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 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.

[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.

[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?

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.