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

Sunday, January 11, 2015

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 ...

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