June 18, 2006
Pictures!
Ok people I'm sorry, I have had pictures from the ride up for a while but I never linked them. So here they are!
Posted by Scott at 08:13 PM | Comments (1)
June 14, 2006
Day 7
Day 7, it's the last day! It's exciting and sad at the same time. It's also a relatively fast day, it's only 63 miles and it's totally flat.
I got off to a really early start. The day takes you on the Pacific Coast Highway which is really stressful because there are parts with no shoulder and all the drivers are driving like maniacs because they all are looking for a place to part on the beach and don't care about what is around them.
I got to lunch nice and early, I was not sure how long to just chill there before I went on to the end. On day 7 you cross the finish line, but you are not really done. They keep you in a holding area so that once all the riders are in we all ride into opening ceremonies at the same time.
I actually have a picture of me crossing the finish line this year thanks to Roque. I am very pleased about this, I have never had a picture of me crossing the finish line before.
Closing ceremonies were emotional as always. It was a good end to a good ride.
And yes I am already signed up for next year!
Posted by Scott at 07:55 PM | Comments (0)
Day 6
86 mile day! That is Day 6. It is also the day you ride through Santa Barbara, where they have paradise pit!
You only have one real hill to ride over after Lompoc and poof you descend into the coast and it totally rocks.
I have to say my ass was hurting at this point. But I road anyway, it was just pain after all. Riding into Santa Barbara was beautiful as always. And Paradise Pit was awesome as ever. Free ice cream is always a good thing!
Riding into camp was nice, again it's all by the ocean, the camp itself is actually on the ocean. This is also the day of the candle light vigil, which again I missed cause I was too tired to attend.
Day 6 is a mix of emotions, you are excited that it's almost over, and you are totally bummed that it's almost over. It is the last night of camp! And you really become a family over the ride and are totally gonna miss being there.
Posted by Scott at 07:49 PM | Comments (0)
Day 5
Day 5 is the "short" day. Day 5 is only 43 miles, a total piece of cake! And to top it off Day 5 is red dress day! There is noting like 1800 cyclist riding wearing red dresses. Sometimes I wonder what the people of the towns we ride through that day think. Do they think we dress like that every day?
I did not have a red dress but I did have a red jersey and a red feather boa that I had strapped to my helmet. I was totally styling.
It was a nice short day, I loved it. It was good to have a day you can end early and just chill. Roque and I found a nice tree to lay under and take a nap.
Day 5 is also the day of the talent show. It was actually a really fun talent show, lots of good acts. I loved the Brown Sugar, she rocked out to Madonna.
Posted by Scott at 07:43 PM | Comments (0)
Day 4
Day 4 is another long day. It goes from Paso Robles to Santa Maria and it's about a 99 mile day. This is also the day of the second big kill. And by hill I mean hills. Day 4 is the day of the twin bitches. Two very steep hills, one right after the other.
I was worried I may not make it this day. I was feeling kinda crappy that morning and also I was having an issue that was causing my lower back to go numb. At rest stop 1 I went to the medical tent to find out what was up. The med person I talked to rocked. She told me I needed to stretched my lower back and had me lay down and she stretched and contorted me in ways a person can't do by themselves, it felt GREAT. She told me I need to continue to stretch and have someone help me.
After this I was feeling pretty good about the day so I went on to the twin bitches. Again like quadbuster they did not seem as bad as they did the year before.
After the twin bitches you are at the "half way to LA" point. A perfect photo opportunity which I took advantage of. I have some neat pics.
After the twin bitches there is a HUGE downhill. I like down hills because you don't have to peddle!
I had forgotten what a beautiful day this day was. Last year all I remembered was the hellish cross winds on one of the stretches of road. However in reality there is lots of coastal roads and it really is a nice ride. Unlike last year the cross winds were not as bad and at the end of the day there is a nice long stretch of road with tail wind and a HUGE shoulder on the road. You just peddle away and ride home!
It felt good to pass out in Santa Maria.
Posted by Scott at 07:32 PM | Comments (0)
Day 3
Day 3 is a "shorter" day. It is only 75 miles. I know it seems like a lot but really it's not all that bad.
The hard part of day 3 is the "quadbuster". Quadbuster is the first evil hill of the ride. It's long and rather steep. I have to admit though it was not had hard as I remember it from last year. I think part of that has to do with the fact that this year I knew where the end was so it makes it seem like you have an actual destination.
Once up the quadbuster I cheered on more riders and took a few pictures. It was lots of fun. After that I got back on my bike and had fun the with downhill.
There are some seriously unfun roads on this day. You ride on parts of 101 that have a really bad shoulder that is bumpy and NOT fun. And there is nothing you can do about it because you are on the freeway and there are trucks driving 80 miles an hour next to you! It really is a nerve racking stretch of road.
Once you are finally done with that, you ride into Paso Robles. I was a few blocks away from camp and I broke a spoke. I guess it was inevitable considering the roads we road on that day, it puts your bike through a lot.
I took my bike to the bike techs at camp and they fixed it up, and it only costed me a dollar. Can I just say that the bike techs on the ride totally rock. They take in bikes at the end of the day that need repair and they don't stop till they all are fixed. Go bike techs!
I got in a bit earlier on this day, but I was waiting for my bike to be fixed and stuff so I did not get much relaxing time. It was good when I finally got to pass out in my tent with my wonderful tentmate Roque
Posted by Scott at 07:23 PM | Comments (0)
Day 2
Day 2 is a long day. It's 105 miles from Santa Cruz to King City. It's relatively flat, but it still has it's fair share of ups and downs.
I was still feeling a bit under the weather from the day before. I think I was still a bit dehydrated. I made it a point to drink lots and lots of water.
Last year day 2 was the day of the infamous bee incident. This caused me to not finish out the day. But this year there was no bee and I finished the entire day.
It was a long hard day. I did not get into camp until 7:10 at night. There was a moment I thought I may not make it, but I just kept going from rest stop to rest stop and I made it.
The last stretch of the road is totally fun. You have a small segment of really bad cross wind, but then you turn and it's pure tail wind into camp for about 8 miles. It's lots of fun.
Once I got to camp I took a shower, ate, and slept, it was a long day! I mean I was on my bike for like 12 hours!
Posted by Scott at 07:16 PM | Comments (0)
Day 1
Day 1 is a nerve racking and yet fun day. It's really rather freaky to think that you are getting on your bike and you wont get off until you reach LA, it's freaky, and yet exciting!
I did not get much sleep the night before (shocker!). We had to be at the Cow Palace at 5 AM for opening ceremonies and stuff. We woke up nice and early and went to the Cow Palace. Closing ceremonies was cool as usual. After that we all got on our bikes and filed out of the Cow Palace in a huge mob.
Day 1 goes from SF to Santa Cruz. It really is a beautiful ride. You get to go along the coast and have lots of fun.
Right out of the gate my rear brakes were being freaky. I had to take my bike to the bike techs at rest stop one. It turns out they were not really messed up they were just being loud because the rims were dirty. Luckily it was foggy and wet so the rims got cleaned just by being exposed to all the moisture and being used.
I was running a bit late so I skipped rest stop 2 and headed straight to lunch. I wish I had not done that because I was not drinking enough and I was getting a bit dehydrated. So I rested at lunch and drank crap loads of water and Gatorade.
It was a nice ride to Santa Cruz, it was a good first day in all.
Posted by Scott at 07:03 PM | Comments (0)
Day 0
Day zero is registration day. It's the day you watch the safety video, register, get all your wrist band and tent assignment.
We showed up to the Cow Palace nice and early. I dropped off my bike at bike parking and we watched the first safety video of the day. We then proceeded to the registration line then got our tent assignments. We actually finished rather early. So we had some free time before Roque had to be back for the Roadie orientation.
After all this we went to our hotel (which by the way was TOTALLY in the ghetto). It rocked how ghetto our hotel was. This just goes to show that next year I need to book earlier so I can get a better hotel that is closer.
It was hard to sleep that night. In fact I barely slept at all. How can you sleep when the next morning you are going to start riding your bike to LA?!?!?!
Posted by Scott at 09:40 AM | Comments (0)
I'm home!!!!!!
I'm home everyone! Well actually I got home on Monday afternoon but I have been a slacker and have no blogged. What can I say I was resting!!!!
Anyway ALC5 was an amazing experience, as I knew it would be. I battled hills, and flat lands, and cold, and heat, and most importantly I battle a saddle sore ass. God I love doing this ride!
Through the course of today I will be posting about each day, so stay tuned I wont do it all at once but I promise I will have it all by the end of today.
It's good to be back in my own bed, in my own house. Yet it's still a bit sad to no longer be on the ride. It really is just amazing on the ride. That is why I already signed up for next yet (I just can't help myself!).
So if you feel all crazy and motivated, sign up, I will see you on the road next year!
Posted by Scott at 07:32 AM | Comments (1)
June 02, 2006
Last Post till after ALC
Dear Reader,
The Ride is upon us! I leave this weekend for the adventure of a lifetime. And thanks to all of my sponsors, I have (as of this moment) raised a total of $3,075.45. My sponsors ROCK!
Before I leave leave, I would like to invite you to experience AIDS/LifeCycle through your eyes with "Experience AIDS/LifeCycle 2006" at http://experience.aidslifecycle.org/
Starting Monday June 5, the AIDS/LifeCycle web team will post:
- A written travelogue from the road, summarizing the previous day's highlights
- Daily audio podcasts -- for a preview, visit http://experience.aidslifecycle.org/2006/podcast/
- A variety of event photos
- Online blogs written by five participants as they experience life on the road and in camp
Throughout the event, messages of support can be retrieved in camp by individual participants or read by the entire community of cyclists and roadies. Messages can be sent from http://experience.aidslifecycle.org/2006/support/
If you would like to be a part of AIDS/LifeCycle Opening Ceremonies in San Francisco or Closing Ceremonies in Los Angeles, the details can be found at http://www.aidslifecycle.org/ceremonies.html .
Thanks Again for all your support,
-Scott
Posted by Scott at 01:04 PM | Comments (0)
Breaking the 3k mark!
As of this morning I have officially broken the 3k mark in sponsorship! Yee haw! I am now at $3075.45. My sponsors ROCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by Scott at 09:54 AM | Comments (0)
The nine stages of AIDS LifeCycle Ride
Totally in freak out stage!
The nine stages of AIDS LifeCycle Ride
- Total Freak Out / Vomit (I can't believe I am doing this)
- Hey this isn't so bad! (Day 1)
- OMG my legs hurt so bad I can't possibly get on my bike again (morning of Day 2)
- I don't feel pain anymore (sometimes during Day 2)
- Yippy 40 mile day, I can crank this out in a few hours (Day 5 - the "short" day)
- Are we there yet? (Day 6 - like the day before the last day of school, just ready for it to be over)
- I don't want this to be over!!!! (Day 7)
- Sadness (believe it or not leaving the ride is kind of depressing)
- Sign up for next year (It's inevitable)
Posted by Scott at 08:12 AM | Comments (0)
June 01, 2006
Totally Freaking OUT!
I am totally freaking out here. Not in a bad way mind you, just in a OH MY GOD I HAVE TO RIDE MY BIKE TO LA kind of a way, ya know? The fact that I did it last year both calms me and freaks me out. Cause I know I can do it, but I also know exactly how hard it is.
So be sending me positive vibes!
I am sure I will be posting a few more freaking out posts between now and when I leave early Saturday morning.
Posted by Scott at 02:25 PM | Comments (1)
May 29, 2006
This bike is clean....
I cleaned Serenity (by bike) today. It's all shiny and happy right now. Serenity is happy. Of course I am about to get it all SUPER dirty on the ride to LA but then I will just clean it again!
So it's official, the AIDS Ride is less then a week away. I am officially freaking out.
Posted by Scott at 06:55 PM | Comments (2)
May 07, 2006
From red to blue!
WE ARE TOTALLY THERE!!!!!! If you look at my donation total on the right side of my page you will notice the total has changed from red to blue. What does that mean? It means I have reached the minimum pledge level. You see in order to ride you need to raise a minimum of $2500. I set my goal at $5000, but really it's SUPER important to rise the $2500 or else I can't ride! Well I am at $2625.45. I rock!
This does not mean that you should not donate if you have not already. It is an incredibly important cause and the goal is to raise as much money as possible not just try and raise the minimum.
I have to admit though I am breathing a sigh of relief here. I was beginning to worry I was not going to reach the minimum this year. But now I have and all extra donations are just icing on the cake!
Now I just need to keep on training!
Posted by Scott at 04:18 PM | Comments (3)
May 02, 2006
Donation Update
Over the weekend the Sac Woof Society had a fundraiser for the AIDS LifeCycle. We raised a total of $847 which totally rocks!
That puts the current donation total at $2420.45!!!!! I am only 80 bucks away from reaching the minimum necessary to ride
I can't wait for the ride I am getting so excited!
Posted by Scott at 09:05 AM | Comments (2)
25 miles before 8am!
Today was the first day I rode my bike to work. I have been riding home everyday day for a while now, but I have been taking light rail into work. It was time to step it up a notch. So at 6am I left my house and rode the 25 miles to work.
I feel great! Working out in the morning is yummyness!
The good thing about biking to and from work is that I get in a good 50 miles in one day, but I get an 8 hour break in the middle of that ride :-P
Posted by Scott at 09:02 AM | Comments (0)
April 21, 2006
Donations
Well the fund raising is not going as well as I had planned. This year it's a lot more like pulling teeth from people. I am currently at $1,100. Not bad, but it's not enough. I have to raise a minimum of $2,500 or I am not allowed to ride. Yes there is a minimum, otherwise the charity would lose money if they let riders ride without hitting at certain level of donations.
So come on people. DONATE! If you have already donated you ROCK, but pass the word along to family and friends! It's a really good cause.
Let's get some more donations people!
Posted by Scott at 01:58 PM | Comments (0)
April 20, 2006
Ball Crushing
As you probably know part of my training for the AIDS LifeCycle is that I bike home from work. I live a good 26 miles away from work. It's a nice ride. Right now I am being a wimp and not biking in the morning, I take light rail here then bike home.
Anyway, yesterday after work I went to the locker room and was getting ready for my ride home. I was putting on my cycling shorts and something did not feel right. They were the wrong shorts. I had accidentally packed an old pair that is a) too small b) not comfortable anyway.
You know that feeling you get when someone kicks you in the balls? Ya that is what I felt the entire right home. OMG some parts of your body were just not meant to be smashed like that!!!!!
I did eventually make it home and I ripped those evil shorts off. This reminds me I need to destroy all of those shorts that no longer fit so that I don't experience this again.
I will never be able to have kids now, my nuts have been crushed beyond recognition....
At least today I made sure I brought a good pair of cycling shorts.
Posted by Scott at 01:39 PM | Comments (0)
April 17, 2006
AIDS LifeCycle
The ride is starting to creep up on us now. It keeps raining every freaking day making it a bit difficult to train. And everyone donations are far a few between which is starting to freak me out. I have a crap load of money to raise and people are just plain not donating!
At least this week is supposed to be sunny so I can ride my bike to work and get in some good mileage on my bike.
Posted by Scott at 01:19 PM | Comments (0)
April 09, 2006
I am an idiot
So I went for a training ride Saturday. And like the idiot I am, I allowed myself to get dehydrated. I felt like SUCH crap by the time I got home. I drank water non stop for hours. And this is the part where you can tell just how dump I was. I got home around 1:30, and I was drinking water till about 6 before I finally had to pee.
What did I do wrong? Total rookie mistake. It was cold so I was well bundled up. But that is when you are most likely to dehydrate yourself (did you know that). The think is since its colder you don't notice you are sweating, and since you are so bundled up you tent to actually sweat more.
It was a nice ride though, 45 miles and I did it nice and quick. Until the dehydration took over and I was like all dead like.
So remember kiddies, drink and pee!!!!!!!!
Posted by Scott at 04:55 PM | Comments (1)
March 28, 2006
Sponsorship coming in
Donations have been slowing trickling in. I am now up to $575. That rocks, but I still need lots more! If you have not donated yet, then what you waiting for? Donate now!
Last night I noticed my parents had donated. And not just donated but donated rather generously. This actually surprises me. I know when I did the AIDS Vaccine ride in 2001 my mom totally though I was doing it to promote the wonder and glory of AIDS. But she is crazy like that cause she can't handle my being gay so she assumes if I am doing something for AIDS it's cause I am trying to show everyone how wonderful it is to have AIDS. I don't attempt to try and understand her logic anymore, mostly ignore her.
So in conclusion, DONATE! And if you happen to be in LA Jun 10th, come to closing ceremonies and cheer me on at the finish line!
Posted by Scott at 12:46 PM | Comments (0)
March 21, 2006
My hubby is gonna be on the ride with me!!!!!
My Hubby signed up yesterday to be a roadie on the AIDS Life Cycle. I am so excited! My hubby is going to be on the ride with me! I get to cuddle with him every night in our tent now :) This is going to be the best AIDS Life Cycle EVER!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by Scott at 08:22 AM | Comments (2)
March 17, 2006
Fund raising is ON!
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Dear Reader, Hello! I will be participating in AIDS/LifeCycle in June 2006 and need your support. I have made a commitment to raise a significant amount of money for the HIV and AIDS services of the San Francisco AIDS Foundation and the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center. Thousands of individuals in our community receive life-sustaining services as a result of the money raised through AIDS/LifeCycle. This will be my second AIDS Life Cycle. Last year I had an amazing time on the ride and I could not help myself but do it again. Last year I raised a total of $4,235.37 and I can't thank my sponsors enough for all their support. This year my goal is to raise an even $5000. With your help I am sure I can reach my goal. Please click on the link below, which will bring you to my fundraising page, and make a contribution to support my efforts. Your contribution is fully tax-deductible and will make a real difference in the lives of many affected by HIV and AIDS. Thanks for your support! -Scott |
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Make a donation now on my personal page: https://www.aidslifecycle.org/donate/1095 |
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Posted by Scott at 08:15 AM | Comments (1)
January 12, 2006
Let the shameless begging begin!
I have added on my side bar a link to my ALC homepage, as well as a link to my donation page! Below that is my fundraising goal and the total funds I have raised thus far. Notice it's currently at zero, lets work on that people!
I have no shame here, I will beg for money! But in all seriousness this is a really good cause and any donations would be greatly appreciated.
Posted by Scott at 09:19 AM | Comments (3)
September 28, 2005
I need some ideas people!
I need ideas! Left me ideas of team names in the comments.
You guys ROCK!
Posted by Scott at 03:52 PM | Comments (3)
July 19, 2005
AIDS Life Cycle 5
It's hard to explain but you look back at the ride and it makes you wanna both cry and sign up and do it again. So I signed up to do it again.
I will see you all on the rode in June!
Posted by Scott at 02:16 PM | Comments (2)