What I learned today ...

Distance 43.0
Moving Time 3:45:10
Elevation 4,780ft
Avg Speed 11.5mi/h
Max Speed 36.7mi/h
Heart Rate Avg 127bpm Max 161bpm
Calories 1,634
Temperature 54

So today was 2 degrees warmer. I rode with Mark Tidyman and I learned that one should never ride two days in a row after doing something one has never done or hasn't done in quite some time.

After eating and being not-so-active Christmas Eve and Christmas, I decided to run on the treadmill for one hour. I felt good on Friday after the cardio workout making myself believe a I had just burned away all the calories consumed the two consecutive days before. So on Saturday's ride towards the end, I hit a wall and couldn't ride as fast as I had done earlier in the day - even with eating and hydrating. Mr. Art, that's because of what you had done Friday. I thought nothing of it and felt I would have no problems with my Sunday ride with Mark.

I met Mark at the entrance of Lake Temescal with tons of energy, until we headed towards Tunnel Road. My legs all of a sudden felt like jello, but I continued and let Mark know that I most likely would not be able to keep up with him. I was right. At one point during our ride, I thought to myself, could I really take another 7 days of riding for 545 miles. Of course I could and will because I'm not going to over train or do something my body doesn't agree with like running for an hour one day followed with back-to-back cycling -- so, that's what I learned.

And, I continued to cycle with Mark way ahead in the distance ... time for rest.

I wanted to and ...

Distance 62.6
Moving Time 4:28:22
Elevation 3,953ft
Avg Speed 14.0mi/h
Max Speed 32.0mi/h
Heart Rate Avg 134bpm Max 175bpm
Calories 1,989
Temperature 52

Baby it's COLD outside. Brrrrrr. I don't think I ever warmed up. I wanted to skip today's ride, but I thought about why I'm training and that those living with HIV and are need of the San Francisco AIDS Foundation resources usually don't have the luxury of choosing, so I got out of bed and got ready for the ride.

Thank you Mary Vencill for this lovely ride with co-TRLs Jane Maxwell, Andy Fyfe, Aaron Lewis, Lionel McNeely, Rex Gordon, Rachel Carl, Sam Kimbrel and unofficially Tanner. I rode off with Sam (rode the shorter ride), Jeff (super fast rider), and Marc. Thankfully, both Jeff and Marc knew the route, so I didn't have to keep on looking at my route sheet until I hit a wall and could no longer keep up with Marc on our way back to Orinda from lunch. Jeff was way ahead skipping rest stops and most likely lunch.

Oakland to Berkeley to Three Bears

Distance 53.0
Moving Time 4:23:50
Elevation 4,442ft
Avg Speed 12.0mi/h
Max Speed 37.1mi/h
Heart Rate Avg 130bpm Max 169bpm
Calories 1,808
Temperature 63

Quite interesting, fun ride with Neel Eargood TRL and co-TRLs Michael Lewin, Ruth Cohn and Sports Basement Berkeley Trainer Diane.

So before I rode out, I posted the following on Facebook's East Bay Wildcat's page, "For those of you training today (and everyday), be safe - it's wet out today."  The initial excitement came from being able to use a clean bathroom at Sports Basement Berkeley before riding out.

The beginning of the ride was a fine overcast day.  As soon as we got onto Tunnel Road, Grizzly Peak and Wildcat Canyon, we were presented with wet, wet roads.  The earlier part of our day felt as if we had rain while riding Grizzly Peak and Wildcat Canyon with the trees weeping with joy from all the rain from the night before.

And then this is what happened ... I thought I was being careful, slow and deliberate going down Wildcat Canyon to 3 Bears. At one of the sharp turns, my front tire slipped, i headed towards the ravine, my bike almost slipped from under me, I was in the wrong lane with no cars or other cyclists. WHEW!!!  Quite a close call.  My heart was racing and I slowed down a bit more until I was sure the route was dry.  All in all, still a wonderful ride.

Sports Basement Berkeley

AIDS/LifeCycle Riders' Dream Restroom 1

AIDS/LifeCycle Riders' Dream Restroom 2

AIDS/LifeCycle Riders' Dream Restroom - CLEAN

AIDS/LifeCycle Riders' Dream Restroom - More Clean Rooms

AIDS/LifeCycle Riders' Dream Restroom - Hot Water

Riders

TRL Neel

More Riders

TRL Michael

TRL Ruth

Jason Lew's donation puts us over $5,000

Thank you Jason for your donation your donation brings us to $5,005.

Here’s what that $5,000 can do:

$5,000 can help can help 8 HIV-positive people receive safe and stable housing for one month.
$5,000 can cover a full year of laboratory testing for 18 patients.

What's a guy to do on a rainy Wednesday?

How about another round of thanks to recent donors to AIDS/LifeCycle? That sounds wonderful. Many thanks to ...

Jude Pollack, Jean Francese, George and Stephen, Doris Dare and Phil Kavanagh, Wayne Hill, Ann and Bill, KooKoo and Jake, Anonymous x2, Calvin G. Lum of SF Vet Housecalls, Lawrence K. Lo, Michael Lee and Derek Chong, Layne Sanders and Stephen Schnell, and Daniel Holt.

You're making a difference in the lives of people living with HIV.

El Cerrito to Walnut Creek

Distance 65.9
Moving Time 4:34:09
Elevation 2,598ft
Avg Speed 14.4mi/h
Max Speed 34.2mi/h
Heart Rate Avg 129bpm Max 164bpm
Calories 1,885
Temperature 55

More training ... two days in a row, which hasn't happened in quite some time because of weather or obligations.

Thanks to Hugo and his merry band of co-TRLs Angelica, Ron, Jeff and Kobie. Always nice to see Ramona and especially Joe. I've noticed in the last few rides that Joe has pushed me to be faster and stronger even though this last time we promised that we'd have a leisurely RIDE. That worked for the few miles right before and after our lunch stop.

And by the end of the day, we received a generous donation from Calvin G. Lum of SF Vet Housecalls. And, I offer a picture of him and his team from last week's San Francisco AIDS Foundation Santa Skivvies Run. I'm sure he or Team Addicted (to finding a cure) wouldn't mind ... Calvin was the #2 fundraiser. YAY, Calvin!  And, I'm sure these pictures are a break from my cycling photos.

Calvin, the roving Vet!

Team Addicted photo by George Lester

Rich, we're here to support you

Distance 58.8
Moving Time 4:38:49
Elevation 4,987ft
Avg Speed 12.6mi/h
Max Speed 34.0mi/h
Heart Rate Avg 136bpm Max 174bpm
Calories 2,063
Temperature 52

I'll update this post later with more.

Mary Vencill led this great ride with supportive folks who helped Rich with his first ride since June.

Mary offered a 20-mile and a 30-mile option, guess which one I rode?

Hey, what's Art been doing?

Distance 62.1
Moving Time 4:29:11
Elevation 3,136ft
Avg Speed 13.8mi/h
Max Speed 34.2mi/h
Heart Rate Avg 133bpm Max 170pm
Calories 1,878
Temperature 61

The last two weeks have been filled with fundraising, eating, cross-training, and finally today a training ride.

Starting December 1, I continued my fundraising efforts and friends have donated an additional $900 since then. Many thanks to G and S, Doris and Phil, Wayne, Ann and Bill, and KooKoo and Jake.

Today started with a brisk ride to the Del Norte BART station to meet Hugo's training ride group.

View from the Berkeley Pedestrian/Bicycle Bridge

On one of my quick rest stops in Richmond, I was flagged down by Lincoln Linsmith, a 5-time bicycle tech for ALC. We talked a bit about our wonderful experience with ALC. The community that surrounds ALC is quite special.

Lincoln of Link in a Chain

Thank you Hugo, Jeff, Angelica and Kobie for another great training ride. I rode with Joe Carlin a bit and we pushed each other to ride a bit faster and harder. I guess that's why the pain in my knees today.

With Joe

I had a pleasant surprise when I got home after the ride. A donation from KooKoo and Jake was made to ALC 2015, a great way to finish the training ride.