Team, it is time to sign up for the BP MS150 training series.  This training series is a tried and tested method to prepare you for the upcoming BP MS150 ride from Houston to Austin.  The series spans 14 weeks, with the first two weeks specifically designed for beginners.

The weekly rides start with shorter, flat distances, then ramp up to longer distances and hills.  The series will also get you accustomed to riding in large groups, as the groups comprising this training series often have more riders each weekend than other organized rides.  The cost is $95 before 2010, which is a bargain for a fully supported (SAG, break points, portalets, etc.) ride series - equating to less than $8 per ride.  Most organized rides charge $25 or more to receive this type of service PER RIDE!

Please read the note from Steve Moskowitz (Conoco Phillips Team Captain) below and follow the instructions to sign up for the ride.

Eric Cioti / Todd Hauser
Team BP Co-Captains

From Stephen Moskowitz, Team Captain, ConocoPhillips:

For those of you who are new to the process, before we start the actual training rides, each rider who wishes to participate or to stay on my cycling e-mail list for 2010 needs to enroll.  This even includes me.  I enrolled earlier today as part of the final testing of the 2010 enrollment form as did your team captains.

Before you click the link to enroll, I have a few tips.  PLEASE read these as they will make it much easier for you, me and your team captain later.

Question 1 is to accept the waiver - this is required.  You click the "I accept" button unless you are a minor (under age 18).  In this case, you need to have your legal guardian complete the enrollment.  Don't worry - you can sit in and give them your correct e-mail address.  If you are accepting the waiver for a minor, click the 2nd button and then type in your name in the box below.

Question 6 - Please enter your preferred e-mail address and then, type it again to ensure it is correct.  Please don't type a different e-mail address in the 2nd box.

Question 8 is to confirm you are on a core team.  The core teams are the teams that work together to plan and support the rides.  In order to keep the training series safe and manageable, we limit enrollment to riders who are members of our core teams.  I will ask each team captain to confirm that each rider who indicated they were on their team is, in fact, a member of the team.  Please select your team from the alphabetical list - look at the entire list and carefully select the team you are a member of.

This may sound very basic but you would be surprised how many riders get this question wrong and we have to ask all the team captains to help track down a wayward rider and assigned to the correct team.  The exception to core teams is for registered Ride Marshals, registered EMS/Medics and Police officers.  If you are not on a core team but meet one of these criteria, check the Other box on question 8.  You will fill in the explanation later.

Question 9 is to confirm your rider status.  This is a critical question so please read this carefully and select the appropriate answer.

Here are your choices:

1. Registered for the BP MS150 & participating in the training series - fee = $95
2. Not riding the BP MS150 but want to participate in the training w/ team - fee = $95
   We do allow a few riders to do this but please contact your team captain to let them know and please offer to help support one of the three rides your team will be helping to support - this helps keep us all safe and well supported
3. Registered but NOT training (i.e. out of towners, those training on their own) - no training series fee.
4. Not registered and not training - Believe it or not, some people just like to read my cycling e-mail and maybe join us in the off-season - No fee.
5. Registered Ride Marshal - No fee (I need to check the RM roster to confirm you are signed up)
6. Registered EMS Medic - No fee (Please forward a note from the MS to confirm you are signed up)
7. Local law enforcement officer - No fee
8. Other - Please specify your circumstances and why you enrolled.  I'll review and follow up with you

Training Series Fee - $95 (until Dec 31)

The fee for the entire series is $95 or $98 via PayPal.  This fee covers the entire 12 week training series as well as two beginner rides for those of you who have never ridden on a group ride before.

If you are paying by check, please make the check out to the ConocoPhillips Bike Club and note the rider(s) the check covers in the memo line or on a Post-It note attached to the check.  Please print the names neatly and list first/last and please use the same name the rider registered with.  It takes a LONG time to track down a few checks w/o names or different names that the rider the check covers.  Checks should be mailed to:

ConocoPhillips Bike Club
Attn: Steve Moskowitz
11027 Holworth
Houston, TX  77072

If you are paying via PayPal - please send $98 to the bike club in care of my e-mail address: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .  As noted above, please use the notes field in PayPal to note the rider(s) covered and be sure the names are complete and correct.

Note that the fee goes up $10 to $105/$108 if not mailed/sent by 12/31/09.  It goes up again to $115/$118 after 1/15/10 and one more time to $125/$128 after 1/31/10.  This deadline is based on the postmark on the envelope of the date the PayPal payment posts - not the date you wrote on the check that is a week before you actually mailed the check!-).  The extra fee is donated entirely to the MS Society to help fight MS but I have to charge this increasing procrastinator's fee to get everyone to pay before we get too far down the road.

Please remember that enrollment is required to participate in the training series and/or to continue on the 2010 cycling e-mail distribution list.  I can no longer add any riders to the e-mail distribution list as I could the past  few months.  Everyone, even yours truly, has to enroll to get into the 2010 loop.  If you wish to stop receiving the cycling e-mail, just ignore the three reminders you will receive from me - what could be easier.

OK, here is the link that many of you have been waiting for - please refer to the notes above and take time to select the correct team and status: http://www.zoomerang.com/Survey/?p=WEB229YPAJ8HS9

NOTE: You can forward this note to fellow riders as long as you are sure that they are registered for your (core) team.  If you are not sure, please defer to your team captain - they will also be forwarding this note to your team riders.

I look forward to seeing many of you on Jan 23 for our first official training ride (or Jan 9 for the beginning riders).  Everyone stay warm and safe as we get ready for another great year.  Be sure I am on your "Safe Senders" list so none of my notes go to your spam folder.  This is especially critical for new riders.

Austin (and Chappell Hill, New Ulm, etc…), here we come...

Stephen Moskowitz
Team Captain, ConocoPhillips
281 293-2599
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
http:\\www.conocophillipsbikeclub.org