Getting Ready for the AIDS/Lifecycle Ride

[melissam]

Hi there, TE'ers!

This year I'm doing the AIDS/Lifecycle ride for the first time, and the journey starts in a month. For those of you who aren't familiar with AIDS/Lifecycle (ALC), it's a 7-day, 545 mile bike ride from San Francisco to Los Angeles from June 1 - June 7 that raises money for the San Francisco AIDS Foundation and the Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Center. Last year the Ride raised almost $11 million for these two organizations. Many of your fellow TE'ers are either doing the ride this year or have done it in years past.

Last Thanksgiving I decided to do the ride. Now, if you think I'm some cycling superstar, guess again! In fact, my first training ride was a whopping 12 miles, as I'd been off the bike for 3 months due to a neck & shoulder injury. I've been training regularly since Thanksgiving and have racked up a little over 2500 training miles. I train 6 days a week -- I get in an hour workout on my indoor trainer most days before work and I do longer rides on the weekends with some of the ALC training groups.

I've been training like a maniac. Why? Well, from everything I've heard, this ride is a life defining experience. I want to enjoy the experience and not be completely exhausted or suffering thru the bicycling portion.

I have to say that I've really enjoyed training for this event. I've challenged myself in a lot of ways, and it's been a great feeling of accomplishment to rise to the occasion. I feel like I'm starting to uncover some of my cycling potential -- watch out for another up & coming middle-aged cyclist!

I'm curious to see what it will be like to ride fairly long distances for 7 days straight. After all, when you ride a century, you're generally advised to spin for 5-10 miles the next day. That's not going to be an option on this event!

I really have no idea what I'm in for. I talk to the veterans at the training rides, but I KNOW that I really don't get it.

So...what's left to do between now and June 1? LOTS!

I have to continue training without burning out or injuring myself (ya hear that, Mr. Left Hip?)

I have to get the packing situation under control. Which 70lbs of gear will I bring, and how will I get it all to fit?

I've got to get a decent air mattress. I've heard that this is third on the list of priorities, the first two priorities being a well-fitting bike and a helmet.

I have to finish fundraising. I only have another $400 to raise. So...if you want to make a tax deductible contribution to a great organization, please consider visiting my donation page: https://www.aidslifecycle.org/donate...Cyclist&n=6752

-- Melissa

[Trek420]

Mel, you will do fine. Like you said, don't get injured, overuse before the ride. You are ready to roll. And you're right about the difficulty. The ride is hard but "only" about 26-28,000 feet of climbing. Some days like day 2 and day 6 (both my favorite routes but not for the flatness, they are just great rides) are relatively flat.

The altitude gain is not official but just what we've heard from folks with Garmin etc.

Oooops, wait, much more because of Day 1 with Skyline lucky you!

Some folks here like V and our crazy nutso uber-fit doubles riders (and I mean that in a good way ) do this in a day.

But it's the "back to backness". Do a hard ride, sleep in a tent, do another, try to sleep with 2500 snoring riders and 5-800 snoring crew, do another....repeat till LA.

If you need an inflatable mattress you're welcome to borrow mine if we're nearby somehow. I just need it back next year Otherwise REI. LL Bean both are good (mine's an LL Bean) and of course .... watch those SAC deals.

Somewhere on this board I saw multi-day tour luggage tips?

Here it is!

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

[OakLeaf]

try to sleep with 2500 snoring riders and 5-800 snoring crew

that reminds me... after your Thermarest, your next priority is a couple of pairs of high-NRR earplugs that are soft enough to be comfortable while sleeping.

[Trek420]

And a camp pillow

[aka_kim]

All these accomplishments, yet still a member of Team Sandbagger!?

[snapdragen]

mel - I over packed when I did the AIDS ride a million years ago. I found I only wore sweatpants and my ride t-shirt in camp. Slept in them too...

Are you bringing bike clothes for each day? Have you been told the trick with gallon or 2 gallon zip lock bags?

If you can make room in your duffel, a regular air mattress is lovely, otherwise a thermarest works.

[melissam]

All these accomplishments, yet still a member of Team Sandbagger!?

Kim,
I'm a charter member of Team Sandbagger. Some things will never change.

Trek, Snap, and Oakleaf:

Thanks for the packing tips. Keep 'em coming! Between this site, the ALC training rides, and the ALC boards, I've been learning all sorts of helpful ALC hints, including:

• Earplugs are HIGHLY recommended
• An air mattress is a must have, and DON'T cheap out!
• Bring a flashlight -- one that mounts on your head is even better
• Bring something to ID your tent amongst the sea o' tents. Especially important if you leave your tent in the middle of the night.
• Put each day's cycling clothes in a zip lock bag.
• Put a dryer sheet in the zip lock bag with your cycling clothes. That way the cycling clothes smell "fresh" when you use them, and the dryer sheets absorb the sweat from the used cycling clothes. (I know, maybe TMI.)
• Do NOT, under any circumstances, bring or use tent stakes.

I'm sure I'm forgetting something, but if I don't get crackin' here at work, my boss will kill me and I won't be able to go on the ride at all.

- Mel

[Trek420]

mel - I over packed when I did the AIDS ride a million years ago. I found I only wore sweatpants and my ride t-shirt in camp. Slept in them too....

Right, I really did not pack street clothes. Just shoes and a pair of sweats. Even wore bike duds on the plane back.

It's not like I'm fast enough to get to camp early and hang out

Bring flashlights AND something blinky for the tent. Like a beacon guiding your way safely home from the porta-potty Don't leave it on of course, just when you head out and turn off when you get back.

Knotted gave me a string of purple flashing lights from Ikea that worked well!! Have fun. be creative.

[melissam]

Ooh, a blinky light -- great idea! I'm putting a checkered flag for Tent ID, but that would be hard to spot during the wee hours of the morning.

I think I'll bring my LED taillight that I never use for bike commuting.