Participant Guide
WHAT TO PACK
Start packing a few days before the ride, so you don't have to worry about it on the last day. Click here for a list of what to pack.
EARLY LUGGAGE CHECK IN
For those who are organized and want to drop off lugage before Saturday morning, a team of volunteers will accept bags on Friday, Oct 19th from 4 - 6 pm at the Valero Corporate Headquarters - Cafeteria. Drop off your camping gear or items that you don't want to hassle with Saturday morning.
SATURDAY MORNING LUGGAGE DROP OFF
One of the many perks provided by the team is separate luggage transportation. Starting at 5:30 am on Saturday morning, riders and volunteers can drop off bags/luggage/camping gear etc. to the Valero truck. How do you find the truck? Just look for the FLASHING yellow light. Our amazing Valero volunteers have arranged to have a 26 ft truck yellow Penske truck parked on the grounds of the AT & T center - The truck will have a Valero Volunteer banner on the side and is typically parked in the middle of the lot once you drive in. Again, you will have to look for the light. Be sure to ask the volunteers if you are at the VELO VALERO truck before leaving your luggage behind. The MS truck is typically an 18-wheeler from HEB, so you should be able to distinguish ours from that. However, remember there are lots of corporate teams now, so you don't want to leave your l uggage on the wrong vehicle. PLEASE be sure to label all bags with your name and cell phone #. Also, there are luggage tags inside of your rider packet from the MS Society. There should be 2 of them. They have your rider # on them. This is also a helpful way to quickly ID your bags.
Once you drop off your things, you can proceed to the ride start.
When you arrive in Beevile, your bags will be under the Valero tent. Simply look for your tags! On Sunday morning, you can leave your bags in the spot and they will be reloaded and transported to CC. When you arrive in Corpus, you can look for the the Valero truck under the bridge, and again can claim your bags.
RIDE START
As Valero Energy is the official title sponsor for the ride, we will have the privilege of being the first team in the line up. So once you drop off your bags, simply proceed to the ride START and head to the very front under the START banner. Remember there will be 2 start times this year. THERE ARE 2 STARTING CHUTES. The first group will leave at 7:30 am. This is for those who ride 17-20 mph. The second group will leave at 8:15 am and will consist of those who ride at a more conservative pace. PLEASE, be honest with yourself about where you should start. The whole point of the staggered start is to promote safety and allow for the faster riders to get out ahead. There is no shame in lining up in the second chute.
Remember to get an early start in the morning as traffic will be awful. I suggest arriving no later than 6:30 am to beat the craziness.
TEAM SPIRIT
In your Velo Valero goody bags you should have found a whistle and some tattoos. We ask that you please wear your whistle during the ride so you can let people hear your team spirit. Also feel free to put your team tattoos on your face, arms legs, etc. Just hold a wet rag on top of them for about 30 seconds to apply.
On Saturday night, we ask that you please wear your yellow team T-shirts and black team hat to show your team spirit. We will have a team photo some time in the evening.
RIDER NUMBERS
In your MS packet you have several important stickers and numbers. The big square with your rider number must be placed visibly on your back . Use safety pins to attach to your jersey or camel back. Be sure to complete the emergency information section on the back. This becomes real important if you are injured. There should also be a small square that is a sticker with your number. This goes on your helmet..preferrably in the front or on the side so it is visible. There should also be a wrist band with your number and 2 luggage tags that look like wrist bands. Finally, there should be a two-sided folder cardstock square with your number. This is for your bike . Place on the front by the handle bars or on the bike frame using twisty ties.
TEAM APPAREL
We ask that all Velo Valerians wear their new Velo Valero jerseys (and shorts too if you bought them) on Day 1 of the ride. You should also have a pair of matching socks provided in your team goody bag. Please wear those as well. On Day 2, we also request that you wear your Valero jerseys. If you want to a previous year's jersey design, we are OK with that, but want to be sure we all show our team pride and team spirit by wearing our uniforms BOTH days. Valero has given us a tremendous amount of support both financially and in volunteer time, we appreciate the opportunity to recognize them for their efforts !!
LAST CHANCE APPAREL and VALERO PACKET PICK UP
For those who still need to pick up jerseys, shorts and/or team goody bags, no worries. We will be at the Omni Hotel during the Friday Expo on Friday Oct 20th from 5 - 8 pm. We have a room next to the MS Expo exclusively for Velo Valero. Stop by there to pick up your packet. If you cannot find us, call my cell phone: (210) 862-3644.
TEAM MEET AND GREET - SPAGHETTI DINNER
Please be sure to stop by the Omni Hotel on Friday to meet your fellow team members, participate in the team pre-ride briefing and program. We promise to finish by 8:30 pm so you can get a good night's sleep. If you want to eat dinner, there is an all you can eat spaghetti buffet for $10 starting at 5 pm.
MEALS
Another perk of Velo Valero membership is FREE meals on Saturday evening and Sunday morning. You MUST be wearing your TEAL Valero wrist band to be served. Dinner will start at 5:00 pm on Saturday and will go until 7:30 pm. We will have our traditional barbequed chicken and brisket, plus this year we're providing pasta. Valero volunteers have baked some wonderful desserts for all of you to enjoy after dinner. We will also have some surprise entertainment during dinner for your enjoyment from 05:30 to 07:00.
Breakfast will begin at 5:30 am on Sunday and goes until there's no food left. Be sure to arrive early for some of Chef Fausto's delicious scrambled eggs, sausage, hashbrowns, milk and juice, along with dried fruit and cereal.
NOTE: If you have a guest, they too will need a TEAL wrist band, also.
SHOWERS
When you arrive in Beeville, there are showers on the campus grounds that are open for our use. Remember to bring your towel and soap/shampoo. In Corpus Christi, there are portable showers set up on a first come first serve basis. Again, don't forget your towel and toiletries. Suggestion: pack these items last so they are on top and easy to find when you pick up your luggage in CC.
BIKE PARKING LOT
When you get to Beeville, there is a secured bike parking lot where you can store your bike for the evening. Volunteers will take your bike for you and park it in order by your rider number. Be sure to remove all valuables from your bags. Also, its a good idea to cover your seat with a plastic bag so it won't be wet when you get on it on Sunday. There is typically alot of moisture in the air over night.
SHUTTLES
Free shuttles will be available to transport riders from the tent in Beeville to the Motel 6 in Sinton. Shuttles will depart every hour starting at 3 pm and going until 9 pm. In the morning, we will reverse the route. Shuttles will depart from the Motel 6 in Sinton starting at 5 am and will leave every half hour until 7:00am. A schedule with a phone # will be posted under the team tent. You also recieved a card with important phone #s. Be sure to keep this handy if you need to call SAG support during the ride. Shuttles will leave from the parking lot behind the medical building on the grounds of the college in Beeville. NOTE: Sinton is a 30 min drive from Beeville so plan accordingly in the morning so you have time to eat, air up your tires, fill your water bottles etc.
The ride starts anywhere from 7:30 - 9:00 am on Sunday depending on the fog and light conditions.
TEAM SLEEPING TENT
Based on feedback from riders last year, we made changes to the location and layout of our team tent. We are now located at the back of the tent area near the pond. We will have two tents - a dining/entertainment tent, and a sleeping tent. The sleeping tent will be made available to riders on a first come/first serve basis via an electronic sign-up; it can accomodate 54 folks. We recommend folks that are sleeping in the tent to bring a cot. Ear plugs will be provided to help people sleep. We also have space for folks to pitch individual tents in the courtyard and near the tent compound. Here is the layout of our team tents for the overnight in Beeville.
MASSAGE THERAPY
We will have approx. 15 massage therapists on site starting at 12 noon and going until 8 pm. Cost is $20 for 25 minutes. Appointments can be made under the tent and will be offered first come first serve basis. There will be volunteers coordinating this service under the Velo Valero tent.
SHUTTLES TO SA FROM CORPUS
For those who still need a ride back from CC to SA or for those who already signed up, Shuttles will leave as they fill up. Each vehicle holds 12 -15 people. Just call me at (210) 862-3644 if you want to sign up.
Bikes will come back to SA anywhere from 6 - 7pm and can be picked up at the AT and T center. Check with volunteer drivers to confirm the time. They cannont leave CC until the last riders come in. This is usually between 3 and 4 pm.
Feel free to call me at any time if you have any questions at 210-862-3644.
See ya' on the road!
Peter
P.S. Thanks to 2005-2006 Team Captain Laura Vaccaro for preparing this list last year. I merely updated it with the latest information.