There is no bad weather, only wimpy riders... New schedule

Dear bike enthusiasts, after a lousy spring with way too much rain, summer is here. Time to get the bike out and join the SAP ride.
Hard core riders like Mary, John, Bill and Fran did not fear the rain and John commented last weekend "at least you don't have to worry about dehydration".

We have changed our schedule to add a little more variety.
Unless posted otherwise we meet on Saturdays @ 8.00am in Malvern (King St. Wawa) with an optional 8.30am pick up in West Chester (Iron Hill). Hilly ride through scenic Chester county (~30-45 miles) - subject to change...
Sunday rides vary.

Please check 'Upcoming Events' section on the left for latest updates or simply register for text updates:

send a text to 484-686-6525 if you'd like to receive a text message notification for rides or if you'd like to be removed from the list.

Team rides Saturday and Sunday

Saturday 8.00am in Betzwood (Corporate Parking Lot), 8.40am in Conshohocken (corner of Stoddard Ave and Harry St.) Flat, recreational ride to Manayunk/Philly (~30-40 miles).
No ride in case of rain!
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=Stoddard+Ave+and+Harry+St.+Conshohocken,+PA&sll=40.072497,-75.306752&sspn=0.003497,0.00707&ie=UTF8&ll=40.070075,-75.309241&spn=0.006995,0.014141&z=16

Sunday 8.30am @ in Malvern (King St. Wawa)
Hilly ride through scenic Chester county (~30-45 miles) - Pls check 'Upcoming Events' section on the left if this ride is on.

send text to 484-686-6525 if you'd like to receive a text message notification for rides

Team rides Saturday and Sunday!!!

Saturday 8.30am in Conshohocken (corner of Stoddard Ave and Harry St.)
Flat, recreational ride (~30-40 miles). No ride in case of rain!
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=Stoddard+Ave+and+Harry+St.+Conshohocken,+PA&sll=40.072497,-75.306752&sspn=0.003497,0.00707&ie=UTF8&ll=40.070075,-75.309241&spn=0.006995,0.014141&z=16

Sunday 8.30am in Malvern (Wawa, King Rd.)
Hilly ride through scenic Chester county (~30-45 miles)

Spring is here

Dear Team SAP enthusiasts!
Get your bikes out and let's go for a ride. We'll get back into our weekend ride schedule, including some mechanical tips and tricks. Watch for updates.

MTB trails in the area

Here a collection of MTB trails, please post comments with your favorite trails. Thanks.

Harmony Hill Nature Area:
Set up by the MTB enthusiasts for the West Chester Cycling Club.
Directions from West Chester to the Skelp Level Road parking area:
Take Route 322 west towards Downingtown. Make a right on Skelp Level Road (PECO substation will be on your left). Go approximately 0.8 miles to the intersection of Harmony Hill Road. Continue straight on Skelp Level Road. You will pass Overhill Drive and Winchester Trail on the left; the next left – 1200 Skelp Level Road – is the parking area. If you reach Wilderness Trail, you went a little too far.
http://www.eastbradford.org/specialinterest/Sonoco/Sonocoindex.htm
Trail maps: http://www.eastbradford.org/specialinterest/Sonoco/HHNATrailsMap_061708.pdf

Valley Forge: Betzwood
Directions: Take the Trooper exit off of Rt 422 and enter Valley Forge Park. The Betzwood parking lot is on the east side of the Schulkyll river. Trails start at the end of the Parking lot.

Wisahickon Park
20 miles of trails within Philly city limits...
The multi-use flat trail that runs the length of the park provides access to the many trails that climb out of the valley. The trails are well marked and not all trails allow mountain bikes. The trails are primarily intermediate to expert and have plenty of both up and down hill sections. This is not really a trail for beginners, but a beginner can always walk the more difficult areas. There are some sweet single-track areas, rock gardens, logs, jumps... Overall this is one of the best Trails in the Philadelpha area.
You may need an annual park pass to ride.
http://www.dirtworld.com/trails/trail.asp?id=438&trail_name=The%20Wissahickon%20Park%20Mountain%20Bike%20Trail

Marsh Creek State Park
Variety of scenery on the trails is amazing. Within a mile you will hit large deep mud puddles, rocks, fields with tall grass, dirt paths in open woods, etc.
Directions: North on Rt 100 in Exton. Follow signs off of Park Rd.
http://www.dirtworld.com/trails/trail.asp?id=13310&trail_name=Marsh%20Creek%20State%20Park%20Mountain%20Bike%20Trail

French Creek State Park
Loads of technical single track. Trails are filled with Rocks and long steep climbs. Pick up a map at the park office.
Directions: Take exit 23 from the PA Turnpike.
http://www.dirtworld.com/trails/trail.asp?id=440&trail_name=French%20Creek%20State%20Park%20Mountain%20Bike%20Trail

White Clay Creek State Park & Middle Run, Delaware
30+ miles of twisting trails
http://www.kencox.net/?page_id=29

Next rides for Team SAP

2009 LIVESTRONG Challenge:
The LIVESTRONG Challenge is the Lance Armstrong Foundation's (LAF) signature fundraising event. This annual series of cycling and running/walking events takes place in cities across the country, enabling people across the globe to support the LAF's mission to inspire and empower people affected by cancer. In 2009 the LIVESTRONG Challenge will take place in Seattle, WA (June 14); San Jose, CA (July 12); Philadelphia, PA (Aug 23); and Austin, TX (Oct 23 - 25). We're planning to welcome more than 20,000 participants across the country while raising significant funds for the fight against cancer. In 2008, The LIVESTRONG Challenge has raised more than $9.2 million dollars, and since inception in 1997, $51 million has been raised for the LAF. 2009 registration will begin December 1, 2008 at http://www.livestrongchallenge.org/.

2009 PA Dutch MS Ride - July 18 and 19 2009:
Starting just an hour's drive northwest of Center City Philadelphia, this cycling event of a lifetime take you through the rolling hills of Montgomery Country until you rich the scenic Amish farmlands of Chester and Lancaster counties. The unique route gives the event a unique spirit -- a sense of community perfectly captured by the Saturday night finish line party at Millersville University. This evening is a combined event with the Central PA Bike Tour, bringing you together with cyclists from across the state.
Register for Team SAP at
http://bikepae.nationalmssociety.org/

2009 MS City to Shore - Oct. 3 and 4 2009:
Cyclists travel from every corner of the globe to be part of the best cycling getaway in NJ. Starting near Philadelphia, City to Shore's exclusive route travels through blueberry fields and pine barrens before winding its way to Ocean City, one of the top family resorts in the country. In addition to everything that Ocean City has to offer, our Saturday finish area features live music, great food, children's activities and much more.
Register for Team SAP at
http://bikepae.nationalmssociety.org/

Fall rides

Yes, fall is here. It's getting a little chilly, which doesn't mean you put your bike in storage. It means to dress in layers, always carry an old piece of newspaper - still the best windstopper when put between layers.
Team SAP encourages you to join the rides of the West Chester Cycling Club. They have great rides for various pace groups on weekends. Just check their website at:
http://www.westchestercycling.com
Or view the list of rides directly here:
http://www.wccyclingclub.com/viewrides/index.html

WCCC offers rides for various ability levels. Rides usually start from the parking lot at the corner of Gay, New Sts and Hannum Ave an West Chester and finish at the Iron Hill Brewery at Gay and High Sts. Weather permitting rides are scheduled from April through November.

We look forward to seeing you at one of the WCCC rides. And wear your SAP jersey.

Keep checking the blog as we will start posting Mountain bike rides during the fall/winter season.

SAP Jerseys can be ordered through Carla Donch - SAP front desk in Newtown Square.

MS 150 City to Shore - stories from Team SAP riders

SAP Slipstream
Did you ever ride in the slipstream of a fast train? Well, it was new to me, and it was a blast. Teaming up with others on the same pace led to a tingling speed that I have never gone to before – Allegro! Even a flat tire turned into an enjoyable experience as Uli and Klaus stopped to help. It was just great team spirit throughout, the SAP team, others on the train (like Andrew in the red shirt), everyone riding for the cause, and the fantastic volunteers. My MS champion Alex is excited to see the research on pace to have the weekly medication syringes replaced with more effective pills within 3 years. I hope we can help accelerate this research efforts in the slipstream of our collective spirit and collected donations.
-Thilo

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This was awesome! 75 miles on Sunday in 3:50. That SAP express train was something. You guys rock. Yes, my legs hurt, but what the heck. Even the Brooklyn boys realized that they couldn't keep up with us so they went to the rest stop. Go Team SAP!
7,000 people on wheels for a good cause - that is truly impressive.
Among many memories was the guy who joined the SAP train for a couple miles. At the next rest stop he thanked us for the pull and said "If we ever need software, it's gonna be SAP".
-Uli

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It was great to meet you all. We ride well together. I hope we can all do it again sometime soon.
-Garey

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Thilo, Uli, and I were flying past a long line of cyclists. Someone from J&J said, "SAP knows how to get it done!"
-Ben

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Just remember, at the conclusion of the ride - "Everyone wanted to be on TEAM SAP"
My favorites were:
* Johns killer launch every time someone came up on the left or tried to pop off the front.
* the guys in the lawn chair bikes with the radios, flags and windshields.
* 8000 the first time
* German ice cream at the first stop
* 8000 the second time
* the 18 year old red headed woman taking it higher on the return ride
* falling off the bike at the stop light
* 8000 the third time
* Herding the group for the boardwalk photo
* Saturday night dinner and sleep!
* Waking up Monday and still feeling my legs!
* getting yelled at by team Tania for not calling out for each passing cyclist
-Fran

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My favorites:
How about the Brooklyn train death grip and clicking brakes guy with the headphones on? I think Uli is still yelling at him in German in his sleep.
How about the guy that sat in and as you were coming back to hop back in he would say”……Do you want to get in” the one time I said sure no problem we can do all the work. Don’t think he got it.
Did anyone hear that Campbell’s soup drill sergeant telling her team to pick-up the pace? She was hysterical. BTW, she was yelling from the back of the group sitting in.
-John

CITY to SHORE 2008: Team SAP riding the MS150

AN UNFORGETTABLE WEEKEND - AN UNANIMOUS SUCCESS!!
Please accept my congratulations on a job well done by each of you as TEAM SAP made a significant impact on the City to Shore 2008!!!
Based on your early feedback, this event was a massive success!!!
Please take a minute to reflect on the great service you performed to your community!
As we unpack, wash the bikes, heal the sore muscles and cherish the memories of this great weekend, think of the teambuilding which took place and how we have tightened our SAP internal and Partner Community! Is it really conceivable at this time that anyone on TEAM SAP doesn't know our great friends and business partners at IDS SCHEER?
The unique dynamic of this type of event is quite apparent as we made new friends, rode, talked, laughed and shared stories with friends, volunteers, clients and of course those bravest of all, those ladies and gentlemen we met challenged by MS.
Can you imagine our TEAM SAP presence at the 2009 ride? Already dozens of you have introduced ideas and have already made preliminary plans for a year from now! That is Truly Amazing!
Also please don't forget the great social and health benefits of Cycling, as Lance Armstrong said, "there is nothing like being on a bike"
It is an honor to have worked with so many of you on this effort and I hope each of you feel the same!
My most sincere thanks to each of you!

Fran Fisher (Team Captain)

Preparation for the big day: 9/27

Less than 2 weeks...
Are you ready???
Is your bike ready???
Please read the detailed mailings which are coming to your homes for logistical items.

TEAM SAP will hold the following events to prepare for the CITY to SHORE 2008 Ride:
1. TEAM SAP Conference call and Lunch in Newtown Square to outline the ride and after ride events - Q and A!!
2. TEAM SAP Pre-ride reception - details to be announced - anticipate Thurs. 9-26 location near Newtown Square
3. TEAM SAP Ride Start - All 75-100 mile riders will start together as a TEAM
4. TEAM SAP follow-up dinner and reception - TBD
5. TEAM SAP Attendance at the MS150 Banquet in November
6. Preparation for City to Shore 2009!!!!

Congratulations to fundraising star and the winner of the Trek Madone: Ben Tatterson!

Many thanks to our Sponsors!

• Avaya
• IBIS Prof. Thome AG
• RWD Technologies
• Workflow One
• T-Mobile

An extra thank you to our very good friends at IDS Scheer!
Mandy, Niki, Heidi, Kim, Ann, Tim, Sascha, Mark, Charlie, Paul, Lutz and of course Dr. Scheer!!