Velo Valero

Peter,

Thanks again for all your work at Velo Valero. Chad and I had a great ride and it was truly an experience that we'll never forget. We talked about doing this ride a year ago and we had a great time buying bikes, learning to ride, training, and finally crossing the finish line together. It was a great adventure that brought us together as father and son. Everything you guys did as the Valero team was first class. It was fun to be part of a winning organization. Thanks again,

Carl Caton

Good Morning “El Jefe” for the 2008 Bike to the Beach -

I want to let you know what a special team I had this year.  If it wasn’t for them the Velo Valero tent could have never been as successful as it did.

• The “Holt Man” who helped me load/unload at Beeville and then again load/unload at San Antonio.  This has convinced him that he will definitely ride next year.  He was a great DJ and now thinking about having a second career as a singer.
• Debnil Chowdhury who took awesome pictures and helped decorate the tent and anything I asked him to do.  He hasn’t fully unpacked yet and already jumped in to volunteer at one of the most difficult event -- especially working with me.
•  To my Macarena girls, Kimberly Allen, Debbie Avery, Yvonne Garcia, and Trish Poulos who worked so hard in making the tent go from no class to high class.  Their attitude and enthusiasm made my job so much easier.  They also took awesome pictures whenever they could.

My whole team helped with the cleanup and packing also.  It was a 14 hour day, it was hot, and were attacked by mosquitoes but they all pulled through for me.

- Lucy Hernandez

 The Bike to the Beach was a tremendous experience me and my son Jack (age 13) – both of riding for the first year.  Jack made it the full distance both days including the climb over the Harbor Bridge in Corpus at the very end.  Neither of us had ever ridden over 55 miles at one time before.  He had to fight through the “wall” a couple of points but really hung in there and is sore in the hind quarter today.  I am very proud of him.
 
It’s a really neat event.  We loved seeing the folks who come out all along the route and have hand lettered signs thanking the riders for riding to help cure MS.  Things like “thank you for riding for my mom since she can’t” and that type of thing.  People in wheelchairs sitting under a tree waving and clapping.  Hundreds of people at the start and finish lines.  Hundreds more volunteers at break stops handing out water, oranges, bananas, thanks and encouragement.  Lots of riders of all levels out there so it was pretty social too.  I enjoyed it.
 
It gives you a new perspective on how big Texas is!
 
Thanks to you and all the Board Members and huge numbers of volunteers for doing such a great job!
 
Eric Moeller

 We want to thank you for all that you have done for the team. We are so proud to be a part of Velo Valero. You have set a higher standard for all future teams El Hefe, including having exceptional leadership, an amazing personality and the ability to bring people together.  That is what makes this the best team in San Antonio and one Stella and I are so proud to be apart of it. Plus you know how to pick a good beer.
Stella and Luis 
P.S. We love you man!

A Few Moments That I Will Never Forget From My First  Bike to the Beach

As I was getting ready to move to the front of the start line to meet with my Valero teammates I hug and kiss my wife and said to each other "good luck" since she was also riding her first Back to the Beach MS 150. (Wife is not a Velo Valero rider) I didn't expect to see so many people get up so early to cheer us so loud.  I saw   people with MS talking to us their story.  I saw fellow Valero riders (Lucho and Glennis) for personal reason they were not riding but they were there at the start line to cheer and they were so happy.  I will never forget Glennis smile as she hug me.  I was very touched, and that Saturday morning I start to roll my 160 mile ride with moist eyes. (Emotional  moment...)                                                                       

At mile 52 "after lunch" the road just turns horrible, I mean it was very rough and we started to feel a strong head wind.  I slow down a bit to keep my heart rate steady and not consume my energy.  Finally at mile 88 the pavement got nice and smooth again. 

At the end of day one on mile 93 I started to have second thoughts about the Century distance, all the riders in front of me made the right turn to the finish line but I push myself to continue the extra 4 miles and complete the century.  For my surprise I was given a nice century patch for such accomplishment.

On Sunday morning I was sad to see riders hurt on the ground by a few accidents on the first few miles.  However the people of the organizers where there taking care of the situations, I was very surprise to see how well organized this event was.  They really had their act together. 

Again don't know why "after lunch" mile 31 the wind just got real bad.  It was constantly blowing against you.  No matter which way the road turn it was just blowing hard on your face.  You have to try aero positions and pace lines to avoid getting drag by that wind.

It was nice to hear from the speakers system on the last break that is only 9 miles to go.  I started to feel a small adrenaline rush as I refilled my bottles and little nutrition stuff.  As I left the breakpoint with two unknown riders we were constantly chatting this last few miles, you can sense the excitement that we felt because this journey is almost over.  Don't know exactly where but we made a right turn coming from Portland to go on 181 hwy and there it was...the moment that we were all waiting..."The Beach".  The feeling that I felt on that moment I just can't describe it.  There was no chatting now between me and my two new buddy riders, we all were starring at that spectacular view of the ocean and the Harbor Bridge just maybe 4 miles ahead of us.  My thoughts were all those miles that we did on training rides at Camp Bullis Park, New Berlin, Boerne, Cibolo, etc. to get fit and accomplish this LIFETIME MOMENT on my small cycling world.  To finish the race after climbing The Harbor Bridge was no better way to end such nice event.  Again at the finish line lots of cheers and MS folks yelling thank you!  (Emotional moment #2) 

For a while I stayed at the finish line to cheer people up.  It amazing to see all the diversity of riders and teams. Moments later I see my wife crossing the finish line, she was choking in tears as they announce her name and number.  We hug and laugh and forever will be bonded on that moment.  (Emotional Moment #3 and last!!!)

PS  Just don't know how to thank you Andrea for helping introduce me the enthusiasm of cycling.  

PS  To the newVcrew organizers Carl, Meg, Tanya, thanks guys!  I ride with you guys anytime.

PS Peter, Ray, without you as a great captain none of this was possible.

See ya'll on the road again,

Ciao,

Ralph Plaza

 Well, we survived another one!!  And I mean survived.  This was a last minute, "let's go"!  None of us had trained/prepared like we should have and we felt it about half way through Saturday.  But everyone pulled, pushed and encouraged each other through the day and the next until we were over the bridge and felt like we had just tackled the biggest obstacle we have ever faced!

- Monika Harper

 A HUGE THANK YOU to all the volunteers and coordinators for a FANTASTIC ride this year!!! I only made it 130 miles due to mechanical breakdown on day 2  :-(   Even if you made a wrong turn on the ride you made the right choice to support the cause.

Peter, I followed you, into the middle lane of traffic, thinking that this is odd and not well planned, but heading the wrong 'ray' and it was worth it... You have been an amazing leader and for your one mistake you needed some company!  Who needs to make that BIG of a mistake alone?  It was the a great ride...many thanks to all the volunteers!

- Pat O'Brien

 I first want to say thanks to everyone that took there time to help out.  Without you guys and gals the ride would be long and harder then it was.  To the Velo Valero team I want to thank you for taking me in and making me feel like I was part of your team even though I don't work for Valero.  That means alot to me and can wait to do another ride with you all.
 
I had a blast doing the MS150, I feel I have jumped over a hurdle that has been in front of me for several years.  For those that don't know i had several surgeries on my knees and quads that limited what I was allowed to do. 
 
Again thanks to everyone that had a major or minor role in this event.
 
Bryan Lardizabal

Hey Peter,

Just wanted to say thanks for the great job you and the other Board Members did with providing training rides, lunch and learns and encouragement over the past few months!  Cycling has turned out to be the best knee surgery rehab!  I’ve got the fever now!

Thanks, Seymour Battle

Peter,

Thanks for being Captain of this incredible team.  After volunteering at the team tent last year, both my husband and I decided that we would do BTTB this year.  We can proudly say that we completed the century ride on Saturday and crossed the Harbor Bridge on Sunday!  What an awesome feeling to finally be able to say, "I can ride my bike to Corpus!"  I think my 13 year old son got the bug in Corpus on Sunday - he rode his dad's bike all over the parking lot and says he's ready to do the ride next year!

Everyone from the team has been so encouraging and helpful over the past several months. I will never forget how kind and patient Carl Crawford was when I first started riding. He was there for my first training ride and never left us behind. He always waited for us even though we probably slowed him down by a few hours!?   :-) 

As far as the BTTB weekend, aside from the headwind and chip seal on the roads, I cannot complain about anything!  The event was very well planned, everything went smoothly and the Valero volunteers were incredible!   This team truly embodies the caring and sharing spirit of Valero and I am so very proud to be a part of it.

I will miss your Captain's Blog when you hand the reins over to someone else.  :-(

Thanks,  Nerissa Muniz 

 Nerissa with her family at the finish line in Corpus

Regards,
Richard Westerveld