Wacky Ride to Team EDNA Captain Meeting

Distance 2.2
Moving Time 13:27
Elevation 404ft
Avg Speed 9.7mi/h
Max Speed 16.8mi/h
Heart Rate Avg I had none-bpm Max Still none-bpm
Calories 78 (every bit counts)
Temperature 64

Riding to MacArthur BART from home to Orinda BART to Europa Hofbrau to Orinda BART to Rockridge BART and home.

Richard Lagunte, Rachel Sandoval Carl, Deanna Tanner, Thomas Musante (via Facetime) and I had a wonderful exchange of ideas for our kits and fundraisers. We're so excited to see the concept design to share with the rest of Team EDNA members and get more ideas for team fundraising, especially an event at Sports Basement.

Sports Basement supports various communities in fundraising and Team EDNA will partner with Sports Basement in Walnut Creek and Berkeley so that we can get a 10% discount to our event-goers with an additional 10% of all proceeds donated back to AIDS/LifeCycle. Now how good is that?!

Seeing a wonderful familiar face before riding

Distance 49.7
Moving Time 3:32:10
Elevation 1,349ft
Avg Speed 14.0mi/h
Max Speed 35.1mi/h
Heart Rate Avg 123bpm Max 152bpm
Calories 1,504
Temperature 59

Many cheers to the volunteer Training Ride Leaders Hugo Sosa, Angelica Reyes Sosa, Jeff Adamus, Rachel Carl, Ron Marshall, Don Brown, and Sam Kimbrel.

As I rode into the Del Norte BART station parking lot, I had a huge smile on my face when I saw Don and Carol Anne Brown, two delightful people I adore. I spent so much of my stretching time to visit with Carol Anne, but have no fear, Jeff led the group in a warm-up, which I used to for stretching.

with Don and Carol Anne

with Don, TRL extraordinaire

So many familiar faces today, Tanya, newlyweds-to-be Chris and Jess, Lisa and, and ... see what I get for taking three days to update this post and for not taking more pictures to remind me. You know the drill by this time - I thoroughly enjoyed seeing everyone and experiencing the extended ALC Love Bubble.

Sam and I rode off on a newish route for me. A quick rest stop at Safeway in Berkeley, then towards Spruce, which is a favorite gentle climb in Berkeley for many cyclists to Grizzly Peak to the start of Wildcat Canyon. I remember the first time (Feb 2014) up Spruce and wondering how in the heck am I going to enjoy this "what-the-f--k-am-I-doing" ride. I promise the next time I'm riding up Spruce, I'll take photos of this great house with giant statues.

We got to our second rest stop, Peets in downtown Orinda, which happens to be right across the street from Europa, a huge deli/cafe. Yeah, and what about it? Well, it was about noon, maybe earlier and Team EDNA captains had a meeting at 3pm'ish. I could've would've should've cycled back from Del Norte BART after signing out and I decided (hearing John's voice in my head, "you have four more months of training") to head on home and figure out a shorter way to get back to Europa at 3pm.

Voila, my Sunday Funday Trainday ride.

Sam and I taking a break to photograph our bikes on Wildcat Canyon

Riding the day after Mary's birthday

Distance 39.9
Moving Time 3:28:29
Elevation 2,543ft
Avg Speed 11.5mi/h
Max Speed 34.7mi/h
Heart Rate Avg 140bpm Max 166bpm
Calories 1,252
Temperature 54

Many thanks to the volunteer training ride leaders Mary Vencill (and Happy Birthday!), Aaron Lewis, Dawn Tso, Margaret Simon, Ali Mirzazadeh, Sam Kimbrel, Lionel McNeely and Jane Maxwell. Special thanks to SAG Harvey Eckman and Diana F-W.

My alarm was set for 5:00 a.m., but as that time neared, I decided I would not cycle up and over Grizzly Peak today to Orinda. Friday's near-death experience took a bit of my energy away, but it did not stop me from cycling today. I finally got up at 6:30 a.m., rode to MacArthur BART and took BART to Orinda. The Love Bubble opened its arms and I was hugged by many fellow riders.

So, as you can see from the map, my bike computer had a glitch - and an odd one at that. I'm not sure how I lost the route from Orinda to Moraga and how the computer thought I rode straight from MacArthur BART to Moraga. I did notice that my computer had turned off at the beginning of the ride, so most likely my forgetfulness to turn on the timer failed to capture the ride from Orinda BART to Moraga.

Most of my ride was spent with Alf, Sam, Christine and Matt. Thanks for challenging me to keep up with you speed demons.

Matt, Alf, Art, Christine and Sam

Riding with Carlos

Distance 33.0
Moving Time 2:41:09
Elevation 2,520ft
Avg Speed 12.3mi/h
Max Speed 34.9mi/h
Heart Rate Avg 123bpm Max 162bpm
Calories 1,084
Temperature 50

I have so much fun riding with my ALC 2015 tent-mate, Carlos Rangel, because he likes to spend an hour at our only rest stop. We haven't seen each other since November, so we ended up yakking at Caffe Duetto at 5646 Bay Street in Emeryville.  We lost all the momentum and heat generated from the ride to the rest stop and we wondered why we froze in today's cold weather.

I'm glad I cycled all the way up to his place in the Oakland hills giving me a better workout with the short ride.

The Hills Were Not Alive in Today's Musical

Distance 36.9
Moving Time 2:38:40
Elevation 509ft
Avg Speed 14.0mi/h
Max Speed 41.4mi/h
Heart Rate Avg 110bpm Max 147bpm
Calories 893
Temperature 59

Today, I skipped an official AIDS/LifeCycle (ALC) training ride with Hugo Sosa to cycle with Bill Harwood (ALC 2012, 2013 & 2014), my pre-ALC cycling mentor, and Woojin Lee. When I bought my first road bike, Bill was the one who taught me all the tips of cycling and safety rules to expect when riding with ALC.

Thanks to Bill for initially trying to get me to join ALC years ago and eventually Ben Connelly who gave me the final push January 2014, I'm thoroughly thrilled to be hooked on cycling and fundraising for ALC.

After yesterday's ride up and down Wildcat Canyon to Orinda BART and back to Oakland with the Three Bears in between, I'm so glad that we rode a hill-less route today. I haven't seen Bill and Woojin for months, so we had fun catching up and still riding (mostly) single-file with at least one cycle length between each rider, but don't ask about the other ALC safety rules.

After we got back to Oakland, Bill graciously took us all to lunch, including the boys. John decided that football needed him more than us.

Thanks, Bill for lunch

Dry patch September 28, 2014

New growth January 18, 2015

Point Richmond Dock

Dilapidated building by the dock

Sailing school

Bill and Woojin

with Woojin

The trio

79 Riders for East Bay Wildcats ALC Training

Distance 57.4
Moving Time 4:21:27
Elevation 4,449ft
Avg Speed 13.2mi/h
Max Speed 37.8mi/h
Heart Rate Avg 135bpm Max 176bpm
Calories 1,974
Temperature 57

Many thanks to our wonderful, volunteer Training Ride Leaders, Mary Vencill, Guru Swamy, Ron Marshall, Steve Wedgwood, Deanna Tanner, Jane Maxwell, Sam Kimbrel, and Steven Shum. You all make training with the East Bay Wildcats an utter delight.

Awake at 5:15 a.m. and ready to start the day with another great ride to Orinda for East Bay Wildcats 7 - Three Bears. The ride from Orinda BART took us up and over the Three Bears to BearClaw Bakery and Cafe in Hercules. After riding almost 30 miles, I decided to try a bear claw. I'm so glad I did. It was warm and a gastronomical pleasure. If you're ever in Hercules, stop by, they've got other pastries and lunch, which I'll have to try the next time we have a rest stop here.

I spent most of my ride with Sam Kimbrel, Joe Carlin, Mike Sims, and kinda, sorta Christine Ho. Christine was so fast - as soon as I blinked, she was gone, way far ahead. I helped Mike cycle through his knee pain by offering my knee straps, which he says helped - I know they help me tremendously. I use them just in case, so I was able to force Mike so that he could somewhat enjoy the end of the ride.

The route through Three Bears and then San Pablo Dam Road is so scenic offering views of Briones Dam, San Pablo Dam, barns, wild turkeys, cows, and unfortunately, road kill (three skunks and one raccoon). Actually, my ride to Orinda up and over Grizzly Peak via Wildcat Canyon was so filled with wild turkeys that I lost count after twenty. One actually flew from the road up the hill about twenty feet.

Upon returning to Orinda BART, I was hemming and hawing trying to figure out if cycling back home or taking BART was in my near future. Since a train had just left the station, cycling was the option and I'm so glad that Joe asked if that was going to be my choice because he wanted to join me. The route back was a toss up between going up Wildcat Canyon or Pinehurst. I initially said Pinehurst and my legs were so happy that Wildcat Canyon won - less steep. Thanks, Joe, for motivating me to cycle back home. I truly enjoyed the ride through the Berkeley campus, something I have never done (walking or cycling). Until the next ride ...

Group Warmup

The Wonderful Steve

Tony and Blaine

Man in Blue, Tanner, Dan, & Joe

Claire and Diane

All things Asian, almost - How'd that happen?

When Mary speaks ...

Christine and Steven

With Mike

I come back home after a 57.4-mile ride welcomed by Po-Ling Loh's generous donation

Thank you, Po-Ling for your continued support of AIDS/LifeCycle -- riding and fundraising for ALC 2013 and 2014 and now donating AND being Traffic Roadie for ALC 2105!

More donations from wonderful supporters

Thank you Jay, Bok, Cindy, Anita, Maria, Loida, Vic, George, Vera, Sharon, William, Patricia, Theresa & Pere, Vanna, Niello Infiniti, and Scott for your recent support for AIDS/LifeCycle.

Why donate early? Simple ... because the money raised goes to work RIGHT NOW to help people in need.

AIDS/LifeCycle's Mission Revisited and Sunday Resolution Training Ride

Distance 42.9
Moving Time 3:09:53
Elevation 1,020ft
Avg Speed 13.6mi/h
Max Speed 28.0mi/h
Heart Rate Avg 112bpm Max 144bpm
Calories 1,071
Temperature 54

We have Hugo Sosa, Angelica Sosa, Jeff Adamus, Rachel Sandoval Carl, and Greg Nicols to thank for volunteering their time to be motivating Training Ride Leaders for Sunday's Resolution Ride Del Norte.

As you can see from the map way below, the ride was artfully mapped out (almost Italy upside down) and, thankfully, relatively flat (especially after yesterday's ride which was full of climbing).

This morning my original alarm was to go off at 5:30 a.m. so that I could have the same morning ritual as yesterday's. I did get up at 4:45 a.m. and quickly determined that I was not going to need 1 and 1/2 hours to cycle from home to El Cerrito Del Norte BART because I would not take my original route up and over Grizzly Peak, down Wildcat Canyon, and San Pablo Dam Road west. I took the 45-minute route along the Bay Trail and my body, especially my legs thanked me.  I woke up "for reals" shortly before 6:00 a.m. - big difference, but about an hour more of sleep.

I started the morning along the Bay Trail where Snoopy welcomed me. I realized the red plane was the Red Baron only after I uploaded the picture. When I got to Del Norte BART, Lisa Mccarty was right there for us to scream in delight. She introduced me to her friend, Melissa - "The loud one" - Lisa's words. We all laughed. Lisa, I'm sure shared the story of when I first introduced myself to Lisa last fall. I'm paraphrasing below.

Art:  Hi. I'm Art. Are you new to AIDS/LifeCycle?
Lisa: Hi. I'm Lisa, Yes, I am.
Art: You cut hair, right and ...
Lisa: Ahhh, yes. (looking very afraid) How do you know?

Long story short, I mentioned to Lisa that I was the one who asked her and Lisa to keep the volume of their conversation lower. With earbuds on and music full blast, I could hear every gossipy detail Lisa and Melissa were inadvertently sharing with everyone around them. All said with love ... who would have known we'd be AIDS/LifeCycle BFFs.

Jared Paul joined us to reiterate the importance of what we do to help those with AIDS/HIV and how those who donate help fund the resources and organizations to meet AIDS/LifeCycle's mission to ...

1. Raise funds to support the HIV/AIDS services of the Los Angeles LGBT Center and the San Francisco AIDS Foundation;
2. Increase awareness and knowledge about the services and programs offered by the benefiting organizations;
3. Increase awareness and knowledge about HIV/AIDS among participants, their donors and the general public;
4. Increase AIDS activism and volunteerism among the participant and donor communities, inspiring them to become ambassadors in the fight against AIDS;
5. Provide a positive, life-affirming experience for people affected and infected by HIV;
6. Contribute to an increased understanding of the disproportionate impact HIV has had on the GLBT communities in SF and LA;
7. Encourage an environment of dignity and improved quality of life for those affected by HIV and AIDS.

Before we rode out, Julie Brown took us through a meditative preamble reminding us of the lives we've touched, we've helped, we've lost, we've not yet met or would never meet - reasons why we ride.

While today's group of 30 riders was much smaller than yesterday's whopping 84 riders, it was still full of fantastic fun and energy.

Resolution Ride 2015 Del Norte

Snoopy

The Red Baron

Foggy Emeryville

More Snoopy

Seabreeze - a great eatery

Hugo go over the route

Lisa and friend QUIETLY listening :)

They are excited, really

Greg

Rachel being her cute smiley self

We're a good group of listeners

The Boss - Jared Paul

Angelica thinking

With Julie Brown

Ari riding into the first rest stop

With Ari

Angelica in her glory - cheering, with cow bells in hand, riders as they finish

Can you tell the difference? Ari finishing the ride.

P finishing the ride - I'll have his full name when he emails me :)

Ramona (still a BFF) saw the camera and this is the best I could capture - MY FAULT

Saturday Resolution AIDS/LifeCycle Training Ride for 2015

Distance 57.9
Moving Time 4:12:56
Elevation 4,587ft
Avg Speed 13.7mi/h
Max Speed 34.7mi/h
Heart Rate Avg 137bpm Max 174bpm
Calories 2,078
Temperature 55

This Saturday was certainly much warmer than last week. Thanks to Mary Vencill, Andy Fyfe, Aaron Lewis, Steven Shum, Dawn Tso, George Head, Rex Gordon, and Sam Kimbrel -- all wonderful, volunteer Training Ride Leaders.

My alarm went off at 5:15 a.m. and I was up and getting ready for the day and ride. By 6:00 a.m., I had my mom's needs taken care of until my return and a hot breakfast to keep me nourished and warm on today's ride. I rolled out my glutes and legs by 6:30 a.m. The rest of the time until 7:15 a.m. was literally getting prepped and dressed for the ride.

On my bike about 7:20 a.m. to go up and over Grizzly Peak to Orinda BART for the 8:15 a.m. AIDS/LifeCycle Fundraising Mini-clinic. We took time to introduce ourselves to newly-registered and potential riders and talked about what worked for those of us when we fundraise. I shared what I do to get friends and family interested in AIDS/LifeCycle and the great take-away I got from Mary Vencill is that I was reminded to reiterate that we're not riding and fundraising for ourselves, we're doing this for an important cause - a Ride to End AIDS.

Alf Victorio and I were the first to ride out with Sam Kimbrel and Joe Carlin soon joining us. At about 8 miles out Joe had a flat, but Sam was already ahead and didn't notice. Alf and I helped Joe with changing his flat and when Rich Lagunte reached us after about 40 other riders passed, he exclaimed, "Are there thumbtacks on the road? You're the 7th flat in the group." What a nice way to start.

We caught up with part of the group at the first rest stop in Hercules and after a quick pit stop, Alf and I hopped onto our bicycles and continued the ride with Sam and Catherine (a new rider). At about 23 miles into the ride, we came across a detour. Unbeknownst to us, that was our turn. We ended up in the oh-so quaint town of Porta Costa (sorry no pictures), but found our way back onto the correct route to Martinez.

SO, I've gotten used to putting butt butt'r on anytime, anyplace. I'm not flashing, no skin is shown when this acrobatic act is done, and I make sure I'm at least hidden away from the public (on the 7-day ride, that's another story). The way I slather it on isn't as bad as the way some men are always groping or adjusting themselves. Well, today, in Martinez, as soon as I was done applying the precious butt'r where I thought I was tucked away from Starbucks outside sitting area and the public's gaze, I heard - "You know, you shouldn't be doing that in public. I live here. Geez." I swear with the bushes and all, I couldn't be seen, but I guess someone, instead of looking at the creek and view, he was more interested in the amateur entertainment. Yeah, he was right. So no more public display of butt butt'r application for me - during training rides.

All-in-all a great, tiring ride. I'm glad Alf talked me into hitching a ride with him to take me home. What was I thinking when I wanted to add 42 miles more so that I could log-in a century for today????

Now, off to the gym ... just to stretch and sit in the jacuzzi (if it's clean - it's 24-Hour Fitness Downtown Oakland).

7:20am Ride Out

Big Group

More of the Big Group

Bob Katz

Group at 8:20 a.m.

Chorus Line Rejects

I love Mary

I think Mary likes that I love her

And, here's Ron

with Sam

With the effervescent Tanner