Two training ride options for this Sunday, January 17th.
Carl will be riding Sunday morning from the parking lot behind the Starbucks in Leon Springs at 9AM. This will be my first ride in a little over a month so I might need some training wheels. There are a lot of options from this location. Maybe ride into Boerne for breakfast at the Bear Moon Café? See you there, Carl
Let's try something new this Sunday. Meet us at the Gotta Ride Bikes shop located on the north side of IH-10, just past Fair Oaks Ranch Parkway and Old Fredericksburg Road for their scheduled group ride - start time 1:30 PM. The address is 28604 IH 10 West, Boerne, TX 78006. I'm not sure where we're going or who will show up - more details to follow! Come out and join use – it looks like the rainy weather will clear out by then – sunny with temps in the mid 60’s. Hope you can join us, John
Changing of the Guard: The Velo Valero Board had a few members step down at the end of the 2009 season. This leaves us with a few new means we have a few new 2010 members that I would like to introduce to the team. Each one has written a bio to share with us, so please take a few minutes to read a little about them. If you happen to run into them somewhere along the way, please thank them for stepping up. We would not be able to offer such a great cycling experience to you without the tremendous support of our board members. (the new and the not so new) I look forward to working, cycling, and having a lot of fun with them and the team this year.
TIM GEORGE:
I am an Exec. Director in the Health, Safety, and Environmental group, been with Valero for 25 years, and an active member of Velo Valero, along with my wife, Lori, for about eight years now. We ride to enjoy the outdoors and for the general fitness benefits. Years ago, I had problems with my knees (made worse by basketball), and have found that riding the bicycle was a good, low impact way to strengthen my legs and avoid knee problems. I am looking forward to working on the Board – especially with new riders and those who may have been away from the road for awhile.
LYN HOLMES:
· I started riding road bikes in this area around 1986 and joined VeloValero in 2002.
· Have ridden in 4 MS 150 Rides - Other rides: Fiesta Wildflower Ride, Easter Hill Country, Three Rivers Hotter-than Salsa, Hammerfest plus a lot of weekly rides.
· Started riding to get in shape and burn calories. Along the way I discovered that riding gave me a sense of accomplishment of doing something that most others wouldn’t even try to do. Now, I still ride to get in shape and to burn calories, and to get that sense of accomplishment, but I also enjoy riding with two members of my family, Elise and Troy. Elise is a senior at Smithson Valley and has embraced cycling as a part of her life. Troy is a freshman at Smithson Valley and has been riding for about a year. Elise did the 2008 MS 150 and they both did the 2009 Ride to the River. They are both on the VeloValero team and look forward to participating in our upcoming rides.
· My goal this year is to pick up my pace a little. When Elise and Troy were just getting started riding, I would ride along at a very casual pace so I wouldn’t run off and leave them. So I got used to riding at a casual pace. During the Ride to the River, I became aware that they are now holding back to wait for me!
GENE CLAPP:
I am originally from Michigan, moved to North Carolina, then to Tennessee where I finished elementary school, high school and college. I was the usual childhood bicyclist, using my bicycle as my means of transportation around town. My wife and I with our two small children moved to Houston, Texas in 1981 and have lived in Texas ever since. I worked as a graphic artist/commercial photographer for 10 years then moved into the legal profession as a legal assistant which I have been for the last 16 years. As a means of finding an activity our whole family could enjoy together, my wife and I with our teenage sons began bicycling regularly on the Farm/Market roads around Houston, participating in many organized rides and collecting a large number of T-shirts. My family moved to San Antonio in 2003 and I began employment with Valero in July, 2003. I joined Velo Valero in 2004 as a means of riding the MS 150 Bike to the Beach and have been riding with them ever since. I enjoy the camaraderie and friendliness of the team and that each ride, whether training or actual event is set up so that everyone can find their own pace and distance and no one is left to ride by themselves. I have taken cycling a step farther and incorporate the biking into triathlons. At my age I have no expectation to win, only to finish as strong as I can. I love the training that goes into cycling and becoming physically fit.
PEARL ADAMS:
· I joined the VeloValero team around April 2009. Before I joined, I visited the site frequently for information. For years, I have wanted to ride outdoors but was afraid. After reading the blogs on the website and being encouraged by other riders, I decided to finally give it a try. My very generous spin instructor, Donna Escobar, allowed me to borrow her bike to be sure it was something I was going to like before I made any expenses. Within a few rides, I knew it was something I would enjoy and received my very own bike as a birthday present from my husband in July.
· I participated in the New V-Crew and received valuable information and had a wonderful time on the training rides. The instructors are phenomenal and I encourage anyone who is starting to ride to join the New V-Crew.
· I remember being excited about completing 18 miles, now my longest ride is over 70 miles. This accomplishment is due to the guidance and encouragement of VeloValero team members.
· I participated in the Ride to River Valero MS150 for the first time and although the 2nd day was a rain out, I still enjoyed the experience.
· I’ve met some amazing people and made wonderful friends. All the riders are very friendly and ready to help out and offer encouragement. My goal this year is to improve on my pace and endurance. I’m looking forward to participating in the upcoming events.
· Hopefully, I can encourage others like me who are interested, but are unsure about riding and have that initial fear that all first-time riders have (since I was in that position just a few months ago).
Deanna Durham:
· I have been a member of the team since 2005. Participated in 6 Tour de Cure rides. 5 San Antonio to Austin, and 1 in St. Francesville, LA. 3 Bike to the Beach events as a participant, and 2 as a volunteer. I love being part of the Velo Valero Cycling team because it has given me the opportunity to meet a lot of my co-workers from other parts of the country and the wonderful cyclists on the team who now I consider to be my friends. Tubing down the river after the Tour de Cure isn't bad either. I cycle for the enjoyment and challenge the sport offers. It pushes me to stay in shape while having fun. I can't help but feel great when people ask me how my weekend was? "It was fantastic, I rode 150 miles". At first some of them think I purchased a motorcycle.
Cycling Workouts:
Click here if you are interested in a few "Indoor Cycling Workouts to Improve Your Climbing"? It doesn't matter whether it's winter or just bad weather that puts you on an indoor trainer, at one time or another most cyclists will find themselves riding to nowhere.
Have a great weekend no matter if you are riding inside or out. Just be sure to "RIDE".
Andrea