Team Update - January 9, 2009

Elves and More is a Great Success!

We want to thank all the team members that participated in the bike build and delivery, and for those that contributed to the helmet fund.  Our Team raised enough money to purchase over 300 helmets for the children that received these new bikes.

The volunteer hours from our Team members and other ExxonMobil employees and annuitants means that Elves & More should receive Company grants of around $10,000.

Team Socials

Hi EM Cycling Team, if you are anything like us the New Year means that it is time to start cycling again!  Wouldn't it be nice to meet some of the other folks on the Team so that when you go to the training rides you know some of the other cyclist?  Plus wouldn't you like to confirm the size of the jersey that you ordered?  Do you ever think about car pooling to the rides? Do you need the car-pooling commitment to make yourself roll out of bed on Saturday morning?

If your answer to any of these questions are yes (and they are for us!) come out to the first Happy Hour of the year. You can meet your fellow cyclist and enjoy a nice beverage. In addition we will have sample jerseys to try sizing and possibly buy.

Here are the details:

When:  January 22, 2009
Where:  TBD - Planning for Rice Village
Time:  6:00 - Whenever

Hope to see you there.

If you have any questions or comments please let us know.

EM Cycling Social Directors:
  Holly Bronson (holly.a.bronson@exxonmobil.com) and Tara Denton ( tara.m.denton@exxonmobil.com)

Team Registration

For those of you that have not yet completed your ExxonMobil Cycling Team registration, we ask that you take a few minutes and complete it soon.  This will help us organize Team events and make the preparations for completing the Team clothing order (jerseys and cycling shorts).  We will again use a web-based registration process.  Proceed to Team Registration

If you have registered and indicated you will pay by check, please mail in your payment NOW (instead of one of our volunteers having to follow-up on unpaid memberships).

Safety Training (Action Item)

The ExxonMobil Cycling Team is a strong supporter of safe cycling. All of our members that participate in the BP MS150 should take a hands-on skill class once every three years. Below are some opportunities for completing your safety training requirements.

Registration is Required:  Please provide: Name, Team Name, e-Mail Address, New or Returning Rider & Date of Class

Saturday, January 10	Group Riding Skills Class - 8:00 AM Memorial Park - In Conjunction with our Team Training Ride RSVP
Sunday, January 18	Group Riding Skills Class - 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM FMC Technologies Center - 1803 Gears Road (Map) RSVP
Sunday, January 25	Group Riding Skills Class - 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM FMC Technologies Center - 1803 Gears Road (Map) RSVP
Saturday, January 31	Group Riding Skills Class - 8:00 AM - 11:00 AM FMC Technologies Center - 1803 Gears Road (Map) RSVP

Safety Training in Baytown in January

For those of you in the Baytown/Beaumont area, Team member Orin Flynn, who is a League Certified Instructor, is making arrangements to hold a safety training class at the EM Baytown Main Office Building complex.  If the Baytown area is convenient for you, please RSVP to Orin Flynn at (n.orin.flynn@exxonmobil.com).

Saturday, January 24

EM Cycling Team Group Riding Skills Class - 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM ExxonMobil Baytown Facility Main Office Building - 2800 Decker Drive (MAP). RSVP

Note:  Security clearance is required when entering the building where the training session will be conducted.  You must pre-register with Orin Flynn to ensure that this clearance is provided to the Security Officers.

Orin is also gauging interest in holding a safety training session at the EM Chemicals Headquarters site (west Houston between Hwy 6 and Eldridge, just south of I-10).  Please send Orin a note if this is a location you would be interested in having a safety clinic.

Training Ride Dates

Our Team will once again be participating with a group of teams in organizing training rides starting in January.  Our team will be hosting the rides on January 24, March 14 and April 4.  Team member Jim Robin has graciously volunteered to coordinate our involvement in this training series.  If you can help with any of these rides, please send Jim an e-Mail.

You can find the dates and locations of all these rides by going to our Team Calendar.  The first ride is this Saturday (Jan. 10) at the Memorial Park picnic loop, starting at 8:00 am.  We look forward to meeting as many of you at these rides as possible.

Safety Notes

If you have not been on your bike recently, make sure you check it out completely before taking it out on a training ride.

• Check the tire to make sure they are in good shape and hold good air pressure
• Make sure your brakes aren't sticking or rubbing against your wheel
• Make sure your chain is lubricated and your gears shift correctly
• Lastly, be extra cautious on your bike - especially if you have not been on your bike recently.  Recall that you need quick reflexes to avoid cracks in the payment and miss pot holes.

Take it easy and get comfortable on your bike again -- training season has started!!

Team Update - December 11, 2008

Looks like this cold weather is moving out just in time for you to get your bike out this weekend.  Remember to wear bright clothes so the Christmas shoppers can see you on your bike!

Topics in This Update.......

Team Registration
Ride Marshals
Donation Opportunity
Safety Training
  - FMC
  - Baytown
Training Ride Dates
Team Socials
Safety Note

Team Registration

For those of you that have not yet completed your ExxonMobil Cycling Team registration, we ask that you take a few minutes and complete it soon.  This will help us organize Team events and make the preparations for completing the Team clothing order (jerseys and cycling shorts).  We will again use a web-based registration process.  Proceed to Team Registration

If you have registered and indicated you will pay by check, please mail in your payment NOW (instead of one of our volunteers having to follow-up on unpaid memberships).

Ride Marshals Needed

If you are registered to ride the 2009 BP MS150, our Team needs a few more riders to be Ride Marshals.  Take a look at the below requirements, and then if interested submit your name using the link below.

Ride Marshal requirements:

• Be at least 18 years of age.
• Be passionate and knowledgeable about safe cycling and be willing to work with fellow cyclists to promote safe cycling.
• Have completed at least two (2) BP MS 150 rides from Houston to Austin.
• Provide proof of current CPR/First Aid Training.  The National MS Society provides training, if you don't already have certification, but it must be completed BEFORE you can perform any Ride Marshal functions such as supporting any BP MS 150 Recommended Rides.
• Be able to support at least two (2) BP MS 150 Recommended Rides during the training season (Jan - April).
• Complete a hands-on (3 hr minimum) cycling safety class provided through various resources (including the National MS Society, League of American Bicyclists Group Cycling Skills or equivalent).

If you meet the requirements above and would like to register to become a Marshal, go to: http://www.zoomerang.com/Survey/survey-intro.zgi?p=WEB228DHKAYKQV

Donation Opportunity - To Support the People That Protect Us

The Executive Director of Bikes for Goodness Sake (Mark Smith) has requested our help.  Their organization is trying to give over 500 bike shop quality bikes and a helmet to children of deploying troops across Texas this Christmas.  They need help raising money to purchase the bikes and helmets.  Please see their web site for more information.

Safety Training (Action Item)

The ExxonMobil Cycling Team is a strong supporter of safe cycling. All of our members that participate in the BP MS150 should take a hands-on skill class once every three years. Below are some opportunities for completing your safety training requirements.

FMC Cyclers Training Sessions

We are very fortunate that the FMC Cyclers are once again teaching the Group Riding Skills classes.  They have extended this training opportunity to riders of our Team.  Below are the dates through January 2009.   We strongly encourage you to sign up early for one of these training sessions.

Registration is Required:  Please provide: Name, Team Name, e-Mail Address, New or Returning Rider & Date of Class

Sunday, December 14	Group Riding Skills Class - 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM FMC Technologies Center - 1803 Gears Road (Map) RSVP
Saturday, December 20	Group Riding Skills Class - 8:00 AM - 11:00 AM FMC Technologies Center - 1803 Gears Road (Map) RSVP
Saturday, January 10	Group Riding Skills Class - Time TBA Memorial Park - In Conjunction with our Team Training Ride RSVP
Sunday, January 18	Group Riding Skills Class - 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM FMC Technologies Center - 1803 Gears Road (Map) RSVP
Sunday, January 25	Group Riding Skills Class - 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM FMC Technologies Center - 1803 Gears Road (Map) RSVP
Saturday, January 31	Group Riding Skills Class - 8:00 AM - 11:00 AM FMC Technologies Center - 1803 Gears Road (Map) RSVP

Special Notes:  The FMC trainers are volunteering their time, so if you RSVP and can't attend, please notify them as soon as possible.  In an effort to get everyone trained up early in the season, FMC will be charging $10 per rider (in the form of a MS 150 donation to Team FMC Cyclers) after January 31st.

Safety Training in Baytown in January

For those of you in the Baytown/Beaumont area, Team member Orin Flynn, who is a League Certified Instructor, is making arrangements to hold a safety training class at the EM Baytown Main Office Building complex.  If the Baytown area is convenient for you, please RSVP to Orin Flynn at (n.orin.flynn@exxonmobil.com).

Saturday, January 24

EM Cycling Team Group Riding Skills Class - 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM ExxonMobil Baytown Facility Main Office Building - 2800 Decker Drive (MAP). RSVP

Note:  Security clearance is required when entering the building where the training session will be conducted.  You must pre-register with Orin Flynn to ensure that this clearance is provided to the Security Officers.

Orin is also gauging interest in holding a safety training session at the EM Chemicals Headquarters site (west Houston between Hwy 6 and Eldridge, just south of I-10).  Please send Orin a note if this is a location you would be interested in having a safety clinic.

Training Ride Dates

Our Team will once again be participating with a group of teams in organizing training rides starting in January.  Our Team will be responsible for hosting 3 or 4 rides.  Team member Jim Robin has volunteered to coordinate our participation in this training series.  Once we know the dates our Team will be hosting the training rides, Jim will be contacting the Team members who indicated they would be willing to help with training rides to have them volunteer for specific duties related to these rides.

Team Socials

Team members Tara Denton and Holly Bronson have agreed to coordinate our team socials this year.  Those of you that have signed to help with these socials will be contacted by Tara and Holly.

Safety Note (From One of Our Team Members)

I'm an experienced bike commuter (~5k mi/yr commuting) and was riding home along the Braes bike path at about 7:30pm, on a pretty dark night.  I use bright flashing head and tail lights on my bike.  I was descending down the levee headed underneath the Stella Link bridge when I collided with another biker who was just emerging from underneath the bridge, who was riding WITHOUT LIGHTS.  I managed to dodge his bike, but hit a child carrier he was pulling behind.  Fortunately the carrier contained a dog, and not a child.  Unfortunately we were at a very narrow and steep section of the path without an escape route, so I crashed hard, fracturing my shoulder blade, bruising some other bones, and almost ended up in the bayou.

I have seen numerous bikers riding at night without lights on the Braes bike path.  Given the poor lighting conditions along this path, and the habit of not using lights by many of the path users, it is prudent to avoid riding paths like this after dark.  If you choose to ride on the paths at night,and there is an option of a high path and a low path passing beneath a bridge, I suggest avoiding the low path, even if it costs some extra time waiting for cars to pass on the high path.  Its just not worth the several months of recovery time from an accident to save a few seconds taking the faster way.  The EMS people who took me to the emergency room said there have been several similar bike accidents at that same location in the past.

Remember, if you expect to be on your bike when in the dark, make sure have some form of lighting to help others see you.

Team Update - December 2, 2008

Topics in This Update.......

Team Registration (Action Item)
Safety Training (Action Item)
Team Leadership
Bike Shop Discounts
Safety Note

Team Registration (Action Item)

For those of you that have not yet completed your ExxonMobil Cycling Team registration, we ask that you take a few minutes and complete it soon.  This will help us organize Team events and make the preparations for completing the Team clothing order (jerseys and cycling shorts).  We will again use a web-based registration process.  Proceed to Team Registration

Here are some highlights to this year's registration process:

1. Each Team member should separately register, even children.  We have eliminated the need for a logon ID and password but your information will continue to be kept confidential (except for first name and last name which is publically displayed on the Team Roster page).
2. The Team fee is $60 for all riders.  We are designing a different jersey and your Team fee entitles you to this jersey.  In addition, you can order cycling shorts for $45. Payment can be made either through PayPal or by check.  If you plan on paying by check, please be sure to print out the information on where to mail the check.  If you are interested in a second jersey, we are working on a streamline process to make this purchase for $50.
3. Your continuing involvement in team activities is encouraged.  You will have the opportunity on your registration form to indicate at least one activity in which you can help out the Team.   This will allow us to support our training rides and other Team activities.
4. Safety training is again a requirement for the Team.  We will be establishing some training sessions to give everyone the opportunity to meet their safety training obligation if you are participating in the BP MS150 (see more information below).
5. All the hotel rooms for the Saturday night stay over on the BP MS150 have been reserved.  If you want to be added to the waiting list, you can select the motel room through this registration process.  Team member Doug Rofheart will again coordinate the motel arrangements and Doug will be informing you separately if you received one of the rooms.
6. Our Team is open to all riders and we encourage you to register even if you are not participating in the MS150.  Your registration helps fund our various Team activities, such as training rides, our annual safety picnic, food for the team tent during the MS150 and general support for the team.  We encourage you to register as a "paying" Team member (beyond just receiving our Team e-Mails).
7. We are continuing to recruit volunteers to help with our training rides and for the weekend of the BP MS150 (April 18-19, 2009).  If you are not riding or have a family member or friend that can help out, please register as a "Volunteer Member Only" and our volunteer captains (Paul and Liz Tepikian) will be contacting them.You can send them a separate e-Mmail at eltepikian@yahoo.com.

We hope to meet each of you at one of our training rides in the near future.

Safety Training (Action Item)

The ExxonMobil Cycling Team is a strong supporter of safe cycling and all of our members that participate in the BP MS1 50 should take a hands-on skill class once every three years.   Below are some opportunities for completing your safety training requirements.

FMC Cyclers Training Sessions

We are very fortunate that the FMC Cyclers are once again teaching the Group Riding Skills classes.  They have extended this training opportunity to riders of our Team.  Below are the dates through December 2008.  All classes will be held at FMC Technologies office at 1777 Gears Rd, Houston, TX 77067. We strongly encourage you to sign up early for one of these training sessions.

Sunday, December 14	Group Riding Skills Class - 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM FMC Technologies Center - 1803 Gears Road (Map) Registration is Required: Please RSVP to Scott Beard @ scott.beard@fmcti.com Please provide: Name, Team Name, e-Mail Address, New or Returning Rider & Date of Class
Saturday, December 20	Group Riding Skills Class - 8:00 AM - 11:00 AM FMC Technologies Center - 1803 Gears Road (Map) Registration is Required: Please RSVP to Scott Beard @ scott.beard@fmcti.com Please provide: Name, Team Name, e-Mail Address, New or Returning Rider & Date of Class

Special Notes:  The FMC trainers are volunteering their time, so if you can't attend please notify them as soon as possible.  In an effort to get everyone trained up early in the season, FMC will be charging $10 per rider (in the form of a MS 150 donation to Team FMC Cyclers) after January 31st.

Safety Training in Baytown

For those of you in the Baytown/Beaumont area, team member Orin Flynn, who is a League Certified Instructor, is making arrangements to hold a safety training class at the EM Baytown Main Office Building complex.  The date of this training will be either Jan 17, 24 or 31, depending on which date most riders can make.  If the Baytown area is convenient for you, please send a note to Orin Flynn at (n.orin.flynn@exxonmobil.com) and tell him which date works best.  It is possible that Orin my hold more than one class if there is enough interest.

Orin is also gauging interest in holding a safety training session at the EM Chemicals Headquarters site (west Houston between Hwy 6 and Eldridge, just south of I-10).  Please send Orin a note if this is a location you would be interested in having a safety clinic.

Team Leadership

For those of you that don't know, Team Captain Eric Powell have been leading the ExxonMobil Cycling Team for the past 10 years.  He truly enjoys leading this group of people that are very interested in make cycling a part of their life.  The Team members are very generous participating in multiple charity events and promoting safe cycling throughout their communities.  However, his available time to handle many of the Team's activities is limited and so we are in need of some Team members to volunteer to take some leadership positions within the Team.  Those positions are listed below with a short description of the responsibilities.

We encourage you to consider taking on of these positions and don't assume "someone else" will take up these responsibilities.  Please e-Mail Team Captain Eric Powell if you have any questions or would like to volunteer for one of these positions.

Position: Team Co-Captain

Responsibilities: Assist the Team Captain in coordinating the Team activities, including attending outside functions (MS Society Team Captain meetings, Team socials, etc.). Help coordinate the Team leads on Team clothing (jersey and short design, manufacturing and distribution), safety training, training rides, financial, web site design and volunteer efforts.

Time commitment: Heaviest requirement in the six months before the MS 150, average 1 - 3 hours a week.

Position: Training Ride Coordinators

Responsibilities: This person, or persons, will coordinate our Team's participation in the training ride series (with Chevron, FMC, Fluor), including helping to select the dates and locations that our Team will host training rides (either 3 or 4 rides in the Winter and Spring). You will not have to personally organize these training rides, but will coordinate other team members who will plan and execute the training ride. We have many documented training routes and we will use the Chevron web site for the routes maps, directions and capturing the RSVP on the riders. This is a critical position(s) for the Team since all of our riders need opportunities to train and prepare for events such as the BP MS 150.

Time commitment: Average 1 - 3 hours a week.

Position: Team Safety Coordinator

Responsibilities: This person will coordinate our Team's safety initiatives. This will include identifying opportunities to hold safety training classes, promote safety awareness within our team and keep track of our safety statistics (including tracking of our members that take safety training).

Time commitment: Average 1 - 2 hours a week.

Bike Shop Discounts

In our Team Discounts page we have a listing of bike shops that are offering our team members discounts.  Most, but not all, of these shops are "Official MS150" bike shops.  We encourage you to consider using these stores to increase your overall bike knowledge (many offer free maintenance classes) and to make sure your bike is safe.  In the Spring, the Official MS 150 bikes shops will be offering a free bike inspection that we encourage all of you to obtain.

Team member Craig Jackson has worked closely with the bike shops to obtain these discounts so if you get a chance make sure you thank Craig for his efforts (Craig also updates our web site, which is VERY helpful to all of us!!).

Safety Note

With the upcoming start of what we hope is a very active training season, if you have not been on your bike lately you should take some time to do a thorough review of your bike.  The last thing you want is to be out on a ride and have mechanical trouble that could have easily been fixed before going on your ride.

• Make sure your tires are in good shape and have adequate pressure
• Spin your tires so you can make sure your brakes are not sticking and your tires on tight
• Your chain and derailer should be checked to make nothing is loose and that they have adequate lubrication
• Make sure your brakes are working adequately - you want to be able to stop to avoid a collision
• Always remember to take at least one extra bike tube with you and some means of filling a new tube (air pump or CO2 cartridge)
• If you have never been properly "fit" on your bike, consider taking it to a bike shop to make sure your seat and handle bars are the proper height
• Lastly, always take some form of identification with you on your ride, such as your drivers license and a medical card

Team Update - November 21, 2008

Volunteer for Elves & More This Year

If you are located in the Houston area, please consider Volunteering to help with the Elves and More Bicycle project. This is a great way to give back to the community and great to get kids on bikes. Many of our Team members have volunteered for this project in prior years but this year, we are trying to get as many ExxonMobil volunteers as possible out on Wednesday, December 10. If you can't volunteer on December 10, there could be an opportunity to help distribute the bikes on Saturday, December 20. The details for distribution have not yet been finalized.

Elves & More Bicycle Assembly What is it?  Assembling bicycles that will be distributed to underprivileged children through their schools. To earn the bicycle, the child must first enter into a contract with his/her school to improve their grades or correct a behavior that distracts from academic success. What will we do?  100 ExxonMobil volunteers (plus family members 12 and older) are needed to assemble approximately 1,000 bicycles. Volunteers are encouraged to register ASAP as this project fills quickly. When is it?  Wednesday, December 10, 2008, 4:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. Where is it?  Reliant Center, 400 Kirby Drive at McNee, one mile north of I-610. Halls D and E are located at the west end of the center. Tell the parking lot attendant you are an Elves & More volunteer to have your parking fee waived and to receive parking directions. What do I wear?  Please wear appropriate clothing and closed-toe shoes, along with your red ExxonMobil Community Partners Tee-Shirt. Tools will be provided, as well as pizza and soft drinks. ExxonMobil Employees can use the link below to Register on-line. You must be connected to the ExxonMobil LAN to use the link.  Otherwise, please contact Anita Taylor. Elves & More Bicycle Assembly Dec 10 - On-Line Registration ( ExxonMobil LAN Connection Required ) Special Request If you are interested in funding helmets to go along with these bikes, please e-Mail Team Captain Eric Powell and let him know.

Team Update - November 12, 2008

Team Registration

We will be sending out the link for our Team registration in the next two days.  Be looking at your e-Mail so that you register.  We want to place our Team jersey order in early so that Team members can have a chance to use their jerseys during the upcoming training session.

Top Ten ExxonMobil Fund-raisers for the 2008 BPMS150

Congratulations to our Team's top ten fund-raisers in the 2008 BP MS150. These 10 riders averaged just under $9,000 each. These individuals will have their Team registration fee waived and will have priority for motel rooms for the 2009 event.

• Sylvia Perez
• Eric Powell
• Cian McConnell
• John Verity
• Michael Purcell
• Pervin Sagar
• Craig Latiolais
• Michael Stewart
• Ann Greene
• Thomas Braschayko

Upcoming Rides

Independence Ride, Saturday November 15th

This ride could be a little chilly but considering it supports our Disable Veterans it should not be a problem for our team members.  Eric did this ride last year and can't say enough good things about it- a great cause, well managed and very good routes.

- No T-shirt ride: All money raised goes to buy IBOT Wheelchairs for Disable Veterans.
- This will be the most inspirational ride you will do this year
- Three Routes lengths, 23 miles, 44 miles and 63 miles.
- NO FEE but donations accepted
- This is your chance to give back to the veterans that have given so much for our Freedom.
- To sign up and learn more go to http://www.wallisride.com/

Bike through the Forest and Hills, Saturday, November 15

This event is in Coldspring, TX and supports the Kingwood Fillies. Check out http://www.kingwoodfillies.org/fall_bike_ride.html for more information.

If you decide to ride this weekend, dress warm as the lows will be in the 30's, pace yourself and be real careful while riding in groups. Call out your actions and ride defensively.

As always, check the Team Calendar to keep up with all the local rides and training opportunities!

Have a great weekend.

Team Update - October 24, 2008

Team Registration

We are still working on the final arrangements to kick off the 2008-2009 Team registration.  It will likely happen the first week of November.  When it is up and running we will send out an e-Mail to the distribution list.

Here are a few things that are important:

• There will be a Team fee -- likely the same as last year ($60)
• You will obtain a cycling jersey as part of your registration
• You should view the jersey sizing chart to make sure you order the correct size
• Registering as a ExxonMobil Cycling Team does not register you for the MS150
• We will continue to STRESS our on-the-bike safety training
• If you are a BP MS150 rider, the motel room sign-up for the Saturday night stay over will be thru the Team registration process
• Cycling shorts (with upgraded padding) will again be offered (tentatively priced at $45)
• You will be expected assist the Team where possible (i.e., help with training rides and other team events)
• We are always in need of volunteers to work the weekend of the MS150

BP MS 150 Registration

As most of you know, the 2009 BP MS150 registration filled up in a record 7 hours.  For those of you that want to ride but were unable to register, we are hoping that since we are a large team (and the 6th highest fund-raising team) that we will be allocated some extra spaces.  There is no guarantee that we will get any more spaces and it will be several weeks before we hear of anything, but our Team Captain will be keeping a waitlist of riders that are interested in riding but could not register. If you fall into this category, please e-Mail Team Captain Eric Powell with your name, e-Mail address and any special circumstances you might have.  If we are allocated openings but less than the number on the waitlist, we will be giving priority to our active Team members and previous high fund-raisers.

MS 150 Ride Marshals are Needed

If you are already signed up for the MS150 and you are interested in being 2009 Ride Marshals, please complete the below survey. &nbs;This survey replaces the one closed last week and must be filled out by all prospective Ride Marshals.

http://www.zoomerang.com/Survey/?p=WEB228DHKAYKQV

NOTE:  New this year for Ride Marshal is you must agree to a background check.

Safety Note

Here is a note from one of our Team members -- a good reminder to be prepared while riding

I was in an accident recently on my normal weekend ride. I was riding through one stretch where we normally see dogs, on Mathis road near Hockley. The dogs have never tried to bite us, but they do get in the way sometimes. While I don't remember what happened that day, we have reconstructed that what must have happened is that a dog ran into me causing me to lose my balance and fall. It is a sobering thought to realize just how little it takes to cause a fall. I was riding with my husband and we were doing about 20 mph at the time. The impact of the crash caused my helmet to crack and resulted in a concussion. My husband got a ride back to get the car and took me to the emergency room. I lost consciousness only briefly, but was not coherent enough to manage the situation. So, it was a good thing that I was riding with someone who could go get help. I also have a habit of always carrying my insurance card, my id and a credit card in my jersey, just in case.

Lessons Learned:  So, here is another example why wearing your helmet, riding with others and carrying id can make all the difference. Amazingly I did not break any bones and should be back on the bike in a couple of weeks.

Other Riding Opportunities

See the event list below schedule for next weekend.  If anyone is interested in the below event, contact David Richardson at david.a.richardson@exxonmobil.com

Team In Training®

Buddy Ride for Alumni & Guests

WHEN:  Saturday, November 1, 2008, at 9:00 A.M.

WHERE:  Katy Mills Mall, Katy, TX (meet in back of parking lot by Sun & Ski Sports)

DISTANCE:  Routes ranging from 20 to 50 miles

WHY:  Camaraderie, exercise, working to cure blood cancers and getting ready for the 2009 TNT Summer Cycle Season.

WHO:  Any TNT alumni and their guests. Guests are strongly encouraged to attend, and all guests will receive a goodie bag!

RSVP:  Leslie Williams at leslie.williams@lls.org, 713-680-8088, ext. 131 or via Evite to be issued.

LUNCH:  (Mexican food - the cycle team's fuel!) scheduled post ride at Vida Loca, 21810 Kingsland Blvd., Katy (3 miles from the Mall).

Full SAG support support with water, Gatorade, snacks, maps, coaches, mentors and LLS staff.

***** FIND OUT WHAT TNT IS ALL ABOUT *****

Team Update - October 9, 2008

Critical Info on MS 150 Registration

For those of you that are interested in participating in the 2009 Houston to Austin BP MS150, a charity bike ride benefitting the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, scheduled for April 18 - 19, 2009, you need to read this note and take action NEXT WEEK. Registration Opens:  October 15, 2008 at 10:15 am.  New BPMS 150 registration website is now up and running (http://www.nationalmssociety.org/chapters/bp-ms-150/index.aspx).  Please read the "Important Registration Information" (right-hand box) but note that our Team setup will already be made when you register. Anticipated Close Date:  Registration will likely fill up with the 13,000 riders in less than 7 days, so your prompt action will be required Registration Fee:  $100 Minimum Fund-Raising Obligation:  $400

Important things you should know:

1. Only register if you think you will actually be riding
2. Registration are non-transferable - so if you can't ride you can't give or sell your registration to someone else
3. The MS Society is using a new registration platform called CONVIO. While different from prior years, the system is easy to use and will allow you to develop some great fund-raising tools
4. Each rider must have his/her own logon ID and password
5. If you rode in 2007 or 2008, you should receive an e-Mail from the MS Society in the next couple of days requesting you to confirm your User ID and password. The website has pre-loaded your profile using the historical information. You should go into the new website to confirm your profile information - this will speed up your 2009 registration.  FAILURE TO DO BOTH (CONFIRM USER ID AND PASSWORD AND UPDATE PROFILE) COULD DELAY YOUR REGISTRATION PROCESS
6. If you are a new rider to the tour, your will setup your profile when you register
7. If you are registering multiple family members, you will either have to use unique email address for each rider OR use the "Register Family Member" tab on the bottom left-hand corner of the registration page
8. You should choose the following registration options:
   + Join a team
   + From the drop down menu, choose EXXONMOBIL
   + If you want MS Society transportation from Austin to Houston on either Friday or Sunday, mark this selection (fee is $35)
   + You don't have to pay the $400 minimum donation at registration but if you ride you are obligated to raise this amount
9. Once you have registered, you are encouraged to create a personalized fund-raising page, which allows you to post messages to your donors, have a scrolling list of your donors, post pictures of training rides or other material to help promote your fund-raising efforts
10. If you fail to register before the registration closes, we may have an opportunity to get you but no guarantee. There will be a "procrastination" charge (TBD) for this benefit
11. We will have a completely separate Team registration later this month, where you will pay your team fee (likely $60), select your jersey size, have the opportunity to order cycling shorts and sign-up to volunteer for Team activities.

As always, be safe out there riding!!!!

Team Update - August 27, 2008

Cycling Opportunities and More.....

Are you getting in some miles recently?  I know it is hot out there but below are some local opportunities to get on your bike over the next few months.  Don't wait for Team e-Mails, go to our Team Calendar to plan your cycling.  Read more, including information on the 2009 Houston - Austin MS150 registration....

What Are You Going on Sunday, Sept. 7?

All Team riders are encouraged to consider participating in the Tour de Pink ride.  This is a fund-raising ride to support the Pink Ribbons Project.  The funds raised are used to fight breast cancer through awareness and education programs and the support of proper screening for the medically underserved funding and outreach initiatives.

SPECIAL NOTE:   On-line registration for this event ends next Monday, Sept. 1.

San Antonio to Corpus Christi MS150 (aka Valero Bike to the Beach) October 4-5, 2008

For you riders that don't like the crowds of the Houston to Austin MS150, you may want to consider this ride, which normally has about 3,500 - 4,000 riders.  Team Captain Eric Powell did this ride for the first time last year and enjoyed.  The weather in October is usually pretty good but expect to face some head winds as you head to the coast.

More information can be found at Valero MS 150 Bike to the Beach.  If you plan on doing this ride, let Team Captain Eric Powell know so he have an idea how many of our Team members are participating.

2008 Tour du Rouge (October 18 - 23)

In the July Team e-Mail, Eric told you about the Tour du Rouge, a six day to raise funds for 7 area American Red Cross Chapters.  If you are interested in doing this ride, please go to Tour du Rouge web site for more information.  If you are not riding, we encourage you to make a donation to sponsor a fellow ExxonMobil Cycling Team member (if you are riding and need me to add your fund-raising link, please let Eric know).  Each of these riders must raise a minimum of $2,500 so they can all use the help

Currently registered ExxonMobil Cycling Team members and their donation web page links are listed below:

Bob Gilmore :  http://www.active.com/donate/tourdurouge/RGilmor64
Jonathan Lauthers :  https://www.active.com/donate/tourdurouge/JLauthe
Cynthia Lauthers :  http://www.active.com/donate/tourdurouge/CLauthe
Carlette Moore :  http://www.active.com/donate/tourdurouge/cMoore536

League of American Bicyclist (LAB) Road I Course

Are you interested in becoming more active in cycling safety??  It is our Team's goal to be the safest possible team on the road.  Accordingly, we encourage our Team members to become very active in bike safety.  The LAB offers several bike course that improve a cyclist overall bike safety.  This course is also a prerequisite for taking the LAB Certification course.  Currently our Team has one LCI Certified Instructor (Orin Flynn) and we would like to have many more. What do you need to do?  If you have not taken the LAB Road I course, there is one being offered by the LAB.  To find a course, go to http://www.bikeleague.org/cogs/resources/findit/?courses=1&instructors=1&state=TX&submit.x=28&submit.y=10.  After taking Road I, you can take the LAB Instructor Certification course.  There is one in November (11-13) in Clearlake and there may be others schedule. What will the ExxonMobil Team do to help you?  If you agree to take both courses (Road I and LAB Instructor Certification) and then use this knowledge to train our team members in the basics of cycling safety, we will pay for your fees for these courses.  You need to e-Mail Team Captain Eric Powell to qualify for any reimbursement.

Bike Safety

Here is a note from a Team member that reminds us how important it is to keep focused on where you are headed.

So, I met a group to ride last night by the San Jacinto Monument.  There were, for me, a surprising number of cyclists.  Just as we were leaving the park, a rider came up and asked us if we knew a guy by the name of __________ (I forget the name).  We had seen him a bit earlier, riding by himself.  Apparently, he had crashed pretty hard.  As I understand it, he was riding on the shoulder of Battleground Road, headed south.  He must have had his head down, because he didn't see the truck parked on the shoulder next to one of the plants.  He hit the back of the truck hands first, followed by his head.  He cracked his helmet, and was Life Flighted to Hermann.  I haven't seen any news stories about it yet this morning, but I'll keep an eye out

If you are riding at all, especially on your aero bars, keep your head up, and look where you are going.

2009 MS 150 Registration

The date for the 2009 Houston - Austin MS150 ( aka BP MS150) will be April 18 - 19, 2009.  The 2008 registration was filled in 10 days.  While the date of the 2009 registration has not been announced, we are expecting it around the middle of October. The Team will be communicating by e-Mail registration information as it is received.  Keep an eye on the Team website as well!  Given the popularity of this ride, if you want to ride in 2009 (the 25th anniversary)  you should take immediate action once you receive notice that registration is open.  If you can't ride, we are always looking for volunteers to help out with training rides, and of course the weekend of the event.

Team Update - June 3, 2008

MS 150 Fund-Raising Status

TEAM - you have done it!!  You have reached the $300,000 goal for fund-raising for this year's Houston to Austin MS150.  This means our riders raised on average over $1,100 each.  We want to congratulate each and every one who rode in this year's event.  If you still have donation to submit, please send those into the MS Society as soon as possible.

Be sure to put the Award's Party on your calendar.  The Houston party will be on Thursday, June 26 at Verizon Theater in downtown Houston.

Below is a list of our Team's Top 10 Fund-Raisers:

• Sylvia Perez - Top Team Fund-Raiser!
• Eric Powell
• Cian McConnell (First ever under 18 rider that qualifies for the MS Society Tour of Champions event)
• John Verity
• Michael Purcell
• Pervin Sagar
• Craig Latiolais
• Michael Stewart
• Ann Greene
• Thomas Braschayko

Sad News

As many of you are aware, Team members Doug McConnell and his son Cian rode in this year's MS150. Cian was featured in numerous print and TV events talking about his training for the MS150, his fund-raising and the fact that his mom was fighting a battle with cancer.  It is with great sadness to inform you that Doug's wife and Cian mom, Helen Elizabeth Singleton, lost her battle with cancer and passed away on Sunday, June 1.  Please keep Doug, Cian and their family in your heart and prayers.

Upcoming Cycling Events

Here are a few of the upcoming local cycling events.  Go to the Team Calendar for more information.

Saturday, June 7	3rd Annual Spindletop SPIN Bicycle Ride & Fundraiser Beaumont
Sunday, June 8	15th Annual Tour de Braz Bike Ride ( MS 150 Recommended Ride ) Alvin, TX
Thursday, June 26	2008 BP MS 150 Awards Party Verizon Wireless Theater (Click for Map)
Friday, June 20	2008 HPD Moonlight Classic Bike Ride 10 p.m. to 12 a.m. - Starts at The Downtown Aquarium
Saturday, June 21	Paws & Puddles VI - Gulf Greyhound Park

Safety Note

Below is a note from a team member and serves as another reminder about why we must stay focused on cycling safety all of the time.

I rode back into a secluded area ( large lot neighborhood) out the back of The Woodlands on Saturday. The area has about a 5 mile loop with a few small hills, good pavement, few cars. Many locals ride there as it is also much safer than riding the larger roads or within The Woodlands.............or so I thought. I was alone, came over a small hill to see a guy slowly getting up off the road, the outside of his right arm very "road rashed", shoulder hurting badly and stiffening up, etc. He was in pain but it could have been worse as his helmet did its work and no head or face injury. We called his wife to pick him up and taken to the emergency room. So what happened? A large dog was trotting in the grass several feet off the shoulder. The rider saw him in plenty of time and continued riding at ~ 18 mph or so, no significant slow down or movement to the other side of the road ( no cars in sight). The dog came out into the road to "greet" him ( local guy confirmed him to be very friendly and playful) and the rider swerved quickly at full speed, lost control and went down - did not hit the dog. Lessons - be aware and have a plan/take actions to mitigate the risk. In this case - he should have slowed way down, moved over, and been prepared to stop quickly.

So, after he was on his way to the emergency room, I finally resumed my ride. Made it another couple of miles around the loop and came over another rise to see a group of 5-7 riders off their bikes and one sitting in the ditch holding a towel to his nose/face. A small group of 3 or 4 were riding together. According to one of them, the injured rider was in the front and going about 14 or 15 mph. They approached a pickup truck parked on the side of the road. At the last second the others realized the front rider had his head down and did not see it - despite having at least several hundred yards of straight, clear visibility before getting to the truck. The other riders' yells were too late and he hit the back of the truck at full speed, ribs into the top of the tailgate and his nose/face then hit the back of the truck. He has extremely lucky to have what appeared to be at most a broken nose and a cut. No apparent loss of teeth or other head/face injury or other broken bones. Obviously this one could have been much, much worse have he hit the truck face first in a different way. Again - awareness. Also, better, earlier communication from the others could have prevented this.

So, both avoidable and in the end, both very lucky !

Key lessons:  First, have emergency information on you so if you go down someone can be contacted. Second, it is better to slow down and prepare for a potential "threat" to your riding so you have time to take action if needed. Third, always be looking down the road for possible problems (vehicles on the road, fellow riders, animals, etc.) and lastly, communicate to others, never assume other riders see what you see.

Team Update - May 17, 2008

MS 150 Update

Our Team is making GREAT progress toward our $300,000 fund-raising goal !!!  We have over $275,000 credited to our Team so far and numerous donations are still being processed.

If you still need to turn in donations, please do this TODAY because...... WE ARE IN THE HEAT OF BATTLE FOR BEING ONE OF THE TOP SIX FUND-RAISING TEAMS!!

Only a few thousands dollars separate us from being one of the top six teams, and we must admit...  We want the bragging rights of being in the top six teams.  So chase down those last donations and send them in so that our Team gets the credit it deserves!!

Ride of Silence - May 21

Join cyclists worldwide in a silent slow-paced ride (max. 12 mph/20 kph) in honor of those who have been injured or killed while cycling on public roadways.  For more information, go to http://www.rideofsilence.org/main.php.  Or, check out our Team Calendar page.

Safety Learning from a Serious Accident

One of our Team members was hit while going through a police controlled intersection during a local organized ride.  Below is a listing of what he learned -- something all riders should read and follow.

Riders should replace old helmets and never, ever wear headphones (even just a single bud in the right ear is too much). My life was saved by my Giro. I buy a new one every year at the Hotter 'N Hell Hundred's Expo. So it was 6 months old or so when the accident occurred. Don't know what would've been the result if I used a 5-10 year old helmet. I see a lot of XOM riders with "antique" brain buckets. They should spend the money. It's a lot cheaper than the alternatives.

When I was hit Feb. '07, I learned a few lessons. My cell phone was destroyed and I was unconscious. The EMT's were able to call my wife because I had filled out my registration information and included the "who to call in case of emergency" section. I know from personal experience that veterans of many training rides tend to "short hand" the sign-up process and leave that stuff off so they can get a good spot in the starting crowd.

I wore a Smart ID tag from Team ExxonMobil. But it was very cold and I had booties. And with the severity of the crash, the EMT's would never touch my feet even if they knew to look there for contact information. The same can be said about a dog tag necklace. When I begin riding again (NOTE: I said "when" and not "if"), I am getting a wristband with my ID information.

I always carry my driver's license, a credit card, some cash and a copy of my medical insurance card. The accident was before 8 am, by 4 pm I was in a hospital room with an IV and stabilized. The other rider, who suffered 5 broken ribs, a collapsed lung, broken collar bone, facial lacerations, etc. was sent to Ben Taub. At 4 pm, he was still lying on a gurney waiting for a doctor to treat him. I don't know if he was sent to Ben Taub because he didn't have proof he could pay for medical card via an ID, credit card, insurance card or if he was sent there due to the severity of his injuries. But in out modern and cynical world, I think that it wouldn't hurt to be able to prove your ability to pay for medical care. My firefighter friend says they do a "wallet biopsy" and that plays into where a patient is sent for care.

There was a cop standing in the middle of the intersection with his car's lights flashing and still the driver ran through and hit us. The last thing I remember clearly is waving at the officer and saying thank you. Well, the next time I go through an intersection (cop or no cop), I'm going to get as far to the left as I can safely do. This will give me and any driver a little more reaction time.

Team Update - May 8, 2008

Your Cycling Safety

We would like to start sharing with the Team, personal experiences of cycling safety.  If you have a story that you think will help our members be better, safer cyclist, please forward Team Captain Eric Powell your stories and we will start adding these to our e-Mail notes and website.  We all can learn from our experiences.  See his personal story below with regards to this year's MS 150.

MS150 Donations Due May 13

If you rode in the 2008 BP MS 150, you should submit your donations to the MS Society by May 13.  Our team has already raised over $237,000, making great progress to our goal of $300,000.  Please remember the following:

• Use the MS Society Pledge Sheet to list your donations and put your name in the memo section of the check
• If you qualify for a prize, please mail in your prize form since extra prizes will not be ordered
• If you registered but didn't ride, please send a note to ms150info@ms150.org indicating your name and birth date so they can update their records

Houston MS150 Awards Party - June 26

Mark your calendar for this year's Houston awards party on Thursday, June 26, to be held at Verizon Theater.  This is a fun event and it will be good to share stories of the ride and you can pick up your fund-raising prize.

See our Team Calendar for details and links to maps.

Team Clothing

Are you interested in purchasing any of our Team clothing?  Send a note to Guy Munster (guy.h.munster@exxonmobil.com) with your request.

Local Biking Events

Our webmaster, Craig Jackson, is keeping our Team Calendar full of local biking events.  We encourage you to check out the Team Calendar and come join in the fun.

Pictures, Pictures , Pictures

If you have pictures of our Team members in local cycling events, please send these to Craig Jackson (craig.f.jackson@exxonmobil.com) so that he can load them onto our web site.

SAFETY CORNER

This is Team Captain Eric Powell's personal story (admission) of what could have been a very bad wreck, and he was just very lucky.

If you have ridden on our team on the MS 150, you know that we provide all our members a Tiger Tail, to put on their bike, helmet or wherever they like.  This year, I need a new Tiger tail as my old one had broken off.  As I was leaving the start location, I put my new tail just under my seat bag and headed down the rode.  Sometime within the first 15 miles, several team members mention that my Tiger tail was close to my back tire and that I should move it.  I told them I would look check it our at the next rest stop.  

No more than 2 miles down the road, my bike stopped suddenly, I could not turn my pedals.  Somehow, I was able to unclip to keep from going down (although I think I yelled "Rider going down!!").  I immediately turned around to warn other cyclist that I was stopped in the middle of the road.  As I watched riders scatter to avoid me, an opening let me moved my bike off the road.  I checked the pedals and rear tire and found no problems.  Then I checked the end of my Tiger tail, and sure enough it was smashed -- so it appears the tail got caught between my tire and brake, which immediately stopped my bike.

What I learned:

1. Be aware that clothing and other bike "accessories" can cause very dangerous problems.  As you add items (bottle cages, air pumps, seat packs and TIGER TAILS), consider how that equipment might impact the operation of your bike
2. When other riders warn you of a potential safety issue, don't be lazy and disregard their comments.  I should have listened to my fellow Team members and stopped and looked at my bike as soon as the potential problem was brought to my attention
3. I am very lucky that so early in the ride there were not riders immediately behind me when my bike came to a sudden stop.

Eric Powell

Team Update - April 29, 2008 - Opportunities to 'Give Back'

Bike Donations

A group at EMEC (Geophysics Resources) is participating in Volunteer Week by doing some maintenance & collecting donations for the Family Time Foundation in Humble.  This is an agency that helps victims of all crimes, including domestic violence, sexual battery and child abuse.  They operate a shelter for families in crisis & one of the things they've requested is donations of bicycles for the women to use to get to work and some children's bicycles.  Please contact Kay Aikin ( kathleen.j.aikin@exxonmobil.com ) if you have a bike that could be used by this facility.

MS Society "Camp Can Do" 2008 Volunteers

The Lone Star Chapter of the MS Society will be hosting their annual "Camp Can Do" on May 9 - 11.  They are in need of at least 40 additional volunteers.  The society hopes to have 124 campers with Multiple Sclerosis that are on the waiting list to attend.  They are limited to inviting approximately 1 camper for every 2 volunteers.  If you volunteer you will be allowing campers to experience activities such as ropes course, horse back riding, paintball, archery and many other exciting activities.

If you are interested in volunteering please complete the attached application and background check then mail them to National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Lone Star Chapter, 8111 N Stadium Drive #100, Houston, TX 77054.  If you have questions, please e-Mail "Charles Dodson" ( cdodson@NMSSLONESTAR.org )

Team Update - April 22, 2008

MS 150 Bike Accident

We have a special request from a rider with Memorial Herman that was involved in a bike accident that required a life flight transport.   On Day 1, the rider had an accident just after the second rest stop after Bellville.  The rider is recovering but is trying to find someone that may have seen the crash so they can learn what happen. &nbs;If you happened to see this accident and could help this rider learn more about the accident, please let Team Captain Eric Powell know.

MS150 Lost and Found

The below items were collected by the volunteer group from the MS 150 weekend.  Please contact Team Captain Eric Powell if any of the below items belong to you.

• 1 cell phone
• 1 pair of black small "Under Armor" shorts. They're nylon and not padded.
• The strap to a Timex Personal Heart Rate monitor
• 1 pair of brown sunglasses (frame on the top, no frame on the bottom)
• 1 pair of black and blue sunglasses with a rear-view mirror attached (also frameless on the bottom)
• 1 pair of black mirrored sunglasses (probably women's)
• 1 pair of tortoise shell reading glasses (magnification 2.00)
• 1 pair of clip-on sunglasses (green/gray glass with magnetic clip attachments) in a Manhattan Design Studio snap pouch
• black cap - 2007 Austin Marathon & half marathon with AT&T logo
• 1 bracelet with blue and red stones (looks like some of the stones are turquoise)
• a blue and black Pearl Izumi Gel glove (just 1)

MS 150 Pictures and Videos

If you have any pictures from the MS 150, please put them on a CD and mail them to Craig Jackson (address below) so that Craig can get them on our web site.

Craig F. Jackson
800 Bell, GSC-EMB-1351i
Houston, TX 77002

Also, a LOT of Team members took videos this year and have them posted on sites like YouTube and Facebook and MySpace.  If you have something posted that you would like to share, please end the link to Craig at webmaster@emcycling.com.  Videos will be screened for content.

Fund-Raising Status

If you rode in this year's MS 150, you should have received a letter from the MS Society indicating the amount that has been credited to your account and a listing of "fund-raising prizes".  Please follow the directions and mail your donations in by the May 13 deadline.  Remember to make your checks with your rider name in the memo section.  This is not only important for claiming your prize but it also serves as the fund-raising deadline for team ranking.

Our Team is doing great right now, raising over $ 193,000 so far!

2008 MS 150 Summary

Congratulations to the ExxonMobil Cycling Team for their participation in the 2008 BP MS150. We had approximately 265 riders participate this year and as far as I know our team had NO accidents (except for some small scratches from failing to unclip from their peddles). (NOTE: If this is an inaccurate statement, please let me know - rider name can remain anonymous). Also, as far as I know, all of our riders were courteous and demonstrated safe riding. This year we trained more team members on bike safety than in any other year!!!

While the winds were challenging, it just reminded us that people with MS suffer every day, likely to a greater degree than what we experienced. You can now say you experienced one of the most challenging MS150 rides in recent history.

Fund-Raising Efforts to Date

The Team has raised over $184,000 toward our $300,000 goal. I encourage all of you to contact your supporters for their donations and turn them into the MS Society by May 13. Don't hold your donations waiting on one or two, go ahead and mail them in. Also, make sure your rider name is in the memo section of the check so your account is properly credited. If you have more than one rider in your household, I recommend sending the donations in separate envelopes since in the past all the donations have been credited to one rider. Last year we were the 6th highest fund-raising team and I would like to hold or improve on that position.

Here are our top 10 fund-raisers as of today:

Eric Powell
Cian McConnell
Michael Purcell
Sylvia Perez
Pervin Sagar
Thomas Braschayko
Michael Stewart
George Racine
Vance Meischen
Craig Latiolais

For riders that registered but did not ride: If you received a rider number but did not ride, you either need to mail the complete rider packet to the MS Society which indicates you did not ride or you will be obligated to meet the minimum donation of $400. If you did not receive a rider packet, you do not have the obligation for the minimum donation but you can choose to make a donation. Also, I would suggest you send the MS Society an email saying you did not ride (ms150info@ms150.org).

THANKS!!!

There are lots of people to thank after this event, and I hope the following captures all of them:

Volunteers:

I think our volunteers are the greatest and they did a bang up job. They treated all of us well and we could not have done the ride without you. Paul and Liz Tepikian, you did a marvelous job coordinating all this effort.

Sponsors:

ExxonMobil Public Affairs (Houston and Austin) - Offset Jersey and Food cost
Baytown Facilities Management - Corporate tents
EMDC - Jersey Design cost
Chemical Headquarters Facility - start location
Global Services - Tiger Tails

If you are part of any of the above organizations, don't be shy about sharing your appreciation with local management.

Team Members:

Craig Jackson: Web design and web updates; bike shop discounts, and much more
Guy Munster: Jersey design concept, working with graphics and jersey manufacture and logo "police"
Doug Rofheart: Team Treasurer and Motel arrangements
Chris Sowers: Team registration and survey
Perry Coggins: VIP grants
Orin Flynn: Team safety training

Many Others:

All of you that helped with training rides, team socials, safety training and the annual Safety Picnic and Training ride, we really could not have done this without you.

Team Clothing Distribution

If you have not picked up your Team clothing, Guy Munster will be working on getting this out over the next few weeks.... Please be patient.

Local Rides Coming Up

We will try to update our Team Calendar with local rides that you may be interested in participating. Remember to check your equipment before you head out on your ride.

Eric Powell
Team Captain

Team Update - April 11, 2008

General MS 150 Information

For those of you riding this weekend, here are some last minute reminders

Arrival Time Tomorrow

You should plan to arrive at our start location no later than 6:15 a.m. Directions to our start location can be found on our web site. You should check in with our volunteers before loading any luggage onto the luggage truck. We will have some drinks and snacks at the start.

Alternative Start Locations

If you plan on starting from somewhere other than our Chemicals start location, please let us know so that we can try to keep track of our Team members. If you question your ability to do 100 miles the first day, you can start at Rhodes Stadium (reduces ride by 15 miles) or from Waller (reduces ride by 25 miles). You could drop off your luggage at Chemicals at around 5:00 am and then go to one of the alternative start locations and your luggage will be at our tent, or you can have the MS Society transport your luggage and pick it up in La Grange.

Saturday Night in La Granges

The ExxonMobil Austin Public Affairs office is graciously providing our dinner in La Grange. Dinner (late lunch) will likely start around 2:00 p.m. but there will be food until the last riders come in (course shuts down at 6:00 pm). Two other teams may be our guests for dinner, the General Land Office and the Houston Ship Channel team - please be good host for these two teams. We will also have cold beverages and snacks at our tent.

What you should do tonight...

Hopefully you have already started packing. Check the MS web site for their packing list so that you don't forget anything. Remember to bring cash in case you need bike repairs or want a massage at our tent on Saturday. Be sure to pack some warmer clothes for Sunday morning as the temperature in La Grange will likely be in the high 40's. Have a good meal tonight (wheat carbs would be good) and get a good night sleep.

Fund-Raising

Don't forget to keep your supporters informed of your progress. If you have a RiderConnect chip, you need to activate it by noon TODAY. Our team fundraising has just passed the $150,000 mark, moving forward to our $300,000 goal.

Where do All My Rider Numbers Go???

Look at the package that holds your rider numbers for instructions. You should put the 'sticky' number on the front of your helmet, you should put the large thicker paper number on your handle bars, you should put the smaller thicker paper number around your bike cross bar (Staple it to keep it secure), the big flexible rider number goes on the back of your jersey, the two thin strips with your number are for your luggage, and the last one is your wrist band -- which you need to obtain food from the MS rest stops.

Be sure to fill out the emergency contact information on the back of the rider number that goes on your jersey.

Lunch Stops

We will have a Team tent at both lunch stops. Look for our Company banner and get some snacks and drinks. Of course, the MS Society will also be providing a light lunch at these stops.

And don't forget the ........

- Towel for using the shower facilities
- Sun block for both days
- Medications
- Bike supplies (spare tubes, air, shoes, helmet, water bottles, sun glasses)
- Relaxing clothes for Saturday night and Sunday afternoon
- Warm cycling clothes for Sunday morning Bed roll for Saturday night (if you are staying in the team tent)
- Energy bars or liquid to carry on your bike

Volunteers

Last but not least, we have a great crew of volunteers this year, please thank each and everyone of them throughout the weekend. They work VERY hard the entire weekend, even while we relax after getting in. Also, just because you are riding, doesn't mean you can't pitch in. Keep our tent area clean (pick up after yourselves) and load your luggage back onto the luggage truck on Sunday morning.

Let's have fun this weekend!!!!!!!!!!!

Team Update - April 8, 2008

General MS 150 Information

Here's LOTS of information regarding the ride. Please familiarize yourself with all the below information. It looks like it will be good weather this coming weekend. You will be receiving several emails from Team Captain Eric Powell this week and they will be posted on the Team Updates page.

Register Your RiderConnect Now!

If you received a RiderConnect in your Rider Packet, go online ASAP and register to send their supporters text and e-mail communications to boost their fund-raising totals.   RiderConnect is made possible by HP, our Official Technology Partner.   http://www.racedayalert.com/BPMS150/

Requirements for Underage Riders

If you have a rider under 18, new safety initiatives REQUIRE underage riders must be accompanied by an adult.   New for 2008, if an underage rider is not with an adult on the route, the rider will be picked up and taken via SAG vehicle to the next appropriate route stop (Day 1 lunch or La Grange Overnight, and Day 2 lunch or Austin Finish Line).   Safety is THE priority and we need your help to relay this information to all Team members.

3rd Start: Waller into Bed & Sleep In Saturday

Trade your bed head for helmet hair and join us at the new, shorter and later third Start Line in Waller at 9 a.m. Saturday, April 12.   It's only 24.3 miles to the Day 1 Lunch in Bellville. http://www.ms150.org/ms150/maps/2008/Waller%20Overview%20Final.pdf

No Headphones While Riding

Please remind your Team's riders about this important safety requirement for the 2008 BP MS 150:

Headphones, cell phones, ear buds, iPods, radios and similar music and audio devices used in, on or around the rider's head or ears are not permitted while riding.   This is a national safety requirement that must be followed by all participants.

Bike Police

During the 2008 BP MS 150 from Houston to Austin, police officers on bikes are not riding as part of a "Police Cycling" team; they're licensed Texas law enforcement officers and they're there to police the route.

Be courteous and respectful to Bike Police, Ride Marshals, volunteers, EMS staff, drivers in vehicles and residents along the route.  Riders must follow instructions from police and Ride Marshals.   During the BP MS 150, police can -- and will -- take action as necessary, including arrest or removal of riders from the event if behavior warrants.

Safety of ALL participants is THE priority; Bike Police help us ensure YOUR safety.

Route Construction Alert

On Day 2 of the ride, approximately seven miles on FM 969 are under construction (the shoulder is being widened and being re-paved) and will still be under construction during the BP MS 150.  The roadway is passable and we are utilizing TxDOT and local law enforcement to help make this stretch of the route as safe as possible.  Please encourage all cyclists to use caution in this area and to obey all traffic laws.  Ride Marshals and Bike Police will also provide assistance to ensure that all event participants are cycling safely.

La Grange Parking

Remember to direct spectators and family to the general parking lots with complimentary shuttle service.  It will save them a lot of time, wasted gas and aggravation from sitting in traffic.  Also, access to the fairgrounds is parking pass-only after 9 a.m. Saturday. http://www.ms150.org/ms150/lagrange/

More to come .........

Team Update - March 28, 2008

2008 ExxonMobil Team Safety Picnic, Training Ride

For those of you planning on attending our Team Safety Picnic and Training Ride on April 5, we need you to RSVP if you have not already.

Also, parking could be an issue so please car pool if possible.

MS 150 Only Two Weeks Away - Are You Ready??

Training:  Only two weekends for you to put in your mileage in preparation for the Houston to Austin MS150.  We strongly encourage you to get on your bike and get your body acclimated to warmer weather and humidity -- this will help get your body ready for the long ride on MS150 weekend.  If you plan on participating in our training series ride tomorrow (March 29), make sure you RSVP so we can estimate the number of riders.   Also, we could be tight on parking so try to car pool if possible.  Instead of the 51 mile loop, we will be going an out and back route for as much as 60 miles.

Fund-Raising:  How is your fund-raising coming along??  Just a reminder that we have a Team goal of $300,000, which is just over $1,000 for each of our riders.   Do you need motivation??  Here is a pace setter for you:  His name is Cian McConnell, son of Doug McConnell in ExxonMobil Development Co.  Cian just turned 10 years old, and he has already raised more than $6,500 for his first MS150.  Cian has already been featured on Radio Disney and the Fox Morning show.  The MS Society is promoting his efforts on a national basis.   Want to help Cian's efforts?  Here is his donation link: http://www.ms150.org/edon.cfm?id=207951

Can't Ride?  If you determine that you can't ride, the MS Society does not allow you to transfer your rider number to another rider.  If you don't pick up a rider number, you have no obligation to raise the minimum donation -- just send the MS Society a note indicating you will not be riding.   If you have already picked up your rider number, you must either raise the minimum $400 donation or you must return your rider number package to the MS Society before the ride.

Team jersey/shorts distribution:   We will distribute the team jersey and cycling shorts at our picnic on April 5.  If you can't arrange to pick up at the picnic, we will have them at our start location (Chemical Hdqts.) on Saturday morning of the MS150.  We will NOT be taking the undistributed clothing to LaGrange or Austin.

MS 150 Weekend Volunteers:  We are still needing some volunteers for the MS 150 weekend.  If you can help, please send an e-Mail to Paul Tepikian and his wife Liz (paul.r.tepikian@exxonmobil.com).

SAFETY

We have had several of our riders go down in cycling accidents over the last month, both experienced and new riders.  Here are some things to keep in mind while riding:

• Stay focused on your riding --- while it is nice to look at the scenery and have conversation with your fellow riders, always be aware of your surrounding and be prepared to stop, slow down or avoid an obstacle
• If you decide to participate in a Pace line, note that this is one of the most common reasons for bike wrecks
• Don't let up until you are completely off your bike - several accidents have happened when riders were simply getting off their bike
• When riding, always be thinking "Do I have a way out of this situation?". If the rider on my left

Team Update - March 19, 2008

Important Details Provided for MS 150 Participants

All the Team members that are participating for the MS 150 are getting excited and have lots of questions. Team Captain, Eric Powell, has prepared a comprehensive Frequently Asked Question (FAQ) listing to help you plan and prepare for the ride. Important information regarding our special Team Starting Point, as well as how to prepare during the week prior to the ride, suggestions on what to bring and much, much more, can be found on the page.

Commitment to Safety Training

We would like to congratulate all our Team members that have completed their safety training commitment.  As you are aware, each member of our Team that is participating in the MS 150 has committed to attending a cycling safety training session once every three years.  We take this commitment seriously.  Below is listing several remaining opportunities for you to complete your training before this year's MS 150.

We also request that each of you that are participating in this year's ride do the following:

1. Take the MS Society Safety Quiz ( http://www.ms150.org/ms150/quiz/ ).
   In addition to possibly learning something, the MS Society is tracking to see what teams are committed to safety and one of the indicators is the participation level of our team taking the Safety Quiz. Let's show everyone we are committed to safety, and go take the quiz.
2. Have your bike inspected by one of the MS 150 official bike shops.
   This is a free service until April 4.  You can also have this done at our Team picnic on April 5.  If this is done at a bike shop between April 5 and the ride, it will cost $10.  All of our sponcering bike shops can perform this inspection. Please see the Team Discounts page for a list of the shops that support our Team

If, by the outside chance you can't take attend the hands on safety training class, I request you do the following:

• Review all the Rider Safety materials on our web site
• Review the MS Society safety information ( http://www.ms150.org/ms150/safety/index.cfm ), especially the dehydration information
• Send a note to Team Captain Eric Powell confirming the above has been completed

Safety Training Dates:
Full Details for each Safety Training session can be found on the Team Calendar page.

Saturday, March 22 - ExxonMobil Chemical Headquarters (13501 Katy Freeway)
Start at 9:00 am, complete by Noon

Sunday, March 23 - FMC Technologies Center - 1803 Gears Road
2 sessions -- 9:00 am to 12:30 pm & 1:30 pm until 5 pm
Cost: $30

Saturday, April 5 - Team Safety Picnic (Zube Park)

Team Update - March 3, 2008

Special MS 150 Rider Packet Pickup at our Team Picnic on April 5

As in previous years, due to the size of our team we have made arrangements with the MS Society to have a special MS150 Rider Packet distribution. We will have this special pickup at our annual ExxonMobil Cycling Team Safety Picnic, Training Ride and Safety Clinic, to be held on April 5, 2008. This year's picnic will be at Zube Park, which on Roberts Road just off of Hwy 290. More details about the picnic will follow, but we wanted to give you advance notice so you can take the necessary steps to get your Rider Packet at the picnic. For new riders, the Rider Packet contains your Rider Number, maps, MS150 T-Shirt and other material. You must have a rider number to participate in the MS150 and rider numbers are not transferable.

You have two options for picking up your Rider Packet, either at our picnic or at a MS Society event ( see listing at http://www.ms150.org/ms150/packet_pick-up.cfm ). If you choose our Picnic, then picking up your packet at an MS Society event is not an option. Your packet will only be available at the picnic or at our team start location the morning of the MS150 start.

Please read and follow the below directions if you want to pick up your MS150 Rider Packet at the picnic (Your Action required by Tues, Apr 1):

1. Fill out the waiver form completely (except for rider number) and then sign. ( Reminder: Forms for riders under 18 must be notarized.) 300 Club members please indicate this on the form. (IMPORTANT NOTE: If you choose the picnic option, you must get your packet either at the Team picnic or at the team start location the morning of the MS150. The MS Society will no longer have your packet and it cannot be put in company mail).
2. For your packet to be at the picnic, you MUST FAX the MS WAIVER FORM (link below) to Teresa Landers at 281-654-4911 by Tuesday, Apr 1.
   Participant Waiver and Release Form
3. If you fax the form to Teresa, either yourself or a designated rider must pick up your packet at the picnic or at the ride start, there will not be the option to pick up your packet at Teresa's office.

If you have questions about packet pickup, please e-Mail Teresa at teresa.s.landers@exxonmobil.com.

FAQs about Team Packet Pickup:

• All you have to do is complete and sign the waiver (excluding the Rider Number) and fax it to Teresa at 281-654 4911 by Apr. 1 and your packet will be at the picnic
• You must be designated as an ExxonMobil Team member on the MS Society database to participate in this special packet pickup.
• If you can't make the picnic and want someone else to pick up for you, please identify this person on your waiver
• If a rider is under 18 years of age, the waiver must be notarized or the packet will not be released by the MS Society
• Once the team has your packet, you must get it either at the picnic or the morning of the ride (April 12) at the team start location (ExxonMobil Chemical Headquarters). Your packet will no longer be available at MS pickups nor can it be sent in company mail. Note: You will not be able to pick up at Teresa's Greenspoint office.
• Packet pickup at the picnic site is rain or shine!
• Your packet will include your Rider Number, t-shirt, Champions (formerly Pedal Partner) bandana (if requested) and other MS material
• You must be listed as an EM Cycling Team member with the MS Society
• If you receive your packet (Rider Number), you are committed to turn in the minimum amount of $400 by May 23. The minimum donation is not due when you pick up your packet.
• f you don't pick up your Rider Number, you don't have the minimum donation obligation.

Team Update - February 29, 2008

VIP Grants for MS Society (2008 MS 150)

It is that time again to sign up for the VIP grants to help support the Multiple Sclerosis Society in conjunction with the 2008 MS150 bike ride.  To determine if you or a family member is eligible, please see the requirements below.

The Team Grants* ($100 per member, total $500/team) consist of five people doing four hours each for a total of 20 hours.  You do not need to create a team.  Teams will be formed on a first come first serve basis.  So, the first five members doing four hours each will create Team # 1 and so on...   You can find the list of events for volunteering opportunities by clicking Here.  

* (NOTE:  The Individual Grants ($500), which require 20 hours of volunteer work, have already been designated.)

Team member Perry Coggins is again coordinating this activity for our Team.   If you want to volunteer, please send an e-Mail to Perry Coggins (perry.r.coggins@exxonmobil.com) with the following information if you are interested in the grants: Name, Employee ID#, Event Name and Date of Event.

IF YOU ARE NEW TO THE TEAM OR HAVE ANY QUESTION PLEASE CALL PERRY ON HIS CELL PHONE (832-277-5553) AND LEAVE A MESSAGE.   He will get back with you as soon as he can.  The next few months will be very busy, so please be patient.  TRAIN HARD... TRAIN SMART...44 days left until the ride!

The following individuals are eligible to participate in the VIP grants:

• Regular employees of Exxon Mobil Corporation or its affiliates that operate in the United States;
• Retirees from the above companies or Exxon Corporation;
• Spouses and dependent children (ages 12-25) of employees and retirees referred to above;
• Surviving spouses of deceased employees and retirees of the above companies or Exxon Corporation;
• Present and former outside directors of Exxon Mobil Corporation;
• Non-U.S. payroll employees are eligible while on assignment in the U.S. with Exxon Mobil Corporation consolidated affiliates

Team Update - February 22, 2008

Team Registration - Deadline!!

Thanks for the great effort to register:  We had an additional 70 riders register after our last e-Mail but we are still missing around 30 riders from our Team registration.  We will be ordering our Team clothing the third week of February.  So, if you want to guarantee you get a jersey, you must register by February 18 [Extended to February 27].  Look for a 'near final' version of our new jersey and shorts design soon!!

Remember that this registration is for all Team members, not just those that are participating in the Houston - Austin MS150.  For your $60 registration fee, you are guaranteed a custom cycling jersey and access to all our Team benefits, including training rides, safety clinics, support for the MS150 and more.

Also, if you registered and indicated you would pay by check, you should send your payment to Doug Rofheart through company mail at (DEV-GP6-762) or U.S. mail at 12450 Greenspoint Dr., DEV-GP6-762, Houston, TX 77060.

Link to Team registration: http://www.emcycling.com/registration.html

Cycling Safety and Effectively

FMC hosted Cycling Safety and Effective riding Clinic on SATURDAY February 23rd from 2:00 pm to 5:15 pm. FMC Technologies Center - 1803 Gears Road (Map)

Sign-up is Required. Please CONFIRM to Mike Robinson (GMichaelMike.ROBINSON@fmcti.com) if you plan to attend.  Remember that all of the instructors are volunteering their personal time.

Please arrive between 1:45 - 2:00 pm.  We will start promptly at 2:00 pm.  Please have your bike ready to ride at 2PM to save delays. So, air the tires before you arrive.:-)

Enter at the main entrance on Gears Rd.  Proceed through the security gate – tell the guard you are taking the class.  Park in the reserved spots to the right in the front of the lot. Enter the building from the parking lot. The lecture will be held in the Petroleum Conference Room.

Remember to bring: Bike, Helmet, Water Bottle, Clothes, Cycling shoes and whatever else u need for cycling. We will have a 2 hour classroom lecture followed by 1 hour of on the bike training in the parking lot.

If you attend a safety class, please send a e-Mail to Team Captain Eric Powell so our Team records can be updated.

North Side Rides

If you are interested in participating with a small group of riding on Saturday AM rides on the north side, please let both John Hefti ( john.hefti@exxonmobil.com ) and Richard Chesney ( rchesknee@comcast.net ) know so they can add you to a distribution list that keeps you informed as to the next weekends ride location and start time.

Fund-Raising for the MS 150

• Setup an e-donation link: Go to http://www.ms150.org/ms150/fund_raising/index.cfm and set up an e-donate link so your friends and family can use the fast and easy way of donating to your cause on-line.
• Post a donation sheet at your coffee bar or office. Start the sheet with your own commitment as ask people to match your commitment.
• Prepare a letter or email to your friends, family and co-workers explaining to them why you are doing the MS150. Here are some figures you might find helpful:
    - The ExxonMobil Team will have over 275 riders and hopes to raise $300,000
    - Last year's Team was the 6th highest fund-raising team, raising over $285,000
    - The ride is 180 miles - ask people to sponsor you on a mileage basis
    - List out the number of miles you plan on training just to be ready to do this ride
• Keep a positive attitude. You will likely find a number of people that sponsor more than one rider.

Team Update - February 11, 2008

Team Activities

2008 MS 150 Kickoff Happy Hour
Hopefully everyone has had an opportunity to attend one of the team training rides or safety training events and meet some of your fellow cyclists.  Here is another chance to meet your EM Cycling Teammates off the road. Monday, February 11th at 5:30PM Stags Head Pub - The Oak Room 2128 Portsmouth St - MAP Houston, TX 77098 (713) 533-1199
Kevin Landry, Fitness Director at Tri On the Run Fitness Center, has agreed to come talk to the group about training programs and their new training facility. 2007 Team Gear will be available to purchase and try on before placing your order for 2008 gear Door Prizes and Light Appetizers will be provided and individuals will be responsible for purchasing their beverage of choice. Please RSVP to natalie.e.reeber@exxonmobil.com if you plan to attend.

Annual Team Safety Picnic and Training Ride

Mark your calendar for April 5 to attend this annual event.  This year's event will be held at Zube Park, off of Hwy 290.  We will have a training ride (approx. 40 mile), bike inspections, MS150 packet distribution, Team clothing distribution, food and safety training.  We are also looking into adding some activities, such as having one or more bike shops hold a "Bike Fit" clinic where you can see if your bike is properly setup; bike parts swap (have an opportunity to exchange/sell/trade) your bike parts and equipment. If you have more ideas, send them go Eric way.

We will be sending out more information in future, but we will need a group of volunteers to help out.  Please let Team Captain Eric Powell know if you can help.

Team Registration - Deadline!!

Thanks for the great effort to register:  We had an additional 60 riders register after our last e-Mail but we are still missing around 40 riders from our Team registration.  We will be ordering our Team clothing the third week of February, so if you want to guarantee you get a jersey, you must register by February 18.

Remember that this registration is for all Team members, not just those that are participating in the Houston - Austin MS150.  For your $60 registration fee, you are guaranteed a custom cycling jersey and access to all our Team benefits, including training rides, safety clinics, support for the MS150 and more.

Also, if you registered and indicated you would pay by check, you should send your payment to Doug Rofheart through company mail at (DEV-GP6-762) or U.S. mail at 12450 Greenspoint Dr., DEV-GP6-762, Houston, TX 77060.

Link to Team registration: http://www.emcycling.com/registration.html

Have You Completed Your Safety Training Commitment?

Our team is committed to safe cycling.  As you have seen from our e-Mails, the FMC team has opened up their safety training to members of our Team -- This is a great opportunity to fulfill your Safety Training Commitment, that is, complete a hands-on bike safety training once every three years.  If you live outside the Houston area, you are encouraged to contact one of your local bike shops to see if they offer a safety training course.

Also, our web site has numerous safety tools that you can review to expand your overall safety awareness and knowledge.  In addition, the MS Society also has several tools for bike safety.

How is Your Training for the MS 150 Coming Along??

The 2008 Houston - Austin MS150 is only 2 months away, so if you haven't already you should have taken your bike out of the garage (or closet) to see if everything is operating correctly, the tires are in good shape and everything is lubricated.  If you haven't been on your bike in awhile, start out with some rides on flat terrain of 20 - 30 miles, and start building up your distances.  By early March you should be able to do a 40 mile ride without extreme fatigue, by mid to late March you should be able to ride to continuos days, one ride of 60+ miles and another tide of 25 - 40 miles.

You need to get your body (especially your rear-end) used to being on a bike.  If you can only ride on the weekends, then you should strive to exercise 2 - 3 times during the week, such as participate in a spin class or do stationary bike for 40 - 45 minutes.  Your goal is not just to finish the MS 150 but to enjoy yourself and have energy to appreciate the weekend.

REMINDER: If you are participating in the team training series (training rides with Chevron and other teams), be sure to RSVP from our site or, indicate on the "POLL" link next to the training ride so the organizers can plan for the appropriate number of riders.

North Side Rides on Saturdays

A group of riders have a Saturday ride up north, without SAG support and all cyclist need to have sufficient supplies for both bike repair and nutritional supplies.  We regroup at designated locations that provide the opportunity for refueling liquids.

During the month of February we will begin at the ride at the SE corner of I-45 and St Hwy 242, in the parking lot next to the parking lot for Charming Charlie's.  Starting in March we will move the ride to Willis or Montgomery TX. thus increasing the distance and intensity of the rides.  We will meet at Charming Charlie's at 7:45 and leave at 8 AM.

Take I-45 north to the Woodlands exit Sh-242 (Needham Rd - East). Get to the right lane and turn right (east) on to the feeder road of Sh-242.  The parking area is the last section near the parking area outside Charming Charlie's

Did You Volunteer for Elves & More Over the Christmas Holidays??

Team member Jim Robin is coordinating the submission of VIP grants for all the volunteers that participated in the bike build and distribution performed by Elves & More.  Please send Jim your participation hours, so that we can qualify for as much VIP grants as possible, at james.e.robin@exxonmobil.com.

Team Update - January 25, 2008

The cold weather has finally arrived, which creates challenges to maintaining your fitness for cycling.  If it is too cold, stay inside and do exercises, such as putting your bike on a trainer or going to the gym.  If you are going riding, remember to dress warm and if the streets are wet, be very cautious.

Included in this Update:
+ 2008 Kickoff Happy Hour (Feb. 11)
+ Team Registration and Payment
+ MS 150 Weekend
    - Motel Arrangements
    - Other Information
+ Safety Training
+ Training Rides
+ Indoor training at the Downtown YMCA
+ Other significant riding opportunities
+ MS 150 Fund-Raising
+ Safety Note

2008 MS 150 Kickoff Happy Hour
Hopefully everyone has had an opportunity to attend one of the team training rides or safety training events and meet some of your fellow cyclists.  Here is another chance to meet your EM Cycling Teammates off the road. Monday, February 11th at 5:30PM Stags Head Pub - The Oak Room 2128 Portsmouth St - MAP Houston, TX 77098 (713) 533-1199
Kevin Landry, Fitness Director at Tri On the Run Fitness Center, has agreed to come talk to the group about training programs and their new training facility. 2007 Team Gear will be available to purchase and try on before placing your order for 2008 gear Door Prizes and Light Appetizers will be provided and individuals will be responsible for purchasing their beverage of choice. Please RSVP to natalie.e.reeber@exxonmobil.com if you plan to attend.

Team Registration

We are still missing at least 75 riders from our Team registration, so if you haven't registered, please do this as soon as possible.  Recall that this registration is for all Team members, not just those that are participating in the Houston - Austin MS150.  For your $60 registration fee, you are guaranteed a custom cycling jersey and access to all our team benefits, including training rides, safety clinics, support for the MS150 and more.

Also, if you registered and indicated you would pay by check, you should send your payment to Doug Rofheart through company mail at (DEV-GP6-762) or U.S. mail at 12450 Greenspoint Dr., DEV-GP6-762, Houston, TX 77060.

The details for registration can be found on our Team Registration page.

MS 150 Weekend

Team Motel - - For those who were lucky to secure a room at the motel the Team uses, you will be receiving an e-Mmail from Doug Rofheart within the next week giving you the details of the room rates.  Doug is maintaining a waiting list in case there are any riders that cancel their room.  Please hold off with motel room questions until Doug sends the note out.

MS150 Weekend Logistics - - Watch for the annual Q&A regarding the MS 150 weekend in about two weeks, so please hold your questions.  The Q&A should answer most questions.  But, if it doesn't, Team Captain Eric Powell will answer your questions as time allows.

Volunteers Needed to Help on the MS150 Weekend (April 12-13) - - Our Team is very lucky to have Team member Paul Tepikian and his wife Liz (paul.r.tepikian@exxonmobil.com) to lead our MS1 50 volunteers this year.  Our volunteers are critical to our Team and the success of the MS150 weekend.  If you or someone you know can help out, it is an experience that you will not forget.  This is not just about helping out our riders, it is about supporting a very special cause.

On the Bike Safety Training

We are happy to report that more than 60 team members have attended an on-the-bike safety training program so far this year.  This is a great start to our commitment that all Team members should complete a bike safety training class once every three years.  We will be setting up several more training sessions before the MS 150 weekend.  Watch for future Team Updates announcing these sessions.  Attending one of these classes is a great opportunity for you to fulfill your safety training obligation.  For you out-of-town riders, Team Captain Eric Powell will send a special e-Mail regarding meeting your safety training obligations.

Also, we need some help to coordinate these Safety Training activities. If you are willing to help, please send a note to Team Captain Eric Powell (eric.s.powell@exxonmobil.com) and let him know that you can.

Training Rides

Our Team is hosting tomorrow's training ride in Brookshire (Royal High School). If you plan on participating in any of our training rides, you should RSVP using the link next to that training ride.  Access the training ride listing through our Team Calendar page.  Be sure to check the web site out the morning of the ride in case there is a last minute cancellation.

We are still needing volunteers for the training rides we host on Feb. 16 and March 29.  Please send Team Captain Eric Powell (eric.s.powell@exxonmobil.com) a note if you can help out.

Indoor Training - Downtown YMCA

Remember, the Downtown YMCA has made all their cycling classes available to ExxonMobil MS150 Cycling Team members who have paid all their fees.  Indoor cycling, or spinning, is an excellent way to bridge the gap between weekend road rides.  The classes will simulate hill climbs to help you prepare for the road between Bellville and La Grange.  We will also do interval training to improve your fitness and recovery ability.  We also work on endurance.