Day 4 — Paso Robles to Santa Maria
We pass the halfway point to L.A.

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We pass the halfway point to L.A.
Jun 092010
 

Day 4 Paso Robles to Santa Maria
6:45am rode out. Into camp 4 at 3:50pm, Dis 94.4 mi, Av 14.4 mph, Tm 6hr 32min, Oat 9hr 15min
(head wind from mile 80 through 95)

Hurray – Yeah! After a morning climb up the “Evil Twins” we arrived at the “Half Way 2 L.A.” point with the sun out and beautiful, clear weather. Great for lots of photos and celebration.

Afterward there was a long, very enjoyable descent then on into Santa Maria for the night. Today’s journey was 98 miles which I did in 9 hours and 15 minutes, a “short” day time wise so I could leisurely put up the tent, eat dinner, then back for seconds !, shower, and set out my red dress outfit for tomorrow.

Tomorrow — Red Dress Day!

 

Morning line, taken while peeling off clothing layers, in the warming sunlight.

Morning lineup

The summit of the second of the Evil Twin hills, was ‘Half Way 2 LA’.

Tim Alt of Baltimore

img 1625, Tim Alt of Baltimore

Tom, Half Way 2 LA, Day 4

img 1628, Tom at Half point

Maryann Murphy

img 1633, Maryann Murphy at Cuesta College San Luis Obispo lunch stop

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I soaked in the agriculture and coast scenery the first 20 miles. Talked with a young cyclist about how current 20 and 30 year olds perceive AIDS, protease inhibitors, and how HIV affects/effects their lives.

Day 3 — King City to Paso Robles – HOT!’

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Jun 082010
 

(218,2,’2010-06-08 19:00:07′,’2010-06-09 02:00:07′,’HOT Temperatures today.

After a cool morning go at “Quad Buster”, a sustained mile at 10% grade, we arrived at the tiny town of Bradley for a barbecue hamburger lunch at the elementary school with our purchased meals benefiting the school.

The next stop at Mission San Miguel showed years of earthquake retrofitting and other repairs are complete and all is now back to normal. Leaving the Mission brought a hot 90 degree ride down a very bumpy section of Highway 101 then along back roads that ended in camp at the Paso Robles Fairgrounds. Where the camping area last year was all lawn it’s now hardpan, apparently for water conservation. We are pitching our tents on hardpan!

Tonight was laundry night – At dinner my vegetarian friends asked me for my second helpings of chicken.

What a day!

Day 3 King City to Paso Robles
6:55am rode out. Into camp 3 at 1:45pm, Dis 61.7 mi, Av 13.9 mph, Tm 4hr 26min, Oat 6hr 45min
Quadbuster hill at mile 10.8 took some effort this year. I carried cash to buy the town of Bradley’s postcards, schoolchildren’s pins , hamburgers,
and Mission San Miguel’s postcards.

img 1590

Bradley CA fundraising BBQ

 

Chris Fava and Tom, at Bradley CA

Chris Fava & Tom, Bradley CA.

Answered the Mission San Miquel gift shop cashier’s questions about the AidsLifeCycle Ride. While buying postcards, I learned from a long time rider, Day 5 was originally Dress in Red Day, the red line of cyclists being a symbol of the AIDS Red Ribbon. It morphed, to RED DRESS DAY.

Recharging at the Paso Robles fairgrounds

Laundry time (5-gallon bucket style) at fairgrounds

Michael LeCorte, sporting tan lines, and friend at fairgrounds

Michael LeCorte and diner friend

Dan and Silvia at fairgrounds

Tom\’s tentmate Dan, and his friend Silvia

 

Day 2 — Santa Cruz to King City — 108 miles, whew!

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Jun 072010
 

Today’s ride was the longest of the week, 108 miles. I did it in nine hours. The trick this year was getting out at the opening of the starting gate, riding out at 6:30 a.m., a terrific idea as it turned out.

It was a very windy day. Great when it was coming from behind as a tail wind but very challenging when from the front or side. At one point when the winds were coming from the side a semi truck came by that sucked me first into the traffic lane then, immediately after passing, I was sucked off the roadway and onto the gravel shoulder. Luckily I was able to maintain my balance and not fall.

Day 2 Santa Cruz to King City
6:40am rode out. Into camp 2 at 3:45pm, Dis 106.0 mi, I accidentally erased my bicycle’s computer, Oat 9hr 5min
The 6:40am was my earliest ride out time to date. I rode out of Santa Cruz ahead of the commuter traffic. I left Dan burrowed in his sleeping bag. Had yet to see him in day light.
Saw Ginger Brewlay flanked by Deloitte cyclists at the artichoke stand.

Ginger Brewlay, flanked by Deloitte cyclists, at the artichoke stand

img 1550
and big farm cutouts towering over small cutups

Catching lettuce

img 1554
Wrote to my brothers on the altar cloth at Mission La Soledad.

Mission La Soledad

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Skinny dipped under the green bridge, had a cookie from the Cookie Lady and the newly weds,

img 1571, img 1568

timed the roller coaster hills (race down, coast up) the last 10 miles into King City (actually enjoyed them this year). Signed up to receive a massage. First daytime meeting with Dan (or was it the next morning?).

Day 1 — San Francisco to Santa Cruz — The Adventure Begins!

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Jun 062010
 

This morning it all began. The day’s outset from the Cow Palace was very foggy but by the time we’d ridden 60 miles to the third rest stop the day was sunny and looking to be warm and beautiful on down to Santa Cruz our first overnight.

7:00am rode out of the Cow Palace. Into camp 1 at 2:00pm
Dis 79.4 mi Av 15.9 mph Tm unrecorded (knocked computer out of commission)

I was moved by the rider-less bicycle (for those who can’t ride and those who have passed on) during Opening Ceremonies.

Opening Ceremonies inside the Cow Palace, Daly City

I used my fingers as windshield wipers for my riding glasses. The dew/fog was thick the first 60 miles. Police escorted us, and we had multiple riding lanes from the Palace to the SF/San Mateo County line.

Fog and lunch at San Gregorio State Beach

I got to camp, set up the tent, met Silvia and Betsy who said they were friends of my tent mate Dan, showered, ate, and turned in.

Camp 1 Harvey West Park Ball Field, Santa Cruz CA. I got the dirt infield.

Chris Fava and fellow Motorcycle support rider, back at camp 1

Chris Fava and fellow motorcycle support guy

 

 

Around 9pm my tent mate climbed in, we shook hands, introduced ourselves ‘Nice to meet you. I’m Tom. Hello, I’m Dan”, and fell asleep.

Travel & Orientation Day at the Cow Palace

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Jun 052010
 

Travel day/Orientation day

6:15am departed Santa Barbara with Ashe and his Volvo. Pulled into the Alpine Inn, Daly City at 11:00am. Walked over to the Cow Palace at 12:00noon

Taking the bicycle to drop off at the Cow Palace

Tent assignment told me I’d meet my tent mate at Camp 1.

Met newbie Maryann of the Chlorox Co./ Oakland, reconnected with Tim of Baltimore. Ashe bought me an ALC9 baseball cap. We lunched at Joe’s Cable Car burger stand, Mission Street. We visited the next door auto body shop.

We bought tomorrow’s Starbuck’s Turkey muffin & Juice breakfast.
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Recent ALC9 donors

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May 272010
 

I want to get these names out there, in appreciation. Their donations help.

Steve K. McGuire

Kim Liscombe

Wendy Foster

Mark Sargent

I’ll hand deliver their check Orientation Day Saturday June 5th.

We start riding from San Francisco June 6th,

pass through Santa Barbara Friday June 11th,

and end in Los Angeles Saturday June 12th.

I have yet to pack my bag(s).

Tom does what?!

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May 272010
 

(173,2,’2010-05-27 14:51:05′,’2010-05-27 21:51:05′,’For those who ask what I eat and do to keep up, the New Sugar Busters book pretty well sums it up.

I will add to this post, later, laying out the highlights of it.

Workouts Week of 2010-05-16

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May 222010
 

Los Banos Del Mar Pool entry, img. 1360

  • 2010-05-16 Sun. none
  • 2010-05-17 Mon.  Door Crunch 200, Superman 4
  • 2010-05-18 Tues. Superman 4, Swim 2400 meters (50min)
  • 2010-05-19 Wed.  Door Crunch 200 + 200, Ride Dis 26, Av 11.1, Mx 27.6, Tm 2hr 20min, Oat 3hr 30min
  • 2010-05-20 Thurs.  Door Crunch 200 + 200, Swim 1600meters (30min)
  • 2010-05-21 Fri.  Door Crunch 200 + 200, Wt. Work II & III (55min): Plank 6 45sec/15rest, Dbl Leg Butt Drop 6 12, Corkscrew 6 12, Extreme 6 50ea
  • 2010-05-22 Sat. Door Crunch 200 + 200, Swim 2400meters (45min)

Fixie Jeff

 AidsLifeCycle 2010, All Catagories  1 Response »
May 152010
 

Dis 29.5, Av 10.9, Tm 2hr 41min, Oat 3hr 0min

My bike guru teacher, Jeff of Tour of California famous Nevada City CA, came to SB and rode his Fixie with me from Cathedral Oaks/Fairview Goleta to SB Stearns Wharf and back. I was dusted on the hills, watching him out climb me. He let me try his Fixie (waaaay different, pedal kick back, has a mind of its own….) So much fun I forgot to take photos. So here’s one from 2006, sorry no Fixie.

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