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AIDS/LifeCycle Ride 600 Miles May 13-19, San Francisco --> LA

This is a wonderful experience that is highly recommended for anyone that can take off a week to ride from SF to LA and raise at least $2,500 for the SF AIDS Foundation. Fund raising is the most difficult part of the event, provided that you have trained adequately and don't mind camping.  Some of the most dramatic scenery of any of the Rides, Pacific coastal views, beautiful mountain lakes, and the agricultural heartland.  Everything from the registration, training rides, food, accommodations and course routes are incredibly well organized for a volunteer event of this size and distance. Although this is a ride and not a race, you will improve your fitness and bike handling skills after

You never know what you will find on the Bay Area back roads!

seven days of 60-90M per day. There are many recreational cyclists and a rapidly growing group of experienced cyclists who kept up a fast pace daily, so there is opportunity for every level of ability. Many of us experienced a post ride depression after giving up our new "bike job" and returning to the ho-hum of our regular work!

The scenery was terrific, the volunteers were saints, and it was a fun way to work out, meet a lot of really cool people, and support a very worthwhile cause. Of all the rides, this will be the most entertaining and amusing-the riders, the volunteers at the Pit stops, it is Showtime!  This isn't the hardest event you will ever do, but the sense of accomplishment will be one of the most gratifying.

There are many excellent training rides led by volunteers that are very scenic and more difficult than the actual Ride. You will be better prepared to enjoy the miles and will also meet people that you will see while on the Ride. These rides are free and open to anyone. Click here for a list of Training Rides . Many of these rides are posted on my run files, look for the bike icon.  Make sure to take plenty of fluids, food, money and a spare tube. Meet times are listed first, depart time, second. Helmets are required on all rides. Some of these rides are repeated in the upcoming months.

Be mentally prepared for camping. For some, this is a unique experience that requires patience and true grit. Pack new changes of clothes in plastic bags, somehow, it seems that everything gets wet. If the camping is preventing you from enjoying the ride, take a room if there is an available hotel, however; nearby hotels were only on the CA AIDS Ride. For me, the third time was a charm-the tent, portable toilets, and tent city living finally became doable.

Prepare for at least one day of riding in rain, sometimes in very heavy downpours. Think of this day as training to improve your concentration and focusing skills, and to test your mental toughness. Wear a long visor on your helmet, and have clear plastic inserts for your shades.

Register vegetarian if you don't like heavy meat sandwiches at lunch. You can usually get a regular lunch if you don't care for the vegetarian meal. Food quality used to be better on earlier rides, but there still are plenty of choices to keep fueled. Breakfast and lunch are generally pretty good; I usually skipped dinner, and loaded up on the tasty treats.

Bring your swimsuit, on some Rides there is a lake or pool at one of the campgrounds to get in some laps.

Take your camera, and don't worry about taking the time to stop and getting some shots of the scenery and the people you met on the ride. You will cherish these later when you reminisce with friends about your adventure.

AIDSRidesUSA: You can register by phone for any ride, call (800) 825-1000.

Washington D.C. AIDS Ride 330M, June 13-16, Norfolk, Virgina--> D.C.

Cycle with 1,700 riders through small towns and historical civil war countryside.  Throughout Virginia, people were out on their porches and waving us on.  Temperatures can range in the high 90's with high humidity.  Neighborhood children are thrilled to squirt you with Super Soakers as you ride by-and it feels good!  The pit stops are well stocked with ice cold Gatorade, and ice block "couches" to cool your buns.  Riders must raise $1,900 for AIDS Ride services throughout the D.C. area.  (202) 293-RIDE.

Day One leaves Raleigh, North Carolina Fairgrounds for a mostly flat, 107.4M ride.  The highlight of the day is Pit #5, at Lake Gaston.  Be sure to bring your swim goggles, there is a delightful cool, clear, lake that is a welcome refuge from the oppressive heat.  Swim in your cycling shorts and sports bra, it will be dry while lolling on the deck in no time.  Take your time for a long swim, this is the only swim opportunity on this ride.   The campsite is
about 30M away, just past the Virginia state line, and there is no rush to hang out there in the heat.

Day Two is an 80.4M ride, with rolling hills.  At 76.8M, there is the Arthur Ashe Monument.

Day Three is a 98.7M ride, more rolling hills, and lots of civil war military history along the way to Manassas.

Day Four is only 33.1M to the Washington Monument holding area for the closing ceremonies.  It is a spectacular close, crossing the Potomac River and converging at the Mall in D.C.  It is a long, hot and humid wait until the ceremonies, so take the time to sightsee our nation's capitol.  If you leave early, you will arrive when there is not too much tourist traffic-by noon, the tour busses are really packing them in. On Constitution Ave. you will pass by the Vietnam Memorial-don't miss it.  You won't be allowed to take your bike down the path, so it is a good idea to bring some walking shoes and a bike lock this day.  Other nearby sites are the Mall, the Monument, and the White House, all within easy biking distance.  If interested, you can stop in at some of the Smithsonian Museums, although the air conditioning was barely functioning, so keep drinking ice-cold fluids to stay cool.  Don't miss the music and dancing at the lunch stop, in fact, this was the first day on this Ride where people really let loose with the AIDS Ride spirit.

Twin Cities--->Wisconsin--->Chicago AIDS Ride 500M, July 22-27

1600 riders will raise $2,300 to participate to support dozens of AIDS services agencies in Chicago, Minneapolis /St. Paul and Wisconsin.

Day One leaves Minneapolis along the beautiful W. River Parkway and the Mississippi River. The route is very scenic around Red Wing, about halfway into the 103M for the day. The course was very flat, with some strong headwinds in the last half of the miles. Midwest miles seem about roughly half of the effort of CA miles because the roads are so flat. You will make good time and finish early, which gives you plenty of time to do a brick and set up your tent and get cleaned up before dinner. Camp is located in Wabasha. You can take a run into the downtown area and follow the Mississippi, about a mile or longer for a brick workout.

Day Two is a triathlete's dream. 95M, fairly flat with rolling hills, the scenery is great riding through Wisconsin, and there is a 50-meter pool near camp. I found this pool while taking a mile brick run, the lap swimming starts at 4:30. I had the whole pool to myself, and three lifeguards to watch me swim a mile.

Day Three-And now, for something completely different! Three miles out of camp you embark on the Elroy-Sparta State Trail, a rails-to-trails conversion. This is a dirt trail (limestone) that is surprisingly easy to ride on a road bike. There are three tunnels that you must walk your bike through, one is 3/4M long! Built in the 1800's, it took three years to complete. It is pitch dark, most of the time there are volunteers with flashlights to guide you along. Easy day, 56M, and there is also a 50 meter pool at the campsite!

Day Four is vacation day! Spectacular views at Devil's Lake State Park and a ferry ride! Be sure to get an ice cream while waiting to board the ferry. This is supposed to be the big "hill" day, if you are from CA, there are a lot of "slopes" and one or two good hills. Finish at McFarland, WI at 76M. There is supposed to be a pool nearby camp, but it was not in operation when we were there.

Day Five is 92M. Around the 70M mark, it's wonderful to relax and have a frozen yogurt while looking out at Lake Geneva, WI. Yes, at camp in McHenry, IL there is a pool!

Day Six-only 71M to Chicago! I usually recommend taking your time on the last day. You will just be waiting around anyway for the closing ceremonies, or for your hotel room. However, this last day is a bear traffic wise, lots of road construction, rough roads, and there are not many gaps to pass cyclists. The congestion makes for continuous stop and go through most intersections. Best bet is to get off to an early start, and linger in the Highland Park area or along the shores of Lake Michigan, or Dawes Park near Northwestern University.

While in Chicago, stay at the Palmer House Hilton, an old hotel that has been exquisitely refurbished. For a very good micro brewed root beer, try Berghoff's nearby, an old stand-up bar.

Overall, the Twin Cities-->Chicago is an excellent ride, and a perfect training opportunity for the Vineman Half-Ironman in two weeks.  However, be sure to get in a couple hill repeat sessions, all those flat miles really spoil your quads.

Boston-->New York AIDS Ride 275M, June 20-23

Cheers for the Boston-->New York AIDS Ride Crew and route planners! I must admit I enjoyed this Ride the most. It was very scenic, well organized and the crew was fantastic.  Terrific to ride in the Northeast in autumn.  3,500 riders will raise $1,600 for AIDS services in Boston and New York.  This ride always fills up, so register early.

Day One starts off riding through downtown Boston, with many spectators cheering the riders on. Soon we were riding pass horse farms and beautiful country estates. Around mile 87, we encountered some steep hills, and this continued to the University of Connecticut campsite at mile 100.

Day Two was very challenging, relentless hills, but only 75M. Incredible scenery, with many historic homes along the back roads of Connecticut.

Day Three we reached New York and were officially greeted by a very good Jackie Onassis impersonator!  Today wasn't quite as hilly, but there were some killer downhills and two magnificent river crossings within the 87M.

Day Four is 53M and generally easy; riding in downtown Manhattan on a Sunday is a piece of cake.

This is a great riding experience, the people, the scenery, and you will certainly improve your hill climbing skills. Sadly, I have heard that the route has been changed because the course was deemed too hilly. Well, there were a lot of walkers, but they didn't seem to mind! Inquire about the new route, and also the weather forecast. We experienced quite a bit of rain. 

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