Day Two Rest Stop Two

Cell service sucked. I'll post yesterday's pics later. In the meanwhile: woof!!

Day Two Otter Pops

Who knew otter pops could be so hot!!

Day Two, Rest Stop Three

All about meeting old friends. Dear Dustin Finkle.

Day Two, Rest Stop Twp

These guys take rest stops seriously. Roadies rock. Thank you for volunteering.

Day Two Awake

It's at least 10 degrees warmer this at 4;00 am than it was last year at 4.

Day One, Portapotties

Believe it or not, you get used to Portapotties. They are very clean on the ride. If you search #alc2013 you'll find lots of friend shots in front of Portapotties.

Day One, Rest Stop One

Typical rest stop. Beautiful Sunday morning.

Day One, getting ready

Filling up tires. Ready to ride.

Day One, Good Morning

Way too excited to sleep. Probably going to be the case for 6 more days. In our way to the Cow Palace.

Day 0, Five

So many hot guys on ALC. NOT-yet-started edition.

Day 0, Four

Waiting in like to register.

Day 0, Three

In line for safety speech.

Day 0. Two

It's a beautiful day in San Francisco.

Day 0

Getting ready to go Orientation Day. Feeling nervous and excited. Wearing my TRL reward t-shirt. I'm going to try to make at least one blog entry every day and tweet it. So stay tuned!

Hail to the Chief

Rounding out this training season's blog posts with a shout out to all this year's awesome Training Ride Leaders in words and photos from this year!

Being an AIDS/LifeCycle TRL has been one of the most rewarding things I've ever done.
Thanks, Jon and Matthew. This training season has been a joy because of you both. (Click images for a slide show.)

Training ride leaders are volunteers who give up their time for the ride, training, planning and practicing routes, preparing route sheets, answering questions, and leading you on the official training rides. It's no small commitment — Davey calls it my second full time job. So, thank you to all the TRLs without whose efforts this ride wouldn't be the success it is going to be!

Thanks to my friends in the South Bay: David, Ken, Bob, and Terri!

After you completed your first ALC and complete a training course, you can become a TRL. If you feel comfortable on and with your bike, with riding long distances, and can give up at least two weekend days per month, ask a TRL or contact your cycling rep for more information.

I'd like to make a personal thank you to the TRLs who have guided me on my journey during AIDS/LifeCycle 11 and 12:

• Joseph Collins 

• Buz Miller 

• Connie Sanchez 

• Scott Jordan 

• Samantha Wallace

• Jon Walker 

• Matthew Bokach 

• David Gaus 

• Terri Meier 

• Bob McDarmid 

• Charles Fong 

• Julie Brown 

Your advice and support has gotten me through so much. Thank you.

Thanks to Charles Fong for driving all the way to Sacramento to
rescue us from canceling a training ride!

Even though he wasn't a TRL, I'd like to give special thanks to Stephen Hatcher for all the support he gave to Team Sacramento last year.

Looking forward to training for the AIDS/LifeCycle 13 next year!

Love,

your Bear

Charles Fong, the Great!

Matthew and Jon enjoying a well-deserved libation and sporting ALC garb!

Jon and me.

Thanks for joining us all those months ago, Terri! It seems like another lifetime!

New friends on the ALC in Fairfax.

May is Bike Month

My new tattoo! Unaffiliated with MiBM.

I just wanted to give a plug to a local organization doing good by promoting cycling in the Sacramento region: May is Bike Month. (Like the page on Facebook.) The promoters say:

May is Bike Month is a campaign that takes place in the six-county Sacramento Region each year.  The focus of our campaign is to promote bicycle use as a mode of transportation whether for running errands, commuting, riding recreationally, or working.  We encourage people to get out of their cars and on their bikes year-round, but we make it a big deal every May so that as more people become energized and comfortable on their bicycles they will be more likely to replace a car trip with a bicycle trip year round.  Fewer cars on the road improves air quality and reduce traffic congestion; and as more bike trips replace car trips, we expect to see a greater demand for investment in bicycling infrastructure and facilities.  

Cyclists register for the month-long event, log miles ridden each day, and join teams (workplace related or otherwise) to compete for honors. Cyclists are awarded with regular badges (riding one day, riding in the rain, riding in the wind, riding more than 100 miles, riding all week, and the like) and with actual prizes:

Weekly Prizes:

• 25 cyclists will win May is Bike Month socks.
• Twenty-five $20 gift certificates to a bike shop. (The Transportation Management Organization in your area will contact you about bike shop selection).

Grand Prizes:

Cyclists that log miles (commute, errand, recreation) all 5 weeks are entered to win.

• 2 cyclists will be randomly selected to win a 3 day bike vacation on Sept 6-8 2013, on the Emigrant Trails Bike Trek in Emigrant Trails Bike Trek in South Lake Tahoe, valued at $450, sponsored by Breathe California of Sacramento. For more info, see www.sacbreathe.org/trek
• 2 cyclists will be randomly selected to win $100 gift certificates to area bike shops
• 100 cyclists will be randomly selected to win May is Bike Month socks.

Two years ago, I won a pair of socks!

So, if you ride in the area, its not too late to register, help the environment, and win! If you live elsewhere, this is a program to emulate.

Love, 

Your Bear

Preparing for the AIDS LifeCycle

I need your support!!

Riding in the AIDS LifeCycle is something I've wanted to do for many years — since I first moved to San Francisco in 1991 — over 20 years ago. 2012 is the year I'll be riding. Seven days, 600 miles. Its going to take quite a bit of time, training, and dedication. I think I'm ready for it; I've been riding nearly every weekend for six months, and riding a minimum of 70 miles a week and and average of 100 miles a week since then.

I've committed to raising $5,000 by June 2012, and I'm asking for your support. To donate, click the "Donate" link, or go to my ALC page. Fundraising is scary part. But I know that you guys are as committed to ending AIDS as I am. Your donation here will help in that effort; and I'll post about where your money is going to go.

This blog is about my efforts, and the efforts of the other riders in training, preparing for, and finally riding. I'm hoping to post lots of pics and resources for riders and benefactors alike. So, keep up to date on your investment by reading my posts here.

If you're riding, let me know, and I'll add you to my blogroll.

And please comment! I need all the support I can get!