Captain's Blog

This week is MS Awareness Week

wild thing — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 13:23:00 GMT

Velo Valero Training Ride opportunity for this weekend

Bulverde Community Center - 8:30am Ride Start - THIS WEEK’S RIDE INCLUDES A PHOTO SCAVENGER HUNT WITH “VALUABLE PRIZES” FOR THE WINNERS!!!

Ride start / finish is at the Bulverde Community Center, which is at 1747 East Ammann Rd., Bulverde, TX, just West of Bulverde Rd. - Wheels down and rolling at 08:30 sharp!

New V Crew Ride - We will be joining the rest of the Valero team at the Bulverde Community Center for a 23 mile ride. If this is more than you are ready to tackle this early in the season, then there are "bail out" options of 16 or 11 miles along the way.

Click here to be re-directed to the team's calendar of events all of the details regarding the ride.

A Friendly Reminder:

The team store will be closing at the end of the day on March 12th.

Be sure you order your team jersey before then. Click here to access the team store. Unfortunately, We do not carry inventory and you will not have another opportunity to purchase a jersey in time for the Tour de Cure. The store will not re-open until the Fall.

This week is MS Awareness Week. By educating those around us about MS and putting a face with the words “multiple sclerosis”, we will gain momentum in this battle. LET’S MOVE IT!!

Do you ever wonder what it would be like to have MS? What it’s like day to day not knowing how your body will react? Because MS takes many different forms and can strike without warning, this can mean MS sneaks up and sabotages those living with it. The money we raise not only provides valuable dollars to research, but it can help improve lives. Please take a few minutes to watch the following video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WJFa8uJqOUU&feature=related

VIDEOS TO SHARE:

· Join the Movement: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zP4zqVHDtDs&feature=channel

· What Will You Do?: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Ytaq1NuKuA&feature=channel

· A World Free of MS: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SiAmb4sqv-8&feature=channel

· What is Multiple Sclerosis? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qgySDmRRzxY

· Generation Now: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=32U66gvBqqA&feature=channel

· Clay Walker Talking about MS Diagnosis: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GyZBKjNQZv4

· Clay Star Clay Walker Fights MS: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZNZe1ptWNLA

MS Awareness Week Video Contest – TIME TO VOTE

It’s time to vote for the MS Awareness Week videos… Once again we have a Velo Valero team member submit a video. Please take a moment to watch then vote for your favorite. Voting is over this Friday (3/12) at 5:00 PM CST. GOOD LUCK MEGAN!

Click here to see all of the videos submitted in the contest. Megan's is Video #1.

Megan "moving it" during one of her early morning rides.

The San Antonio-Bexar County Metropolitan Planning Organization

The MPO encourages the use of healthy transportation such as bicycling, walking, car/vanpooling, and busing. Show your support of safe and healthy cycling in the San Antonio region by supporting the Bicycle Mobility Advisory Committee and the Pedestrian Mobility Advisory Committee by participating in the Walk & Roll events.

The (MPO) is excited to announce their Walk & Roll Fest for 2010. This year’s Walk & Roll Fest will be held on Saturday, May 15^th from 8:00 a.m. to noon at HemisFair Plaza near the arch sign at Alamo and Nueva Streets. As always, there will have interesting exhibitors, plus dignitaries will speak at 10:30 a.m. and the band, Five for Eyes, will play from 8:00 a.m. until noon. This year they are asking the bicycle and pedestrian community to support Walk & Roll Fest by bicycling, running or walking to the event.

Please feel free to contact Lydia Kelly at 210-230-6911 or by e-mail at kelly@sametroplan.org if you have questions regarding the event.

Now get out and move it and keep the momentum going....

Andrea

Big numbers are racking up for Velo Valero

wild thing — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 02:36:00 GMT

DON'T FORGET PEDAL THRU THE PINES IS THIS WEEKEND and more importantly....

This is Carl "Teddy Bear" Crawfords last ride as a bachelor.

Saturday, March 6th, 2010, 9AM Bastrop, TX

Click here to register!!!

The 8^th Annual Pedal Thru The Pines hosted by the Family Crisis Center invites you to participate in a fun filled day that supports the Center's vision of a safe community built on equality without the existence of violence. Cyclists will enjoy traversing the beautiful Loblolly Pines of Bastrop and Buescher State Parks and the surrounding country roads of Bastrop, Fayette and Lee counties. The routes provide a unique experience for cyclists of every level. Well stocked rest stops, friendly volunteers and a top notch veteran SAG Team add to the success of this must do event.

click here to be directed to the teams calendar of events for this ride.

Join the Velo Valero New V Crew for the first 2010 training ride! The rides will begin at the Exxon Station located @ 15335 W FM-471 with wheels up at 9:00 am sharp on Sunday, March 7th. This route is very flat and perfect for beginners. There will be two route options:

o 20 mile out & back ride to Rio Medina o 32 mile out & back ride to Castroville.

Click on the links above for copies of the maps

Current team total:

$19,676.00

Click here to access the team's current individual fundraising totals.

We are racking up big numbers for this year's Tour de Cure. Velo Valero officially has the largest team we have ever had registered for this event. One of my goals as team captain was to push our participation in this event and "we" have done it. I thought it was going to be tough, but when riders love an event as much as we love this one, it was easy. We broke through to triple digits for the first time with 101 riders currently registered. We have plenty of time to reach 120, so keep spreading the word on what a fantastic ride this is. After all it's sure to be "the Ride of Your Life"....

Velo Valero will be shooting for the stars to maintain our status as a National Team for The American Diabetes Association. Our goal is to raise $100,000 for all of the tour events Velo Valero participates in across the U.S. I know it's a long way away but we are getting closer every day. Last year we squeaked by and reached our goal. With more riders participating this year, we are sure to soar to new fundraising heights. Fundraising superstar David Sloan has already racked in $10,600 leaving less than $90,000 for the rest of us. I'm sure David is still going strong and will once again be near the top of the leader board when ranked against all of the fundraisers across the nation for the ADA. David you are an inspiration to us all and keep on trucking....

David's smile is as big as Texas when recognized as the Tours top fundraiser for 2009.

FUNDRAISING TIPS TO RAISE $400 IN ONE WEEK:

1. Start with your own contribution...…………………………….…..$25

2. Ask three members of your family to contribute $25 each...…...$75

3. Email your friends asking them to match your donation….……. $75

4. Ask your employer to contribute $50..……………………….……$50

5. Ask five co-workers to contribute $10 each……………………...$50

6. Ask five neighbors to contribute $10 each………………………. $50

7. Ask three businesses you frequent for $25 each………………. $75

- Congratulations! You’ve raised $400!

Tour de Cure Why We Ride

Everyone has a different reason for riding in the Tour de Cure and raising money for the American Diabetes Association. Some people ride in memory of a family member that lost their life to diabetes. Some people ride in honor of a friend that lives each day with this daunting disease. Some people ride for themselves.

Why do you ride?

Check out the current feature stories on the American Diabetes Associations website below. click here to submit your story to be featured in the future!

Sara Sklaroff - Washington, DC Tour
"The little boy was eyeing me warily. "Mom!" he stage-whispered to the woman next to him. "What is that lady doing?" Read more...

Bob Avritt - Colorado Tour
By the time I was in the 7th grade, I was already well over 200lbs and wore a 42" waist pant. Yep, I was the fat kid. Read more...

Mike Carter - Colorado Tour
I don't think I rode 500 miles total in the first five years after diagnosis, mostly due to peripheral neuropathy and a good helping of apathy. Read more...

Bike MS: Valero 2010 Alamo Ride to the RiverRegistration Opens - Monday, March 8, 2010 ·

Registration Opens Monday, March 8·

$30 Registration in Honor of Valero’s 30 Years of Excellence·

Reminder – 2009 Minimum Pledges Past Due·

Walk MS, San Antonio – Saturday, March 6 Registration Opens Monday, March 8

Register at bikeMStexas.org.
In honor of Valero Energy Corporation Celebrating 30 Years of Excellence, the National MS Society is offering an early bird registration fee of only $30.

Reminder – 2009 Minimum Pledges are Past Due Help ensure a successful recruitment season for your team by contacting team members who have not yet turned in the 2009 minimum fundraising requirement.

For an up-to-date list of no pays or under pays on your team please e-mail Jessica Davies jdavies@nmsslonestar.org.

Last year hundreds of participants rode in our 20^th anniversary ride but did not meet the minimum fundraising requirement; they account for nearly $100,000 in uncollected funds! Your contributions help the Society produce programs and services that have a profound, positive effect on the lives of thousands of men, women and children affected by MS. Let’s remember why we ride and what these donations mean for those living with MS.

Mail your fundraising dollars to:

Bike MS Valero 2009

National MS Society 9830

Colonnade Blvd., Ste. 130

San Antonio, TX 78230

See you all in Bastrop

Andrea

Time to "Kick" It Into High Gear

wild thing — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 01:33:00 GMT

Let's get the party started and kick it into high gear! The San Antonio Tour de Cure is only 12 short weeks away. This means we only have twelve weeks to ride as many miles as the weather will allow. Let's hope Mother Nature is on our side and keeps the rainy spring days to the weekday and the sunny days to the weekends. Don't forget to check our Calendar of Events for all the training ride opportunities we have planned for you - for instance, after daylight savings time begins on March 14th, we'll be starting our weekday evening rides.

2010 - San Antonio - Tour de Cure Kickoff Training ride - 02/27

Join the Velo Valero Training Kickoff Ride for the upcoming San Antonio to Austin Tour de Cure on May 22-23. Meet us at Valero's HQ at One Valero Way on Saturday February 27th for a 9:00 AM ride start. Come in at the main gate - both employees and visitors are welcome. For those who are new to cycling or feel they've been off the bike too long, we are offering a 16 mile route. There will also be a 36 mile route to the Valero Corner Store at IH-10 and Scenic Loop, and a 43 mile route for those interested in taking on the challenges of Toutant Beauregard. Water, Gatorade, and Fruit will be available prior to the ride start. Click here for more details about the ride.

16 mile route 36 mile route 43 mile route

In support of our kickoff ride, the American Diabetes Association is offered free registration to riders who register for the San Antonio Tour de Cure and join the Velo Valero team. Click here to register and be sure to enter the following promotion code. VALERO022710 and is only available from 2/26 - 02/28.

SAG support will be available. If you find the need to receive help please be considerate. All of our support is staffed by volunteers and they do not get paid for their time, gasoline, or supplies they provide to us. The help they provide is very much appreciated and is always a welcomed site along the route.

John standing in front of the HEB SAG vehicle.

Tour de Cure – REMINDERS

1) Each rider must turn in at least $150 (the fundraising minimum) on or before the day of the Tour in order to participate.

2) All minors (under age 18) must be accompanied by an adult at ALL times. This includes riding in the Support and Gear (SAG) vehicle.

3) Your safety is the tours top priority. Please read all safety information detailed in the Group Riding Manual at www.diabetes.org/tour. Please help make it a safe ride for everyone by using cycling etiquette.

newVcrew

Our newVcrew is back in action to help those who needs a little help getting comfortable in the saddle or who have been away from cycling for a while. I'm please to announce our 2010 newVcrew ride leaders -

Lyn Holmes (lyn.holmes@valero.com)

Tim George (tim.george@valero.com)

Pearl Adams (pearl.adams@valero.com).

Please check the newVcrew web site for the latest and greatest news, including the schedule of upcoming rides.

Rider Safety Notice

Velo Valero training rides are conducted on open roads with vehicular traffic. Roads include both marked and unmarked hazards. Though we go to great lengths to make the rides as safe as possible, always remember that your own safety is in your hands. Riding safely and considerately is vital to everyone’s enjoyment.

1) Wear a helmet at all times – NO EXCEPTIONS

2) Carry ID & medical information

3) Have an “ice” number saved on your cell. (IN CASE OF EMERGENCY)

4) Rules of the road apply; you have the same rights and duties as a motorized vehicle

5) Ride single file. Ride a maximum of 2 abreast when conditions allow, but do not impede traffic

6) Ride as far right as reasonable

7) Obey all traffic lights, signs, and regulations

8) Pass on the left only, announce “passing” or “on your left”

9) Use hand signals to indicate road hazards, stopping, slowing, right, and left turns

10) Prepare properly in terms of nutrition, hydration, and training for the route distance you’ve selected to ride

11) Respect others: riders, volunteers, host communities, motorists, pedestrians, law enforcement, and the environment

Your cooperation in following these rules is greatly appreciated

See ya' on the road!

- Andrea

The perfect weekend

wild thing — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 20:24:00 GMT

The hills are alive with the sound of heavy breathing as Velo Valero heads to Sisterdale. John "The Punisher" Tenison thinks we haven't been punished enough so he thought a hilly ride was just what the doctor ordered for Saturday. The weather looks promising so take advantage of it while you can.

February 20th - Boerne - Sisterdale - Waring Ride - Ride start 8:30 AM This will be the last of our off-season winter rides – the following Saturday is the Tour de Cure training season kickoff ride – already!! We may have been frozen out a time or two over the past couple of months, but we’ve also had some great cycling experiences. This Saturday we start from Boerne - ride start 8:30 AM from the parking lot across from the Chevron on Main Street, and it should be a comfortable 60 degrees. The route takes us to Sisterdale, then Waring via Zoeller Lane. Total ride distance is 35 miles. For those who want additional mileage, I may be tempted to head on to Comfort and return via Holiday Road and Big Joshua Creek (50 miles w/extra hills). You can find maps on www.velovalero.com. Come out and join us! John

The 25th Annual Tower Climb & Run is this Saturday. There is a packet pick-up scheduled from 10 am to 7 pm on Friday, 02/19, at Soler's Sports on 2589 Jackson Keller Rd. If you haven't registered, you'll be able to do so at this time. Click here to see more information regarding the event.

From this view it doesn't look half bad.

Friendly Reminder: Next Satruday is Velo Valero's Tour de Cure Kickoff Training Ride. It's time to get out your bike, consider getting it checked out at your favorite bike shop, and search for all your riding gear. Most likely some of you have not been on your bikes in a while, so it would be a good idea to give it the once over before the ride. It wouldn't be much fun finding out your brakes aren't working on the downhill at 35 mph. Your gear is probably scattered all over the house and you may have trouble finding everything you need. Give yourself plenty of time to get to your favorite bike shop to purchase the items you can't find or the dog chewed up.

Have any Tour de Cure questions? Check out the link on the main page for TDC information and updates. This is your one stop shop for all of your Tour de Cure questions. Please check back periodically as the link will be updated with all the latest and greatest event information. Tour de Cure

David Sloan trying to gather his flock of riders during last years TDC Training Kickoff Ride.

2010 Tour de Cure Team stats with just over 12 weeks until the big day.

Click here to sign up: Participate in an event

Team Name	Event Name	Gift Amount	Members Recruited
Velo Valero Cycling Team	San Antonio, TX	$14,685.00	93
Velo Valero Arizona	Phoenix, AZ	$2,171.00	10

Top 10 Velo Participants

Participant Name	Event Name	Gift Amount
H David Sloan	San Antonio, TX	$9,905.00
Peter Ray	San Antonio, TX	$2,150.00
Anna King	San Antonio, TX	$1,175.00
Debbie Avery	San Antonio, TX	$435.00
janelle yphn	Phoenix, AZ	$426.00
joe yohn	Phoenix, AZ	$425.00
Amy Bryce	Phoenix, AZ	$270.00
Barry Bennett	San Antonio, TX	$170.00
Glennis Bryce	San Antonio, TX	$155.00
Tyler Engle	Phoenix, AZ	$150.00

CYCLING PERFORMANCE TIPS

"Knowledge is the key to improving your cycling performance."

- CPT mission statement -

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Performance Quiz
Appendix
Index/Glossary
Site Map
E-mail

Nutrition Tips eating right, recipes, supplements, dieting...	Training Tips stretching, weights, endurance, intervals, injuries...
Equipment Tips accessories, bikes...	Physiology digestion, how muscles use Calories...
Get That Edge tips for a personal best...	On line coach your questions answered...
Featured Links link of the month, cycling, webzines...	Sponsors/Where to order equipment, supplements...

See you on the road.

Andrea

Congratulations to the top 100 fundraising for the Ride "IN" the River

wild thing — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 16:57:00 GMT

The wait is over and now it's official. Velo Valero has a very large presence again this year in the top 100 club. We had a tough economy, an exceptionally hot summer for training, a wet ride, and a new route to contend with last year. Each one of these individually would give any rider and team the difficult task in preparing for a successful event. All of these challenged us to keep "MOVING" to fulfill our goals and to keep the money rolling in for those who depend on our fundraising dollars. Congratulations and thank you for all you do, not only for our team, but most importantly for our community.

Bike MS: Valero
2010 Alamo Ride to the River
Top Fundraiser

1. Bill Klesse	38. Linda Hicks	75. Preston Price
2. Chris Shaw	39. George Carter	76. Carol Morton
3. Alain Charette	40. Julie Kenfield	77. Luca Suschitz
4. Chris Stewart	41. Mark Dragoo	78. Larry Thomas
5. Stephen High	42. Eric Steele	79. Brian Comeaux
6. Guy Clumpner	43. Robert Liddell	80. Thomas Robey
7. Peter Nowobilski	44. Sharon Nichol-Jost	81. Jim Robichaux
8. Ron Bartnett	45. Stephanie Lopez	82. Edward Gonzales
9. Kathy Gore	46. Steve Lopez	83. Bill Meek
10. Richard Breakie	47. Rita Minerd	84. Rana Russell
11. Robert Frick	48. Vicki Roberson	85. William Ansell
12. Virgil Enos	49. Kevin Moriarty	86. Kathy Albright
13. Stephen Kramer	50. Rhonda Budge	87. Kelly Hidalgo
14. Megan Lehnhoff	51. Marty Carroll	88. Brandon Gonzalez
15. Bob Harwood	52. Jinny Milford	89. Ernest Bromley
16. Seth McConnell	53. Steve Cennamo	90. Wayne Alexander
17. Robert Rivard	54. Eric Cate	91. Ron Burton
18. Sean Foley	55. Carl Crawford	92. Laura Vaccaro
19. Ron Key	56. Magdalena McCall	93. Alvin Mendoza
20. Robert Morton	57. Aaron Martinez	94. Phil Melone
21. Ben Skipper	58. Todd Hauser	95. Pamela Sabrsula
22. John Keane	59. Peter Ray	96. Dave Gordon
23. Brian Hicks	60. Shannon Shubert	97. David Pappal
24. Amy Dorsett	61. Brenda Short	98. Chris Powers
25. Kurt Haaland	62. Ingrid McConnell	99. Derek McCann
26. Fred Gibbons	63. Michael Higley	100. Tom Carter
27. Anthony Johnson	64. Tim George
28. John Groweg	65. H David Sloan
29. Darrell David	66. Lydia O'Neil
30. Raymond Ward	67. Ted Marchut
31. Alison Welch	68. Andrea Shull
32. Barry Blackman	69. Jerry Collazo
33. Thomas Barry	70. Pat O'Brien
34. Richard Gehrig	71. Don Carnes
35. Robert Hart	72. David Spadafora
36. Robert Eccleston	73. Paula Tousignant
37. Fred Lueck	74. Brent Testy

It's no surprise! - Mr. Klesse once again blows away his competition and keeps his title as top fundraiser for 2009.

The MS Society is issuing a Presidential Pardon with $25 Registration

By George, it's time to save a few Abes in your wallet. In honor of the Presidents' Day weekend, we're issuing a special Presidential Pardon of our own: for one week only, Feb. 10-17, Bike MS: Sam's Club registration is only $25 per rider.

Weekend Ride Schedule:

John and Andrea will be leading a ride from Comal Elementary School at 8:30am.

Let's try this again. Meet at Comal Elementary School this Saturday for an 8:30 AM ride start. I’m not sure about the route – we may ride out to McQueeney or New Berlin, or maybe up towards Gruene. At any rate, the ride distance will be approx. 40-50 miles with shorter options available. The forecast is looking promising, but if that changes, don’t forget to check the rider hotline at (210) 345-7783.

David Gross will be leading a ride on President's Day - Monday, February 15th

If you don’t have to work on Monday, join us out by Luling for a 40 mile ride that includes a c-store stop at the famous Buc-ee's followed by Palmetto State Park and some other really nice roads with no steep hills. I hope to see you out on the road. We leave at 8:30 AM from the Settlement at Patriot Ranch (south of Luling) for a ride to Palmetto State Park and beyond. Afterwards we head to Blacks in Lockhart for BBQ. Click here for more details.

If you'd like to meet at David's house in San Antonio, contact him for his address/directions. Please arrive on time to ensure a 7:15 AM departure.

David, Patrick, and Chuck enjoy the Buc-ee's stop during last year's Luling ride.

San Antonio City Council OKs safe-passing ordinance: The city will launch an education campaign this spring to emphasize to San Antonio drivers they legally have to share the road with users who’ll always lose in a collision with 2,000 pounds of steel. Click here to read the article posted in the San Antonio Express new.

Tour de Cure update:

Don't forget our 12 week training program gets underway soon. (February 27th to be exact) Plan on being prepared for the TDC by joining us during our weekly training rides. Trust me; there will be plenty to choose from. We are also going to have a diverse group of ride leaders during these 12 weeks to help all rider types. These rides are a good time to tap into the years of experience our ride leaders have to answer questions, teach you a trick or two about changing a flat, or to help you concur your fear of hills. Remember we are here to help make your riding experience fun and rewarding, without feeling like you are killing yourself in the process.

Group training rides will prevent you from finding yourself on the side of the road, wondering how you are going to get back to your car, when you realize you didn't remember to replace the spare tube you used on your last ride. No, this is not something I have actually ever done. Well at least not yet.

A few of the Velo Valero team members heading out on day one of last years Tour de Cure.

Checkout these helpful website to keep you in tip top shape.

Your Guide to Heart Health

February is heart health month. Keep your heart beating strong with these tips on training, nutrition and health.
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Does Spin Class = Knee Pain?

When moving from road cycling to a spinning class, your bike fit is sometimes lost in translation. Before post-class pain starts, take matters into your own hands.
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12 Tools for Your Home Shop

Keep your pedals turning and cut down on maintenance costs with a little knowledge and a few essentials. Here's how to stock your home shop.
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Getting in Your ZZZ's

Increase energy, decrease stress, and prepare yourself for a day of riding by getting enough rest. Here are some tips to improve your slumber time.
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Happy Valentine's Day and hopefully most of us will have the opportunity to enjoy the three day weekend.

Andrea

Fire The Local Weatherperson!

wild thing — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 17:24:00 GMT

Sunday Ride Recap provided by PJ.

Well Sunday was "supposed" to be warmer than Saturday. As a result, John scheduled an afternoon ride from Judson High School. As we all now know, the temp on Sunday afternoon barely hit 36 degrees at its high! Yikes!! Around noon, I thought for sure the ride would be cancelled, but, John believed the forecast and was sure the sun would appear soon to warm up the temperature... Therefore, I reluctantly packed up my gear and began the long drive to Judson. Due to a comedy of errors, Andrea and I ended up meeting at Bullis County Park instead of Judson due to both of us conveniently forgetting critical cycling accessories (i.e., a front wheel and a gear bag). Guess I can't blame it on the blonde since I forgot something too!!

Andrea told me that only John and Scott showed up at Judson. As we were unloading our bikes, John called to let us know that he and Scott had turned around after 2 miles and called it a day...it was just too cold for their South Texas blood! For a moment, I thought for sure Andrea would call our ride as well (thinking to myself that the Spectrum at Rogers Ranch sounded much better). Nope!!

The pressure was on...would Andrea and I make it more than 2 miles??? Secretly, about 1.5 miles into our ride, we did turn around and go back to our cars for another layer of clothes (it meant wearing two pair of gloves). Once we figured out our gear, we went back out to do the typical 20 mile route. I am amazed to report that we actually finished 23 miles and didn't suffer severe frostbite. I will admit, however, it took a 15 minute HOT shower, several layers of clothes and eating some really spicy hot soup for me to warm up that evening. Not sure I ever want to ride when it is that cold again, at least not until I find some better gloves and/or mittens. Hats off to those that were wise enough to stay home or exercise inside! PJ

Weekend Ride Schedule:

SATURDAY - FEBRUARY 6th Carl "Teddy Bear" Crawford, will lead a ride (START TIME 9AM)

Get ready to eat plenty of chips and dip on Super Sunday by riding this Saturday. The ride will start in Helotes in front of John T. Floores Country Store. From here we have plenty of options from as little as 23 miles to as many as 56 miles. Wheels down at 9AM sharp. I am planning on doing the 40 mile loop and enjoying some of the great farmland southwest of Helotes. No pastry shops on this route. Come out Sunday morning and I gurantee we will find a Starbucks. Maps will be provided at the ride start. Please contact me at carl.crawford@valero.com or crawfordc74@yahoo.com to let me know if you will be riding on Saturday.

Helotes 23 Mile Out and Back Helotes 40 Mile Loop Helotes-Castroville-Rio Medina 56 Mile Loop

SUPER BOWL SUNDAY Carl "Teddy Bear" Crawford, will be leading a ride. (START TIME 9AM) Please plan on joining me for another installment of the Sunday Funday Casual ride series starting at the Valero Headquarters building next to the UTSA Campus. If you are an employee of Valero, you will need you badge to enter the Valero campus. If you are not a Valero employee, please buzz the security office and they will open the gates. The ride will go out UTSA Blvd. to Vance Jackson and out to Loop 1604 and ending at the park on NW Militaty Rd (option for TDC kickoff ride). After getting to the park, riders can either head back to the Valero Campus or add additional miles. Maybe I can find a Starbucks!!! Maps will be provided at the ride start. Please contact me at carl.crawford@valero.com or crawfordc74@yahoo.com to let me know if you will be riding on Sunday.

DO LOOSE DOGS REALLY CAUSE A PROBLEM?

"YES" they do.... Having difficulty with a dog that chases you during a ride through a neighborhood? Pet owners are responsible for keeping their pets on their property secured from public interaction or interference with other property owners. And it's up to us to take action and make the rode a little safer for the next cyclist. Who most likely will encounter the same four legged creature searching for its next victim....

If you see a dog running loose you have two options.

Option #1: Call Animal Control at (210) 207-6650, and advise them where, when, and what to get the animal picked up. If you know who owns the animal, it will assist Animal Control with the pickup.

Option #2: Call Bexar County Sheriff's Department at (210) 355-6000 (non-emergency number) and file a complaint. Loose dog owners can be cited for endangering others due to threatening mannerisms, etc.

BLANCO ROAD UPDATE:

I thought some of you who do the Wednesday night rides from Bullis Park or who live in this area, would be interested in how the Blanco expansion project is going. I was hoping it would be completed before we started our week day training rides in mid March. However, the best we can do is keep our fingers crossed in anticipation for completion sometime this summer.

Provided by David R. Wegmann, Project Engineer. As you may already know, there was a delay to the Blanco Road project around Christmas time. The project was thought to be potentially delayed by 2 to 4 months due to the discovery of karst features (caves, limestone formations, sinkholes and other formations which can contain endangered or extinct species). The following information was provided as an update to the current review of the delay potential:

Specific to the karst feature uncovered on Blanco Road last month, the investigations are still ongoing. The last biological survey was conducted the first part of January. Once the survey is complete, we’ll find out whether or not there were any endangered karst invertebrate species present. Based upon the first two surveys we are not expecting any positive findings. That being the case, we should be able to move forward with a closure plan. That process should be complete by mid-February, barring the presence of any cave creatures. Currently the contractor is required to keep construction activities 350’ away from the underground feature, but he is moving forward with new pavement north of there.

By the end of February, the contractor should have all final pavement and pavement markings on the northern 2.8 miles of the 3.8 mile project; essentially, north of Enclave Bluff. Currently the residents will see the contractor removing most of the concrete barrier that divided the roadway where the new medians have been placed. The contractor is finalizing those remaining northern medians right now in preparation for opening the northern part of the project.

Together we are making an IMPACT for those living with MS.

I wanted to apprise you of some late-breaking MS news. Below is a link to “New Ways to Treat Multiple Sclerosis,” featured in the Wall Street Journal on Jan. 19. The article discusses new techniques on research on the creation and development of myelin, as well as repair and rebuilding of myelin and stem cell transplants. Click here for the complete story.

The next story was featured on NPR on Jan. 20. The article entitled “MS Patients May Soon Bypass Painful Injections” discusses last week's issue of The New England Journal of Medicine reporting on two new drugs that can be taken orally to slow the progress of MS. The studies for these drugs, fingolimod and cladribine, which are not yet on the market, were funded by the drug manufacturers. Dr. John Richert, executive vice president of research and clinical programs at the National MS Society, is quoted in the article stating that the introduction of these pills will mark a major improvement in the lives of MS patients. Click here for the complete story:

Last but not least is the FDA approval of Fampridine SR, now called Ampyra, to improve walking for people with all types of MS. Ampyra™ (dalfampridine, formerly known as fampridine SR, from Acorda Therapeutics) was approved and will be marketed for its ability to improve walking speed in people with any type of multiple sclerosis. This is the first therapy specifically approved to treat a symptom of MS, and it represents a big step forward for the many people who may benefit from it.

As you can see we are making giant strides in the research of and treatment for multiple sclerosis. We should all be proud of the advancements being made with our commitment, hard work and fundraising dollars. Let's keep the momentum going and have the best year ever for 2010.

Fun Facts for your Health: The average person loses 13 lbs, their first year of commuting by bike. Just three hours of bicycling per week can reduce your risk of heart disease and stroke by 50%. A 140-pound cyclist burns 508 calories while pedaling 14 mph. I wonder if this was calculated on a flat or hilly ride.....

Have a great weekend and ride, ride, ride.

Andrea

Velo Valero's Tour de Cure Training Kickoff Ride Set for February 27th

wild thing — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 16:39:00 GMT

Mark your calendars as February 27th will be the official Velo Valero Tour de Cure kickoff training ride for the team. This also marks the start of our 12 week training schedule for the ride and the start of what is sure to be a great riding season. We are still working out the final details so please watch for more information during the next few weeks.

Never participated in a Tour de Cure event and have questions? Don't be bashful - we are here to help so don't hesitate in contacting us at cycling@valero.com. All of your tour information can be accessed by clicking on the Tour De Cure link at the top of our website home page. Please refer back every now and then as we will be updating the link from now until the day of the event.

Last Sunday's Morning and Afternoon Ride Update Provided by Carl and John -

On Sunday morning, we had the first 2010 Sunday Funday Casual ride starting from the HEB parking lot in Leon Springs. There were several Velo Valero Board Members at the ride along with some new and some seasoned Velo Valero team members. Riders included Jacque Robertson, Lyn Holmes, Tim George, Jeff Porter, Nicole Brown, Bill Krupa and his daughter Ashley Krupa. The wind on Sunday morning was pretty strong, but we were determined to get to our destination, the Bear Moon Bakery in Boerne. It took us a little over an hour to reach our destination, but the work paid off when we sat down and had coffee, hot chocolate and an assortment of pastries. This is why I love riding, the ability to spend time with friends and cycling destinations like the Bear Moon Bakery in Boerne. A special congratulations needs to go out to one of Velo Valero’s newest members Ashley. This is her first year riding (4^th ride). The ride on January 17^th, was her first ride with Look pedals and last weekend the battled the wind like a champion. She will be riding in the Houston to Austin MS ride in April. I think that she is going to make it look easy. Thanks for riding, Carl

For those who decided to stay in the comfort of the indoors to watch a little football on Sunday afternoon, we sure missed you (we could have used some extra folks to draft behind, with the 40 mi/hr wind gusts). That being said, it was an awesome ride – sunny with perfect temps, and air so clear you could see forever. – We haven’t seen that much water go over the rocks on Edge Falls Rd. in a long time. It just doesn’t get much better than that for a winter ride in Texas. See you at the next ride, John.

PJ provides proof that there are indeed falls on Edge Falls Rd

This Weekend's Ride Schedule

Saturday, January 30th

For those who want to ride indoors this weekend. There is a fantastic fundraising event that is right up our alley and I'm sure some of you might be interested in helping.

"SPIN TO JOY" Ironman for Kids - is a program that raises funds thru spinathons to purchase special needs bikes for some amazing kids. Getting children and families out together to feel the wind on their face, energy in their legs, and joy in their hearts!

10:00 am is our recommended time if you would like to ride with others from the Velo Valero team.

FREE CHILDCARE will be provided for spinners.

Click here to view the event organizer's website

Click here to donate to Bring the joy of a bike to a special needs tyke!

Every child should have the opportunity to ride a bike.

Sunday, January 31st - Two Ride Choices to Choose From -

GRUENE HALL RIDE - START TIME 9AM

For you early risers, Carl will be leading another installment of the Sunday Funday Casual ride series starting from the parking lot in front of Gruene Hall. Maps will be provided at the ride start. Routes will options between 29 miles to 42 miles. The 29 out and back is included in the 37 mile map (turnaround at Valero station in Sattler). Please contact me at carl.crawford@valero.com or crawfordc74@yahoo.com to let me know if you will be riding on Sunday. Thanks and hope to see you on the road.

JUDSON HIGH SCHOOL - 1:30PM

John will be leading a ride from Judson High School (wheels up at 1:30 PM) and head down to New Berlin and back for 36 miles. Those who feel the urge can continue on to LaVernia and St. Hedwig for 51 miles. The ride is also posted on our website calendar at www.velovalero.com. Please come out and join us.

Old man winter is on his way, so temps will most likely be a little on the chilly side. Dress warm and remember to drink plenty of liquids.

Stay warm, dry, and most of all keep riding!

Andrea

Team Store is now open

wild thing — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 20:10:00 GMT

The Primal Wear team store is now open.

Please do not hesitate in placing your order as the store will close on March 12th. Primal Wear will make one bulk order and ship each order directly to the customer on or around May 7th. We were able to secure very reasonable pricing for our apparel by doing the bulk order. It's virtually impossible to find a custom team jersey for $29. We have added a few extra items to our store so be sure to check it out. The long sleeved jersey is absolutely marvelous....

Click here to order your team apparel.

A step in the right direction:

S.A. eyes own rule on 'safe passing' for cyclists. San Antonio took a step toward making its roads safer for bicyclists and pedestrians when a City Council committee voted unanimously Wednesday to send a “safe passing” ordinance to the full council for a vote next month. Click here for more details.

Two Sunday Rides on the Schedule:

The weather is looking better for Saturday as far as the rain in concerned. However, the high wind is going to give me the excuse I need to be able to sleep late once again on Saturday. The past two Sunday's we have had great turnouts so let's keep the momentum going.

Option One: 9 a.m. Ride Start led by Carl Crawford

Please join me for the first Sunday Funday Casual ride of 2010 starting from the HEB parking lot in Leon Springs. I will be parked behind the Starbucks. There are several options from this location that will take riders up to Boerne. Since I have not been riding much over the past month, I am planning on riding about 30 miles. Depending on how we feel toward the end of the ride, riders will have the opportunity to add Scenic Loop, Babcock and Cielo Vista. The route will include a stop at the Bear Moon Bakery in Boerne for pastries and coffee. Please contact me at carl.crawford@valero.com or crawfordc74@yahoo.com to let me know if you will be riding on Sunday.

Option Two: 1:30 p.m. Ride Start led by John Tenison

Start from the Bulverde Community Center - 1747 E Ammann Rd; Bulverde, TX. 78163 Wheels up at 1:30 p.m. Guaranteed to have a route for all. Routes from 20 - 40 miles with the farthest distance to Kendalia via Spring Branch Rd - Edge Falls.

Congratulations David Pappal and Angelle St. Germain!

During last nights American Diabetes Associations awards Banquet, David and Angell received special recognized for their dedication and service to the organization.

David (first rider on the left) pictured with his pals at the finish of the TDC for 2009

David for his fundraising efforts during the 2009 Tour de Cure. David did an fantastic job raising over $10,000 for his first ever Tour De Cure event. I look forward to seeing this figure rise and to see him back in the saddle for 2010.

Angelle St. Germain for her outstanding work in recruiting people to help out with Tour de Cure. Angelle worked tirelessly during the year not only recruiting, but she was also the volunteer coordinator for all of the hundreds of volunteers that helped out before / during / after the ride! Angelle was an integral part of the 2009 Tour de Cure, and she has also agreed to continue her work in 2010.

Congratulations on your recognition, and thanks from all of the TDC riders!

Speaking of Tour de Cure, have you signed up yet? We are well on our way and still have room for more. Currently we have 50 riders and more riders are signing up every day. Don't feel left out so join the crowd as we pedal our way to Austin, pedal our way with our family and friends, and pedal our way to a Tour de Cured.... It would great to see us maintain our tiles as the largest team, top fundraising team, and an ADA National Team by raising another $100,000 for 2010.

Click here to join the Velo Valero team for the 2010 Tour de Cure.

Houston's Sun & Ski Sports Customer Appreciation Weekend: January 22nd & 23rd. - Westhimer Store Location Only

For those who will be in the Houston area this weekend. Free cycling clinics that include: bike maintenance, bike safety, nutrition, and much more. Free refreshments and Door Prizes on Friday only.

Click here to visit their website for more information.

That's all folks!

Andrea

2010 Changing of the Guard

wild thing — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 20:07:00 GMT

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 2^nd 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

Happy New Year to all!

wild thing — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 16:14:00 GMT

I hope you had a relaxing and stress-free holiday season.

Now let's jump right into cycling for 2010 and start looking to the future, which means Tour de Cure is nipping at our heels. It's also time to separate the men from the boys. (Sorry if this isn't politically correct, I like the way this sounds) You know it's difficult to schedule rides when the temps are so unpredictable and basically it comes down to a personal choice for riding in the cold. Speaking from someone who absolutely hates the cold, I can totally relate to finding any excuse necessary not to ride when it's cold outdoors. FYI: Cold to me is anything below 70 degrees. Now I have all the gear, friends that encourage me, and a great season of cycling ahead of us. I guess this means all the real men will be out riding with us women on Sunday at 2:00pm. LOL!

If you are still not up for any outdoor winter activities, there are plenty of opportunities to get exercising indoors. Take the stairs every chance you get to build up your leg strength, lots of reasonably priced fitness centers have gone up all over the city offering great spin classes, or purchase a trainer for your bike and ride during your favorite TV show.

Happy New Year! Does anyone out there remember how to pedal a bicycle? We plan to find out this Sunday, so please come out to Bullis County Park and join us for a 2:00 PM ride start. The forecast says it will be sunny; however the temperature will top out at only 45-50 degrees, so be sure to put on all your cold weather gear (I’ve found it’s possible to be pretty comfortable once you get going - honest). Hope to see you on the road Sunday…

Safe Passing Ordinance is trying to get passed for the San Antonio area.

Current efforts are in process to get a Safe Passing ordinance, requiring 3 feet of clearance when a motorist passes a bicyclist, passed in the city of San Antonio. In the near future, the hope is that the Safe Passing ordinance will become law in other cities in the San Antonio region, and will eventually become state law in a future state legislative session.

You can help pass the Safe Passing ordinance in San Antonio and surrounding towns by signing the online Safe Passing Petition www.BikeTexas.org/petition.

Elected officials in San Antonio are very interested in the number of people from the San Antonio region that have signed the Safe Passing petition. There is no cost, and a few clicks today can make San Antonio a better city for cycling tomorrow. To learn more about Safe Passing, go to www.BikeTexas.org/safepassing.

Did you know?

Sun & Ski Sports helps riders with fundraising and provides store discounts. Below is a brief description of their program:

Store Discounts

-10% off regular priced bikes

-10% off regular priced cycling apparel and accessories

-30% off bike maintenance

-FREE basic bike fit

Pledge Rebate

-5% pledge rebate toward your individual fundraising pledge for the MS150. You will be assigned a unique tracking code. Anytime you, your friends or family members shop at Sun & Ski Sports, show the tracking code and 5% of the total purchases will credit to your individual fundraising pledge.

Signing up is easy and FREE! Visit www.sunandski.com/events, click on the Official Bike Shop Program icon and fill out your information. You’ll receive your discount card and pledge rebate card in one business day. If you have any questions please feel free to contact Natalie Moreno, 281-340-5000 x145 or email to nmoreno@retailconcepts.cc

Now that I'm done coaxing you to ride, let's get to it.

Andrea

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas

peter.ray@valero.com — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 21:23:00 GMT

Greetings. This is our last blog of the year, so clip in and enjoy!

Saturday Morning Ride

This will be my last ride of the year so please come out and join me. I miss those friendly faces that I have become used to seeing during the past riding season. Start will be at Bullis County Park at 9:00am. Several ride distances will be available and everyone will have the opportunity to find a route just right for them. Click here for more details. The holidays can be a stressful time of year, and there are endless opportunites to indulge in way too many calories. Do yourself a favor and squeeze in some exercise for your holidays intead of squeezing into your jeans - we'd love to have you join us, and you'll feel so much better afterwards!

Cruiser Bike Ride

Woot! Woot! - A downtown Cruiser Bike ride is scheduled for this Friday, December 18th, at 08:00 starting from Guillermo's Deli & Catering on 903 N. St. Mary's St. (click here for directions). We'll definitely include the lights of downtown, and some of the newer sections of the Riverwalk. Temps are supposed to be in the mid-50s, so bundle up. The Cruiser Bike rides are slow moving and stylish recreational rides that involve adult beverages at multiple stops, so minors are discouraged. If you don't have a cruiser bike, don't worry - anything with two wheels that you can pedal will do!

Cyclists enjoying the festive holiday lights during our 2008 Winter Cruiser Bike Ride

Outgoing 2009 Board Members

At our most recent Board Meeting, we elected an amazing new set of Board Members. I'll wait until next year to reveal who these people are who will pedal Velo Valero to new heights in 2010. In the meantime, I'd like to take the opportunity to bid farewall to Board Members who are stepping down. I'm fortunate to be the Captain of the greatest cycling team in South Texas for so many reasons, not the least of which is that I have an incredible Board of Directors who do so much for the team. I hate to see anyone leave the family, but every year we have folks step down for a variety of very good reason reasons. This year we are bidding farewell to -

Kirstin "The Iron Lady" Silberschlag

Kirstin had a major addition to the family with the arrival of their new son. Don’t be surprised if you see her out – n- about with her buddle of joy strapped to her back. There is simply no stopping this IRON WOMAN…. Kirstin has been a fantastic member and we will definitely miss her can do attitude.

Megan "Movie Star" Lehnhoff

Megan is and will always be a shinning light that brightens any room she enters. She has become a major fundraising superstar and embodies the MS mission of what we can do if we stick together. We wish her well and don’t forget - you will always be part of the Velo Valero extended family.

Chuck "the Rock" Divelbiss

Safety Officer Chuck will always be one of the “leaders of the pack”. Ride after ride he is just amazing. This seasoned cyclist outrides his peers with so little effort. He is simply a cycling machine that must have some sort of amazing drive that keeps him going and me chasing behind him. I will always remember day two of this year’s Tour de Cure. Chuck effortlessly passed me on a hill will I was gasping for air. He is simply “Incredible”.

Peter "El Hefe" Ray

Peter has been a member fo the team for 10 years. He was a founding member of the Velo Valero Board, and was Team Captain from 2007 to 2008. He is stepping down from the Board to let the newcomers have a shot at running the team, and to spend more time with his son during his last few years of high school.

I must say "Thank You Peter" for your guidance and special attention during my first year as Team Captain. It was a little difficult learning the ropes but I had a great teacher with patience and understanding that not all of us are computer savvy. You were one of the key ingredients that made this team what it is today. Your 10 years of service and dedication to the was and always will be very much appreciated. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Each of you will be missed but never forgotten. Best wishes with your new found freedom and we hope to see you in your Velo Valero jersey on the roads of San Antonio. Since all of you have promised to keep riding, don't forget, I will be expecting to see you.....

Donations for the Luke Martinez Memorial Due by the end of the day this Friday.

Just a reminder - we are still collecting donations for the Luke Martinez Memorial Fund.

As I believe most of you know, in early November, Henry Martinez, a long time Velo Valerian and his significant other Stephanie, lost their son Luke Henry. This was a heartbreaking circumstance as this was Henry and Stephanie's first baby and the joyful anticipation of his arrival was sadly and unexpectedly halted by the news of his passing just prior to his due date. Being the amazing individuals they are, Henry and Stephanie had a beautiful funeral ceremony for Luke and many of you likely had the opportunity to attend. Henry recognized the Velo Valero family during the eulogy and expressed his gratitude for our support. As a gesture of our love for Henry and Stephanie, Andrea Shull and I discussed making a donation to the Child Life department at Christus San Rosa in Luke's name. This is a place where children go to receive "play therapy" during their time at the hospital. Having worked there for ten years, I personally witnessed the healing power of playing for sick children. It is a wonderful department and staff and a place where we can make a memorable and much appreciated donation in Luke's name. We contacted the Child Life department and they sent us a flyer which outlines several items we might purchase.

If you are interested in participating, we'd like to have all donations by 3:00 pm on December 18th. We plan to go to the hospital in person just before the holidays and invite Henry to accompany us. We also hope to have a small tag engraved with Luke's name on whatever items we purchase, so he will be remembered visibly. Andrea has set up an account at the Valero Federal Credit Union. You can make donations by:

Make your check payable to the Luke Henry Martinez Memorial fund and mail to the Valero Credit Union at One Valero Way, San Antonio, TX. 78249.
If you have an account at the VFCU you can transfer funds from your account to (Acct #:609046)
Bring your donation by Laura or Andrea's desks and we will deposit for you.

If you have any questions, don't hesitate to call (210)345-2565. There is no set $ amount for contributions as any amount is greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance for your generosity and support!

- Laura and Andrea

Pedal Thru the Pines on March 6th

It's never to early to start thinking about rides we can do next year. I got this note from Board Member Peter Ray, who did some reconnaissance on the the route for a new bike ride we are considering doing next March. Here's his report -

While driving back to and from College Station this weekend, I stopped off at Bastrop State Park to take a break and get a short ride in. That stretch of Park Road 1-C that connects Bastrop State Park with Buescher State Park is one of the prettiest rides in Texas, and one I try to sneak it in every chance I get. It's a series of rolling hills surrounded by pine trees that you have to see to believe. You get to do an out and back on it during the Bastrop Pedal Thru the Pines on March 6th, if you do one of the longer distances (27 miles or greater). Click here for an interactive map from the web site, and click here for a topo map from Google.

- Peter

Until we meet again...

Have a Merry Christmas and a safe and Happy New Year.

- Andrea

A Very Cold Weekend in San Antonio

peter.ray@valero.com — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 15:55:00 GMT

Good afternoon!

Weekend Ride

John "the Punisher" Tenison will be leading a ride on Saturday morning starting at the park & ride across from Sammy's Restaurant (map) in Castroville for a 45 mile ride to Devine, returning via F.M. 1346 (map). Ride start is at 8:00 AM. This is a fun ride that we don't do nearly often enough. Temps look to be favorable so come on out and ride. Who knows, this might be the last nice weekend to ride in 2009.

Don't let the cold weather keep you from working out. During the cold winter months there are plenty of opportunities for riding indoors. Spin classes have become the winter rage and are located all over town. Consider getting yourself a membership to your local health club for Christmas. Valero employees and their spouse can attend spin classes at the Valero Health Club on the first Saturday of each month.

Mission to Mission Ride

It was REALLY cold Saturday morning - as a result, very few Velo Valero riders braved the icy temperatures to participate in the 2009 Mission to Mission ride on the Southside. Board Member Peter Ray and his son were some of the few - here's his report:

Temperatures were in the mid 20s when the 2009 Mission to Mission Ride began this year. My son Alex and I rode together on our mountain bikes, the ones we rode in the Davis Mountains a few weeks ago. We got there a little after nine, thinking the 32 miler would begin at 09:30, but found out there was much confusion regarding the start time, and a big group of long distance riders began at 9:00. Oh well - we checked in and took off on our own, since we didn't see any other Velo riders around. It was bitterly cold but not too windy, and we both were wrapped in a couple of layers with no exposed skin so it wasn't too bad. (An upside to the weather was that the usual gaggle of snarling southside stray dogs was too cold to chase us.) We chatted with Erica from ADA at one of the rest stops, and enjoyed the joyful holiday ditties emanating from a rolling boom box that a rider dressed like Santa had connected to the back of his bike. Afterwards, Alex and I went to the 5 Guys burger place in the Quarry and scarfed down one of the best burgers I have ever eaten!!!!!!!!!!! (We were both cold and hungry, and didn't care that we basically wore our long johns into the restaurant!)

Hef and his boy at the end of the Mission to Mission ride - it was a lot warmer at the end of the ride than at the beginning!

A much warmer ride from a few weeks ago - Chase took this great photo of Al and I climbing the road to the Observatory in the Davis mountains...Of all the pictures I've been in over 10 years of cycling, this has become my favorite...

- Peter

The Punisher Rides Solo

John "the Punisher" Tenison opted out of the Mission to Mission ride Saturday morning, but a guilty concious compelled him to go out and ride that afternoon. Here's his report -

Pete - Hats off to you guys! I wussed out and glad I did. I was the only one who showed at the 471 Exxon, so I scouted out a new route - 2615 along a ridge that overlooks the Medina Lake dam, then 271 to Rio Medina for 30 miles. Worth adding to our ride options. It got chilly and windy on the way back. I headed home and sampled an excellent bourbon I just got - good ending to a nice afternoon!

- John

Las Vegas Rock and Roll Marathon

The first ever Las Vegas Rock and Roll Marathon was held on Sunday, December 6th, and a couple of Velo Valero team members participated. Board Member David "the Flash" Gross did the full in a very respectable 4:14:42, and his two angels, Tammy Friddle and Paige Wright, did the half in very impressive times (2:14:23 and 2:39:28). It's even rumored that the 3 of them particiapted in the annual 5K Santa Run. We'll have more updates from this incredible event (which finished on the Las Vegas strip!) soon.

David and Tammy hanging out on the Vegas strip

Sea of Santas at the 5K Santa Run on Saturday

Two sides of Tammy, Paige, and David

MS Corporate Star Recognition for Valero Energy

Finally, we received this e-mail from Fred Flanders, Senior national Directory, Corporate Relations, from the National Multiple Sclerosis Society -

As we near the end of the year, we want to take a moment to thank our MS Corporate Stars and Corporate Partners for what you have done to move us closer to world free of MS in 2009. We’ve placed a Star/Partner flash panel on the front page of our National MS website and hope you’ll take a minute to check out this special thank you message! Click right here and take a look: MS Corporate Star & Partner Website Thank You! (then click on the star icon on the flash panel).

Thank you and happy holidays.

- Fred

See ya' on the road!

- Andrea

A Frosty Weekend.....

wild thing — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 13:44:00 GMT

Greetings and Happy Hump Day! We have lots of things going on in Velo-land to tell you about, plus we have a little surprise for you at the end...

Mission to Mission Ride

Looks like is going to be a frosty Saturday morning for the Mission to Mission ride this weekend. Bundle up, drink plenty of hot chocolate, be safe and have a great ride. I'm disappointed that I will not be able to join you for the ride this year. I guess not that disappointed after reading the weather forecast. I'm a wimp when it comes to riding in the cold. I like the heat of the summer sun on my skin not the chill of old man winter. NOTE: The long rides start at the very user friendly time of 09:30 am. The short ride starts even later at 10:00 am...

A few of the Velo Valero riders at Mission San Juan during the 2008 M2M ride. Click here to see more pictures.

Sunday Ride with the Bear

A Thanksgiving Note from "Teddy Bear" -

Hope that everyone had a great Thanksgiving Day holiday this past week!!! I know that I had a great holiday week that started out with spending time with friends in Fort Davis the weekend before Turkey Day (click here for pictures). On Thanksgiving, I enjoyed serving Thanksgiving dinner with two awesome individuals (Tony and Bow Ralf) along with several other volunteers from Valero. I made a dozen chocolate fudge pie to share with the troops (10) and my family (2). Somehow, only 9.875 pies arrived at the Valero Hanger??? Must have been my dog Teddy Bear J!!! Ended the Day eating too much and watching football. This seems to be a tradition for me on Thanksgiving – food and football.

I wanted to let you know that I will be leading a ride this Sunday starting at 9AM from Helotes near Roger Solers and JT Flores Country Store. Click here for more details.

- Carl Crawford

Memorial

Dear Velo Valero Board members and friends –

If you are interested in participating, we'd like to have all donations by December 15th. We plan to go to the hospital in person just before the holidays and invite Henry to accompany us. We also hope to have a small tag engraved with Luke's name on whatever items we purchase, so he will be remembered visibly. Andrea has set up an account at the Valero Federal Credit Union. You can make donations by:

Make your check payable to the Luke Henry Martinez Memorial fund and mail to the Valero Credit Union at One Valero Way, San Antonio, TX. 78249.
If you have an account at the VFCU you can transfer funds from your account to (Acct #:609046)
Bring your donation by Laura or Andrea's desks and we will deposit for you.

If you have any questions, don't hesitate to call (210)345-2565. There is no set $ amount for contributions as any amount is greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance for your generosity and support!

- Laura and Andrea

Quote of the Day

During the Holiday weekend while reading the paper, I found a quote by Hala Moddelmog, President and CEO, Susan G Komen for the Cure. I think this is the principle behind why we ride and how important it is for us to continue to be active members of this great team.

"There is a subtle difference between a mission and a promise. A mission is something you strive to accomplish. A promise is something you are compelled to keep. One is individual; the other is shared. When a mission and a promise are one in the same, that's when mountains are moved, races are won, and cures are found.

Sorry, I felt compelled to add a few words at the end.

Closing Comment

This is a very busy time of year and we need to be extra careful on and off our bikes. Please have a designated driver if you plan on attending any holiday parties. Be mindful when shopping alone and walking to your vehicles at night. The crime rate is in full swing and the Holiday's are not exception. Motorists are going to be a little preoccupied rushing to and from gathering the last few gifts on their lists. Let’s take some extra time when riding through intersections and in high traffic areas on your route. Making it home safely is more important than your average mph for the ride.

And, Let's Start the Holiday Season Off Right by Displaying our Favorite Holiday Logo...

It's an oldie but goodie, but we never get tired of seeing it - the picture Zora did a few years ago of a Velo Valero Santa on his bike! After all these years, I still wonder how he pedals with those short legs...

- Andrea

Happy Thanksgiving!

peter.ray@valero.com — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 19:27:00 GMT

Happy Wednesday! This will be a real quick blog, because I know everyone is busy witht the holidays.

Thanksgiving Turkey Ride This Saturday

John "the Benevolent" Tension has a ride scheduled for this Saturday. Here's his report -

Come out and work off some of those calories you packed on over the last couple of days. We leave from Leon Springs at 9:00 AM (you even get to sleep in) for a ride up Toutant Beauregard to Boerne, returning via Amman Road and Fair Oaks Ranch (map). Total distance is 32 miles, with various shorter options available.

- John

Mission to Mission Ride Coming Up

The Mission to Mission ride is coming up on December 5th. This family friendly event is our traditional end of season ride. For more details, click here.

Rider with the holiday spirit at the 2008 MIssion to Mission. For more photos from the 2008 ride, click here.

Ride to the River Awards Banquet

The Ride to the River Awards Banquet was held last Wednesday. Valero was recognized as the Title Sponsor, and Velo Valero won the top fundraising team award again. CEO Bill Klesse won the top fundraiser award, and team member Alain Charette was the third highest fundraiser. Click here for a great summary of the event.

Team members show off our hard-earned bling at the end of the banquet

Laura, Peter, and Andrea pose with Mark from the MS Society. Check out those boots Laura has on!

Hiking and Biking in the Davis Mountains

Many team members traveled to Ft. Davis in West Texas for a weekend of hiking and biking. Some of us did one of the hardest bike rides you'll ever do (the climb to the tallest public road in Texas at the McDonald Observatory), and then followed this two days later with one of the funnest, fastest, and most scenic rides you'll ever do (32 miles of endless downhill between Ft. Davis and Balmorhea). Every one had such a good time, we've already booked the hotel for next year!

Group shot at the top of the world

Alex marvels at some of the fish at Balmorhea

Carl and Debbie brave the cold and the eerie voodoo of the Marfa Lights

Ray Riley Hubbard plays Snake Farm and Screw You, We're From Texas and the Alpine locals go loco

Some of the gang takes a break while hiking, although Hannah wants to keep going. For more photos from the trip, click here.

...that's it for now! Happy Thanksgiving!

- Andrea

Weekend Ride, MS Awards Banquet, Rocking the Rock and Roll Marathon, The Godmother Meets the Mayor, M2M Coming Up Quickly

peter.ray@valero.com — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 21:11:00 GMT

Good morning and happy hump day! Just wanted to get a quick blog out before Thanksgiving.

Weekend Ride

Saturday John "the Punsiher" Tenison will be hosting a ride starting at 8:00 AM from the parking lot just off Main Street in Boerne, across from the Chevron Station (map). -

We ride out F.M. 1376 to Sisterdale, then across F.M. 473 to Zoeller Lane, on to Waring and back for 35 miles (map). Of course I could be tempted to extend the ride to Comfort, returning via Holiday Rd. for a total distance of 50 miles if anyone is interested. Either way be sure to save some energy for the big hill after PoPo's.The best time of year for riding is right now, so get out there and enjoy the great weather.

- John

Ride to the River Awards Banquet Volunteer Appreciation Party

Just a reminder that the Bike MS Awards Banquet is Wednesday. This is a great opportunity for us to get together as a team one more time, and to celebrate everything we accomplished this year for Bike MS. If possible, please wear a current team jersey. Details are below:

Bike MS: Valero 2009 Alamo Ride to the River Awards
and Volunteer Appreciation Party, presented by 42BELOW
6 - 8 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 18
Pedrotti's North Wind Ranch (map)
13715 FM 1560N
Helotes, TX 78023

Click here to see a video about the Pedrotti's North Wind Ranch. This looks like a really fun place. Hope to see you there!

One of the most memorable moments from last year's banquet - Team Hostess with the Mostess Luz Hernandez accepts the award for best team tent!

San Antonio Rock and Roll Marathon

The 2nd Annual San Antonio Rock and Roll Marathon was held last weekend. Over 31,000 runners registered for the event, which once again snaked through downtown San Antonio and some of the surrounding neighborhoods like Monte Vista and King Williams. A number of Velo Valero cyclists became runners for the day, including Board Member David "The Flash" Gross, who completed the half in a personal best time of 1:57 (woo hoo!). Humidity was close to 100% during the day, which took its toll on some of the runners, including former Team Captain Peter "El Hefe" Ray (who was rumored to be speaking in tongues during the last mile, although he somehow managed to beat his time from last year by over 3 minutes).

The Rock and Roll folks put on a great event and use some of the latest technologies, including chip timing, real time web updates on splits, and live web cams on finish line. In fact, the coolest feature is you can actually go to the event web site and replay the video to watch a specific runner crossing the finish line based on name or bib number - click here to check it out! To see something truly inspring, put in team member Glennis Bryce's name. She pulled a hamstring early in the run, and hooked up with another team member, Alice "The Princess of Pedal" Pearce, who helped her finish the run. In the video you can see the two of them crossing the line together, arm and arm. This, my friends, is the essence of team work and what Velo Valero is all about. Here's Glennis' account -

This was my second time participating and I knew the course was nice and flat. After a comfortable start, at mile 4 I experienced a soreness in my right leg I usually don't get when running. The pain quotient increased considerably in the next mile, so I decided to walk a bit. In mile 6, and when I tried to run, my leg gave out and would not support my weight. Time for a long walk. Alice Pearce had told me at the Livestrong event in Austin that she would be participating in the 1/2 marathon. We were in different corrals and I knew that if I saw her, it was all God. I had just left the portapotties in mile 11 when she came up from behind. I was overjoyed and told her what happened, that I had never walked a half marathon before...she just smiled big and said she had never run one :-) and that she would stay with me. She put her arm around me and supported my weight so I could relieve some of the stress on my leg. Together we walked the last 2 miles and crossed the finish line together.

Thanks
Glennis

The Flash slapping palms with one of his many admirers

Peter wishing he was on a bike in his granny gear on that last hill before the finish line

The running Gladiator...keep him away form your daughter!

Elvis Wannabes spotted at the Firday Night Expo

The Godmother Meets the Mayor

On Monday, November 2nd, a Bicycle Summit was held at City Hall in downtown San Antonio. Representatives from a number of City agencies were there to discuss issues with cycling enthusiasts from across the city. Our mayor, the Honorable (and very young) Julian Castro, actually got conned into riding a bike with a group of us, even though he was not dressed for the occasion and they gave him a bike with a freakin' basket on the front.

The Godmother and some other dude pose with Mayor Julian Castro at the ride start ride during the Bike Summit

Team members strike a Chamber of Commerce pose in front of the Alamo

Mission to Mission Ride

The Mission to Mission Ride on December 5th is our traditional "end of season" organized ride (although, to be quite honest, our season never ends!). This family friendly event is a great way to get your friends and family to participate with you in your favorite sport (if they aren't already). The weather is guaranteed to be cool, and the route is along the scenic and hill-free San Antonio Mission Trail. There are distances of 12, 15, 34, and 58 miles for you to choose. Register with Team Velo Valero and you save $5 off the registration (what a deal!). For more details, click here.

Who is that masked team captain? And why is her offspring wearing antlers?? For more pictures from last year's M2M, click here.

Hope everyone has a great weekend

Andrea