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February 2009 - Posts
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Can you believe the weather we are having in South Texas? Wednesday's temp was almost 90 degress and this is still winter. We had a great winter training season and now it's time to shed the winter cloths and get ready for spring. We have two training rides available this weekend for you, plus a fitness challenge you won't forget.
Saturday, February 28th, 8:30 A.M. - Cool Cats Sponsored Tour de Cure Training Ride - Twin Lakes Ride - This ride will start at the park & ride located at Hwy 181 and Loop 1604 East. Two distances are available. The longer route route is 42 miles and goes towards Floresville then back to the North side of Braunig Lake then across Hwy 181 and around Calaveras Lake and back to the start / finish. Ride is relatively flat with a few small hills. Anybody wishing to do just 22 miles can follow the same route and turn-off at Hwy 181 at about 18 miles to go straight back to the vehicles.
Please contact Cool Cats team captain if you need any additional informatin. Della Corales PH: (210) 846-2280 e-mail: drcorales@aol.com
Cool Cats Captain Della and Erica from ADA at the TDC Kickoff Ride Last Saturday
  For reasons known only to them, Board Members Peter Ray and Nerissa Muniz will be doing the San Antonio Tower Climb this Saturday, February 28th. This non-cycling fitness challenge consists of a one-mile run to get the heart started, then a brisk climb up 952 stairs (58 floors) to the top of this incredible San Antonio landmark. (If you want, you can run down for another 952 steps just to prolong the pain.) Registration starts at 08:00 am, and the run/climb begins at 09:00 am. If you participate in the event, show your pride and wear your Velo Valero team jersey - We'll try to gather everyone up for a group photo before the climb begins. For more information, click here.
Peter and Valero Volunteers 1904 steps later (952 up and 952 down) at the 2008 Tower Climb
 Sunday, March 1st - 10:00am start from Free Tail - Carl Crawford will lead the ride starting from Free Tail brew pub at 10am. Located on the access road in front of the Academy on the corner of NW Military and 1604. Route will be 35 - 40 with additional options for those who want more or less miles. We had a great turnout the last time we did this ride and it was a lot of fun. Free Tail has a nice sitting area outside for relaxing before heading for home.
Pat and Patricia at the inaugural Freetail ride
Check out our Calendar of Events. I have been adding a lot of items to our calendar of events so be sure to check periodically to see what's new - click here to access.
Board Member Nerissa Muniz is the Coordniator for our next event, the MS Walk on Saturday, March 7th. Now is the time to show that we are more than just a cycling team! Bring your family and friends. It's dog friendly, so bring the pooches along to join the fun. There is no registration or fundraising fee. However, if you raise $100 or more you get a MS T-Shirt. We are not going to have a training ride as we are encouraging riders to join the MS Walk. There will be a ride on Sunday for those that just can't go without riding on the weekend. More information is available on the calendar. Please wear your Velo Valero jersey at the event if you are participating.
Velo Valero members, Valero volunteers, and Louie the Beagle at last year's MS Walk
Also, the next Cruiser Bike ride will be Friday, March 6, leaving from the parking lot under the Highway near Sam's Burger Joint at 7:30 am. This is another First Friday Southtown ride, so should be plenty of fun. NOTE: The Cruiser Bike rides are adults-only experiences. Take your beater bike, because some of the roads downtown can get pretty rough. For photos of previous cruiser bike rider, click here. Send an e-mail to peter.ray@valero.com if you have any questions about the cruising experience.
 Spring Jersey Order - Unfortunatley there was not enough interest in ordering our current jersey to meet the minimum order requirements for the spring. If you are in need of a jersey please let me know your size. Send me an email at andrea.shull@valero.com. I'm trying to see if we can find team memebers who are willing to loan, sell, or give away any extra jersey's. We will do our best to get everyone a jersey for the Tour de Cure.
Velo Valero Tour de Cure Kickoff Training Ride - I wanted to say thanks to all those that came out and participated in our ride last Saturday. We had 65 riders, 4 motorcyles, and one station wagon SAG. The weather made some riders cut their ride short and some didn't give in to mother nature. I hit my all time personal high when coming back on Babcock and clocked in a max speed of 40 miles per hour. The wind was tremendous and really tested our strenght and endurance to get to the Valero gas station on I-10. It was well worth the effort as we had a ride of our lives on the way back. I felt like Lance Armstrong for a brief moment. Then realized he does this speed going up hill. Into the wind.
Thanks also to Robert from Performance Bicycle for spending the morning driving the SAG wagon for us. I really appreciated his time and effort, especially when he changed my flat in the rain at Scenic Loop Cafe. If you see him at the store please thank him and spend a little money too. He is a great guy.
Robert and Erica chilling out before the ride starts.
 Also, special thanks to Board Member Seymour Battle for organizing the Valero Motorcycle Club of San Antonio for extra support along the route. I was able to sit back relax during the ride. I knew we were in good hands and they would take care of everything. And they did a great job. Hope to see them on future rides.
They sure look alot better then I did after the ride. Next time I might consider trading in my wheels for a pair of these.
Riders get ready to rumble at our kickoff ride. Click here for all pictures of the training ride.
Sunday River Road Ride
A handful of folks joined Team Treasurer Carl Crawford for a ride down scenic River Road in New Braunfels last Sunday. Along the way, they saw this incredible house being built along the river - see picture below. NOTE: This route is the optional extra 25 miles to give you a full century on Day One the new Bike MS: Valero Alamo Ride to the River event on October 4-5. And guess what? Registration begins on Monday, March 2 - click here for more details!
Indredible tree house spotted along River Road
...If you have any pictures or event writeups and you wish to share them with the team please feel free to send them to me. I will do my best to get these posted on our site and include them in the blogs.
10% Discount to Buffalos Southwest Café - One of team members son is the kitchen manager at a new restaurant near our office located at Bandera/Loop 1604 (in the Home Depot area). They opened for business January 26th and would like for you for you to give them a shot. As encouragement, they are offering a 10% discount to all Valero employees through the end of March. Please come and enjoy the food and your dining experience - see the menu, click here...
Something to think about: In 1964, 50% of kids rode their bikes to school and the obesity rate was only 12%.... In 2004, 3% road to school and the obesity rate was 45%. Between 1960 and today the average weight of a 6-11 year old has increased by 11 pounds.
Thanks and see you on the road.
 Andrea
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Good morning and happy Friday!
Weekend Rides
Tour Cure Training Kickoff Ride: Saturday, February 21st leaving from the Valero headquarters at 9:00am. For directions to the ride start, click here.
A detailed map of each route will be available on Saturday morning.
Sylvia, Jacque, and Donna at last year's Tour de Cure
Sunday, February 22nd Ride leaving from Gruene Hall at 10:00am. Please join Carl "Teddy Bear" Crawford for the next installement in our casual Sunday rides. The group will gather on Sunday for a ride down River Road to Sattler, with an additional loop to Canyon Lake Dam, and back to Gruene Hall. Wheels down at 10AM in the parking lot across from Gruene Hall. Click here to view the routes!
Carl's Crew at Gruene Hall in 2008
Bike MS: Valero 2009 Alamo Ride to the River
The word is out and good news sure travels fast. The new route is already hitting major news markets and is big deal at Valero. The following article is posted on our electric boards located throughout the campus to promote the ride in addition to an article in the San Antonio Express News.
The annual Valero-sponsored Bike MS event in October will have a new name and route, featuring a round trip starting and finishing in San Antonio, a scenic trek through the Texas Hill Country and more family-friendly options.
The "Bike MS: Valero 2009 Alamo Ride to the River" on Oct. 3-4 will run between the Alamodome and the New Braunfels community of Gruene on the Guadalupe River, with the option of an additional ride to Sattler near Canyon Lake. There will be a lunch stop the first day at Texas Lutheran University in Seguin, and one at La Vernia on day two. The route will pass historical landmarks including the Alamo and Fort Sam Houston.
During a Feb. 18 press conference announcing the event, the Valero Energy Foundation presented its title-sponsorship check for $75,000. And Valero CEO Bill Klesse made a surprise personal contribution of $100,000 to kick off the fundraising effort.
In announcing the change from the traditional "Bike to the Beach" route to Corpus Christi, the Lone Star Chapter of the National Multiple Scleroris Society emphasized convenience and more flexibility to choose one- or two-day trips and other options. The Lone Star Chapter anticipates more than 3,500 cyclists will register for the event, with a goal of raising more than $2 million to support research to end MS and fund programs. Registration opens March 2, in conjunction with National MS Awareness Week.
"Our primary objective was to grow the ridership of the event and, as a result, increase the amount of money we raise for the MS Society," said Peter Ray, Valero Senior IS Manager and a Velo Valero Board Member who participated on the committee that designed the new route.
"This was accomplished by providing multiple ride options - like shorter and longer distances, and one- and two-day options," he said. "We wanted to be able to attract riders of all skill levels, and all conditioning levels. And we also chose an overnight destination that has a lot of variety and capacity."
In addition to choosing between one- and two-day trips, participants also may opt for 75- or 100-mile rides on day one. The cyclists will depart the Alamodome parking lot on a 75-mile route to Gruene. Once there, cyclists may choose to pedal an additional 25 miles along the scenic River Road to Sattler and back, as part of a first-day "Century Route." Overnight accommodations will be available in New Braunfels, and the event will continue the next day with the ride back to San Antonio.
Ray noted New Braunfels' close proximity to San Antonio as an added convenience for families, or for those needing to shorten their routes. Shuttles will be available at Gruene for participants wanting to return at the end of the first day. The fully-supported ride will feature smooth road surfaces and include complete coordination between traffic control, safety and medical teams, cyclists and volunteers.
"The Lone Star Chapter and its volunteer steering committee felt this new route would bring substantial growth to the ride and solidify community involvement within the San Antonio area and beyond," said Mark Neagli, Lone Star Chapter president. "The family-friendly ride will attract participants of all ages and levels as well as showcase the beautiful river scenery - all the while continuing the cycle of greater good to create a world free of MS."
Beginning March 2, cyclists may register for the event by going to the Velo Valero site at www.velovalero.com or www.bikemstexas.org.
Click here to view the San Antonio Express-News article on the "Bike MS: Valero 2009 Alamo Ride to the River."
The Queen, El Hefe Grande, and El Hefe at the press conference announcing the new route. For more photos from the event, click here.
Safe Passing Bill Filed in Texas Senate (SB488) & House (HB827)
Nice to know that someone is on our side!
Tragically, approximately 50 cyclists, 400 pedestrians and 500 motorcyclists are killed every year in Texas. Many of those fatalities can be prevented in the future by legislative action on a new Safe Passing bill in 2009.
The 2009 Safe Passing bill was filed in the Senate by Rodney Ellis (D-Houston) and John Carona (R-Dallas) as SB 488 on January 15th, and the companion bill was filed in the House by Linda Harper-Brown (R-Irving) as HB 827 on January 27th.
The new Safe Passing Bill protects "vulnerable road users" including a pedestrian, runner, physically disabled person, child, skater, construction and maintenance worker, stranded motorist, equestrian, and person operating a bicycle, motorcycle, or unprotected farm equipment.
In addition to requiring more than three feet passing distance (six feet by commercial vehicle) when a motorist passes a vulnerable road user, it will include penalties for harassing, taunting, or throwing an object "dooring", the "right hook" at a vulnerable road user, (turning dangerously in front of a vulnerable road user), and failing to yield when making a left turn at an intersection.
A violation of this law is punishable as a misdemeanor, and if the violation results in property damage, the violation is punishable by a fine of not to exceed $500. If the violation results in bodily injury, the violation is a Class B misdemeanor punished by: (1) a fine not to exceed $2,000; (2) confinement in jail for a term not to exceed 180 days; or (3) both such fine and confinement.
Hope to see you all on Saturday!
Andrea
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A great weekend for miles and miles of riding, we have three rides on the schedule for Valentine’s Day/President’s Day weekend.
 Saturday, February 14th at 9:00am from Bullis County Park. Chuck will lead the ride heading to Kendalia via Edge Falls. Shorter options will be available. This will be a 55 miles route with shorter options available.
Red Riders Valentines Ride
Sunday, February 15th at 2:00 PM from Gotta Ride Bikes. 28604 IH 10 W, Boerne, TX. (By Fair Oaks Ranch. Exit I-10 West at the Fair Oaks Blvd. exit. Go through the 4-way stop sign and the bike shop will be on your right). http://www.gottaridebikes.com Two routes will be available with distances of 21 and 30 miles. Gatorade and Gatorade G2 (red of course for the Red Riders and Valentines) and water will be available as well as a Valentines treat for all. A few lucky riders will win prizes.
David Sloan and a few Red Riders ham it up after the 2008 TDC in Fort Worth
 Monday, February 16th at 9:00am from Comfort City Park: John “The Punisher” Tenison will lead a President’ Day ride. Please contact John prior to the training ride. He would prefer not to be the only one out there for the ride. Please RSVP to john.tenison@valero.com. There will be a shorter 35 mile route mostly flat with one long climb. Longer route will be 45 and hilly on the return route. Click here for Comfort City Park Map
Tour De Cure Countdown: Only 106 days: Please be sure to complete the Tour De Cure supplemental Registration form ASAP. You will need to complete this form if you need to secure a dorm room, transportation back to San Antonio, and meals for guests. (Meals are provided for all riders) http://www.tourdecuresa.org/Forms.aspx Information on Jersey orders will be available shortly. Please send an email to me at andrea.shull@valero.com if you are interested in ordering a jersey and if so how many. There is a minimum order required and this will help us determine if we will meet this minimum. This does not quarantee your order.
Ride for your health, for your future, and for our world.The average person loses 13lbs. their first year of cummuting by bike. Just three hours of cycling per week can reduce your risk of heart disease and stroke by 50%. A 140-pound cyclist burns 508 calories while pedaling 14 miles in an hour.
MS Awards
From 2008 Team Captain, Peter "El Hefe" Ray -
We all know Velo Valero had an incredible year of support for the National MS Society in 2008, and now the final numbers are in to prove it. Here are some of the highlights from an incredible year -
CEO Bill Klesse was the individual #3 fundraiser in the country across all Bike MS events, with a total of almost $110,000 raised. I participated in a weeklong training program on Leadership this week, and a learned a lot about what makes a leader great. Bill is a great leader for Velo Valero because he leads with his voice, his heart, his feet, and his wallet, and he proved it in 2008 by personally donating $100,000 to the cause of MS during our Bike to the Beach.
Bill Klesse and Tony Ralf, VP of the Lone Star Chapter, at the Bike to the Beach Kickoff Party
The San Antonio chapter of Velo Valero was the #6 fundraising team in the country across all Bike MS events. We raised just over $312,000 dollars, which is almost $100,000 more than we did in 2007.
History of Velo fundraising in the Bike to the Beach
Finally, Velo Valero riders represent 19 of the Top 100 Fundraisers in the recently announced Bike MS Top 100. Collectively, these folks raised over $202,000 for MS. These folks are listed below.
| Rank |
First |
Last |
Funds |
| 1 |
Bill |
Klesse |
$109,685.00 |
| 9 |
H David |
Sloan |
$12,185.00 |
| 17 |
Laura |
Finlay |
$10,647.00 |
| 18 |
Alain |
Charette |
$10,500.00 |
| 20 |
Seth |
McConnell |
$8,650.00 |
| 22 |
Lory |
Don |
$7,860.00 |
| 34 |
Lori |
Francis |
$4,620.00 |
| 46 |
Chris |
Christianson |
$3,660.00 |
| 47 |
Jim |
Robichaux |
$3,610.00 |
| 50 |
Megan |
Lehnhoff |
$3,545.00 |
| 51 |
Peter |
Ray |
$3,500.00 |
| 53 |
Laura |
Vaccaro |
$3,500.00 |
| 60 |
Andrea |
Shull |
$3,200.00 |
| 68 |
Carl |
Crawford |
$3,000.00 |
| 69 |
Sylvia |
Rodriguez |
$3,000.00 |
| 71 |
Pat |
O'Brien |
$2,850.00 |
| 73 |
Fred |
Lueck |
$2,805.00 |
| 75 |
William |
Ansel |
$2,800.00 |
| 76 |
Richard |
Breakie |
$2,785.00 |
Thanks to all of you that made us successful in 2008! Tony Ralf, aka T-Ralf, expressed his appreciation in the following he sent us earlier this week when the final numbers were announced:
Fast on the heals of Valero being inducted into the ranks of the Corporate Star program by the national home office of the National MS Society, it’s so very pleasing to see Velo Valero stake itself nationally as a hugely influential fundraising team.
Mr. Klesse’s individual fundraising status for 2008 saw him become the 3rd highest fundraiser nationally, as the team he rode on secured 6th place overall in the country.
The data reveal what we’ve known at the Lone Star Chapter for years, that Valero is a class act at every level, from the security guards that greet its visitors, to the staff that helps set-up MS events in the Cafeteria, to the CEO himself and everyone in between.
The past three years have seen significant evolutionary growth in the October bike ride, aided by Valero’s title sponsorship, and the event now seems poised to breach $2.0 million on Valero’s watch as the 2009 becomes the first year of a new 3-year partnership.
There are over 400,000 Americans, including 20,000 Texans benefitting from the effort put forth by everyone at Valero, riders, walkers and volunteers. The chapter and the Society thanks “y’all” for all that you’ve done and are set to accomplish.
- Peter
It would be sweet to see you on the road the weekend!
- Andrea
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It's early February, and already this team is busting at the seams with news and announcements, including information about a trio of rides this weekend!
Saturday Training Ride
 John "The Punisher" Tenison will lead the Saturday ride at 9:00am from Bullis County Park to Spring Branch and back via 311 and Smithson Valley Rd (43 miles), with shorter options, of course.
Saturday Cruiser Bike Ride
Received this note from Rusty "Broken Spoke" Fersuson, who is organizing another Cruiser Bike ride this weekend:
It looks like instead of one date for the cruiser ride in New Braunfels we’re going to have two. The first one will be this Saturday, February 7th starting at the HEB parking lot on Walnut St. right off of I-35. We’re going to ride from there to a place called Thirsty’s, then we head to On the Half Shell. From there we’ll go over to a pub on the main roundabout or head on over to Gruene Hall. From there we head back through town to the HEB and we’re done. Plan on meeting around 7:30.
Cruisers enjoying the lights along the Riverwalk last December
Come Join the brewVcrew!
Received this note from Board Member Carl "Teddy Bear" Crawford -
In order to get ready for the upcoming 2-day Valero Tour de Cure, Carl “Teddy Bear” Crawford will begin leading Sunday rides from the Freetail Brewing Company located at 4035 North Loop 1604 West. This incredible new brewpub is on Northeast corner of 1604 and Northwest Military - look for windmill on the hill and you can't miss it. This Sunday, Velo Valero will host its first training ride from this location. We could call this a dry run ahead of the TDC kick-off ride on 02/21, but we can't do that since we may have a beer or two after the ride ends. The training ride will take riders down Loop 1604 to Hausman/Bandera/Scenic Loop/Boerne Stage/Cielo Vista/Babcock and back to Loop 1604. The ride begins at 09:30 am. Eventually, as the rides get a little longer, we will do the first Pub-to-Pub Duck and Bat Tour. This ride will take us from the Freetail to the Dodging Duck Brewery in Boerne and then back to the Freetail for a post-ride lunch. Send an e-mail to Carl if you plan on riding this Sunday!
NOTE: The Freetail is owned and operated by former Valero employee Scott Metzger. For more info, check out the recent article in the San Antonio Current. Red Riders Valentines Ride
Come ride with us on Sunday, February 15th at 2:00 PM. We will start at Gotta Ride Bikes, 28604 IH 10 W, Boerne, TX. (By Fair Oaks Ranch. Exit I-10 West at the Fair Oaks Blvd. exit. Go through the 4-way stop sign and the bike shop will be on your right). http://www.gottaridebikes.com
Two routes will be available with distances of 21 and 30 miles. Gatorade and Gatorade G2 (red of course for the Red Riders and Valentines) and water will be available as well as a Valentines treat for all. A few lucky riders will win prizes. Wheels roll at 2:00 PM. The Red Riders want to thank you for joining the war against diabetes.
On To The Tour de Cured!!!
Velodome for San Antonio?
Apparently there is some traction forming in San Antonio for the construction of a cycling velodrome. We received the following note from Brian Gibbs, who is spearheading the effort -
My name is Brian Gibbs. I am a former National Team track racer living in San Antonio. It has been a goal of mine to bring a velodrome to San Antonio for several years. I now have an outline on how one might be brought to the area. Before my partners and I go through the next steps, we would like to measure the interest in bringing this form of the sport to the area.
If you would, please fill out the "petition" at SA-Velo.org. If you would be so kind, please forward the website to anyone you believe would be interested in expressing their interest.
Again, we are in a preliminary research phase. I know there has been interest in the past. My goal is to determine if that interest still exists. One last thing, in order to receive future updates, please sign up on the website. We don't want anyone to consider our mailings SPAM.
All the best,
Brian
We'll keep you posted on this exciting development!
San Antonio Tower Climb
The San Antonio Tower Climb is coming up quick. This year it will be held on Saturday, 02/28. For more information, click here. Registration is only $40 per individual ($150 for a 4 person team) between now and 02/20; after that it goes up to $50. This is a great fitness challenge to see what kind of shape you are really in after all that cycling. Plus, it gives you great conversation fodder when you take visitors down to the Riverwalk - you can point up at the Tower and say with pride, "Did you know I ran up to the top of that thing???"
Team members and Valero Volunteers celebrate at the top of the Tower in 2008
El Hefe Gets a Blanket for the Ages
From 2007-2008 Team Captain, Peter "El Hefe" Ray -
Well, I had almost given up hope that the Board of Directors would get me some token of appreciation for the endless hours I slaved away on behalf of the team over the last few years. Not that I was expecting anything, but you know, we do have our traditions on this team. So, I accepted the fact that I was getting stiffed, and I was ready to move on with my life. I gave them all one last chance to redeem themselves by inviting them (and a host of other folks) to the El Hefe hacienda for a Super Bowl party. Before kick-off, I was asked to come into the living room, where they had put up a large banner thanking me for my hard work, and there was a large, gift-wrapped box on the game table. Laura "The Queen" Vaccaro made a speech recognizing me for me wonderfulness (hah!), and then I got to open the box. In it was one of the most amazing gifts I have ever received, and one that was definitely worth the long wait. It was a huge quilt made up of countless squares, each containing either a photo of the team and I in action over the last two years, or a handwritten testimonial from team members, Board Members, El Hefe Grande, T-Ralf, C-Rod, and so on. Because the game was starting and the party was in full swing, I really didn't have a chance to examine the quilt in detail until the game was over, all the guests were gone, and the post-party debris cleaned up. When I did, I was absolutely blown away. This was a gift from the heart, and those are always the best - I will cherish it forever. Thanks to every one of you that contributed to the quilt, and to each and every one of you that were part of the team during my time in the saddle. I'm spending a few months catching up on so many things in my life, but hope to be back on the road with you very soon!
An awe-struck El Hefe examines the incredible quilt
A few more things for your calendar
Rider Night Out: Last month a few of us got together and decided to try something new. We had such a good time we decided to make it a monthly event. One Saturday every month we plan on meeting for dinning to enjoy different ethnic foods. Last month was Indian and this month is Pacific Rim cuisine. We will me meeting at Pacific Moon at 6:30pm on Saturday, February 7th. Please RVSP to david.sloan@valero.com. Physical location is 17700 N Us Highway 281, San Antonio, TX.
Coalition Blowout at Alzafar Shrine Temple on February 7th. Cocktails, dinner, live mucis, and an OPEN BAR. Tickets are $25 in advance or $35 at the door. Please contact Nancy Davis at (210) 402-0771 for more details.
 Tuesday February 17th stop by Culver’s for some yummy food and fun! National MS Society fundraising day at Culvers of San Antonio at 5836 DeZavala (Across from the Post Office) from 10am to 10pm. Culver’s is famous for its Butter-burgers and frozen custard. If you haven’t tried them you are really missing out…AND… Tony Ralf has volunteered to work the counter for part of the day… (ok, you have to come just for that.) There will be on site registration for the walk, and face painting and activities for the kids. We are on a mission to keep people moving.
Need help with training for the Valero Tour de cure? Try using our patented 14-week training journal to keeping track of all the miles you do to prep for a ride, and gives you miles for things like spinning. We have it set to start on 2/21 with the first training ride. It's pretty simple - you add "5 miles" of cardio work each week, and have a cool down the week before the event. You set your target distance, and work backwards from that.
http://www.velovalero.com/files/folders/4580/download.aspx
Selling a bike? I have several new riders looking to purchase their first road bike. Please contact me if you have a bike for sale. Maybe we can get a few more folks on the road. andrea.shull@valero.com
One World two Wheels. The solution to some of the world's biggest problems is in your garage. So ride instead of driving when you can.
See you on the road.
- Andrea
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