AIDS Life Cycle -- first time!

[Trek420]

You do a surprising amount of walking on ALC. Camp is big and there can be a hike from bike parking to the luggage area where your sneakers are. and then back again in the morning.

Rest and lunch stops are pretty big too. I've used MTB style shoes for this reason. Some of them are almost as stiff as road shoes, just a bit more room in the toe. But use what you feel more comfortable in.

[velogirl]

Just out of curiosity, do people like road bike shoes or mountain bike shoes on the ALC ride? I've heard mountain bike shoes are a little easier to walk around in.


Thanks for all the advice

I personally recommend a good mountain bike shoe for multi-day tours like ALC (and for the training that leads up to the event). You will walk a lot. And not only will you destroy road shoes, but you'll find it's easier to walk (ie the recessed cleat will not affect your posture when walking).

Most shoe manufacturers make identical road and mtn shoes -- built on the same last but with different soles.

[Trek420]

(and for the training that leads up to the event).

What she said. Train in what you'll ride in, ride in what you trained in. We want to hear the test drive reports and how your training's going.

[MM_QFC!]

I personally recommend a good mountain bike shoe for multi-day tours like ALC (and for the training that leads up to the event). You will walk a lot. And not only will you destroy road shoes, but you'll find it's easier to walk (ie the recessed cleat will not affect your posture when walking).

Most shoe manufacturers make identical road and mtn shoes -- built on the same last but with different soles.

I agree, as I always say: I like to be able to comfortably walk into the bakeries and bars, pre/post rides!

[Trek420]

I agree, as I always say: I like to be able to comfortably walk into the bakeries and bars, pre/post rides!

And up hills. All self-propelled forward motion counts

[carolp]

I've been off this list for a while, but I'm also an ALC rider. this will be my second ride. I'm a stoker on a tandem. I also post to the alc discussion forum. Before the ride last year I hadn't ridden in ages, and I also had a knee replacement. I was training mostly as knee rehab, but now the ride and everything that goes with it is such a part of my life. I have met the best people I know through ALC and I'm proud to raise money for such a great cause.
Carol
rider 1282

And I also blog --- www.ridingtoeat.blogspot.com

[melissam]

I'm doing the ALC ride this year too! It'll be my first time, and I'm rarin' to go.

I'm keeping a blog on my AIDS/Lifecycle homepage and trying to update it fairly consistently: http://www.aidslifecycle.org/6752

Who else from TE is doing the ALC this year? Let's see, so far we have:

resumer
carolp
sarahoc (did you decide on a bike?)
ACG

Velogirl, are you riding in the ALC this year?

Anyone else participating as a cyclist or roadie?

- Melissa

[sarahoc]

I was wondering how all the AIDS/Lifecycle girls are doing?

I ended up with a Specialized Ruby Elite....its pretty and I love it.


I will have a lot of free time to train between now and June so I'm excited....I'm totally new to all this.


Getting back on a raod bike after not riding for years....It comes back pretty fast. Clipless pedals have been my biggest obstacle so far.

[Trek420]

I ended up with a Specialized Ruby Elite....its pretty and I love it.

Well that is of course the most important, that it look good

Good choice!

How's everyones training and fundraising going? Have you found that perfect red dress? Mel are you going for a replica of the party dress?

It'd be great if we can get a group shot, ride reports (I know that's hard during the long ride) or you gals could tent together. Well not all of you in one tent, nearby or sumthin'.

I'm missin' the ride the excitement, the community, the route, the views... but can't join you this year. Have fun and thanks for riding!

[sarahoc]

Well that is of course the most important, that it look good

Good choice!

How's everyones training and fundraising going? Have you found that perfect red dress? Mel are you going for a replica of the party dress?

It'd be great if we can get a group shot, ride reports (I know that's hard during the long ride) or you gals could tent together. Well not all of you in one tent, nearby or sumthin'.

I'm missin' the ride the excitement, the community, the route, the views... but can't join you this year. Have fun and thanks for riding!

My fundraising is going good. I've almost raised $5,000.00. I have some red dress day ideas in mind.

As long as I can get more and more confident on my bike, I'll be fine. I feel wobbly at times.

I had it fitted for me...that was great and a lesson riding clipless pedals where I fell over.


Do any of you put the extra brakes on the top of the bars for an extra option for your hands on such a long ride?

[Trek420]

Do any of you put the extra brakes on the top of the bars for an extra option for your hands on such a long ride?

I don't. Sometimes called "stoppers" the extra brake levers are not so much for hand positions but to give you access to the brakes from the flat of the bar.

On my road bike my hands are usually on top of the hoods. I feel comfortable from there stopping the bike with the first two fingers on the levers in most conditions.

When climbing my hands are usually on the bar. I don't know if that's right but I feel as if my chest is more open and it's easier to breath. I don't worry much about reaching the brakes from there. I'm a slow enough climber that if I just stop pedaling ... I'll fall over anyway

But if I'm in that position on flats or downhill I can get to the lever easily though it takes some core strength.

Where you may be tempted to have "stoppers" is on our long screaming descents like the one after Evil Twins, and Quadbuster. These go on forever and are steep. The scenery is breathtaking there too. Pull over and look (if you can actually stop) you need your full attention on this descent.

But it was actually on a TE ride that jobob and aka_kim taught me how to descend in the drops. And from there you have very comfortable access to the brakes.

Do you have 'em? Wants some?

Totally unrelated thought: if it's in the same spot the rest stop BEFORE quadbuster is chock full of goathead thorns. Carry your bike in to bike parking, carry it out, and check your tires before you go.

Tailwinds TE gals and thanks for ridiing

[Kano]

Totally unrelated thought: if it's in the same spot the rest stop BEFORE quadbuster is chock full of goathead thorns. Carry your bike in to bike parking, carry it out, and check your tires before you go.

Not everyone likes this option, but living in goathead country, I've got two words for you: Specialized Armadillo.

I run them on my Roubaix, and it's SOOOO nice not to flat all the time anymore!

Karen in Boise

[melissam]

How's everyones training and fundraising going? Have you found that perfect red dress? Mel are you going for a replica of the party dress?

Hey Trek,

My training & fundraising are going really well. Well, fundraising's not going as well as sarahoc's; raising $5k is outstanding, sarahoc! Good job!

I haven't come up with the red dress -- that replica might take too long to make. Plus I don't think latex is the best material for riding apparel -- it doesn't wick, it doesn't breath, it's gotta be hotter than heck.

I started doing some of the ALC training rides. Did a CAT3 distance ride last weekend that was 70 miles and I felt great. This group will be doing a ride out to San Gregorio next Saturday; I'm calling it The Ride to the Beach. I've also been doing some of the Sunday morning CAT2 rides. We have ridden on Stevens Canyon Rd., which is where the cyclists were killed this morning. Kind of makes you stop & think.

There was an ALC training ride to do a sneak preview of Quadbuster today. I wanted to see what this infamous hill was all about. We all made it up the hill in one piece and smiling for the most part. Unfortunately, the downhill proved to be the most difficult part of the ride -- one of the guys in our group fell and broke his collarbone. It was heartwarming to see the ALC community in action -- we took care of him until the ambulance arrived, called his wife, and we made sure that his bike and car made it back to San Jose.

After seeing one of our group go down and then hearing about the fatalities on one of our regular training routes...I'm just not as excited about riding right now.

[sarahoc]

Hey AIDS/Lifecycle group...how is it going?


Can anyone tell me about the downhills on this ride? Are they really steep?

[Trek420]

Yes, some are Are you comfy with downhills or is this a "are we going to get to go "whoopeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!" a lot type of concern?

I think it was on the downhill into Lompoc that I saw a rider who looked experienced stopped by the side o' the road. He just was not doin' it. Too steep, too scarey, we are on the freeway at that point. Some are very steep but most are of the "goes on forever" type.

If your question is the former a couple things. There will be riders screaming down the hill at 50-60 mph. If you're not one of 'em, let them. Descend your safe speed, find your safe line as far to the right as is safe. Don't hug the curb so tight you end up taking the turn on road spoodge. We don't want to hear about that crash in the after the ride report.

When folks call out "on your left" hold your line. ALC has a lot of cyclists to get down the coast but if everyone does this we'll arrive safely.

I think people concentrated so much on climbing they did not practice descending. The ride starts and ends at sea level so you do both an equal amount . Each year I rode we have a couple of crashes on descents. One guy hit a cow Rider and cow both ok Also check your equipment, I nearly had a guy wipe out in front of me on the decent after Evil Twins when his front wheel developed a wobble. He pulled off and fixed it but that looked dicey for a bit

There are steep descents with intersections, fwy on or off ramps etc to deal with. ALC has a fabulous motorcycle crew and they will be there for you. The Lompoc one mentioned above is steep and on freeway shoulder. You'll see your moto crew smiling and waving you past the off ramp, trust them, you are safe and just keep your eyes on the road.

Thank the crew every chance you get and thanks for riding.