Marsh Creek MTB Rides

Great Mountain Bike Rides this weekend at Marsh Creek.
John and I did a great ride on Friday 11/26/2010. It was a little wet and muddy but once on the trails it turned out to be a lot of fun.
Here is the ride detail from my Garmin: Marsh Creek by wward80 at Garmin Connect - Details
Just a word of caution: the wooden bridges can be quite challenging when wet and your tires are muddy.



Sunday 11/28 - John, Sean, Uli and I did another great ride this morning. The temperature was in the low 30's but you warm up quickly. Conditions were much faster...and so were Sean, Uli and John. Made for a great workout.
Unfortunately, I forgot to start the garmin and didn't turn it on until we were about a mile in. So, here is a partial:


If you cannot see the embedded details: Marsh Creek by wward80 at Garmin Connect - Details

Winter rides

Hey folks,
We'll take it easy during the winter. There may be weekends without formal rides. Watch the 'Upcoming Events' section on the left for rides.
Uli will be riding in Miami during December and January. Join the Miami gang on Saturdays and Sundays at ~7.30am at the enry of the Rickenbacher Causeway - aka 'The Shark'.

Riding through falling leaves

We are taking it a little easier with group rides during the fall season. Usually smaller groups, some mountain bike rides, some climbing clinics,... fun stuff.
Please bring friends and suggest new routes.
And if you haven't ordered you team jersey, Frank is still taking orders (see earlier blog post).
See the 'Upcoming Events' section on the left for postings.
Or just 'comment' to this post with your mobile phone number and we'll get you on our text list for up to date ride reminders.

City To Shore count down

Just 5 days until the 30th anniversary MS150 City To Shore event starts.

You have a few more days to register (under TEAM SAP): http://bikepae.nationalmssociety.org/site/PageServer?pagename=Bike_PAE_homepage
Make sure you raised the $350 by Saturday in order to get your rider number!

Team SAP will meet on Friday 9/24 for a rider luncheon at SAP in Newtown Square, 3999 West Chester Pike. For non-SAP employees, meet us in the lobby at 11:50am. Lunch will be at 12 noon.
This is one way to pick up your Team jersey (please bring $40).
We'll review logistics for the Saturday start and answer questions.

On Saturday, 75/100 mile riders meet between 6 and 6.30am for check-in at PATCO Woodcrest Station in Cherry Hill. Check-in starts at 5:30 a.m. Team SAP will be leaving Cherry Hill at 7am.
Most of us will park in the EDS parking lot.
For any late arrivals, you must be on the road by after 8 a.m. After 8a.m. riders will be bused to the first rest stop after checking in. No exceptions. The century loop closes at 11 a.m.

45-Mile Cyclists - Check-in is at a new location this year! Check in Hammonton starts at 9:30 a.m. Kick-off is at 10 a.m. All cyclists must be on the road by 10:30 a.m.

Please study all details here: http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs048/1101245877983/archive/1103648845663.html#LETTER.BLOCK17
 
Get ready - We'll have a blast!

Sunday Ride 9/12/2010 - Weather Permitting

Team SAP and Human Zoom are joining forces for a group ride on Sunday September 12th.
This ride is weather permitting of course. Here are the details:

Sunday September 12th
8:00 am
2.5 hour ride. Focus will be on improving your cycling fitness and group riding skills at an easy pace.

Human Zoom Bikes & Boards (rear parking lot)
Ardmore Shop
47 W. Lancaster Ave.Ardmore, PA 19003
610-649-9839

Wednesday 9/8 and Thursday 9/9 lunch event - SAP Newtown Square

Meet the ‘TEAM SAP‘ cycling team on Wednesday 9/8 and Thursday 9/9, from 11:30am to 1:00pm in the NSQ1 building hallway on your way to the cafeteria. Stop by our booth to:


• Sign up and join TEAM SAP in our ‘MS 150 City to Shore 2010’ ride on September 25 & 26, 2010

• Order ‘TEAM SAP’ custom-made cycling jerseys

• Learn about our communication line ‘TEAM SAP blogspot’, which will keep you informed about upcoming rides, team details on the upcoming MS 150 City to Shore 2010 ride, fundraising and matching gift programs, team jersey orders and much more. http://teamsapcycling.blogspot.com/

• Join us on our 8am weekend rides on Saturdays and Sundays.

• Best of all…..we will be joined by our good friends from Human Zoom Bikes and Boards on Thursday September 9th. Human Zoom has two locations: Ardmore and Manayunk, PA with great selection and service! http://humanzoom.com/

• Bring your bike to work on Thursday September 9th and the experts from Human Zoom will perform a free safety inspection.

Only 4 more weeks to the 2010 City To Shore ride - get in shape and order your jersey!

Come and join us for our 8am weekend rides!
The Saturday ride in Malvern is a hilly course, 40-50 miles at about 16 mph.
The Sunday ride is truly recreational: all levels, all ages, various pace groups, we hope you make it to Manayunk for breakfast but groups decide when to turn around.

How to order Team Jerseys:
Please contact frank.kochendoerfer@sap.com to order your jersey today. First come first served. Check this chart for sizes. The jersey is $40 each.

Latest Team updates

We've had a great team ride last Sunday with Breakfast at Le Bus in Manayunk.
Thanks to Alex for joining and picking up the check!

News from the Jersey front: Frank is working with the Jersey vendor and our Sponsors IDS Scheer and Echelon Solutions Group to ensure we have new team jerseys in time for the City To Shore ride.

Please register for the Livestrong Challenge and the City to Shore ride under Team SAP. We'll contact all team members regarding jersey sizes. All others who are interested, please comment to this post with your email address and jersey size.

Come join our weekend group rides - Now it's time to have some fun and get in shape!

Fundraising Tips, Matching Gift Programs

Does your employer have a 'Matching Gift' program?
Are you looking for the easiest and most efficient way to have your contributions be made directly at the Matching Gift website?

As an SAP employee for example you can make your employee contributions directly at the Matching Gift website (www.easymatch.com/SAP) and the match can be confirmed automatically in one step . Matches and employee gifts go out monthly.

If you would rather the contribution go to the organization directly, you will still have to go to the site and request the match and the MS Foundation will have to confirm the gift was made. This is certainly a slower process and could be up to three months, assuming the organization confirms the gifts.

For SAP employees, contributions over $50 are eligible for a corporate match through the SAP Matching Gift Program. To double your difference, please log onto www.easymatch.com/sap and select Dollars for Dollars -> Submit a New Request -> Cash/Check/Credit Card -> Select 'National Multiple Sclerosis Society' as the Organization.

When you submit your request, please insert EVENT NAME, EVENT DATE, EMPLOYEE PARTICIPANT ID in the Purpose Line.

Good luck fundraising!

Time to register for some charity rides...

Livestrong Challenge Philly - 8/22. Enjoy a great bike ride and help to fight cancer! Rumors have it that Lance himself will be there again this year.
http://www.livestrong.org/Take-Action/Team-LIVESTRONG-Events/LIVESTRONG-Challenge-Series/LIVESTRONG-Challenge-Philly

Bike MS City To Shore – 9/25 (and 26), less than 7 weeks away! Join ~8,000 riders for the 30th anniversary. Start to Stop MS! http://bikepae.nationalmssociety.org/site/TR/Bike/PAEBikeEvents?fr_id=13251&pg=teamlist

Encourage coworkers, neighbors, family and friends to register for Team SAP!
Not in shape yet? Come join our weekend group rides. We’ve recently added the more leisurely Sunday group ride on the Schuylkill trail. We have rides for all ages, distances and paces.

Team SAP prepares for 2010 MS City to Shore

Dear cycling enthusiasts,
The 30th anniversary of the MS City to Shore is approaching fast.
You and your friends have until August 17 to register online - remember to join 'Team SAP' (you don't have to be a SAP employee!).
You are required to turn in your Bike MS waiver/safety pledge and minimum $300 by August 20 to receive your rider number in the mail.
Learn more here.
What are you waiting for?

If you think you or your bike are not in shape, join us for a Schuylkill River trail ride on Sunday 8/8:
8.00am Betzwood parking lot (Corporate Parking Lot, S Trooper Rd, east of Rt 422)
8.30am SEPTA parking lot in Conshohocken

We'll provide lube, tools, pumps and professional advice to take care of your bicycle in Betzwood/Valley Forge. We'll roll at 8am towards the city, by various pace groups and preferred distances. You can also join us also in Conshohocken around 8.30am.
How about breakfast in Manayunk?

Team jerseys: We are planning to order new team jerseys - please comment on this blog post if you'd like to order one and provide: Name, email address, phone number, jersey size.

See you and your friends on Sunday!
And don't forget to register for the 2010 MS ride under 'Team SAP'!

Team News

Since our two year agreement with supporters (Thanks to IDS Scheer, RWD, IBIS, Workflow One, Avaya and T-Mobile!) is running out, we are currently consolidating activities with the SAP cycling community in Palo Alto to coordinate charity events on a national basis and to use one SAP branded jersey for all SAP cycling enthusiasts.

We are trying to secure funding from SAP and other supporters for new jerseys.
So far we have a verbal commitment from two corporate supporters. If you have any contacts, suggestions for funding, please comment to this post!

We are also looking for a new Team Captain – any volunteers, please comment to this post!

Over the next two weeks we'll consolidate registrations to make sure we have only ONE Team SAP for the 2010 City to Shore ride.

Let's drive team membership in August for all the fall charity rides, and target to sign up 150 team SAP members!

See you at one of our next group rides - 'Upcoming Events' section on the left.

Team update

100 degree weather - the summer is here.
Bill made that official when he inhaled a bug during one of our recent weekend rides.
Given the high temperatures, Team SAP has started to accomodate some much needed 'rehydration stops'. The usual places are Four Dogs Tavern, Main Street Manayunk or just Uli's house where you are invited to watch the Tour de France after our rides.
Endurance is strong: especially our frequent riders like Frank, Juan, Bill are getting in better shape by the week. John is mostly winning the sprints as usual. Rumor has it that he has switched to the favorite cream cheese brand of Mark Cavendish...
Also worth mentioning are the track events in nearby Trexlertown. Check out schedules here. It's really fun to watch!

We always look for more riders, so come join us.

Let's watch the Pro's climbing the Manayunk Wall!

Come out and join us for a leisurely group ride starting at 9:30am on Sunday from Betzwood to see the Pro's suffering in Philly.
Betzwood parking lot (Corporate Parking Lot, S Trooper Rd, east of Rt 422)
Bring your Fuji bike and try to crash the Fuji party on top of the wall.

Team Spring rides in full swing, new routes, new tools

Dear cycling enthusiasts,
Our little core group is getting some nice rides in. Feel free to join us on weekends when we ride through scenic and hilly Chester and Delaware counties or on Thursdays when some of us represent Team SAP Cycling at the Malvern training race.

On Saturday 5/29 we'll meet at Frank's house in Exton to have him lead a ride. We'll meet at: 301 Horizon Ct., Exton, PA 19341
http://maps.yahoo.com/?ard=1&mvt%3Dm%26lat%3D40.038359%26lon%3D-75.618137%26zoom%3D14%26q1%3D301%20Horizon%20Ct.%2C%20Exton%2CPA%2C19341

And here a tip from Tom Mueller: An easy to use Bike Map Tool. Cooler by a mile. Even better if you have a GPS unit. Replay a ride with speed, cadence, HR, and altitude. Check it out!
http://ridewithgps.com/trips/34803

Update and Upcoming rides

Last week Bill and I completed the 50 mile SCU Quad County Ride. After the first several miles in the rain everything came together we completed the ride without incident. Always a great event.

Anyone up for the training race today in Malvern?

Does anyone have the European Style Gran Fondo Philadelphia on their list of things to do this summer? If so, let me know I would like to do the 100 mile event. http://granfondophiladelphia.com/

I am looking to borrow/rent a tandem this Memorial Day weekend. My 13 year old son and I are doing a benefit ride from the Art Museum to Avalon and we would like to hang on the fast group. Please email me if you know of anyone with a tandem that might be interested.

Is there a ride this Saturday and/or Sunday? Uli, aren't you running the show now that Fast Fran has left the nest???

Write to Congress to Complete the Schuylkill River Trail

Check this out
http://www.bicyclecoalition.org/content/schuylkill

Spring is here - get your bike out and yourself in shape!

Dear Cycling Enthusiasts,
It's April, time to get the bike out, lube your chain, pump up your tires, get your shorts on and get out!
You have another two weeks to train in private before we get super serious.
Mark your calendars for the first spring ride of Team SAP:
Saturday April 24
Schuylkill River trail
8.30am Betzwood parking lot (Corporate Parking Lot, S Trooper Rd, east of Rt 422)
9.00am Conshohocken

We'll be riding to Manayunk (Breakfast option), optional to City Hall, back to Manayunk, join the breakfast club, and back to Valley Forge/Betzwood.
Minimum pace is 13 mph, we may form two pace groups.

Arrive 20 min early if you need some basic bike fixing. We'll have an experienced mechanic, basic tools, lube, air pump, EPO* and other performance enhancing equipment ready for you in Betzwood.

Feel free to post comments if you have ideas for this or future rides.

Team SAP looks forward to a great season opener.

*EPO: Extremely Powerful Oxygen

Angel Ride: Help Children with Cancer!

Dear Cycling friends,
On May 29-30 our colleague Tony Alfano will ride 130 miles through northern Connecticut to support children with cancer.
Read more about the Angelride and how you can support Tony.