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October 2008 - Posts
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Here's the latest and greatest team news -
Upcoming Rides
Just a few reminders on upcoming cycling and other fitness events...
 On Thursday, October 30th, Andrea "Too Tall" Shull will lead a very short end-of-season training ride for folks from Spechts with wheels up at 06:00 pm. Afterwards, we'll head over to Spechts for a little live music on the patio and dinner. If you participated in any of our training programs this year - the Hillfest, the Family Friendly, or the newVcrew - come join us for this end-of-season event! (NOTE: With Daylights Savings Time this weekend, this will be our last weekday ride for many months).
 On Saturday, November 1st, team members will be participating in the annual Tour de Gruene. There is a rumor circulating from reliable sources that Lance Armstrong has signed up to ride the time trials on Saturday and Sunday, so this is one ride you don't want to miss. (Thanks to everyone who sent me the e-mails on this!) Afterwards, we'll enjoy live music and the antique bicycle show at Gruene Hall, then some folks will be heading over to Wurstfest. Click here for all the details.
 On Sunday, November 16th, a number of team members are running in the first ever San Antonio Rock and Roll Marathon. I took two weeks off after the Bike to the Beach, but started training in earnest for this last Monday. Results so far are positive; at this point, I'm cautiously optimistic that I'll do the half, and will finish the 13+ miles without experiencing any long-term injuries. I've gotten great advice from experienced runners such as Board Members Kirstin "Iron Woman" Silberschlag and David "Guido" Gross (such as body parts you should cover with bandages to prevent chafing). This will be my first real running event, and I'm just a little nervous - the Tower Climb earlier this year was just a mile lap around the park before starting the climb, and even then, I made some rookie mistakes. I got my package yesterday, and my bib number is something like 22,000 - 30,000 people have registered, which is almost 10 times the number of folks who did the Bike to the Beach. One reason I want to do the event is just for the physical challenge - all this cycling has allowed me to get into really great shape, and I want to see what this 45-year-old body can do. The other reason is that I've heard so many good things about the group Elite Racing that runs the event, that I'm hoping I can learn a few tricks and tips that we can apply to the cycling events that Valero sponsors.
 Finally, on Saturday, December 6th, a number of team members will be riding the annual Mission to Mission Ride. This family friendly cycling and walking event will travel south of town to visit the gorgeous and historic Missions that line the San Antonio River. I'll be leading members of Boy Scout Troop 307 once again, plus I've managed to coax a few more members of my family to participate (they finally wilted under my relentless pressure!). This is not a well orchestrated, challenging ride for you hammerheads, but it is a fun and casual ride you can do with friends and family not quite ready for the Tour de Cure or Bike to the Beach (yet!).
Click here to see our entire Event Schedule.
Fundraising for the Bike to the Beach
Please check our Team Fundraising Report when you get a chance - make sure all the funds you've raised have been accounted for. If your total is not correct, please send an e-mail to Cindy Rodriguez at MS and explain the discrepancy - she'll help you get it straightened out!. The deadline for individual fundraising prizes from the MS Society has been moved to Friday, November 7th, so you have a little more time to get to $500 or more and earn a prize. Remember: As a member of Velo Valero who participated in some or all of the ride, you are required to raise at least the minimum for the event ($300).
Luncheon at Valero HQ
Mark your calendars! We have the private dining room at Valero HQ scheduled for a Team Luncheon on Thursday, 11/20, from 11:45 am to 1:00 pm. At this event, we'll watch the world debut of the official Team Bike to the Beach event video, plus we'll draw prizes for all riders who raised $300 or more in the Bike to the Beach. For more information, click here.
The Bear
I'll conclude with a photo from Board Member Carl "Teddy Bear" Crawford that was taken when he was doing the Bike Ride Across Tennessee (aka, the BRAT) in September. This photo is from our Velo Valero Around the World photo gallery, where we post photos from team members who travel the world and pose in a team or event jersey next to the many interesting things they find along the way. If you are traveling for work or play in the next few months, remember to bring your jersey - who knows what you may come across! Send any photos you want to share with the team to cycling@valero.com.
Our very own Teddy Bear poses with a cheap imitation of the real thing. For more photos of Carl's cycling adventures, click here.
...see you on the road!
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Good morning and happy Friday! I promise you this blog will contain nothing about Longhorn football - after last Monday's longwinded rant, I've been banned from writing about football ever again...
Upcoming Rides
 On Saturday, John "the Punisher" Tenison will lead a ride on the southside of town. He will leave from the Park and Ride at 1604 and 181 for 40+ miles of rolling farmland, which is sure to include the legendary Floresville Freaknut - click here for the route. Wheels up at 08:00 am. Send an e-mail to john.tenison@valero.com if you plan on joining the ride.
On Thursday, October 30th, Andrea "Too Tall" Shull will lead an end-of-season training ride for folks from Bullis County Park with wheels up at 06:00 pm. Afterwards, we'll head over to Spechts for a little live music on the patio and dinner. If you participated in any of our training programs this year - the Hillfest, the Family Friendly, or the newVcrew - come join us for this end-of-season event!
Finally, on Saturday, November 1st, team members will be participating in the annual Tour de Gruene. Afterwards, we'll enjoy live music and the antique bicycle show at Gruene Hall, then some folks will be heading over to Wurstfest. Click here for all the details.
Click here to see our complete Event Schedule.
Status of Fundraising for the Bike to the Beach
Our fundraising for the 2008 Bike to the Beach continues to creep up - as of this morning, we are at $276,373, and more and more of you have contributed the minimum and beyond. Because of the election on November 4th, the folks at MS have extended the deadline for individual fundraising until Friday, November 7th. This is the cutoff date for any of the fabulous prizes you can receive for various fundraising levels - everyone who raises $500 or more is eligible for something. Also, remember that Velo Valero will be drawing prizes from our Fall raffle to anyone who has raised $300 or more. So, if you have NOT started fundraising yet, what are you waiting for?? Click here to see our current fundraising totals. (NOTE: I pruned the team roster of folks who registered but did not ride either day - this reduced out team count to 257, which is a more accurate number.)
...see you on the road!
- Peter
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 Received this update on the 2008 Ft. Worth Tour de Cure from Team Vice President David "Show Me the Money" Sloan -
What a GLORIOUS weekend to be on a bicycle! The skies were completely cloudless, the temperature was moderate – upper 50’s at the start and 70’s by the time we finished, the winds were light, and the hills were slightly rolling. This could become a favorite ride if they keep the same starting/ending point. No, we did not get to ride around Texas Motor Speedway on our bicycles, but if you have an extra $300 or so, you can drive yourself around in a NASCAR style stock car, or be driven around by a professional driver.
I was joined by Luis and Glennis Bryce on the Velo Valero team, and Ken Mayfield, Erica Rougeau, Phil Bryce and Mike Ollerbidez were there from San Antonio riding on the Red Rider Team. Red Rider is the American Diabetes Association’s name for people who ride and also have diabetes. Ken has started a TDC team called Red Rider. You will see photos of me in both my Valero and Red Rider jerseys. We were joined by about 300 other riders for this second year of the Ft. Worth Tour De Cure.
Red Riders (from left to right) - Mike, Ken, Erica, David, and Philip
In addition to the ride, Saturday was also Glennis’ birthday, so Erica presented her with a pink boa which she used as a neck warmer against the morning chill.
The ride start appeared to be mostly flat, but I was having a hard time maintaining even 14 – 15 mph. Later, I learned from Luis that the first 10 miles or so were a steady 3 – 4% grade false flat. I thought that my legs had just about lost everything after the Bike To The Beach, so I was glad to learn that it wasn’t me! The 15 mile rest stop was a fun one – all decorated for Halloween, complete with a set of – shall we say “wenches” that looked like they had just escaped from the Renaissance Festival. The group all got back together here and started on down the road. Phil did the turnaround here for the 30 mile route because his blood sugar was causing him difficulty and he was not able to enjoy the ride.
David posing with volunteers at one of the rest stops
The next rest stop was only 4 miles down the road and we hadn’t planned to stop there, but the volunteers were pleading with us to pull over, so we did. What a treat! The folks manning the stop were very friendly, and while we were there, several more rider groups stopped in – mainly to get a closer look at Glennis’ boa, I think. One of the riders was an 82 year young member of the Ft. Worth Bicycling Team who also has diabetes and was riding with his wife. We were doing some heavy recruiting for next year’s Valero Tour De Cure and hopefully we will see some of these folks in San Antonio next May.
You're never too old to ride your bike for a great cause!
After 11 miles or so of some easy rolling hills and flats into the 5 – 10 mph wind, we arrived at the last rest stop. Erica was at a blood sugar low, so we had some more fun talking with the volunteers and other riders until Erica was ready to continue. We were kind of celebrating Glennis’ birthday all the way and she and Erica led the last leg back to the start/finish line. During the time at the final rest stop, Luis noted that while we had actually been on the road for two hours, we had paused our ride for a total of about one more hour. Everybody was in a good mood and we were celebrating what felt like a training ride – no pressure, no drops, and no worries on roads that were mostly smooth, with two short stretches of dirt/gravel, and some bumpy pavement, but almost NO chipset!
After the finish, there was lunch of either hot dogs, burgers, or BBQ sandwiches with chips and drinks. The weather was perfect, still and we sat and talked under the empty blue sky until we had to go our separate ways. The Bryces, including their daughter, Emily were going to museums in Ft. Worth, Erica and Ken for more family visits and celebration Saturday night with Glennis and her family, and I went on to the ranch to hunt feral hogs and hopefully chase them away before the opening of deer season in a couple of weeks.
See ya on the road…. - David
David, Glennis, and Luis
Thanks for the update, David. You know, it's been an amazing year for Velo Valero and our support for the American Diabetes Association. The Ft. Worth Tour de Cure is the seventh TDC ride we participated in this year, beginning with the Napa event in early May, and including San Antonio, Baton Rouge, Philadelphia, Wilmington, and Oklahoma City. We had over 250 riders wear our colors and represent the team and the company all across the country. Most importantly, we raised almost $80,000 in our second year as a National Team, meaning over two years, we've raised over $200,000 for this great cause.
And, even though 2008 was a great year, 2009 promises to be even better. First of all, Valero is now the title sponsor of the Valero Tour de Cure, which is scheduled for May 30-31 next year. This will once again be a two-day ride from San Antonio to Austin, with an overnight in the dorms at Texas University. Ken Mayfield is the Event Chair, and with him working with the outstanding local team from ADA and his all-star Volunteer Committee (including the Funky Pirate and the Friddler), I know he will deliver another fantastic cycling experience for us. What are you waiting for?? To register for the Valero Tour de Cure for the low, low price of $15, click here.
The second reason 2009 will be a great year is we will continue to grow the National Team and add new events and local teams to our schedule. For the first time ever, we'll field a team in the Phoenix Tour de Cure, which is scheduled for March 14th. The team is named the Velo Valero Arizona Heat, and is led by Amy Bryce from the Valero Arizona Retail Zone. Amy's new to cycling, but I suspect she may have a few folks from San Antonio come out and help her get this new team off the ground and on the road!
Valero and the ADA Tour de Cure - A Winning Combination!
- Peter
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Good morning and happy Monday! I'll have more news for you later in the week - updates from the Ft. Worth Tour de Cure from Team Vice President David Sloan (who went up to North Texas this weekend to ride the Tour and shoot a few wild hogs on his ranch), plus an update on the MS Bay to Bay ride from our friends in Wilmington (who have been busy lately with some plant maintenance that is going on). But, I want to get something out now, because frankly starting the week with a Velo Valero blog has become somewhat of a tradition around these here parts!
Latest Team News - Important Dates To Mark on Your Calendar
Here are some important dates to mark on your calendar -
Photos from the Bike to the Beach
I continue to receive photos from team members and volunteers from the 2008 Bike MS: Valero Bike to the Beach, and I continue to load the best of the lot to our on-line photo gallery - click here to view. If you have a couple of photos from the ride you want to share with the team, send them to cycling@valero.com.
Team members feeling spry at the starting line of the 2008 Bike to the Beach. For more BTTB photos, click here.
Fundraising
Our fundraising continues to creep up, which is good news - last time I checked, we were pushing $275,000. All of you have until November 4 to submit funds for the various prizes - everyone over $500 is eligible for something, and everyone over $1000 is automatically entered into a drawing to win round trip tickets for two to the land Down Under (aka, Australia), courtesy of that wacky Aussie, Tony Ralf. Plus, as I mentioned last week, the team will be conducting a drawing of items from our raffle (which we opted not to do), and everyone over $300 will be eligible for something.
...I do have to mention one thing regarding our fundraising. If you registered for the Bike to the Beach, but did not ride, you are not required to raise the minimum. You can, of course, if you'd like to, but we don't require it. I'm mainly interested in insuring that people who registered and did participate in some or all of the ride raise the minimum. There are plenty of you out there who probably registered with the best of intentions in the spring or summer, but could not cycle to Corpus Christi for various perfectly good personal reasons, some of which may have come up at the last moment. Hopefully in the next week or so, I'll get a report from MS listing folks in this category, and I'll prune our roster of fundraisers from the 294 we have now, to just the folks that picked up MS packets and did the ride. Sorry for the confusion on this issue!
Weekend Rides
 Received this note from John "the Punisher" Tenison, who joined with Safety Officer Chuck for a ride on the Northeast side of town Saturday, including the always scenic River Road (which we'll all get to enjoy during the Tour de Gruene in two weeks).
You missed a really nice though eventful ride. At about mile 20 after we had come down the really long steep hill on 2722 and were started climbing the next one, Chuck's derailleur cable broke. I asked him, "Who sold you that piece of junk anyway?" We sort of fixed it by jamming a rock in the derailleur so at least he wasn't in his highest gear, and we continued on our way. Chuck managed pretty well - personally I think he's ready for a fixed speed bike (we don't need no stinkin' gears!). River Road was awesome - more cyclists than vehiclular traffic it seemed. I'm planning a run to Floresville next Saturday (home of the legendary Freaknut and some great breakfast tacos). Hope you can join us!
As always, check our Event Schedule for all the details!
Walkin' the Dog for ALS
 I'll admit I did not get up Saturday and join John and Chuck for the ride - I'd promised Debbie and the family that I would spend more time with them once the Bike to the Beach was over. We ran some errands in the morning, then joined up with Chris and Pepper Wilson to walk with them as part of the Wilson Walkers team for the 2008 Walk to Defeat ALS in the amazing San Pedro Park in downtown San Antonio. (I've lived in San Antonio for over 20 years and I've never been to this park - I really need to get out more!) Chris and Pepper have been part of Velo Valero for years, both as riders and volunteers, and it felt good to help them out in a cause they feel a very deep personal connection to. Plus, it was a gorgeous fall day, and it was wonderful to walk the dogs under the shade of those enormous cypress trees that the park is famous for. Finally, I got to meet Laura's dog Max, all 130 lovable pounds of him - he's huge, but he's a gentle giant, and has the sweetest disposition (in addition to the biggest paws I've ever seen on a dog!).
Walking the dogs for ALS (Laura and Max are to the right)
Group shot of some of the Wilson Walkers - Chris and Pepper are in the middle, and Max is rolling around on the left behind the sign
Football
Warning: This is another rambling personal odyssey - if you are just here for hardcore cycling news, you can skip the following.
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...I have loved the game of football for as long as I can remember. Well, at least since 1972 when I was 10-year-old kid and played Pop Warner football for the first time as a wafer-thin lineman for the Ft. Bragg Dolphins on the Army base at Ft. Bragg, North Carolina, where my dad was stationed at the time. That season was memorable for many reasons. It was my first, and we were one of those rare teams that achieved perfection during the season. Due to our amazingly consistent approach to the game - our unwavering and unyielding talent level and focus - well, we managed to attain the same result in every game we played. Yes, we had the same experience in the first game of the season as we did in the last. Some teams go through the season on an emotional roller coaster that is nerve racking for the both players and the fans, but not us. When we strode out on the field like gladiators going until battle, you knew what would happen.
We would lose. |
What made this particularly painful was that as we were slogging our way through a defeated season, the Miami Dolphins of the National Football League were going through what ultimately turned out to be the only undefeated season in NFL history. My Dolphins would get pummeled by double-digits on Saturday morning, and then on Sunday, those incredible Dolphins from Miami would win again - remorselessly, relentlessly, week after week. I remember the players on that team like it was only yesterday, not 36 long years ago - cool Bob Griese at quarterback throwing to the fleet footed Paul Warfield, behind the bruising blocks of massive Larry Little, and mixing in the bone-crushing, up-the-gut running of fullback Larry Csonka (who broke his nose over 10 times, and once knocked over a barn as a kid while horsing around with his brother), and the dazzling lightning strikes of Mercury Morris around the ends. They were an incredible team to watch and be inspired by, and one that gave me a lifelong love of the sport.
 ...I've been thinking about that first year I wore pads as I've watched the Unviversity of Texas Longhorns play this year. For the first time since I graduated in 1985, I got season tickets and will make it to most of the home games. I watched the Horns play Missouri Saturday night in an a widely anticipated matchup of the #1 team in the country (us) playing the #11 team (them). ABC Gameday was there, and the hype (and the crowd noise) was off the charts. UT so far has been on a magic carpet ride of a season, and it was thrilling to watch them race to a 35-0 lead, then hold on for the victory in the second half. Boyish Quarterback Colt McCoy (what a great name for a Texas QB!) has been fun to watch - he came from a tiny 2A school in North Texas where he group up in a town of 700, but plays with such coolness and confidence that I can't even imagine how he can do what he does in front of a crowd of 100,000 and a national television audience. At one point he rolls right, and as he is chased by the massive Missouri linemen, he fumbles the ball. He calmly picks up the ball (in stride!), continues to roll right, and then proceeds to throw a 23 yard strike on the money to an open receiver for yet another first down. I've always believed in the phrase that sports doesn't build character, it reveals character. In sports there are bad characters (re: Pacman Jones), just like there are lots of bad characters throughout society. But there are also the good guys. For now, Colt McCoy has the right stuff, and he is a wonder to behold.
...Going to the games has also been a great way for Debbie and I to spend some time together and relive our college years, plus I get to go to Austin and enjoy the sights and sounds of a truly weird and wonderful city. I'll end with a photograph of a bike I saw someone riding downtown in the sea of tailgating before the game. This chrome beauty with a real STEERing system is definitely a Cruiser Bike, Longhorn style - I need to get me one of these!!!!!!!!!!!!!
...see you on the road!
- El "Hook Em" Hefe
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Happy hump day! Just a few quick items today...
BP MS 150 - Houston to Austin
The world famous BP MS 150 is now open for registration, but the slots are filling up fast! This is the granddaddy of the Lone Star Chapter MS rides. It's scheduled to roll across the gorgeous plains and hills of Cenrtal Texas at the height of the wildflower season on April 18-19. The ride is capped at 13,000 riders, and registration usually fills out within a day or two. In fact, as of 1:30 this afternoon, it was already at over 10,000 riders! If you want to participate, go the web site and sign up RIGHT NOW! To access the on-line registration, click here.
AS OF THURSDAY MORNING, 10/16, THE REGISTRATION FOR THE BP 150 IS CLOSED!
Fall Raffle Cancelled, Instead Prizes Will Be Used in a Drawing
The Board and I met yesterday and reviewed a number of items related to the team. (To see the minutes, click here.) One decision we made was to cancel our fall raffle, since we are already way beyond what our target was for Bike to the Beach fundraising. (Don't worry - if you were one of the handful of folks who bought tickets, your money is being returned to you.) We will instead keep the prizes in storage until November 1, when we'll award them in a drawing to team members who have raised the minimum or more for the Bike to the Beach. This is just one more way we can say, "Thank you!" for those of you who have done everything we've asked you to do as a member of this great team.
...We've been saying this all along that one of the requirements of riding with Velo Valero in the Bike to the Beach is that you must raise at least the minimum amount of fundraising required by the event ($300). The last time I checked it, we had 122 riders who were not at the minimum yet, which is 41% of our total team size. This is, of course, completely unacceptable and completely unfair to those of you who worked hard to meet your goal. We also decided at the Board meeting that the Board and I will be conducting a phone bank in the next two weeks where we'll call everyone below the minimum to see what we can do to help you out. If you receive one of these calls, please don't be surprised - we're only doing our job, which is to help out this great cause on behalf of the team and Valero.
Remember: The deadline for eligibility for any of the Bike MS prizes is November 4th. Anyone who has raised over $500 is eligible for a prize; to see a complete list of what MS if offering, click here.
To see the current fundraising totals, click here.
First Ever Care Bears Awarded to New Rider Program Leaders
 Also at the Board Meeting we handed out the first ever Care Bears to those incredible Board Members who led our new rider programs this year. A full 44% of of you that participated in the Bike to the Beach this year were participating for the very first time. This is an incredible number, and is a testament to the hard work the following folks did to get you comfortable on the road. If you haven't done so already, send them an e-mail thanking them for all those newVcrew rides on Sunday mornings from Cibolo City Hall, and all those Family Friendly rides on Wednesdays from Bullis County Park.
 Megan "Movie Star" Lehnhoff - megan.lehnhoff@valero.com - Megan was the founder of the newVcrew, which I'm sure will be a Velo Valero tradition from now on.
 Carl "Teddy Bear" Crawford - carl.crawford@valero.com - Carl was actually the inspiration for the Care Bear! He has been leading new riders for Velo Valero for years.
 Andrea "Too Tall" Shull - andrea.shull@valero.com - Andrea built a great group of regular cyclists during the week as part of her Family Friendly rides.
Ride This Weekend
Just a reminder - John "the Punisher" Tenison has a ride scheduled this Saturday from Comal Elementary School with wheels up at 08:00 am. Please send him an e-mail at john.tenison@valero.com if you want to join him. Click here to see our complete schedule of events.
Tejeda Students Help Cyclists Start on the Right Pedal
Ken Mayfield, 2009 Tour de Cure Event Chair, sent me a link to the following article from the North East Independent School District web site. Spanish teacher Glennis Bryce is a team member of yours, and will be riding with her husand Luis and Team Vice President David Sloan in the Ft. Worth Tour de Cure this weekend!
On Saturday, Oct. 4, eighth grade students from Tejeda Middle School spent their early morning serving as Start Line Volunteers for the Valero MS Bike to the Beach annual cycling event held at the AT&T Center. This is the largest cycling event in South Texas, which raises funds for research and cure for Multiple Sclerosis, a degenerative disease.
Aleena Karediya, Asam Charolai, Samita Charolai and Rahim Methani, reported to their stations along with their peers at 4 a.m., and proceeded to load luggage onto 18 wheelers for the 3000+ cyclists headed to Beeville, the first stop on the 2 day ride to Corpus Christi.
At 7:30 a.m. the riders left the AT&T Center with the release of doves and a police helicopter fly over.
"It was beautiful to see so many in the community come together for one cause, but for me, the high point was seeing my own Tejeda students in action," said Glennis Bryce, Spanish teacher.
The students also plan to volunteer for the American Diabetes Association Valero Tour de Cure in May 2009.
Glennis Bryce and her students at the Day 1 Start of the Bike to the Beach
...that's it for now. If you want to register for the BP ride, sign up quick - the registration jumped from 9,900 to 10,888 as I typed this up!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (It will close at 13,000). UPDATE: THE REGISTRATION FOR THE BP RIDE IS NOW CLOSED!
...see you on the road!
- Peter
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Happy Monday! It was a fabulous weekend - Valero is having yet another record breaking golf tournament, I got to watch the Horns beat the Sooners in an amazing football game Saturday, and I got to see the hilarious touring production of Avenue Q on Sunday. It was pretty quiet on the cycling front, but that won't last long - the Board and I will meet tomorrow to plan out the rest of the year, and the Punisher is already working on his schedule of off-season rides for us.
Update on Norma from Corpus Christi
As many of you know, Norma Ham, one of our riders from Corpus Christi, was involved in an accident during the Bike to the Beach last weekend, and spent a few days in the hospital recovering. I received this note from her Friday -
I would like to thank you and the Velo Valero team for the lovely flowers. It was so nice to have so many thoughts and prayers for my recovery. It was just an unfortunate accident while fighting for such a good cause. My recovery may take some time, but I will one day again ride with the Valero team on the road. Thanks to all....Safe riding to all.
- Norma
Bike to the Beach Fundraising Prizes
Even though the Bike MS: Valero Bike to the Beach was last weekend, there's still time for you to fundraise for this great cause. Anyone who raises $500 or more is eligible for a prize - to see the complete list of prizes, click here. In addition to the prizes, many of you are very close to being a member of the exclusive Club 100 group (if you aren't already there), which will get you all sorts of perks on the 2009 ride. To read more about Club 100, click here.
Finally, there's still 122 of you who haven't raised the minimum yet - a full 41% of our registered riders. You know who you are, and if you plan on raising the minimum this year, there's no time like now to get the party started. Click here to see the latest fundraising totals.
Tour de Gruene Coming Up - Free Tickets to Wurstfest for You and a Guest
Team Member Pat O'Brien has worked out a deal with the organizers of this year's Tour de Gruene, who really want more teams like us to participate. If you register for the event between now and October 23rd, you will get a free ticket to Wurstfest for you and a guest. After you register at the Tour de Gruene site as a member of Velo Valero, send an e-mail to pat@satx.rr.com with your name and address, plus the name of your guest, and he'll make sure you get two tix to the legendary 10-day Salute to Sausage and Celebration of All Things German.
Velo Valero riders at the start of last year's Tour de Gruene
Weekend Ride
As mentioned earlier, John "the Punisher" Tenison has had enough of the off-season. He and Chuck "The Rock" Divelbiss have the first of our off-season rides scheduled for this Saturday. The ride is 48 miles short, including the always scenic River Road, starting at Comal Elementary at 08:00 am. As always, check our Event Schedule for all the upcoming rides and events.
San Antonio Wheelmen Rider Education Series
Board Member Megan "Movie Star" Lehnhoff informed me that the next class for the San Antonio Wheelmen Rider Education Series (RES) is cranking up next Saturday, October 18th. Remember - we will reimburse the regisration fee for any Velo Valero rider that completes this always excellent course. If you are interested in the RES, send an e-mail to info@sawheelmen.com.
...that's it for now. Remember, if you have any stories and photos from the Bike to Beach, send them to cycling@valero.com and I'll get them on our web site for the world to see.
See ya' on the road!
- Peter
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 ...As many of you know, Tony Ralf is the VP of the Lone Star Chapter of the MS Society. He's been the heart and soul of the Bike MS: Valero Bike to the Beach for many, many years. He has the awesome responsibility of coordinating this bike ride each year, and more importantly, for energizing people to raise money for the cause he cares so deeply about. His commitment and passion is so intense that he has done all sorts of crazy things in the past to raise money, including selling the right to shaving his head, to dying his hair and eyebrows. I've worked with Tony for years, and my commitment to this event is largely the result of his inspiration.
 Tony (right) during the 2006 Friday Night Expo with his twin Ken Mayfield, the 2008-2009 Valero Tour de Cure Event Chair
Well, as you may also know, this summer Tony's sister Pauline passed away after a long bout with MS. He immediately boarded a plane to attend the funeral. After 8 years of doing the Bike to the Beach and raising money for MS, this was the first time that I found myself truly impacted by the disease - Tony was my friend, and his pain was my pain. This is what I blogged at the time -
 This weekend Velo Valero experienced a loss in our extended cycling family that I have to share with you. As many of you know, Tony Ralf, VP of the Lone Star Chapter of the MS Society, has been the heart and soul of the Bike to the Beach for as long as I can remember - and this will be my ninth year to ride the event. His humor and boundless energy and enthusiasm have enabled the BTTB to grow from 500 riders during my first year to the over 3500 riders expected this year. This past Friday Tony's sister Pauline passed away after a 20-year battle with MS. Although grieving his loss, the very next morning Tony led a group of us on a dry run of the new Corpus Christi finish line route which included riding over the Harbor Bridge. Tony was as upbeat as usual, anxious to get our feedback on the proposed changes, which he believes deeply will add that extra new wrinkle to the event, which in turn will attract even more riders and raise even more dollars to battle this disease. Those of you who are part of the Velo community who look forward to the Bike to the Beach each year know that Tony is family and his loss is our loss. Tony's currently on a plane heading for Austraila to attend the funeral, but we can all still do something to show we care. If you can, go to the his team site at Pauline's Last Hurrah and make a donation - no amount is too small. As part of the online donation, write a small note to Tony letting him know how much he and the BTTB have meant to you over the years. I think this will mean more to Tony than any of us can imagine.
...After writing this, I logged into the Pauline's Last Hurrah web site and donated the first $500 for his team - and I was the first of many to do this, my friends. Tony told me when he got back to San Antonio, he had countless e-mails from friends wishing him well, and he had countless donations to his team.
But this is not the end of the story.
Tony with his brother in Sydney, in front of the bridge that became the inspiration for us to ride the Harbor Bridge this year in Corpus Christi
...A week or so later, I was eating dinner with Tony, his boss Mark, and a few of the bigger event coordinators and contributors, including guys like Chris Shaw and Steve High that have been huge supporters of the ride for years. It was at this time that the topic came up that since Tony had a team on the web site, why wasn't he planning on doing the ride? As the evening went on, the discussion became more animated (the margaritas may have had something to do with this). I immediately became convinced it was the right thing to do, and it would be a gargantuan inspiration for all the other riders in the event, particularly folks riding it for the first time. Plus, it would make Tony a better event planner, because he would know what a ride was like from a cyclist's perspective. Finally, Tony's boss Mark laid down the gauntlet - he said he knew someone who would match Tony's fundraising dollar for dollar up to $50,000 - if and only if Tony raised $50,000 and completed the ride. (Mark was convinced Tony would never complete the ride, so felt this was a no risk proposition.) I looked into Tony's eyes and saw over a short period of time a wide range of emotions - disbelief, denial, acceptance, and then, a gradual but growing enthusiasm that yes, he would do this, and he would do it like everything else he has done in his life - with gusto, and with an undeniable Aussie flair.
Tony at one of the Velo Valero family friendly rides earlier this year
Tony trained like any newbie - short, painful rides in the beginning that grew longer and faster each week. And, as you will read below, he did the Bike to the Beach, all 164 miles of it, and he did it just the way I thought he would - with gusto, and with an undeniable Aussie flair (although those yellow socks have to go!).
Yesterday, I checked his fundraising on the web site, and he was just south of $50,000. Once again, overcome by an emotion which obviously comes from the Irish side of the family, I decided that I wanted Velo Valero to be the contributor to push him over the top. At around noon, I transferred enough funds from our shared team fundraising to push him over $50,000, and therefore make him eligible for the $50,000 match. Tony knows that he has a friend in Velo Valero, but I just wanted to give him one more reminder.
...Since not all of you can get to Tony's blog at work, I'll include the entire entry he wrote after completing the Bike to the Beach this year. You are also welcome to send him a congratulory e-mail at TRALF@NMSSLONESTAR.org.
Thanks Tony, for being a great leader for us in this event, and congratulations on finally manning up and doing the ride with the rest of us!
 Surprised Myself; Rode the Entire 164-Mile Route
It's been busy since Sunday, when I crossed the Finish Line for the 19th annual Valero Bike to the Beach! Yes, that's correct; with just 9 weeks training I completed the 164-mile, 2-day fundraiser. I felt so strong on the first day that I opted to ride the 100-mile route...I need to be BOLD in all that I do to make a difference, just like you did with your donation! Thank you so, so much for your support.
This note it going out from my heart to all donors and supporters of my personal cause, as I attempted to fundraise in Pauline's memory, and also raise as much money to maximize the $50,000 matching offer made to me 10 weeks ago!
You'll remember, somebody dared me. Actually they challenged me, basically saying that they doubted my ability to even be ready to line up for the ride, and if I did ride I wouldn't finish! You know me well, that kind of challenge is like a red flag to a bull, right?
So I slogged through high temperatures, leg cramps (aided later by heavy Pickle Juice consumption), very high and relentless head winds on both days (gusting to 28 MPH).
Pauline's Last Hurrah team lined up with 69 members! We crossed the Finish Line having fund-raised $105,000...and counting! This does NOT include the matching of $50,000 for my fundraising. As of today my personal total is at $49,100, just shy of $50K. There is a fundraising momentum in place that I believe will carry me beyond $50,000 by this weekend.
 My brother David, and Pauline's youngest son Jeramie (a.k.a Jez) flew in from Australia to ride with me and for Pauline. Actually, I ended up riding in her memory, but also adopted a little girl (Mallory Reid) as my Champion, a program at the Society that allows us to connect with someone living with MS. Mallory is all of 6 years old, and was diagnosed with MS at the ripe old age of 2! Unacceptable, right?
The ride was a hugely emotional-filled adventure. It was an awesome time for the three amigos. Lots and lots of "ata boys" coming from the crowd, riders, volunteers, staff and other folks living with MS, all proud of the three of us riding in Pauline's memory. We were quite the buzz of the weekend!
David is quite the athlete, and of the three of us the Lance Armstrong equivalent. David finished both days in record time, taking no prisoners, just getting it done! But I'm proud of our first-day accomplishment, because the three of us took up and completed the 100-mile optional route! Geez, I hope Pauline appreciates that, my bum hurt all night... :-)
Youth is wasted on the young! Jez raced ahead and finished well ahead of his uncles on the first day. Dave waited for his older brother at the 93-mile mark, which was the ending mark for almost everyone else, but the two Ralf brothers met up and made it a Century Ride together. We circled through the route and headed for the finish line, and rode across the line in victorious salute to Pauline to thunderous applause and lots and lots of "yahoos" and praise from the announcer of the PA system. Then my boss doused me in ice-cold water...
David headed out on Sunday with the HOLT CAT team at 7 a.m., 30 minutes before the official start. They wanted to get a head start on the anticipated 28-knot head winds forecast for Sunday, the second day.
 The PA announcer was calling my name to come up to the front of the Start, as my boss grabbed the microphone and sought encouragement from the 3,000 cyclists for me to lead off the group...I was pumped!
The day proved to be very difficult. The head wind was constant throughout the day, exhausting and relentless! But we weren't to be denied our victory. David finished the event at about 11 am, 4 hours after he started the 64-mile journey. Jez unfortunately was hit by another cyclist as he was helping another cyclist with a flat tire. Jez rode to our lunch stop, and the Medical staff diagnosed a strained Achilles tendon. Strapped it up and told him to call it a day! So my boss drove him from lunch to the Finish Line. He was disappointed, but was in no condition to pedal the remaining 30-plus miles with such an injury.
That left just one family member out on the route. It's amazing how lonely it can be riding in an event with 3,000 riders! The wind just strung us all out, and when we did pass each other we were so exhausted it was difficult to even say "hello!"
We passed a beautiful field filled with thousands of sunflowers in full bloom, tracking the sun across the sky, Pauline grew sunflowers at home. That began the emotional turmoil in me, as it conjured thoughts of Pauline, and so began the hardest leg for me. But I wasn't about to give up.
I arrived at the last rest stop before the finish, just 12 miles away. A good friend and cycling mentor rode back out from the Finish to escort me along the final leg of this journey. I noticed some of the official vehicles (vans, police escort, motorcycles) giving me the thumbs up as rode this final leg. I found out later that the entire HAM Radio network, about 150-200 operators, had been given instructions to track my every step for the entire 2 days. So the radio chatter had increased during the final hour.
Then we met the Corpus Christi Harbor Bridge, the last mile of the journey. The arc of the bridge's road surface is as steep as the arc of the Sydney Bridge! So you can imagine I wasn't looking forward to this final challenge. But I did it, my friend was encouraging me all the way, riding alongside me as I slowly, ever so slowly pedaled. It hurt so much. I didn't ever look for the top of the bridge. Just kept looking at the road surface, thinking of Pauline and hearing my friend's encouragement, "Come on Tony, you can do it for Pauline..."
I reached the top, physically drained, and that's when the realization hit me like a truck...I'd done it! Coasting down the other side of the bridge was exhilarating, picking up speeds of 30 MPH.
There had been a stream of riders standing out of my way, hugging the side of the bridge, which I thought was a bit odd, but later found out they'd been asked to wait there for my passing...
Then I saw police flashing lights ahead of me as two local police pursuit vehicles pulled out in front of me. I thought I was going to be busted for speeding!
What happened was that the HAM radio chatter had cleared the course for my arrival. The police were there to escort me the final 1,000 meters to the finish, sirens on and lights flashing.
  Sorry, but here's where the emotion bubbled up and the tears I'd been holding back ever since the sunflower field 2 hours earlier just poured fourth. I was greeted by thousands of onlookers, the DJ was saying something about me, Pauline, the team and the fundraising, but it didn't mean anything to me. I was sobbing like a new born baby as I crossed the finish line to the roaring applause. It's got me welling up now just reliving it and writing it for you!
I rounded the corner heading along the final 200 meters to the parking lot where I was met by my ever-supportive and sobbing wife, Bow, Jez...David hiding his tears behind his sunglasses (he has to remain cool), and a mass of people just wanting to share in the emotion of the moment.
It was a wonderful outpouring for Pauline's memory.
R.I.P. my dear Pauline...this one was for you xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Way to go Tony - we are all so proud of you!
- Peter
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 Diane Moore from Valero Corporate Communications Department (and your Velo Valero teammate) published the following article on the Valero Intranet today.
Valero Sets the Pace for Fundraising, Cycling Event
“The ride over the Harbor Bridge put the perfect exclamation point on this year’s Bike to the Beach,” exclaims Velo Valero Team Captain Peter Ray, who is a 10-year ride veteran of the 160-mile fundraising, cycling event.
The Grande Finale of the two-day ride from San Antonio to Corpus Christi emphasized Valero’s grand participation at this year’s event. Velo Valero led the way on many fronts. With its nearly 100 volunteers, and 293 riders - including those who suffered great losses from hurricanes Ike and Gustav - Velo Valero was the largest team with the largest team and individual fundraisers -- raising a record-breaking $261,000 (and counting) for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society’s Lone Star Chapter. The Chapter hopes to raise about $1.8 million with this year’s Bike to the Beach event, a 20 percent increase over last year’s $1.5 million fundraiser. The money raised supports research to find a cure and better treatment for those suffering from multiple sclerosis (MS).
Participating in this year’s Bike MS: Valero Bike to the Beach event were volunteers and riders from Valero’s San Antonio, Three Rivers, Corpus Christi, Port Arthur and former Krotz Springs locations. Even Valero’s Motorcycle Club members served as Support and Gear (SAG) volunteers, helping riders as they pedaled 96 miles from San Antonio to Beeville, Texas, on Saturday, and 65 miles from Beeville to the finish line in Corpus Christi, Texas, on Sunday.
Setting the pace for Valero’s most dedicated team and rider were five cyclists from Valero’s Port Arthur refinery, who despite losses due to Hurricane Ike still managed to participate in this year’s Valero Bike to the Beach.
“The decision to go ahead with ride was an not an easy one since many of us spent countless hours at work rebuilding and preparing the plant for start-up, not to mention the disruption to our weekly training rides,” said Velo Valero member Reggie Ramirez, operations supervisor at Valero’s Port Arthur refinery.
Dave Hanson, Port Arthur refinery Velo Valero team captain, who serves as senior planner for Turnaround Planning, not only lost his road bike but lost his entire house to the hurricane.
“With all that he and his family have suffered over the past weeks, he decided that he would still ride in the Bike to the Beach,” said Ramirez. “Last Friday morning, he picked up his replacement bike and drove to San Antonio for the ride. By taking part in ride and the fundraising effort to raise money for those suffering from MS, if you don’t call this service to others then I’m not sure what is. If anyone had a good excuse of not riding, well it probably wasn’t as good as the one that Dave could have used,” he said.
And there were plenty of excuses that could have been used. The grueling 20-mph headwinds, plus rough pavement combined with the afternoon sun, made the two-day ride a true test of will, especially for new riders, such as Hal Adams, vice president of Valero’s Retail Merchandising group, and Eric Moeller, vice president of Valero’s Wholesale Marketing group.
Moeller made the event a family affair, cycling alongside his 13-year-old son Jack.
“The Bike to the Beach was a great way to spend father-son time together and a wonderful opportunity to teach Jack about setting and reaching challenging goals,” Moeller said.
Forty-four percent of Velo Valero’s riders were like the Moellers and had never ridden in an organized cycling event. Another family duo and new rider was 16-year old Elise Holmes, who rode alongside veteran rider Lyn Holmes, manager regulatory affairs – Environmental.
“Elise hit the wall at mile 62, but pulled herself together and finished strong,” said Holmes. “She had biggest smile on her face at the top of the (Harbor) Bridge (near the finish line of Day 2) – and I’ll remember that forever,” he said.
Other memorable moments for first-time and veteran riders alike were the inspiration and support received from people along the route who cheered the riders on -- some folks were in wheelchairs and pick up beds. Others had hand-lettered signs thanking the riders for riding to help cure MS -- signs that displayed quotes like “Thank you for riding for my mom since she can’t.”
Plus, there were hundreds of people at the start and finish lines cheering riders on, hundreds of volunteers were at break stops handing out water, oranges, bananas, pickle juice, thanks and encouragement. In addition, the riders encouraged one another all along the way.
Longtime riders, such as Ray, Andrea Shull, senior commercial analyst at corporate headquarters, and Eddie Gamez, business services manager at the Corpus Christi refinery, find different inspirations for their rides.
“I ride for two reasons. First, it is a challenging but enjoyable event that I can share with friends. Second, I feel that I can at least struggle riding 150 miles on a bike over two days if it supports finding a cure for everyone that struggles with MS every day,” Gamez said.
Longtime rider Shull added that, “Why do I get up for months at 5:30 a.m. on a Saturday? Why do I push myself to the point of exhaustion? Why do I do so much for so many people that I don’t know? The answer is that I met my pedal partner this year at an MS camp for Kids in March. He was diagnosed at the very young age of 9 and can no longer talk or walk. I ride so that some day he can kiss his mother and tell her he loves her.”
The National MS society hosts about 100 Bike MS events across the country as its premier fundraising event. San Antonio’s is one of the bigger rides, and Valero has participated in the event for more than a decade.
View more photos of the 2008 Valero MS Bike to the Beach
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Good afternoon and happy Thursday! This is the third blog this week, and I'm sure there will be another one tomorrow - there's just so much good news to share about the team these days!
Port Arthur Team
I received this note from Reggie Ramirez from the Port Arthur Team, which participated in the Bike to the Beach with us this year -
As you all are aware, the majority of Southeast Texas was recently affected by the Hurricane Ike ,including the Valero Port Arthur Refinery. There were five cyclists from the refinery that still managed to participate in this year’s Bike MS: Valero Bike to the Beach. The decision to go ahead with the ride was not an easy one since many of us spent countless hours at work rebuilding and preparing the plant for start-up, not to mention the disruption to our weekly training rides.
Some of the other team members as well as myself thought that one of our team members deserved special recognition. Dave Hanson, our team captain, not only lost his road bike but lost his entire house to Hurricane Ike. With all that he and his family have suffered over the past weeks, he decided that he would still ride in the Bike to the Beach. Last Friday morning he picked up his replacement bike and drove to San Antonio for the ride. Dave participated in the ride and the fundraising efforts for those suffering from MS - if you don’t call this service to others then I’m not sure what is. If anyone had a good excuse for not riding, well it probably wasn’t as good as the one that Dave could have used. Not only did he show up for the ride, but he was able to ride all 150 miles. Please help me in congratulating and applauding Dave in completing the ride and thanking him for his unselfish effort demonstrated this past weekend. - Reggie
Way to go Dave - we are proud to have you on this team!
Port Arthur team - from left to right, Reggie Ramirez, Dave Hanson, Donald Lyons, Scott Binagia and Peter Mondello
Update from Our Friends from Krotz Springs
 I got this note from Monika Harper, Captain of our team in Krotz Springs. She and her team were also adversely impacted by the recent hurricanes, but they saddled up and joined us for the ride anyway, mixing in a little well-deserved R&R along the way.
Well, we survived another one!! And I mean survived. This was a last minute, "let's go"! None of us had trained/prepared like we should have and we felt it about half way through Saturday. But everyone pulled, pushed and encouraged each other through the day and the next until we were over the bridge and felt like we had just tackled the biggest obstacle we have ever faced!
...I've got to admit, it was because of people like Phillip, Andre', Danica and Richard that I made it through Day 1. It was the fellowship and friendship of our former Valero family that got me through Day 2. Peter, Laura, Dora, David, Zora, Chuck, John, Donna, Deanna, Paige, PJ, and everyone else just made us feel so welcome and at home that we were inspired to go on. Bill Klesse went out of his way to visit with us and thank us for coming this year in spite of the problems we recently had (Hurricane Gustav). We had a blast. After 3 years for Danica and 2 years for Andre' going to San Antonio, they finally went to the Riverwalk. This was my 4th trip to Corpus Christi and my first time to visit the beach and enjoy the area. We made a mini vacation out of this event and had a great time. Peter please pass this on to the Velo Valerians in San Antonio. Tell them thank you from Krotz Springs. We love all of you guys! You are the best!
- Monika Harper
Thanks so much for joining us Monika - you and the rest of your team have a lifetime membership in Velo Valero!
Brightroom Photos
Brightroom once again took the official event photographs for us. In particular, they had a cameraman on the Harbor Bridge taking photos of us as we climbed it and reached the top. They had a spotter who looked for bib numbers, which is how they are sorting the photos. They will e-mail you when your photos are ready for you to view, but you have to register in their site first. To get on the mailing list for your photos, click here. Here's a sample below -
 Laura "The Queen" Vaccaro, Team Captain from 2005-2006, roaring down the Harbor Bridge. Laura coordinated our SAG and courtesy shuttles, along with the luggage truck, and worked around the clock for three straight days. It was so wonderful to see her take a break from this job for a few minutes, slip into her cycling gear, and pedal the last leg of the ride with us.
Valero View Article on the Bike to the Beach
Diane Moore from Valero Corporate Communications Department (and your Velo Valero teammate) published the following article on the Valero Intranet today. Click here to view the article.
Organized Rides Between Now and the End of the Year
Well, just because the Bike to the Beach is over doesn't mean our cycling year is over - there are still a few organized events out there we will participate in as a team. Our next Board Meeting is next Tuesday, and we'll be discussing our schedule between now and December 31st then. If you have a ride you'd like the team to participate in, send an e-mail to cycling@valero.com and I'll bring it up at the meeting. Here are two that we traditionally do -
- On November 1st, the Tour de Gruene will be held in New Braunfels, with distances of 15, 30, and 40 miles, including the very scenic River Road. The first 500 riders to register get a ticket to Wurstfest, where El Hefe will probably be celebrating his birthday again this year. Click here for more details.
- On December 6th, the Mission to Mission ride will be held. This ride along the scenic San Antonio Mission Trail has distances of 15, 34, and 58 miles. I'll be there leading scouts from Troop 307 again, as I've done in year's past. Click here for more details.
El Hefe partying with the Wurstfest Opas at last year's Tour de Gruene
...see ya' on the road!
- Peter
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Good morning and happy Wednesday! ...It's hard to believe that just a few days ago many of us were climbing up the massive Harbor Bridge in Corpus Christi. Hopefully everyone has recovered physically from this incredible challenge (and forgotten about the brutal headwinds and the lines for the showers), and is ready to saddle up do it all again next year. As I mentioned earlier, if you have a story you want to share and/or some photos, please send them to cycling@valero.com and I'll get them posted to our web site. We already have a number of Rider Testimonials loaded, and our Photo Gallery is growing every day.
Lost and Found
...We had a few items show up after Sunday that are in our lost and found. If you lost any of the following items, please send an e-mail to cycling@valero.com and we'll get you reunited with your stuff.
Message from Bill Klesse
CEO Bill Klesse (and Bike MS Top Fundraiser) sent the following message to all employees Tuesday.
I would like to thank the nearly 300 volunteers that worked last weekend to make the Bike MS: Valero Bike to the Beach a successful fundraiser and an exceptionally well-run event. Thank you for giving up your weekend for a wonderful cause. For all the cooks, servers, motorcycle riders, SAG drivers, our Team Captain and Board, and the organizers, thank you for a terrific job.
Now we are fully engaged in the Valero Texas Open and Benefit for Children Golf Classic. Between these events we have over 1,500 volunteers from Valero along with many others. You can recognize our Valero volunteers by their red volunteer shirts and their company pride. These two golf events are key events for Valero and we are so thankful to our incredible volunteer corps for making them happen. I am sure we will have fun and hopefully, no rain on Sunday.
Thank you for volunteering.
- Bill
Teammate Bill Klesse on the road during Day 1
Fundraising Status
We are off the charts and breaking new records almost daily with our fundraising - we are now up to $260,141 and counting, which once again makes us the top fundraiser this year and the largest fundraising team ever in the event. But, as impressive as this is, our work isn't done. A full 42% of our registered riders have not raised the minimum yet, and 28% of you have not raised any funds at all. I want each of you that rode to think about all the incredible work the volunteers put into this event, along with the staff from MS. Also think about the herculean effort it took for you to get over that Harbor Bridge, how you didn't think it was possible to reach the top after 160 brutal miles on the road. We all did this not for ourselves but to raise awareness and funds for the MS Society - end of story. ...The good news is you have until November 5th to turn in any moneys you have raised to be eligible for any of the prizes they offer for various fundraising levels. To see a list of prizes, click here - anyone who raises $500 or more is gonna' win something. Also, anyone who raises $1000 or more has the possibility of winning two round-trip tickets to the Land Down Under (i.e., Australia) courtesy of everyone's favorite Aussie, Tony Ralf. What are you waiting for?
To see our current fundraising totals and team roster, click here.
Awards Banquet
Mark your calendars, friends - the end of year Awards Banquet this year is scheduled for December 4th from 5:00 to 08:00 pm at Valero HQ. We'll be on the 4th Floor of the D Building, the same place we had our Kickoff Party at. As in year's past, I want as many team members and event volunteers to attend as possible, in addition to as many friends and family members as you can muster. This is our time to celebrate what we have accomplished as a team. We are certain to win a number of awards as in years past, and I want each of you to participate in the celebration because each of you contributed to our success.
Team members at last year's Awards Banquet
Call for Board Members and Officers
...As our cycling season winds down this year, we will soon turn our attention to electing new Board Members and Officers for 2009. If you are interested in learning more about these positions, please don't hesitate to contact me. You may also want to peruse the Team By-Laws we ratified this year, which explains the roles and responsibilities of each position. (Thanks again to PJ and Patrick for putting these together for us!) As it stands, we'll elect new Board members in November, and the Board will then choose our officers (including National Team Captain) in December.
Louisiana and Bay to Bay MS Rides
Once again, I've spent so much time focusing on our Bike to the Beach, that I've neglected rides that our members in other parts of the country are doing. For example, I received this from Dennis Ross from our St. Charles refinery, who did the Louisiana ride this year:
The Louisiana MS-150 was this weekend. I don't have the exact number, but there were over 1000 riders. The route was from Southeastern Louisiana University to Percy Quinn State Park in Maccomb Mississippi. The ride was attended by Chris Marrion and me. Mississippi being at a higher elevation than Louisiana, it was uphill most of the way there. Then as a practical joke, some gremlins reversed all of the hills during the night, and turned the wind around so the return ride would also be uphill and into a stiff headwind.
Dennis Ross posing at the entrance to Percy Quin State Park along the route
Also - the Bike MS Bay to Bay Tour ride will be held this weekend, with riders in Southern California (including folks from the Valero Wilmington Refinery) riding from Orange County to San Diego in what will once again be one of the most scenic MS rides on the calendar. I'll have photos and stories for you next week - good luck guys!
Wilmington Riders during the 2007 Bay to Bay Ride
A Few More Photos from the Weekend
...I'll end with a few more of my favorite photos from the BTTB. To see all the photos from the event, click here.
El Hefe dragging Board Member and "Hostess with the Mostess" Lucy Hernandez to the front of the stage for a well deserved round of applause. (Look at that smile!) I can't thank Lucy enough for once again creating a memorable team tent experience for us on very limited funds. Although she worked a very long 14 hour day, and got bitten by way too many mosquitos, and said she's NEVER dolng this again, she's already kicking around ideas for next year...
So close, and yet so far! - Steve DiPaola fixes a flat on the Harbor Bridge'
Laura "The Queen" Vaccaro, Team Captain from 2005-2006, roaring down the Harbor Bridge. Laura coordinated our SAG and courtesy shuttles, along with the luggage trucks, and worked around the clock for three straight days. It was so wonderful to see her take a break, slip into her cycling gear, and pedal the last leg of the ride with us.
Team members go undercover during the Saturday Night team experience
Team photo we took after our pre-ride Lunch on Friday at Valero HQ. It was so great to get together with everyone the day before the big weekend to watch some of our team videos and just hang out together.
A very proud mother poses with El Hefe and friends at the finish line in Corpus Christi
...that's it for now. See you on the road!
- Peter
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 I actually wrote this last night before I collapsed, but because of a glitch with our web site, it didn't go out until this morning...sorry!
I'm at home after the 48-hour whirlwind that was the 2008 Bike MS Valero Bike to the Beach. As usual, I didn't sleep all weekend, and I'm starting to feel it. Before I descend into a sleep so deep that it will take a stun gun to wake me, let me spend a little time trying to summarize what was once again an amazing two days in the saddle on the road to Corpus Christi for a truly great cause....
...First of all, let me set the record straight. Yes, at the begining of the ride, as almost three hundred Velo Valero riders started off from the AT&T Center with the energy and force of a tsunmai, with yours truly at the helm and a full nine years of experience with this route - well, there's no way to sugar coat this - I took a wrong turn. An officer of the law, with a big ol' badge on his chest and who seemed to know what he was doing, pointed right and I followed. Little did I know that he was telling a truck to turn right, and not the three hundred amped up cyclists ready to commence on a 160 mile fast-paced odyssey to the coast. I will forever be known as "Wrong Way Ray" from this day forward, and it's a cross I have to bear - yes friends, I am navigationally impaired, and I need help. I like to think it's a testament to my leadership skills that the team followed me even though most of you knew we were making the wrong turn, because hey, everyone knew things would end up all right.
And they did - and it was amazing. The English language, as rich and expressive as it is, lacks the adjectives to describe this weekend. When I arrived at our team tent compound in Beeville, I was overwhelmed - Board Member and miracle worker Lucy Hernandez somehow topped what she did last year (which, frankly, I didn't think was possible). She and her crew created a small cycling village that we could all enjoy in the middle of a hard ride, to help us forget for a few hours the endless chip seal, the constant headwind, and somewhere far away in Washington and New York, the financial crisis. We tried to add a few new things this year - chocolate milk to aid the Day 1 recovery for riders, an air conditioned set of porta-potties (which, unforunately, ran our of water very early on Saturday), and on-site bicycle repair from our friends at Performance. Hats off to all the volunteers that made this happen - Sammy Nieto for coordinating the cooks, Jana Borie for arranging our massage tent, and Laura Vaccaro for coordinating the SAG vvehicles and the luggage truck, which I know now is a job of biblical proportions with a team this size.
What were my favorite memories? Here's a few...
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Watching my 70 year old father-in-law Stan deliver the prayer at the beginning of the ride to a sea of 3000 riders, and then seeing him ride 100+ miles over two days, including the climb up the massive Harbor Bridge at the end
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Being shanghaied into wearing a straw skirt and singing some Beach Boys song that I really didn't know the words to (I'm a man of many talents, and as you all know now, singing is not one of them!)
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Trying as hard as possible Saturday night to meet everyone on the team, and in the midst of shaking so many hands and making so much small talk, forgetting to eat any of the incredible dinner the volunteers had prepared
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Sucking wheel on some amazing pacelines led by Velo Valero hammerheads Luis, Lori, Chuck, Pat, and Mike, as we battled the wind, the chip seal, and a couple of slick roads for two days, and having to put up with Andrea's constant sarcasm and short jokes the whole time
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That ferocious and relentless headwind south of Sinton that once again proved to be 20 miles of some of the most challenging cycling many of us will every do
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After nine years of doing this, having my mom finally present at one of our finish lines, and seeing the pride in her face in what I've accomplished (although it did cost me two nights at the Omni to get her there!)
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And finally, joining up with so many of my teammates and friends at the base of the Harbor Bridge, and then struggling to climb it together, enjoying the awesome vista at the top, and then rolling down to that incredible finish line. Included in the group were folks like Laura, PJ, and Donna, who have been such a huge part of the team for so many years and have done countless Bike to the Beach rides, but this year for some reason or another were unable to do the entire ride. I can't describe what it was like to finally cross a finish line with the Queen Laura Vaccaro, who has been such an inspiration to me in my job as Captain.
I need to crawl into bed and call it a weekend, so I'll end this for now. I promise I'll have more in the days to come. Please send an e-mail to | |
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