AIDS/LifeCycle (ALC) 10

[EvaToad]

I was surprised not to see any ALC threads here yet, so I thought I'd start one.

This will be my first AIDS/LifeCycle, so I figure the 10th Anniversary is a great time to start. Actually, this will be -- by far -- my longest ride ever. I completed my very first century last August, so it's a bit of a leap to a 7-day, 545 mile ride. Go big or go home, right?

I'm still struggling with a few things: getting in shape (training is one thing, but I'd also love to lose 25+ pounds between now and June); fundraising; and general confidence that, insanity or no, I will actually be able to complete this ride. As a relative newbie to road cycling, I'm looking to make the transition to clipless pedals sometime in the next month so I have plenty of time to get used to them.

Any ALC veterans out there... advice? Anyone else signed up to ride this year?

Eva
(www.tofighthiv.org/goto/egr)

[Trek420]

Welcome to TE. I'm a vet CAR4, also 4 ALC's. My sister and niece are veterans of the long ride. You'll find lots of "epic ride" experience and support here.

Thanks for riding and welcome to TE

http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showthread.php?t=27013

[uk elephant]

Welcome and best of luck to you! I've done the ride twice, and those two times are the only two times in my life I've done a century ride so you are well ahead of me already. Enjoy the training and more importantly, enjoy the ride. It's a fantastic experience! I'd love to do it again, but won't be this year. Any specific issues, just ask!

[EvaToad]

Thanks, y'all!

I'm very excited and very nervous. I keep going back and forth between feeling confident that I'll be able to do the whole thing and certain that I won't be able to hack it. Then again, that's exactly how I felt about the century last summer and I made it in the end (perhaps the last one to ride across the finish, but I rode all 100 of those miles).

I do have one, somewhat trivial question. The packing lists and various info keep telling us there won't be a way to recharge things like cell phones at camp. Is that actually true? I'd really love to take my iphone so I can at least update friends and family (and donors!) along the ride. If there really won't be a way to recharge, I'm considering getting a solar charger.

And now, back to the indoor trainer while we wait out some surprise snow showers here in Portland...

[Trek420]

There are no trivial questions. Ask away. Lots of trouring experience here, not just ALC.

*Keeping in touch in camp. There are the "top secret charging areas" but bring the solar charger, other riders and crew will thank you. Or consider blogging after the ride.

*The ride will go live on the web from Day 0. Your friends/family/sponsors can watch for pictures of you. They really get a feel for the ride and can send a message to you that will be in camp. You can't reply to those messages but I found they really kept me going.

*What to bring or leave home: more details to follow and I'm sure many will chime in.

[Duck on Wheels]

You go girl!!!! You're going to have such an exciting week on that ride Gorgeous scenery, exhilerating (did I spell that right? doesn't look quite right) climbs and downhills, the compelling rhythms of wheel whirr and "on your left", the good food, the evening programs, meeting new friends in camp. It was really a great week. I didn't do every mile, far from it, but I did my longest ride ever so far on Day 1 (83 miles, I think that was) and thereafter about half of the remainder, getting up and down all the major hills before my left knee called an end to each day. Didn't really matter that I didn't do every mile, though I'd have loved to do more of them. Anyhoo ... don't let that worry you. You, who've already done a century, are gonna do fine! NOW ... as for recharging. 'Tis true. No recharge access in camp. Some people head out to a café or something (not always very near camp, tho) and sneek a plug into the wall while they sip a coffee or a beer. I went the solar route. I set it up outside the tent to catch some morning rays, and attached it to my helmet to fill up while riding (looked silly, but that was pretty normal for the ride ) It wasn't as effective as I'd hoped, but I managed to keep my cell phone up and running all week. And did we charge up yours as well, UK?