oh I am so sad!

[Trek420]

He was told when it was way to late. Now a days if you find out early you can live for years and years on proper meds. But he didn't know in time to save himself.

We don't really know. In the early days of the pandemic a diagnosis was a death sentence. People went from young and vibrant health rapidly downhill. Now with early diagnosis and perhaps more important acceptance and not denial of the disease, combined with access to advance treatment options (not always available in all communities) people are living longer.

But the risks and side effects of the drugs are not known. There is no cure and one has to manage this for the rest of ones life.

I remember on ALC 4 getting to the top of the Evil Twins (two tough climbs) and pulling out a water bottle to casually take a swig which disguises the fact I can barely catch my breath. A ridercaught up, one of our Pos Peds (HIV+ riders) and I hear beeping. I'm thinking his HRM.

But it's a timer for his meds. He stops, swallows a pill, takes some water. Sort of put a perspective on it for me.

This is something he must do at regularly timed intervals on the dot every day or the virus replicates. Not everyone has the organizational skills to do. It takes access to health care (don't get me started on that) and very determined, organized, attentive patient.

I got the opportunity to tour Childrens Hospital HIV ward. We did not meet the kids to protect their privacy but talked to the doctors. When you couple the chalenges adults have fighting this disease imagine a kid? Inner city kid or homeless? Without access to refrigeration?

The good news is with kids for some reason if it's caught early, managed, if we can get them through adolescence often the virus is gone for some reason. Not true with adults.

And if pedalling the AIDS ride doesn't appeal, there is also crewing the ride. I intend to crew in the Sports Medicine gang.

Riding is easier Roadies rock (as do all volunteer crew at cycling events). But that is one thing that kept me coming back, the support on this ride is incredible.

Where is this ride. And I am a hybrid bike not a road bike.Well my bike is mountain and raod. It has slicks on it right now. But I do have a friend who has a road bike she is not riding right now. I could borrow her's.

You'd be in good company. While a road bike with a triple is recomended many do the ride on mountain bikes or even hybrids with slicks. Most important that the bike fit you. It's a looooooooog ride.