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 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
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.
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.

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.

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

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.

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 be in 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!

But all good riders know that training and conditioning is more than just accruing miles on an 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.

For more information consult:
About.com: Sportsmedicine