriguez@NMSSLONESTAR.org.
In addition, David Sloan will be conducting an evening workshop on web site customization on Wednesday, July 9th, from 06:00 to 08:00 pm at Valero HQ. Don't miss this opportunity to pick the brain of a fundraising Jedi Master. Please RSVP by sending an e-mail to crodriguez@NMSSLONESTAR.org.
The San Antonio Official Kickoff Event is scheduled for July 23rd at Valero HQ, and the Corpus Christi event is scheduled for July 26th. Here's all the details from Cindy Perkins-Rodriquez from MS -
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Kick Off Party (San Antonio) – July 23, 6-8 pm – Come one come all. Be a part of the San Antonio Kick-off Party hosted by Valero Energy Corporation and Presented by VISTA Infusion. Bike shops will be on hand with the latest and greatest products. Take a spin on the spin bikes. Bring your Kids to the Special Kids Corner. Visit vendors, team recruitment tables and sign up for door prizes! Wear your favorite Beach cloths, bike jersey or come as you are. Pappasito’s will feed us, Sweet Leaf Tea and E.J. Gallo will hydrate us, what more could you ask for!
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Kick Off Party (Corpus Christi) – July 26 (NEW DATE & TIME), 11:30 am – 1:30 pm – Here we go Corpus! It’s time to rally the community! We are pleased to announce that our friends over at Brewster Street will host the Corpus Christi Kick-off Party! Snack and non-alcoholic drinks will be provided free of charge courtesy of Brewster Street. Bring the whole family! Brewster Street offers a kids playground, there will be music, team recruitment tables, door prizes and much more!
For more information on these events, please contact me at crodriguez@nmsslonestar.org or by phone at 210-694-3224. Happy Fourth!
- Cindy
Finally, the event itself is scheduled a little earlier this year, on October 4th and 5th. So far, we are the largest team (again) with 118 members signed up (and counting). To see the roster of riders participating this year, click here. If you've registered for the BTTB and don't see your name on this list, there are instructions on the page for how to get added to the mightly Velo Valero cycling machine.
Jersey Orders
The team store is open for new jersey orders! We'll be taking orders until August 15 for delivery in mid-September, prior to the Bike to the Beach. | |
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