#GivingTuesday for AIDS/LifeCycle $1225

Yesterday, December 1 was #WorldAIDSDay.

Many thanks to those who gave on #GivingTuesday to ALC 2016 on behalf of my riding for such a good cause! 

The Galang Family

KooKoo and Jake

Mr. Mark D. Hodgson

Lawrence Lo

Milanese Family

Mark Hodgson Deserves a Kiss

Mark thank you so much for supporting AIDS/LifeCycle with a $750 donation. You are wonderful and appreciated!

ART MIA from ALC returning TBD

Yes. I've been MIA from blogging because I've been away visiting my sister and her family, then Thanksgiving and now almost two months have passed since I've been on a training ride, but have no fear, I shall be back on my bicycle as a Training Ride Leader (TRL) for this Saturday's AIDS/LifeCycle training ride in Orinda. Thanks Mary Vencill, our fearless TRL Leader extraordinaire for our Saturday rides.

Another Training Ride Leader Adventure

Please visit https://www.facebook.com/artdesuyoALC/timeline/story?ut=43&wstart=0&wend=1446361199&hash=-2329996761110438788&pagefilter=3

To see this post. Thanks and keep on fighting the fight against HIV/AIDS. 

Training Ride Posts

Please visit my Facebook AIDS/LifeCycle page to see my posts.

https://www.facebook.com/artdesuyoALC

Click here for one from last Sunday, September 27, 2015

Almost a Training Ride Leader Veteran

The last two (hot) Saturdays I was a volunteer Training Ride Leader with the East Bay Wildcats.

September 19, 2015
Distance 38.3
Moving Time 3:03:17
Elevation 2,411ft
Avg Speed 12.5mi/h
Max Speed 42.1mi/h
Calories 1,226


George Head set up a short ride and a longer ride. I thought I'd be doing just the short ride. I ended up doing the longer ride with Doug Au -- in the heat and up, up, up Pinehurst. Alls I can say is, "WHEW!"

Thanks, Aaron Lewis for the group photo

The Great George the Multi-tasker

The shy Tanya gets ready for ...

Looking good

Maria is a Newbie to ALC, but not to cycling. Thanks to Kelly and her
Black Girls Do Bike!

September 12, 2015
Distance 17.6
Moving Time 1:35:49
Elevation 853ft
Avg Speed 11.0mi/h
Max Speed 29.8mi/h
Calories 464

Smiles all around for our first official 2016 training ride out of Orinda.

Photo by Steve Wedgewood

Newbie Nancy - she'll soon be riding effortlessly up the East Bay hills

Mock-up of Marti and her incentive cap

We were motivated to raise $500 by August 1, 2015. Gosh, only 2 months after we started cycling ALC 2015's 7-day, 545 mile adventure. How was I to ask my friends and family for donations so soon after finishing the ride?

Marti Nemer donated $500 on July 6, 2015 to jumpstart our fundraising efforts for ALC 2016. By the way, Marti was the first to generously donate on behalf of my participation for AIDS/LifeCycle 2014, 2015 and 2016. Little did she know that she would be the recipient of Art's (or Alysse's) first fundraising incentive for cyclists.

She had the choice of one the these three biking caps, and chose the colorful one. So, is this what Marti will look like when she dons her cap? We're still waiting for the caps to arrive and once I receive it, I'll be sending it to her promptly.

ALC 2016 Cycling Cap Winner
Note: This picture is only a mock-up.
Actual photo(s) of Marti modeling the cap will be
submitted after recipient receives the real cap and
the paparazzi sends Art the photos.  

Thank you Family and Friends!

John and I were delighted to share an afternoon with family and friends celebrating everyone's efforts in helping six Oakland public schools and the San Francisco AIDS Foundation AIDS/LifeCycle. Our brother Valentino whipped up his delicious paella and lechon kawale (roasted pork).

Why haven't I learned to take more photos?

Time for a paint job

I'm now a volunteer ALC Training Ride Leader

Last Saturday and Sunday, 13 of us were certified as AIDS/LifeCycle (ALC) Training Ride Leaders.

So what does this mean?

• We help riders prepare for the 7-day/545-mile adventure assuring that the training ride is a fun, SAFE, consistent, inclusive and well-executed ALC experience
• We are the first point of contact for many ALC participants, and as such are representatives of ALC and the San Francisco AIDS Foundation
• We are viewed as experts by new cyclists, sources of information about the event and cycling skills because of our experience. While we are seen as experts about the AIDS/LifeCycle experience:
• we are not experts in bike fit, physical therapy, bike mechanics or advanced cycling techniques, but some of us have some of these skills
• We are expected to be at official ALC training rides at least 15 minutes before meet time, so that means as early as 5:30 a.m. as we get later into training season

I am looking forward to imparting all that I have learned from the wonderful, patient and kind TRLs who have guided me to have the best ride and journey that I am now on my third year of helping a community that continues to need the us so that we can make HIV/AIDS a thing of the past.

Thank you Julie Brown (for the pic also), Scott Friesen, Ron Poughkeepsie Hirsch, and Mary Vencill  for the safety and ride management training and getting us certified as volunteer AIDS/LifeCycle TRLs - and more importantly, fed.

Additional kudos to ...

The Renew Physical Therapy team, for teaching us to lead dynamic stretches and foam rolling.

Raymond (fellow newbie TRL) at R. Palko Nutrition for helping us understand hydration and nutrition needs for training. Very important to know for new and veteran riders.

Pedro Dungo, P-fits, for more tips on understanding the necessity for a great bike fit.

Lorri Lee Lown with Savvy Bike for an excellent Bike Skills 101 - Fundamental Bike Handling Skills. Who knew that we didn't know what we didn't know. I'm so excited to practice these new skills for stopping, slowing, descending and climbing and impart these skills to everyone I ride with.

Aron Casaday TRL, and Maya for teaching us how to be pseudo-bike mechanics (in a pinch).

But, honestly, I have many TRLs I have learned from in the last two years who allayed my fears of cycling and taught me how to love cycling, climbing and caring for others on the road. Many thanks to VOLUNTEER TRLs Mary Vencill, Hugo and Angelica Sosa, Rachel Sandoval Carl, Jeff Adamus, Greg Nichols, Deanna Dee Dee Tanner, Richard Lagunte, Bob Katz, Jose Sanchez, Joseph Collins, George Head, Aaron Lewis, Don Brown, Lee Hawn, Dawn Tso, Mark Smith, Kas Neteler, George Harrison, Sam Kitajima-Kimbrel, Anthony Sprauve, George Beier, Dr. Bob, Guru Swamy, Steve Wedgwood, Deyon Jonson, Will Ajoy, Ron Marshall, Steven Shum, Jane Maxwell, Cami Caudle, Ron Poughkeepsie Hirsch, Neel Neargood Eargood, and last, but not the least EVER, Buz Miller.

A special tribute to 13-year rider/roadie and one of my first TRLs, who we will miss and love - Edna Flores-Lagunte #1371.

The Wong Sisters support AIDS/LifeCycle 2016

Dorothy Brady and Lulu & Emery Teranishi thank you so much for donating $100 each to the San Francisco AIDS Foundation through AIDS/LifeCycle 2016.

Your support helps San Francisco get closer to making us the first city to be HIV transmission free.

Foam Roller Workout

When I started foam rolling last year, I found this YouTube by the Foam Roller Coach. I use a PVC pipe for my legs and the foam roller for the rest of my body. The video is a good reminder for me.

Marti Nemer #1 for AIDS/LifeCycle 2016

Thank you so much, Marti for being the FIRST to donate to AIDS/LifeCycle 2016 for my participation. 

Marti is the FIRST for 2014, 2015 and 2016 -- YAY, MARTI!

• $500 can help 15 people receive medical benefits counseling to obtain prescription drug assistance
• $250 can help provide ten Rapid HIV Antibody test to test ten people at Magnet, Stop AIDS, or other SFAF sites
• $175 can help provide case management for 15 HIV-positive clients who are homeless or at-risk for homelessness
• $150 can help provide 1,000 syringes through the street-based Syringe Access Service
• $100 can help provide the travel cost for a Stop AIDS Treatment Advocacy Coordinator to attend the medical appointments of 25 clients, providing moral support and to help clients advocate for themselves
• $25 can help a Financial Benefits counselor to assist one person in navigating the private and public benefits systems, including Medi-Cal, Medicare, CARE/HIPP, short-term disability, and Social Security
• $10 can help provide 143 condoms that the Stop AIDS Project will distribute