AIDS Life Cycle -- first time!

[Resumer]

First of all, I'm thrilled to have found this forum -- I've decided to do the SF to LA AIDS Life Cycle in June. Haven't been on a bike since the 80s (literally) and have been off my workout regimen for a few months. I'm interested in any advice about training, and preparing for the 7-day ride...

Bought a Trek Hybrid (love it!), had the saddle replaced to something a little kinder on the sitbones, have biking shorts and gloves..along with the requisite repair/safety gear. Plan to get a stationary trainer for the rainy weeks that will come in the next coupla months. I live in the wine country of Northern California so I'm fortunate to be in a place that a lot of people need to arrange to come to bike.

Any and all advice welcomed! I've been reading a lot about training and the main message I'm getting is "start slow and don't overdo it" -- good advice cuz I'm excited to get going and need to discipline myself right now -- and then to the opposite later on to make sure I log the miles/hours in the saddle that will be required.

OK..I'm quitting here...thanks in advance for any responses.

[velogirl]

Hi Resumer! Congratulations on deciding to ride in AIDS LifeCycle. You will hear this many times in the coming months -- it is an experience that will change your life if you let it.

I've done a bunch of AIDS Rides as have others on this board. I'm sure you'll get lots of great advice.

I would encourage you to participate in the organized training rides -- you'll find the calendar on the ALC website.

I would also encourage you to participate in the ALC forum -- you'll also find that on the ALC website.

And yes, take it slow and steady. And enjoy the experience!

Lorri
CAR7, CAR8, AAVR2, ALC2

[Trek420]

Welcome to TE.

There's lots of multi day tour experience here including ALC'ers and other charity rides. I've participated 5 times: crewed once (that's harder than riding), led training rides, rode ALC 3, 4, & 6.

I've learned a lot here and credit the TE gals wisdom with getting me up and over the ride.

You're in for a wonderful experience and thanks for riding.

Sounds like you're doing well. An indoor trainer, spin classes, ride to work and or errands, lets you stay on track with base miles through the rainy season.

On my ALC seasons I've thought of the Cinderella ride as a "test ride" for ALC. It's a relatively easy early metric that gave me a chance to see how my bike and body and doing. If you do that, and maybe a recovery ride the next day you will do well. Then keep going, add hills and harder workouts, find a red dress and you're there.

Surf on over to the "Getting to know you" thread when you have a chance.

[indigoiis]

Howdy,

What a great endeavor you are embarking upon!

My advice: keep a record of what you are doing - could be book material some day.

Also: enjoy every minute - or, better stated, find joy in what you are doing. Bicycling is truly a wonderful thing. Make it fun and you'll really have a good ride in June.

Indy

[Trek420]

.... need to discipline myself right now -- and then to the opposite later on to make sure I log the miles/hours in the saddle that will be required.

I was thinking, you're a returning rider, first time ALC don't forget to crosstrain. Think of hours training not just miles. Walk, swim, and especially anything that increases range of motion such as Yoga or Pillates (sp?) it all counts.

It's a loooong @ss ride and a lot of repetitive motion. You'll need your non cycling specific muscles almost as much as the bike specific muscles. And bike muscles need a break. Take rest days however when training I take a rest day as a workout but in something that helps my range of motion.

Packing tips here:
http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showthread.php?t=6233

Oh, and have fun!!

[Resumer]

I appreciate all of the encouragement...I can already tell I'm joining a community of awesome people..

Lorri: I checked out the ALC Forums as well...and note that you're an avid and helpful contributor there...I'll be on the lookout for more of your wisdom in the days ahead! Do you recommend any particular sources of info on preparing for the ride? I'm relying on the ALC website for now in terms of getting started...following the 5-week startup regimen and wonder if there are other sources you'd suggest I take a look at. Seems like since I'm in Healdsburg we'd have a good chance of ending up on a ride together at some point too..

Trek 420: The Cinderella Ride looks like a great goal to shoot for, training wise. I'm assuming one can join in without being a member of the valley club that sponsors it? (I'm a neophyte to the customs of the cycling world!)

BTW...I use an email sign off that is a variation of the quote you post!

“I awake in the morning,
torn between a desire to save the world,
and a desire to savor the world.
It makes it hard to plan the day.” - E.H. White


I can feel the life change happening already...this is gonna be a GREAT year!

[Trek420]

Trek 420: The Cinderella Ride looks like a great goal to shoot for, training wise. I'm assuming one can join in without being a member of the valley club that sponsors it? (I'm a neophyte to the customs of the cycling world!)

Sorry to keep throwing links to threads atcha but some of these are so information rich that it's the easiest way to get info out.

The Cinderella ride is limited to around 2,000 women riders and it fills fast and I do mean fast. So watch the board and this space:

http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showthread.php?t=20189

For information on registration. It's a fun ride and a good time, good chance for you to get comfortable with getting in and out of rest stops etc. Even if you don't ride come down and join us for dinner the night before.

[RoadRaven]

Welcome to the Forums, Resumer.

It is an awesome group here - I have learned so much since I joined in 2005 - and not all of it just about bikes (though seriously - what else is there? )

So welcome, and enjoy your stay with us

[ACG]

Congratulations and welcome! I registered to do my third Aids Ride on Christmas Day. It is my present to myself. All the advice you need is here on this site! Again Congratulations! You will love every mile of it!

[Trek420]

All the advice you need is here on this site!

This is sooooo true. The support on the ride is incredible, training rides are great and while cyclists in general are a helpful friendly bunch (with few exceptions) ALC riders are the best. This, the cause, their emphasis on safety, and the moto crew has kept be going back but ..... the ALC forum can be:

slow to respond to direct questions
hard to navigate
full of "is there anybody from outer Mongolia doing the ride?" (why not find a local Outer Mongolia ride club and ride with them?)
and sometimes downright catty and or drama filled.

Listen to your ride buddy, go on lots of training rides but for general bike questions before and long after the ride TE should be your board.

Long live TE

[Resumer]

OK...so I'm wearing the bike shorts -- grateful for the padding. Like everything else about getting started riding, I'm paying attention to where there is any friction or irritation. So far, I notice some on the right side, inner groin area.

Here's my question -- since what I understand is that it's seams that can create that (am I wrong?) it makes me curious about a few things -- like -- do you wear underwear or not with the bike shorts? That's an extra layer, and extra potential sources of irritation, particularly around the leg holes, right? Hard to imagine not wearing anything, but I'm checkin'

I've also been reading a bit about chamois butter...can someone help me understand what it does and what would suggest I should explore that at some point? I'm pretty tough, in general, so I'm not reaching out to eliminate any little ache or discomfort here, really just trying to learn about what I should be noticing, what is excessive, etc and what ways to play with the combination of what I wear and what could be adjusted (either the bike, or me!) to continually get to an optimal ride.

And on a totally absurd note...for all the ways that saddles affect our bodies, my thoughts have wandered to what the heck guys do with their package and how they must be totally affected by the ride?!!! Forgive my venture into these musings but a gal's got to wonder...

[Trek420]

Q# 1

do you wear underwear or not with the bike shorts? That's an extra layer, and extra potential sources of irritation, particularly around the leg holes, right? Hard to imagine not wearing anything, but I'm checkin'

Ride free! Go commando style

http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showthread.php?t=8518

Q#2) Now is the time to experiment with different brands of chamois butter and find what works for you. This is no time to tough it out.

What creates minor irritation on a training ride is ....
painful on a metric or longer ride which is ....
excruciating on a century and will ....
cause permanent or nearly permanent damage on back to back to back centuries.

Ask yourself after every ride "what hurts? what can I do about it?" Take care of the minor stuff before it becomes major and you'll have a great ride.

Q#3) Don't know and I don't care

[Resumer]

Thanks again Trek420...what a great thread to read...and I'm getting the hang of this site now (e.g. using the search function..duh!).

I LOVE THIS COMMUNITY!!

Call it a clan,
call it a network,
call it a tribe,
call it a family.
Whatever you call it,
whoever you are,
you need one.
~~Jane Howard

[teigyr]

Resumer, you will love the ride!!! I did CAR7. I didn't train quite as I should but they'll get you through it. The volunteers were incredible. As a cyclist, all you do is wake up, eat, ride, eat, ride more, eat more, finish, shower, eat, go to sleep. If you need help with your tent, there are plenty of people to help you.

I never used chamois butter before that ride but the rest stops were stocked with "butt balm". I have very amusing pictures of the various ways they'd present it I have nothing but fantastic memories of it.

I am SO excited for you!

[sarahoc]

First of all, I'm thrilled to have found this forum -- I've decided to do the SF to LA AIDS Life Cycle in June. Haven't been on a bike since the 80s (literally) and have been off my workout regimen for a few months. I'm interested in any advice about training, and preparing for the 7-day ride...

Bought a Trek Hybrid (love it!), had the saddle replaced to something a little kinder on the sitbones, have biking shorts and gloves..along with the requisite repair/safety gear. Plan to get a stationary trainer for the rainy weeks that will come in the next coupla months. I live in the wine country of Northern California so I'm fortunate to be in a place that a lot of people need to arrange to come to bike.

Any and all advice welcomed! I've been reading a lot about training and the main message I'm getting is "start slow and don't overdo it" -- good advice cuz I'm excited to get going and need to discipline myself right now -- and then to the opposite later on to make sure I log the miles/hours in the saddle that will be required.

OK..I'm quitting here...thanks in advance for any responses.

Hey!!!

I registered for the AIDS/Lifecycle Ride too. I'm so excited about it. I haven't been on a bike in years either.....yikes.

Thank goodness I found this place.



Rider # 1812