We got a sneak peek of this video on Saturday and they debuted it in West Hollywood last night. It's AWESOME and you get a little look at the amazing community on AIDS LifeCycle!
Friday, June 18, 2010
Sunday, June 13, 2010
Because if you do it two years in a row...
It's a tradition. Dinner in Indio at Popeye's on the way home from ALC.
Saturday, June 12, 2010
Dinner at Hamburger Mary's in WeHo!
OMG! Real food! Thank the little baby Jesus! Mac and Cheese hamburger is on its way out... mmmmmmmmmm.
Day Seven: Rest Stop 2
Broken left clergy coming in toward Malibu. Making a stop at bike tech and on to LA. 30 miles to go!
DAY SEVEN: VENTURA TO LOS ANGELES! WOOOO HOOOOO!
We're almost there! Today our trip south will take us through Ventura, Oxnard and Port Hueneme (pronounced Why-Knee-Me) and Malibu. Is that Mel Gibson I spy?! Or Barbie in her pink Corvette?!
We will see the military planes on display as you ride past the Naval Air Station on our way to Highway 1 also known as the Pacific Coast Highway (PCH). Once on PCH it's a straight shot down the coastline for about 20 miles. We will enjoy the southern California sights of surfers and beach goers as we pedal through Malibu on our way toward LA. We will complete our journey with a turn away from the coast and nice pedal through Santa Monica on our way to the Closing Ceremonies site.
Highlight of the day: The streets are peppered along the route on Day 7 with friends, family and well-wishers!
The other UNSPOKEN Highlight of the Day: TONIGHT WE GET TO SLEEP IN REAL BEDS! IN WEST HOLLYWOOD!
TODAY'S PROJECTED DISTANCE: 61.5 miles
Interested in Participating in AIDS LifeCycle 10?
Registration for AIDS LifeCycle 10 is now open. If you have enjoyed the experience of keeping up with our journey and think you have it in you to get on a bike for 545+ miles, sign up to join us! AIDS/LifeCycle 10 will take place from June 5 - 11, 2011, which gives you over a year to prepare for this epic adventure!
Even if you can't ride, AIDS LifeCycle has plenty of opportunities for volunteers to join the ride as Roadies.
For more information on Roadies and the different Roadie teams, please visit http://www.aidslifecycle.org/roadies-volunteers/roadies-rock.html
CLICK HERE to register for AIDS LifeCycle 10 - June 5-11, 2011
Participation in AIDS/LifeCycle 10 will be limited to 2500 cyclists, so register today!
Even if you can't ride, AIDS LifeCycle has plenty of opportunities for volunteers to join the ride as Roadies.
For more information on Roadies and the different Roadie teams, please visit http://www.aidslifecycle.org/roadies-volunteers/roadies-rock.html
CLICK HERE to register for AIDS LifeCycle 10 - June 5-11, 2011
Participation in AIDS/LifeCycle 10 will be limited to 2500 cyclists, so register today!
Friday, June 11, 2010
A Little Help for the Chicken Lady
I ran into the Chicken Lady on my way out of the shower and was asked to help with a little surprise project.
Cluck, cluck!
Tonight, we honor those we have lost...
Tonight, the participants of AIDS/LifeCycle, as well as our friends and families, honor the memory of everyone we have lost to this disease. As we gather on the beach this evening in Ventura, California, I ask each of you take a moment to reflect on your own memories and the impact HIV and AIDS have had on your own life. We must come together to put a stop to the spread of HIV while helping those living with HIV and AIDS to live in good health and with the dignity and respect they deserve as our brothers and sisters.
Bless you all!
Rider Down
We climbed out of Lompoc this morning and then down the steep decline down highway 101, the same route that shut us down day 6 last year due to the danger of the wet decline.
As we made descent we came to a hault as we approached an ambulance and crowd.
A rider had lost control and fell on the descent. He appears to be doing okay with full range of motion, but what looks to be a head injury.
We pulled into Rest Stop 2 to shake it off and are now headed out to lunch.
More details as we know them...
Red Dress Day 5
Red Dress Day as usual was quite the sight to see. It seems everytime you think you cannot see a better outfit there is another over the top creation. From Dr Seuss Thing 1 and 2, to men in red speedos and even clips installed on high heels.
We had a lot of fun and took a lot of photos, all of which will be available soon.
The day overall went pretty well with gorgeous scenery and I don't mean all of us in dresses.
After lunch was one of the most challenging rides of my life. The head winds were so strong that we all got pretty beat up, some riders were even pushed off the road with gusts of wind.
The last 20 miles into Lompoc felt like twice that amount, it felt so good to roll into camp.
I went immediatley to the Massage tent to sign up for my one free massage of the week.
We took our Positive Pedalers Group Photo and had a Pizza Party. I was asked to carry in a flag as a part of Closing Ceremonies, which means I'll need to be into LA Saturday by 2pm.
Had a great conversation tonight with a new friend Tarik from Los Angeles and then crashed early.
The evening in Lompoc got pretty cold.
Today's shout out goes to my Thursday Lunchtime Spinners.
Trying to think of a way to simulate the strength of those headwinds I faced today for next weeks class.
See ya next week!
DAY SIX: LOMPOC TO VENTURA!
Day Six begins on one of the prettiest roads on the entire route... You know, when it's not RAINING. Last year, the Day Six route was closed by the California Highway Patrol due to heavy rain, which caused a number of automobile accidents in the early morning.
But none of that this year! We hope.
We will pedal through vast expansive ranch lands with wildflower covered hills on both sides! As we ride toward the coast through the gorgeous Gaviota Pass we will be on US101. After lunch we will pass through the heart of Santa Barbara, Montecito and Carpinteria and on into Ventura where we camp at San Buenaventura State Beach.
Highlight of the day: Day Six is the best day for dolphin sightings! Tonight is also the annual candlelight vigil on the beach in Ventura. More on that later!
TODAY'S PROJECTED DISTANCE: 85.5 miles
But none of that this year! We hope.
We will pedal through vast expansive ranch lands with wildflower covered hills on both sides! As we ride toward the coast through the gorgeous Gaviota Pass we will be on US101. After lunch we will pass through the heart of Santa Barbara, Montecito and Carpinteria and on into Ventura where we camp at San Buenaventura State Beach.
Highlight of the day: Day Six is the best day for dolphin sightings! Tonight is also the annual candlelight vigil on the beach in Ventura. More on that later!
TODAY'S PROJECTED DISTANCE: 85.5 miles
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Goodnight Blogland...
It's been an incredibly long day. With five days down, we're all so well acclimated to the ALC community and way of life but I think we're all starting to realize our time together is growing short.
Tomorrow is Day Six. We'll put down on the beautiful beaches of Ventura. After over 80 miles of riding anyway.
Goodnight for now.
We Made it to Lompoc!
What a rough day! First half all uphill and the second half with horrid headwinds. We're just taking it easy in camp now.
We've completed 412.2 miles as of tonight with 147 miles to go.
We've got our dresses peeled off and cleaning up for the evening.
Wicked Headwinds after Solvang
For the last 13 miles out of lunch we've had awful headwinds, making us fight even to ride downhill. Gross.
Who planned this route?
Hello from Solvang!
We just had lunch in Solvang. Lots of red dresses on the road today.
Today has mostly been uphill - remember, in a dress. Just 20 or so miles to go to Lompoc.
Are you ready for Red Dress Day!?
It's Freezing Cold and only supposed to be a high of in the 70's... But I'm in a dress.
Wanna know which one?
Check back soon for the Photo... In the meantime encourage a friend to donate to Southwest Center today... I don't wanna have this dress on for nothing. LOL
Quadbuster + the Evil Twins - Day 3 and 4
My teammates have done a pretty good job of recapping the events of the last two days, but I wanted to share a few personal highlights.
Day 3 - The morning of Day 3 there is so much apprehension. All of the newbies, including those we know, are wanting to hit the road early and are nervous about all of the hype around Quadbuster.
Now, don't get me wrong quadbuster is BITCH, she comes up right after rest stop 1 and sneaks up on ya when u don't expect it. You round a corner and before you know it your legs begin to burn.
I was so proud at the top of that hill when Steph came up the last stretch. Team Phoenix waited at the top to cheer her on as she rolled to the top in tears of happiness.
This is the day we stop in Bradley for lunch. One of my most favorite memories is the happiness we bring to this "town that time forgot". Each year they host a BBQ and Bake Sale for us on ALC, the proceeds they make from this one day will fund their entire athletics and extra curriculat program for the year.
Rest stop 4 on Day 3 is gorgeous and always fun. We visit the Mission and watch as the crew put on a show. This year it was "price is Right" - all I can say is hilarious. I love those boys.
It is great to be reunited with the ALC Community and so many familar faces.
There were some nasty crosswinds throughout the day but there was an awesome tailwind all the way into camp in Paso Robles.
Special Day 3 shout out goes to my Tuesday Spinners. Hope Phil and Erica kicked your butt as much as Quadbuster burned mine ... Haha
Day 4 - It was a great day, BUT a long day.
We got a good start and met up with Steph at Rest Stop 1 before tackling the Evil Twins.
We successfully climbed the Twins and took our group and family photos at the Halfway to LA mark.
The rest of Day 4 did not prove to be as easy. We faced some strong winds and certain stretches seemed to go on forever. It is hard to not zone out on the long stretches through the country.™
Its the moments when you feel that you cannot go another pedal stroke that you see a supporter along the road that makes every moment of physical, emotional, and mental stress worth it.
As we climbed the rolling hills after Evil Twins a lone woman sat near her car cheering, "Thank you - you are Riding for Me." She is HIV Positive and an icon on the side of the road each year supporting our journey.
We finished the day strong, running a bit behind but made it in around 6:30pm.
Another 97 miles down the coast and we have safley arrived in Santa Maria.
Tomorrow is Red Dress Day (Day 5). Photos coming soon!
67 miles and we will arrive at Lompoc.
DAY FIVE: SANTA MARIA TO LOMPOC! RED DRESS DAY!
Day Five begins with a beautiful and scenic ride through the farmlands of Santa Maria. At the edge of town, we will enter one of Santa Barbara County's prettiest wine country roads. The scenery will be classic Central California with sprawling vineyards and ancient oak trees making the few challenging climbs along the way well worth the effort.
Lunch is located in the quaint tourist town of Solvang - a town founded by Danish immigrants. The authentic Danish architecture, thatched roofs, traditional windmills give the town an old world feel, making it a very popular cycling destination. Departing Solvang, we will pedal through Buellton, home of the world famous Pea Soup Andersen's and head into Lompoc on more beautiful and scenic wine country roads.
Highlight of the day: It's RED DRESS DAY!!!
(Just a note: This is the day that I ended up in the Emergency Room on ALC 7! Last year, no problems, but I'm hoping to avoid a repeat performance!)
TODAY'S PROJECTED DISTANCE: 67.7 miles... while wearing dresses.
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
What a LONG Day... Have I said that already?
Today started with THE EVIL TWINS! A long slow climb up two adjacent peaks with the most amazing view followed by a 7 mile descent to the ocean.
I made it up the twins on my big chain ring... for those non-cyclists reading that means I pedaled harded to get up the hill. The ride down was glorious, but I didn't waste any time enjoying the view. I just flew to the bottom. It was an amazing ride.
The rest of the day was long but not particularly memorable. We rode 97.7 miles today. My phone's been dead so no updates. Tomorrow is Red Dress Day.
There will be feathers.
Hope and Positive Beginnings
I just wanted to take a quick moment to give a shout out to both of my Wednesday Support Groups.
To HOPE - you inspire me more than you know to not only keep riding but living long and healthy every day. Sometime I think I get more from you than you may get from me.
+ beginnings- I am so excited for our newly forming group. I ride this week for each of you. I hold you in my heart this week in hopes that one day when you have the strength, which I know you will, you will join me on the road.
I'll ride until there's a cure!
See you next week.
Thank You Ginger Brewlay!
Today, as we ride our bikes to the summit of the Evil Twins, before we get a glimpse of the Pacific Ocean on the other side, we're going to get a good look at Ginger Brewlay as she cheers us to the top of the hill. Ginger's participation with the ride for the past 16 years and fundraising efforts for HIV and AIDS year after year is an inspiration to us all.
And hell, when you see her at the top of the the highest point on the ride each day, you just can't help but smile as she waves, cheers, and pushes struggling cyclists up over the last hump... In heels.
We love you, Ginger.
Check out AIDS/LifeCycle's recent interview with Ginger Brewlay:
DAY FOUR: PASO ROBLES TO SANTA MARIA!
The route on Day 4 has a little bit of everything - a feast for the eyes with stunning vistas and ocean views that give way to sprawling fields of farmland and even some quaint seaside towns. The route will wind along some remote and seldom-traveled roads as well as some congested town streets. Before lunch we will conquer the infamous Evil Twins. The Evil Twins are no fun! The name comes from the fact that once you reach the first summit, you have to ride back downhill a bit before riding UPHILL again to the second summit.
The views from the top of that second sister hill are nothing short of spectacular! The hills beyond the second hill seem to ripple and roll out toward the ocean just a few short miles away. From there we will ride back out to the coast and through the city of Pismo Beach and on into Preisker Park in the beautiful Central California city of Santa Maria. BUT... Not before stopping in the coastal town of Cayucos at the base of the mountain for Cheeseburgers with Dr. Vince and Team Dilly Dally!
Highlight of the day: Half Way to LA!!
TODAY'S PROJECTED DISTANCE: 97.7 miles
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
The End of a Long Day 3...
And so it ends - another day on the ride. It's hard to believe we've gone over 250 miles so far! San Francisco seems so far behind us and I guess it sort of is now.
Today was Quadbuster. I tricked myself into thinking there was a second rest stop before the climb and wasn't mentally prepared when the hill became visible ahead. But I made it. My IT bands were on fire the rest of the afternoon but I'm doing alright.
I popped ANOTHER spoke today. Thanks AGAIN to the talented Cannondale bike tech team I was back on the road in no time. We made good time back to camp and washed clothes - in a bucket. I'm trying to rest my voice tonight. I'm a little hoarse after nursing a sore throat that I am pretty sure was allergy-related for the past two days.
The ride continues tomorrow. 97+ miles, Evil Twins, and lots more.
Night!
We Made It! .. To Paso Robles
Hello from Paso Robles! Today was a relatively "light" day as Dan, Tyler, and I rode roughly 67 miles from King City. That brings our total miles ridden to near 250! Since we got into camp a little early, we had the chance to shave and do a little laundry by hand. I think we (and everyone else) are starting to get a little tired. We're going to try and go to bed early since we have a 97 mile day tomorrow AND the evil twins to deal with..more on that tomorrow. Oh, I wore an Ohio State jersey today and I met several OSU alums and people who at one time lived in Ohio, crazy, right? :) tomorrow will be the ASU jersey--gotta support both alma maters! Ciao for now!
With Scott Cuviello after QUADBUSTER
We cranked out Quadbuster, all regrouped on top, now we're at St. Luke's Episcopal Church.
King City to Paso Robles
Yesterday was Gorgeous as usual as we traveled through the countryside down the Northern Coast of CA.
We had a great day, traveling 109 miles from Santa Cruz to King City.
Shout out to my Monday Night Spin Class and a Huge thanks to Phil for subbing for me this week. I hope y'all had a great hour. Just tack on about 100 more miles and some crank up those fans to match our route today on ALC.
I personally felt great. No major aches and pains and still going strong.
The winds yesterday were both amazing and AWFUL. We hit some strong Cross Winds that pushed us around for miles at a time, but fortunatley we had an amazing Tail Wind all the way into Camp.
Dan had a few bike problems, a couple flats and a popped Spoke.
However, we all finished before the route closed!!
Today we ride about 67 miles to Paso Robles.
Quad Buster here we come.
Go Team Phoenix!
DAY THREE: KING CITY TO PASO ROBLES
TODAY IS THE QUADBUSTER! Sounds awful, huh?
Don't let the name scare you, though. Quadbuster is only a small part of the route on Day Three. We will pedal on VERY remote roads passing only a few small quaint stores, mostly later in the day. On ALC 7 we rode past the most expensive gas in the United States - no kidding - at $5.09 for Regular Unleaded!
Rest Stop 4 is at Mission San Miguel, one of California's 21 historic Missions. This is where I bought the crucifix for the Anglican rosary I created for last year's AIDS/LifeCycle event. The day ends as we ride into Paso Robles where we camp at the Mid State Fairgrounds. We dine inside the fairgrounds dining hall - what a treat! Indoor facilities! Highlight of the day: Lunch on Day Three is in the small town of Bradley where the local school hosts a BBQ to raise money for their field trip program. I'll gladly donate some money to the kids this year, but I'll bypass the burger line again this year to get back on the road I think.
TODAY'S PROJECTED DISTANCE: 66.7 miles
Monday, June 7, 2010
A LONG Day on the Ride
Today was our 107.6 mile day but today is generally also long for the number of distractions... And the number of opportunities for things to go wrong. Today I blew two flats and popped a spoke. Day Two doesn't afford riders much free time so all three were a problem.
I was certain the busted spoke would mean the end of the day for me. After waiting for some time for an open sweep vehicle to pass, I made it to Rest Stop 3 and the bike technicians. With 30 mind to Rest Stop closure and a handful of people ahead of me in line I swore I wasn't going to make it out in time. However, the very capable Bike Tech team, which is used to working with pro teams, replaced the spoke very quickly and I made it out with 15 minutes to spare.
I had sent Scott, Scotty, and Tyler ahead and rode the rest solo. I had to work extra hard to make it to each remaining stop before it closed, but pulled it off and made it in to camp in time for dinner.
Scott Cuviello and I paid homage to his ALC 7 crash site today. I'm glad to know he finished Day Two this year.
Off to bed! Goodnight friends!
Greetings From King City!
Tyler and I just got into King City which means we are close to 200 miles in! Dan should be arriving shortly. He got delayed due to a broken spoke so his bike had to be repaired at a rest stop. Time to go pitch the tent, shower and CHOW DOWN! Ciao for now :)
At Rest Stop 1 with Team Dilly Dally
We saw dolphins in the ocean. Beautiful. We're at lunch now and headed inland toward King City.
Hoping the tailwinds get moving! Today is a long day.
Morning Of Day 2 - King City here We Come!
We had a great Day 1 out on the road kept a great pace and had a lot of fun.
As expected Opening Ceremonies was amazing. We laughed, we cried, we raised over 10 MILLION DOLLARS!
The morning started out a bit rough as the Fog rolled in and the rain come down, but even us Phoenix boys trudged ahead through the wet and cold.
The ALC. Community is such an amazing feeling and its great to be back.
The Sunshine came and we brought some Phoenix heat to the route in the afternoon.
I'm so proud of Steph, Scotty, and Andrea they had a great first day out there and are excited for round two today.
Dan bought a small gift for a loyal road side cheerleader this year, a woman who year after year stands along the road strong in the fight remembering her brother.
She began to cry, so touched by our stoping and we took a photo with her in remeberence of Gary.
I cried for the next 3 miles back to camp.
So here we are almost 80 miles in to the Ride.
We are up early and plan to ride out of Santa Cruz around 7am.
Today we ride a little over 109 miles to King City.
Keep us in your thoughts, but more importantly keep helping us raise awareness and money in this fight.
Its not too late to donate or to ask your friends too.
Donate to Southwest Center and support those in Phoenix where I live or visit the ALC site to donate.
Logging off til the Afternoon!
The view from DAY TWO: SANTA CRUZ TO KING CITY!
This is what the better part of Day Two ought to look like... I took this photo on ALC 7 -- Just before Scott C. wiped out and broke his shoulder. Scott is back on the ride this year. No more napping in ditches, buddy.
Beautiful, no?
Day Two is going to be 107.6 miles this year! This is a long mileage day with relatively flat terrain that will take us through the Salinas Valley, also known as Steinbeck Country (good thing I've read The Grapes of Wrath and Of Mice and Men, no?). The lushness of vineyards, strawberry and artichoke fields stretch as far as the eye can see in all directions. There are usually excellent tailwinds (except for one horrible spot where the tailwinds become CROSSWINDS!) along the roller coaster road (literally! Rolling hills with strong tailwinds pushing us home) that takes us into King City at the end of the day. Highlight of the day: Mission Soledad, the Water Stop location on Day 2 is one of the most historic and special destinations on the ride.
TODAY'S PROJECTED DISTANCE: 107.6 miles
Sunday, June 6, 2010
Day One Complete
We've been in camp for awhile. Parked bikes, set up the tents, showered, and now we're eating our first round of dinner. Gabcast to follow.
Rest Stop 1 and 3 Flats
Well folks, just pulled out of rest stop 1 Dan got a flat.
Scotty already has had 2 this morning.
We are gonna blow past Rest Stop 2 and head straight to lunch to pick up some time.
In a Cab - Headed for the Cow Palace
We're headed over to get started! LOS ANGELES OR BUST!
Can you believe we're all up so early?!
Extending a Blessing of the Bicycles
Below is the prayer that was said during the team's Blessing of the Bicycles at Trinity Cathedral in Phoenix last week. I offer it with hopes for a safe ride for all of AIDS LifeCycle's 3,000 riders and roadies this week.
℣ The Lord knows our going out and our coming in;
℟ From this time forth and forevermore.
O Lord, our lives are in your hand:
Bless these your children at home and on the road and wherever they may be;
Ride with them along the way;
Fill their trip abundantly with many blessings;
Keep them safe, and their bicycles whole;
Empower them with your love that they may be a blessing to all those they encounter;
May your mercy, grace and love shine upon their every path;
And the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit be upon you and remain with you always. Amen.
Prayer provided by Reverend Craig Bustrin of Trinity Cathedral, Episcopal Diocese of Arizona.
℣ The Lord knows our going out and our coming in;
℟ From this time forth and forevermore.
O Lord, our lives are in your hand:
Bless these your children at home and on the road and wherever they may be;
Ride with them along the way;
Fill their trip abundantly with many blessings;
Keep them safe, and their bicycles whole;
Empower them with your love that they may be a blessing to all those they encounter;
May your mercy, grace and love shine upon their every path;
And the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit be upon you and remain with you always. Amen.
Prayer provided by Reverend Craig Bustrin of Trinity Cathedral, Episcopal Diocese of Arizona.
WELCOME TO DAY ONE! SAN FRANCISCO TO SANTA CRUZ!
Our AIDS/LifeCycle adventure begins as we ride out of the Cow Palace grounds in San Francisco immediately following Opening Ceremonies. The route on Day One offers some of the best scenery and cycling roads that San Mateo County has to offer. The stunning coastal views from hilltops to the ocean are truly Northern California at its best! Tailwinds prevail as we pedal along scenic CA Hwy 1 on our way to Harvey West Park in the City of Santa Cruz. Highlight of the day: The lunch stop on Day One offers a spectacular and breathtaking view of the ocean.
Day One offered three very moving experiences for me on ALC 7 and 8: The opening ceremonies, the crowds along the streets with memorials to family and friends lost to AIDS, and the beautiful views along the Pacific (pictured above).
TODAY'S PROJECTED DISTANCE: 79.4 miles
Saturday, June 5, 2010
Carbo-loading in the Castro
Tyler, Scotty and I are having dinner at The Sausage Factory on Castro Street. One last night in San Francisco before the ride begins tomorrow!
VOTE for Tyler's Red Dress!
Alright folks... It's not often that you get the opportunity to do this, but Tyler is opening up selection for his red dress day to a totally democratic vote!
PAY ATTENTION. Here is how this works:
Step 1: Review the dress photos below.
Step 2: Select your favorite option and make note of the dress number.
Step 3: Click on the "COMMENTS" link at the end of this post. The COMMENTS section may already be visible if you linked directly to this post.
Step 4: Enter your selection and SUBMIT!
Here are the three finalists!
DRESS #1
DRESS #2
DRESS #3
There you go! Now go vote in the COMMENTS section right below!
PAY ATTENTION. Here is how this works:
Step 1: Review the dress photos below.
Step 2: Select your favorite option and make note of the dress number.
Step 3: Click on the "COMMENTS" link at the end of this post. The COMMENTS section may already be visible if you linked directly to this post.
Step 4: Enter your selection and SUBMIT!
Here are the three finalists!
DRESS #1
DRESS #2
DRESS #3
There you go! Now go vote in the COMMENTS section right below!
Check Out Stephanie TerMeer's Blog, Cycle Sister
Tyler's sister, Stephanie, is with us on the ride this week and is also keeping a blog. Check it out at http://cyclesister.blogspot.com.
We're #1
While this maybe true in our everyday lives ;) the #1 also applies to our place in line at orientation. Dan, Tyler and I arrived a few minutes ago at Cow Palace in Daly City and are awaiting the safety video and check-in. Today is a light day as we just have orientation for a couple hours. Fine with us since Day 1 is tomorrow and we have to be back here in this same exact spot by 5am! Ciao for now
A DAY ZERO PRIMER: WELCOME TO AIDS LIFECYCLE!
Tyler, Scott, and I want to thank all of you - our sponsors and supporters - for your contributions and messages of support over the last several months. Last year, Tyler and I kept a very active blog to help you experience AIDS LifeCycle as closely to way we experience it on the road.
Here it is again! While we've been blogging during our training, you're going to start to notice some changes in the way we post. Here's a little primer to the blog as you'll see it over the next few days.
Daily Route Summaries: Early each day, we'll post a route summary that offers a short description of the route, sometimes a photo or two, highlights for that day, and the total projected distance.
Gabcasts: Usually once or twice a day, we'll post an audio message that can be played through our blog. This is a chance to actually hear our voices and get a little bit of a quick update from the road.
Text Message Posts: We will post A LOT of short messages from the road in the form of text messages or short emails. These will be SHORT and SWEET, but will help give you an idea of what we're up to on the ride.
Photos and Videos: We will try to take some photos and video and post them from the road. You won't see too many of these, but we usually take a few and upload them. It's a pretty safe bet you'll see one the morning of Day Four when we hoist our bikes over our heads atop THE EVIL TWINS at the HALFWAY TO L.A. POINT.
Now, here's some overview information about the Route:
One of the many things that makes AIDS/LifeCycle such a unique and special event is the scenic route that takes us through the heart of California. Stunning views, historic destinations, and even the chance to spot dolphins frolicking off the coast are followed by a hero's welcome in the City of Angels. Although the route has been largely the same since the very first AIDS/LifeCycle, there are typically some changes from year to year.
There are seven days of riding, and each day is different. We’ll ride an average of 80 miles a day, over varying terrain. One day, we’ll be riding a flat route along the coast or through artichoke and strawberry fields, the next we might be riding through fog banks and foothills. The course is designed to be challenging but completely doable.
The starting points and destinations for each day are as follows:
DAY ONE: San Francisco to Santa Cruz
DAY TWO: Santa Cruz to King City
DAY THREE: King City to Paso Robles
DAY FOUR: Paso Robles to Santa Maria
DAY FIVE: Santa Maria to Lompoc
DAY SIX: Lompoc to Ventura
DAY SEVEN: Ventura to Los Angeles
Today is DAY ZERO (yeah, we really call it that)! We're in Orientation today, squaring away some final business and getting ready to hit the road! Keep checking in these next few days for new posts!
Here it is again! While we've been blogging during our training, you're going to start to notice some changes in the way we post. Here's a little primer to the blog as you'll see it over the next few days.
Daily Route Summaries: Early each day, we'll post a route summary that offers a short description of the route, sometimes a photo or two, highlights for that day, and the total projected distance.
Gabcasts: Usually once or twice a day, we'll post an audio message that can be played through our blog. This is a chance to actually hear our voices and get a little bit of a quick update from the road.
Text Message Posts: We will post A LOT of short messages from the road in the form of text messages or short emails. These will be SHORT and SWEET, but will help give you an idea of what we're up to on the ride.
Photos and Videos: We will try to take some photos and video and post them from the road. You won't see too many of these, but we usually take a few and upload them. It's a pretty safe bet you'll see one the morning of Day Four when we hoist our bikes over our heads atop THE EVIL TWINS at the HALFWAY TO L.A. POINT.
Now, here's some overview information about the Route:
One of the many things that makes AIDS/LifeCycle such a unique and special event is the scenic route that takes us through the heart of California. Stunning views, historic destinations, and even the chance to spot dolphins frolicking off the coast are followed by a hero's welcome in the City of Angels. Although the route has been largely the same since the very first AIDS/LifeCycle, there are typically some changes from year to year.
There are seven days of riding, and each day is different. We’ll ride an average of 80 miles a day, over varying terrain. One day, we’ll be riding a flat route along the coast or through artichoke and strawberry fields, the next we might be riding through fog banks and foothills. The course is designed to be challenging but completely doable.
The starting points and destinations for each day are as follows:
DAY ONE: San Francisco to Santa Cruz
DAY TWO: Santa Cruz to King City
DAY THREE: King City to Paso Robles
DAY FOUR: Paso Robles to Santa Maria
DAY FIVE: Santa Maria to Lompoc
DAY SIX: Lompoc to Ventura
DAY SEVEN: Ventura to Los Angeles
Today is DAY ZERO (yeah, we really call it that)! We're in Orientation today, squaring away some final business and getting ready to hit the road! Keep checking in these next few days for new posts!
Friday, June 4, 2010
Out in the Castro
We all went out in the Castro tonight - saw lots of good ALC friends from rides past and made some new ones. Tomorrow is Day Zero!
Golden Gate Bridge
I took a walk down to the Golden Gate Bridge this morning. It's a little foggy around the bridge, but still beautiful. And I had a nice walk along the beach.
Testing 1 2 3
I'm sitting here in new student orientation waiting to leave for san francisco and meet up with Dan, Tyler and Stephanie. Can't wait to get out there and hit the road! Anyways, just wanted to check in and see if my phone posting works. Ciao for now!
Elevation Profiles from AIDS LifeCycle 8
The route will probably be more or less the same this year. These are the elevation profiles from our route sheets. Look at some of those hills! You can click the image to zoom.
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