AIDS Life Cycle -- first time!

[Trek420]

Thanks for all the tips.

You're welcome. Although I trained a lot for ALC I can't say it enough that I would not have been able to do the ride without what I learned here. TE rocks

I'm a little freaked out about it and there are not a lot of downhills to practice on where I live.

I'd say if you can't practice descending, practice cornering. That's where I think people flip out Newer or flatland cyclists feel ok on descents as long as you're just going straight downhill. Then there's a turn and OMG I'm turning AND descending whadoido? whadoido? crash

I feel MORE confident descending while turning because the inside leg being down kinda weights you, I feel more connected to the road and the universe blah blah

Even a slight hill, freeway overpass can be practice. I'd get out and do hill repeats which are also ..... drum roll .... descending repeats. You'll do fine come June.

And (insert evil grin) you'll get lots of practice starting right away on day 1

Can you go downhill slow...that sounds like a contradiction...

I've learned here that it's important to ride your ride, don't go faster than you can safely go. There are lots of ways to feather off some speed; feathering the brakes (don't slam them), sit up, drag-race parachute on the back of your jacket

What is the downhill like on the first day after the climb? I've heard the climb is a long one.

Yep We start and end at sea level, climb up .... fly down.

It's funny but I've always told sponsors who don't ride and want to understand what it's like "it's like skiing to LA, in traffic, on pavement, with 2500 others".

Day 1 there's a descent right before rest stop 2 that riders have let get away from them (too fast) and there have been crashes. Fortunately that route's on Velogirls rides so I was very familiar with it. And right before the lunch stop is an area that's steep, winding and on the coastal highway.

Last year was my 3rd ride but I did badly ... from a cycling standpoint. I was and still am dealing with an injury and I sagged each day. I regret that, and felt something of a failure. Till my niece UK Eliphant on TE said "you've done the ride twice so you've had the experience of completing it, and you are older now after all " Sounds like a challenge to me

You could ask her what day 1 was like last year, I believe you'll be doing the same route this year. That climbs a b*tch. Just kick it in a low gear and keep pedaling.

Have a great time and thanks for riding