How to Participate in the annual AIDS/Lifecycle Ride

Organized by the San Francisco AIDS Foundation and the L.A. Gay and Lesbian Center, the annual AIDS/Lifecycle ride from San Francisco to Los Angeles is for a good cause, not to mention a great experience.

Difficulty: Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Padded Bicycle Shorts
• Bicycle Helmets
• Bike Locks And Cables
• Bike Pumps
• Bike Tire Repair Kit
• Road Bikes

1. Plan to take the entire week off for the ride, which usually takes place in early June. Schedule your travel arrangements with a travel agent.

2. Select your cycling mates. Register your team through the official AIDS/Lifecycle site at aidslifecycle.org.

3. Establish a fundraising goal for your team. Gather pledges with your teammates to contribute to fighting the war against AIDS.

4. Consult the San Francisco AIDS Foundation, the Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Center or the official event Web site for training dates. Cycle diligently and consistently for this rigorous ride.

5. Strap on your cycling shoes, check your chains and hit the high road as you ride for the fight against AIDS.

Tips & Warnings

• Ride at your own pace. This is not a race.
• Prepare yourself for cycling long distances, pedaling in traffic and riding with large groups.
• Your pledges are tax-deductible in accordance with applicable tax laws.
• Many employers offer matching gifts or pledges on behalf of participating employees.
• Several other cities and regions sponsor AIDS rides. Consult the official Web site for event locations.
• This is not for the faint of heart. The AIDS ride requires significant training and physical preparation.
• Some segments of this trip are very steep. Event coordinators titled one section "Agony Grade."

on 6/30/2006 I noticed the riders on my way home from work, in Watsonville on Highway 1 and Molera Road. A truly worthy cause, but the riders need to be cautioned to stay to the right of the white line. Most riders were doing quite well, but there was the rider passing another cyclist gesturing with a left hand and arm as if that would be enough to ensure his safety as he passed. He came three feet into the traffic lane and yes, he was almost nailed. Traffic is regularly 55 mph here on Highway 1, but people were going 40 mph in respect of the bikes. And because they weren't sure what the cyclists were doing. On Molera Road, even the most common courtesies were not observed. It is a relaxed country road (still 55 mph) but cyclists were actually four abreast in places, blocking traffic. Many cars going the same way as the cyclists were in the opposing traffic lane, fortunately traffic was light. My husband is a cyclist, so I am fairly tolerant, but I would hate to hit someone unintentionally. So, I move way over. Once, years ago, I dared to beep at a cyclist blocking the road (chatting amiably) with his partners four abreast, he promptly flipped me off. Tsk, tsk. Bad attitudes, demanding the right of way on roads regardless, unable to maintain their speed on the bike lane provided for them so they move into the traffic lane, a mental attitude that "right makes might "and the cars will see me and give way and on and on. Remember: ME the cyclist on a little bike that weighs 16 to 20 pounds. Them in car weighing over a thousand pounds.

Drive carefully, don't make your name one they wear on their sleeve next June. All of us will die some sometime, will you mentors and/or leaders let your riders lose their life over something meaningless as not using the designated bike lane? You need to stress to them the importance of simply staying out of the traffic lanes. Those you catch, you need to make sit in a corner or perhaps walk along the road carrying their bike on their backs. Like they say, the choice is yours or really theirs. Take care.