Riding to LA in 2006...

[bikerz]

Well, I signed up this morning for the 2006 AIDS Lifecyle 5 - San Francisco to LA!

OMG - I only have 290 days to train!!

I also signed up for the Oct 9 Bike Against the Odds in Oakland. That will be my first organized ride...

Thanks to everyone on this board for helping me feel like I can do this!

(And Shadon - thanks for giving me the nudge to sign up now!)

[ACG]

Hey!! I signed up yesterday. Woohoo!

[bikerz]

Great! Have you done it before?

Hey - I wonder when we get our numbers? I was thinking of starting the fundraising now, so my sponsors can contribute in both the 2005 and 2006 tax years!

[ACG]

Never, but I NEED to do this. It is sort of a mental thing for me. And to me the best part of it is that I can raise money for a good cause while I'm 'being mental'. Call it multi-tasking! I have a sign posted in my office! So now I've committed to this rain or shine!

[Trek420]

bikerz and ACG, you're in for a great trip and thanks for riding for this cause. In a way I envy you, this year was my second time rideing and third time participating (crewed in '97 which I think is harder than rideing) but I really think I'm going to take a break this year. I'm thinking about being a training ride leader though.

We've got lots of experienced ALC riders so feel free to pick our brains. Bikerz you're ahead o' the pack in training, you're off to a great start. From what I've seen just keep doing whatever it is you're doing, focus on building base miles and whatever Bikegoddess sez.

"I wonder when we get our numbers? I was thinking of starting the fundraising now, so my sponsors can contribute in both the 2005 and 2006 tax years!"

Usually around late Sept early October.

You could ask sponsors to contribute checks now, just let them know they would not be submitted till you get a number.

[Trek420]

bikerz sez "OMG - I only have 290 days to train!!"

and shop!!!! Forget the training, 290 shopping days!

Bikerz, when's the house party?

[bikerz]

Forget the training, 290 shopping days!
Bikerz, when's the house party?

Ha! Gotta get that house party on the schedule! Maybe in the fall when it's not so cold and foggy! I'm priming my "donor pool" already - sent out a fundraising email today for the Bike Against the Odds...

And the shopping - yeah - I need to have 7 cycling outfits, right? Well, let's see, with the AV jersey, I'll have, um, 3! Uh oh! And what about a new bike... and the new saddle is in the mail now... and... and...

Woah - better get back to work and start earning that money!

[Trek420]

bikerz "Ha! Gotta get that house party on the schedule! Maybe in the fall when it's not so cold and foggy!"

most people make their pledge goal with that one event.

"I'm priming my "donor pool" already - sent out a fundraising email today for the Bike Against the Odds..."

good, are you riding with the Velogirls? See you there then.

"And the shopping - yeah - I need to have 7 cycling outfits, right?"

I reccomend it, you'll have better things to do in camp than laundry...rest, get ready for the talent show....

"Well, let's see, with the AV jersey, I'll have, um, 3! Uh oh!"

Don't forget your red dress ;-)

"And what about a new bike..."

New bike?

"Woah - better get back to work and start earning that money! "

yeah, I think so

[cindysue]

I will either do a U.S. tour next June/July or the ALC. Haven't totally decided on the US Tour. Would hate to do it alone: 6-8 weeks on the road.....

I did a tour to Santa Barbara this past June, so feel up to the ALC if that's what I end up doing. Should be fun training for it if we all sign up.........

P.S. Lunachix are hosting training rides for the Bike Against the Odds event. The BCF has sent out an email about it and should include it in the orientation packet. Hope to see you at the training rides - we'll tackle each route for the five weeks leading up to the event including the 6000ft of climbing.

RSVP at the website for a free waterbottle! www.lunachix.net/bao

[bikerz]

Don't forget your red dress ;-)

Oh, I think it's safe to say I have NEVER worn a red dress! In fact, I'm not sure I can remember when I last wore a dress of any color!

Lunachix are hosting training rides for the Bike Against the Odds event. The BCF has sent out an email about it and should include it in the orientation packet. Hope to see you at the training rides - we'll tackle each route for the five weeks leading up to the event including the 6000ft of climbing.

Thanks for the reminder - I'll see you on at least the 30 mile training ride (I think I'll do the 30 mile route on the day itself).

[shadon]

Well, I signed up this morning for the 2006 AIDS Lifecyle 5 - San Francisco to LA!

Thanks to everyone on this board for helping me feel like I can do this!

(And Shadon - thanks for giving me the nudge to sign up now!)

I did??? wow!

[bikerz]

I did??? wow!

yes you did! I saw your post and I thought - well, Ann, what are you waiting for? Since I need as long a training period as possible, I may as well make it official!

Let me know if you'd like to get together and ride sometime. I have already started doing some of the ALC training rides (in pieces) with a friend of mine who has done the ALC a bunch of times, so she knows the routes. I find it helpful to see what those rides are like, before the training season offcially begins! I am going to be training for the Bike Agaist the Odds ride in September and October - lots of East Bay hills!

[Wendy]

Is anyone from outside of California doing this? I'm seriously considering it. I know there's an AIDS ride in New York, but I can't imagine it compares.

[shadon]

I keep having little anxiety attacks about riding outside my comfort zone (Golden Gate Park and the Presidio). I gotta get over that. Have you ridden over the Golden Gate Bridge yet? I keep saying I'm gonna try that. Maybe this weekend.

I can do this!

[Trek420]

Wendy asks "Is anyone from outside of California doing this? I'm seriously considering it. I know there's an AIDS ride in New York, but I can't imagine it compares."

Wendy there are AIDS rides all over they range from one day centuries to 7 day monsters.

The California ride is the oldest but it's all good, all helps the same cause.

Right now we have a TE gal on the New York AIDS ride, that's

www.empirestateaidsride.org

I think she gets into NYC this weekend, let's wish her a safe ride. Can't wait to hear how it went, kicking myself that we didn't arrange to get reports from the ride but oh well.