ALC 5 has started!

[bikerz]

I just got back from seeing the ALC riders off in SF - a glorious morning - warm and sunny. Everyone was saying it was the warmest Day One ever.

I saw Shadon and Eliza (CindySue's friend from Lunachix), and a bunch of other friends of mine who are riding - including my hill-climbing-riding-buddy Nicole (who some of you met on last week's Mt. Diablo ride). It was so great to watch 1840 riders heading out of town in a big group - all wearing red helmet covers that said "Not another 25 years".

Of course they all come out of the Cow Palace and have to go immediately up a hill :eek: but they all looked strong, excited and raring to go!

Here's wishing them all a safe and fun ride - Go riders!

[Trek420]

the route today was 79.8 miles. .

Hope they had a great and safe ride.

Just got a voicemail from my friend ride John Hronowski rider 1334, head of my company team.

He'll be sending me updates throughout the week, I'll share them with you.

He says the ride started pretty cold. They head out through the city on Hwy 35, ride by lake Merced, then climb on Hwy 35 though San Mateo Couny.

He says that in his 8 previous rides he has never seen as much traffic on the climb up 92.

It was very busy due to Hwy 1 being closed once again for repair to Devils Slide, more trucks and cars than he has ever seen in his 8 previous AIDS rides.

TE gals the thought of that climb more than anything kept me from registering for years. It's a long hard climb with no shoulder and lots of traffic. Once you get going you really can't either pull over ... or pass but oh the view of the ocean from the top and the downhill into Half Moon Bay.

Best you can do is hope the person in front of you has a nice pace and just keep plugging along.

John says it didn't really warm up till around Pigeon Pt.. then the rest of the day is along Hwy 1 into Santa Cruz. He says they had tailwinds into Santa Cruz so I hope our TE gals enjoyed that.

Tomorrows ride is 102 miles from Santa Cruz to King City. The ride heads inland after Moss Beach. Day 2's route is relatively flat, with one very long hill at the end. But in Californias farmland the headwinds can be huge also lots of dust.

At times it feels like riding sideways.

But the food may make up for what Day 2 puts you through. Our gals will enjoy the unofficial stop for fried (or steamed) artichokes and at some point on the route the cookie lady may appear.

[velogirl]

I had a mtn bike race in Monterey this morning, followed by a road ride in Pescadero this afternoon, so I drove north on Highway 1. As soon as I saw the first riders in Santa Cruz, the tears started welling in my eyes (yes, I'm an emotional sap). The entire drive between Santa Cruz and Pescadero was a constant stream of riders. After four AIDS Rides, I said I wouldn't do another one, but I had a little urge to ride with them today.

Saw Julie Brown, Shelley Ross, all the P.I.G.s, and lots of the usual characters. Oh, and Team Tall Bike is too cool!

ps -- Dita, every year I've done the ride, Day 2 is the fastest day of the week (even though it's the longest). Since it's flat with primarily tailwinds for the first 70 miles (and that crazy blow-you-off-the-bike crosswind for the last 30), it can be a super-fast day. I sure don't remember any headwinds. I do, however, remember it taking forever to get out of Santa Cruz with the morning traffic.

[snapdragen]

Trek and I both worked Day 0 at Tent Registration- my knees are killing me today. I'm not built to spend 8+ hours on my feet.

I wish I had pictures of the faces! I'd ask if this was their first ride - the newbies would have a terrified smile on their face. Furiously shaking their heads up and down saying yes. And intense listening when I explain all the little chips and what they're for. I'd finish, and they'd say "wait! The blue one is for my tent?" No, that's for your duffel, the little orange on the short chain is for your tent. "oooookay....." So cute.

And the veterans are so cool, especially the Positive Peddlers. You figure most of these guys didn't expect to be around 25 years after the firsts AIDS diagnosis. But here they are, and they're riding their fricking bikes to LA! One fellow I talked to is on his 11th ride, including one in Alaska.

velogirl - I get all teary when I see the riders too.

[Brandy]

Thanks for the reports...I would love to do this ride next year but the fear of not making the fundraising goal is really what is holding me back from registering.

[Trek420]

velogirl "After four AIDS Rides, I said I wouldn't do another one, but I had a little urge to ride with them today."

well, there's always next year ;)

"Oh, and Team Tall Bike is too cool!"

team tall bike? are they like....tall? :confused:

about a mile before camp in Santa Cruz there is this coffee shop that offers free coffee to all the riders. So much for the diuretic effect, I remember being tired enough to take advantage to make that last bit in.

Funny thing though was from day 3 just felt stronger. I think day 7 felt like the fastest I've ever done a metric +. Could have been adrenalyn....or not wanting to miss my flight home.

[bikerz]

Hey Velogirl - I know the Team PIG gals too - I saw 4 of them this morning - dressed in pink and ready to ride! And the tall bikes today were a kick - I wish I were a quicker draw with my camera!

It's always so emotional watching them ride out. This is my 4th time watching a send off - I love the energy and the emotion.

[Brandy]

Do they ride the 101 through Goleta? I see that they ride from Lompoc to Ventura on Friday and we'll be camping at El Capitan State Beach this week. I would love to see them ride by!!!!

[bikerz]

If the route is like previous years, they do ride through SB and Goleta. I've met them at both a park in central SB and an elementary school off Foothill north of Mission. They might have turned inland off 101 by the time they get to El Capitan.

Trek420 - do you have more up-to-date info?

[Trek420]

unfortunately not here. I have the route sheets from last years ride at work. Also think it's on the website. Though it can change a bit it's likely similar.

[aka_kim]

Will we be getting a daily news feed?

BikerZ - do you have Nicole's rider number?

[Brandy]

I found some old route sheets online and it looks like they exit the 101 at El Cap and then get right back on. The kids and I will have to walk up there and cheer them on when they ride by on Friday.

[bikerz]

Hey Kim - yes, Nicole's rider numbr is 2122. (http://www.aidslifecycle.org/2122)

For kicks, here a picture I took of her yesterday, 2 minutes into the ride::

941

The pictures from Day One are already on the ALG site - you can see some of the tall bikes there.
http://aidslifecycle.typepad.com/photos/day_one/index.html

And anyone who wants to post a message for any rider can go here: http://experience.aidslifecycle.org/2006/support/

[Trek420]

aka_kim "Will we be getting a daily news feed?"

I have ACG's cell phone number and she has mine. But due the fact you can't always recharge your cell in camp I'll lay off calling her.

Last year we had a "news feed" to TE maintained by intrepid reporter Spazzdog who I would call then she posted to TE.

I'll share John Hronowskis voicemails with you each day as I get 'em :D Eeek, there's a man on the board :eek:

You can send a message to an individual rider or crew member or all of 'em from the link provided by bikerz. Just need the persons name and or number (hint, our TE gals are in my footer)

how do they get on and off of these bikes???

http://aidslifecycle.typepad.com/photos/day_two/h2.html

Quick edit. I still haven't got an update from John about day 2 which does concern me. I've sponsored him for 9 years and he does (through one call using group voicemail) an update each day like clockwork.

Of course he could be having just too much fun, or out of cell phone network....

[bikerz]

Quick report from Nicole: she got to camp in Santa Cruz at 4:00 pm - it was very hot, but her ride went well. Her tentmate (another friend of ours who is super-fast) got in at 1:00 pm and had the tent set up and all Nicole's stuff there already.

[Trek420]

John got into King City at about 6:30. His excuse for the later arrival was a good one. He got a bit dirty and greasy helping a rider. She had a bad case of chain-suck.

He says that yesterdays ride started cold & foggy along the coast, sun didn't come out till Marina. The riders zig zag through farm roads, artichokes, broccoli, strawberry fields forever.... He stopped for steamed artichokes (good choice John, fried is great but not so good on the tummy).

He said the last 10 miles into camp were especially good. I've always caught a tailwind there on those rollers and he caught a good one. 8-)

Nicole says the Cookie Lady was out right after the bridge over the ....what's the river some riders skinny dip at?

Today the ride is from King City to Paso Robles. Johns team will have an Ice Cream social near camp. Wonder how many root beer floats he will have worked off?

[bikerz]

Nicole called last night - she completed day 2 (107 miles!) in 7.5 hours - woo-hoo! Caught a couple of tailwinds going up hill, she said - that's gotta be nice! But plenty of cross-wind too, and it was hot! She's having a great ride so far.

I think she rode with TE-er Shadon's "Team Dino" yesterday for a while - judging from the descriptions - she said they were a great bunch, and she got an honorary "dino" name. Small world!

[Trek420]

Todays ride was from King City to Paso Robles. 77.2 miles and includes Quadbuster.

The first few miles out of King City are extremely bumpy, bring a spare FS mountain bike just for those few miles. JK.

John was delayed out of camp because he debated stayed while a friend worked out knee problems then went. Such a great guy.

The little town of Bradley holds a fundraiser for their kids each year (ride through towns where these are the most people they see all year). It was 95 degrees in the shade so riders tried to find spots to eat in the shade.

The route also stops at Mission San Miguel. The priest there puts (pardon me I'm Jewish and not sure of these things) cloth on the altar, riders sign and dedicate their ride. This is used at Mass later in the week.

http://aidslifecycle.typepad.com/photos/day_two/j1.html

Even with the late start and long lunch at Bradley to cool down John arrived in time for his tradition....root beer float at 21'st st drive in

tomorrow, Paso Robles to Santa Maria. John says he's sunburnt but not dehydrated.

I got a call from ACG and she gave me her tent address, so I sent a message through the online "send a message to a rider" to liksani and Shadon. Hopefully those 3 will meet up.

And anyone who wants to post a message for any rider can go here: http://experience.aidslifecycle.org/2006/support/

If you're checking the pictures of the ride today...think pink!! The Velogirls are riding out in their jerseys today, watch for them.

[SadieKate]

Dita? BZ? Anyone who talks to the gals, wish them the best from me. OK?

Thanks for the news feed.

[bikerz]

Absolutely I will, SK!

The riders love to get those email support messages too (I know Nicole checks every night!)
http://experience.aidslifecycle.org/2006/support/

[petals]

Many thanks for the pictures!!! It looks like an awesome event!

[Trek420]

Just heard from John, todays route was from Paso Robles to Santa Maria up over Hwy 46 with a wonderful hill aka Evil Twins.

At the top of the hill is the half-way to LA sign where he stopped to have a photo taken, then a long screaming downhill to Hwy 1. I hope Shadon enjoyed that :)

The sun came out today, it's warmer. From rest stop 4 at Guadalupe they had tail winds into camp. He made it into camp at about 5.

[Trek420]

Just got a call from John, todays ride was only 43.5 miles from Lompoc to Santa Maria. It is also red dress day so I hope our TE gals are wearing their finest frocks.

Though short the ride includes 3 long climbs, the one to and through Vandenberg AFB is especially challenging, then more rolling hills on 1. John says he had a problem in his tendon, stopped at Sports Medicine at rest stop 1 and was afraid they'd pull him from the ride. Instead they gave him some stretches and Bio Freeze and it worked, he's rolling on like new.

Tomorrow our intrepid gals go on to Ventura, the distance should be close to a Century again. It's one of the nicest routes, starts out with a 20 mile climb then you see the coast again! The rest of the route should be rollers, some steep. They'll pass through Santa Barabara and the Paradise Rest Stop.

This is a stop put on by some past riders with NO HEALTHY STUFF AT ALL. No Cliff bars, no gatorade, there will be gourmet ice cream, hot dogs and hamburgers...

The photo's a little back lit but your intrepid reporter is in the middle, left to right that's Trek, John Hronowski, and Jack on Day 0 last year.

[Trek420]

http://aidslifecycle.typepad.com/photos/day_four/b1.html