Improving rider safety is a key focus of the Team. In keeping with the Company Safety Motto "Nobody Gets Hurt" the ExxonMobil Cycling Team has developed many tools to assist you in becoming aware of the many issues that will improve your skills as a rider. If you are a novice rider, or have participated in numerous long-distance rides, please take the time to review all of the available information. You never know what you might learn!
Group Riding Classes
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.
We are very fortunate that the FMC Cyclers are once again organizing Group Riding Skills classes as well as our Team's very own League of American Bicyclists League Certified Instructors (LCI). They have extended this training opportunity to riders of our Team. We strongly encourage you to sign up early for one of these training sessions.
Registration is Required: The cost to attend these classes will be a minimum donation of at least $10 for Team members
2010 Group Riding Skills Class Schedule
Sunday, January, 18
Group Riding Skills Class - 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM
FMC Technologies
1777 Gears Road, Houston, TX 77067 - ( Map )
Registration is Required: Register
Sunday, January, 24
Group Riding Skills Class - 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM
FMC Technologies
1777 Gears Road, Houston, TX 77067 - ( Map )
Registration is Required: Register
Sunday, January, 31
Group Riding Skills Class - 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM
FMC Technologies
1777 Gears Road, Houston, TX 77067 - ( Map )
Registration is Required: Register
Sunday, February 7
ExxonMobil Team Designated Training - 8:00 - 11:00 AM
ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company Training Center
3102 Buffalo Speedway - Corner of W. Alabama and Buffalo Speedway - ( Map )
Registration is Required: Register
Sunday, February 14
Group Riding Skills Class - 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Aker Solutions
3600 Briar Park Drive, Houston, Texas 77042 - (Map)
Registration is Required: Register
Sunday, February 21
Group Riding Skills Class - 2:00 PM - 5:00 PM
FMC Technologies
1777 Gears Road, Houston, TX 77067 - ( Map )
Registration is Required: Register
Sunday, February 28
Group Riding Skills Class - 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
ExxonMobil Chemical Company
13501 Katy Freeway, Houston,TX 77079 (Map)
Registration is Required: Register
Sunday, March 14
Group Riding Skills Class - 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
ExxonMobil Chemical Company
13501 Katy Freeway, Houston,TX 77079 (Map)
Registration is Required: Register
Special Note: The trainers are volunteering their time, so if you RSVP and can't attend, please notify them as soon as possible.
MS Society Group Riding Skills Safety Clinics
In addition to the above, the MS Society is sponsoring several Group Riding Skills safety training. These will be held on Jan. 30, Feb. 6, Feb. 27, March 6 and March 27. There are morning sessions (9:00 - 12:00, and afternoon sessions (1:00 - 4:00). Cost of attending these session is $30 and will be held at Bicycle World and Fitness, 14536 Memorial Drive, Houston, TX 77079.
Click Here to register.
If you attend one of these classes, please send Team Captain Eric Powell an e-Mail so we can keep track of our safety efforts.
MS 150 Safety Zone
Have you viewed the Safety Zone on the MS Society web site? This site is a great source of information to help you train, go over safety checks you need to do each time you get on your bike, nutrition and hydration information.
The MS150 Safety Committee (Team Captain Eric Powell currently serves as the Chair of this committee) has designed a new Safety Quiz for all MS 150 riders to take. The completion of this quiz by 80% of our Team members is a qualifying factor in the 2010 Safety Award. Thus, the expectation is all of our Team members will complete this quiz. At your earliest convenience, please review check out the Safety Zone and complete the Safety Quiz.
We encourage all riders to visit the MS 150 Safety Zone today to increase your knowledge -- and hopefully keep you on your bike!!!.
On-Line Safety Presentations
PowerPoint Safety Presentations on Bicycle Riding Safety and Paceline Riding are available on-line. A big thank you goes to Team member John Wright who prepared the on-line Safety Presentations for us. John's safety skills presentations are being used by many of the MS 150 teams.
Note: The Safety Presentations require Microsoft PowerPoint. If our computer does not have PowerPoint loaded, you can download a free PowerPoint Viewer from Microsoft. Download at your own risk.
Additionally, FMC safety training coordinators, in association with the League of American Bicyclists (LAB), prepared the materials used in this year's Safety Skills Training classes. Please take an opportunity to view them.
Group Riding and MS 150 Safety Skills Clinic Presentation
LAB Group Riding Student Manual
Pre-Ride Safety Discussion
Whenever you go out for a ride, it is a good idea to conduct a safety review before starting. The ExxonMobil Team does this as an organized discussion before each team ride, but it is a good idea to do this even if the ride consists of only one or a few riders. You never know when a quick review may stick with a rider and prevent an accident.
To see the review sheet used by ExxonMobil Team, click here.
To see the Pre-Ride "Safety Talk" used by ExxonMobil Team, click here.
Bicycle Inspection
One of the most important things that can be done to insure safety on a bike ride is to insure your bike is up to the ride.
Obvious things to look for include properly inflated tires, tight wheel skewers, a tight seat post clamp, and smoothly operating chain and derailleurs. Also, can your bike survive a drop from 6" high onto it's wheels without any abnormal sounds? This is really pretty minor compared to the stress of a hard ride, so it is a good test to use.
Please review our Bicycle Inspection Check-List for a detailed assessment of what to be looking for when getting your bike ready to ride (from bicyclinglife.com).
Riding Safely
When you ride a bike on a street or road, you are a driver. Therefore, you have the same road rights and responsibilities as the driver of a car or truck. The MS 150 has developed a Riding Safety Page.
Rider Training/Conditioning
You may not think about Training and Conditioning when you think about Safety. But, in order to complete a two-day tour like the MS 150, you have to bein pretty good shape. Even people who cycle regularly may not be able to complete a ride of this magnitude. It takes trainging and preparation to get ready.
If you are wondering how to get ready for the ride, the MS 150 group has a recommended Training Plan on its website.
If you want a more detailed plan, there are several on the web that will help you get ready for a Century, or 100 mile, ride. Since that is basically what the first day of the MS 150 is, add some longer Sunday rides, and you will be getting ready!
All experienced riders know that training and conditioning is more than just accruing miles on the bike saddle. You have to treat your body right to get to the finish line. Hydration is very important to successful riding. Most excercise experts recommend a minimum of 16 ounces of water per hour of riding. You also need to get nutrition regularly during a ride.
Please review the MS 150 information regarding Hydration, Cycling Nutrition and Heat Acclimatization
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