Thank you volunteer AIDS/LifeCycle Training Ride Leaders Mary Vencill, Sam Kimbrel, Dawn Tso, Deanna Tanner, Ali Mirzazadeh, Steven Shum, and Pepe Sanchez, with special appreciation to Diana F-W and Em Howard for being wonderful SAG supporters. Diana provided great nourishment at every rest stop - Yum! Rest stops were brought to us by Starbucks in El Sobrante mile 21.2, in Martinez mile 52.6, and in Lafayette mile 52.6.
While we have fun being challenged on the training rides, we all need to remember why we ride. We remain committed to the critical goal of raising funds to support the AIDS-related services at both the Los Angeles LGBT Center and San Francisco AIDS Foundation. As event participation has grown, so has our success at raising funds. Our combined Cyclist and Roadie participation has grown from 919 in 2002, to almost 3000 in 2014. The money raised by participants has grown from $4.7 million in 2002 to more than $15 million in 2014. As donations have grown, our costs have decreased. We appreciate everyone involved in this effort of helping those in need and remembering those we have lost.
So, with that being said, my day started with getting up early and following my training ride morning routine with a glass of water, wash my face, breakfast (savory steel-cut oatmeal with pickled napa cabbage, chia seeds, pickled napa cabbage and a dash of soy sauce), reading the paper, more water, rolling-out my legs and warming up my upper body, then scrambling, and one more gulp of water. Where did all the time go? I had 15 minutes to do the following:
brush my teeth (minimum 2 minutes)
apply deodorant
apply arnicare gel (no not what you think, butt butt'r comes later) to my left shoulder, glutes and legs
apply sunscreen (Sports Badger Broad Spectrum SPF 35, non-nano uncoated Zinc Oxide 22.5% - for that gentle, geisha woman look) to face, legs and arms
attach heart rate monitor
attach IT band strap on right thigh (helps with preventing my knee and IT band strain)
put on top underlayer
put on bib shorts, but wait, not all the way
apply to you know what for you know why: La crème lubrifiante par excellence pour la peau et le chamois (the ultimate skin lubricant & chamois cream) - sounds so much more refined and acceptable in French
now the straps (bib arm/shoulder straps) pulled over my shoulders
put on arm warmers
put on jersey
put ziploc of extra butt'r in center back jersey pocket (hmmm? note to self, put this in the pocket the night before)
put on wind vest
put on socks
put on knee straps (helps stabilize the patellar and prevents knee pain)
put on glasses
put on cap
put on helmet
stuff wind vest pockets - left (two Clif Shot Bloks, one Clif Bar & a banana); center (peanut butter and walnut on raisin bread sandwich, made the night before, and snack bag of kumquats, walnuts and dates, and Clif Bar); right (apple, two mandarin oranges, and banana)
DAMN, I have to go to the bathroom for TMI, but it involves taking off the jersey and wind vest - okay, ready for NEXT STEPS
put in a bag wallet, phone, bike computer, extra electrolyte tablets (another, do the night before), and two water bottles
KISS JOHN GOODBYE
lock the door
put my cleats on
race slowly down the stairs
unlock the storage door
unlock the bike
place bike computer on holder
place water bottles in cages
replace in tube bag electrolyte tablets used the day/week before, phone and wallet
take packed bike out of storage
lock storage door
unlock parking gate
place keys in tube bag
close and lock parking gate
And, that's all I needed to get ready to cycle to McArthur BART Station to get to Orinda BART Station for our 7:00 a.m. meet time on a WEEKEND.
We had all the hugs, support, fun and frolicking before our ride out.
Now, how nice is this? Andrew Weber, Bike-fitter Extraordinaire,
came out in the wee hours of the morning to adjust Tanner's cleats.
That's customer service at its best!
Signing-in and Christine showing off her limber moves.
Steve says, "How nice, I'll just take another bite of of this banana."
Margaret shows off her winning smile
Good morning, Ramona. I'll see you next week :)
Yes, Sam has eyes ...
but not here
Look closely - warm hearts from Kathy and Celeste
Varun shares the news, Poh-Ling said, "YES!"
Congratulations Poh-Ling and Varun.
Oh, NO! Why these faces? We haven't started climbing.
Because, Thomas won't be able to with a broken helmet strap.
The sun shines on Captain Richard and his Team EDNA'ettes,
with an Ally photo bomb.
Guru back from his Hawaii trip and not ready for Mary's climbing.
He was TRL on the late starter.
"And, a good morning to you, Hector!" Hugo, by any other name, would be as Hector.
I'll see you Thursday for our Team EDNA wine tasting fundraiser.
Dawn rallies the troop for ...
We then hopped like Easter Bunnies onto our bicycles, pedaling our way from Orinda to El Sobrante riding northwest Camino Pablo and up Wildcat Canyon into Berkeley and ascending Arlington Avenue and finding ourselves at mile 21.2 for our first rest stop at Starbucks in El Sobrante.
The ever-so inspiring Mark Smith who later, after finishing his climb on McEwen Road,
cycled back from McEwen Road and Franklin Canyon Road to make sure Varun and I were okay.
Mark met us as we were just about to reach the crest of McEwen Road.
That was certainly a WTF challenge - Wonderfully Titillating Fun-packed challenge.
Christine smiles. She has more Gentlemen in waiting with
Mark Smith, David Peattie, Varun Jog, Steve Shum, Chris Cooper and unknown Newbie,
but no David Lozes or Alf Victorio.
Newbie and the happy Varun
But you told me to got this way, not that way ...
TRL smiling, before McEwen Road, not sure if he was smiling after. He did post on FB,
"at the top of McEwen road. who took my quads and replaced them with these bags of lactic acid?"
Christine and Matt figuring out Starbucks logistics
Eli smiles. He's with his band of merry men.
Steve before ...
sharing make-up tips for Red Dress Day
and not wanting to follow Christine's tips
Jeff wondering if any of the tips are worthwhile
Pepe is everywhere with his infectious smile
David, a Gentleman in waiting.
Lady Christine and her Gentlemen in waiting off to mile 40.8 another Starbucks in Martinez via the notorious McEwen Road. Mark Smith lead the pack through Martinez towards the Chevron refinery and into Crockett. My wrists were exposed to the now bright sun. Do I apply sunscreen now or 13 miles later at the next rest stop? Am I kidding, apply now. But, but I'm going to be left all by my lonesome, BUT with protected wrists. Stop and apply the sunscreen I did. Lo and behold the Lady and her Gentlemen were waiting for Varun and me, escorted by Mark and his kind heart.
Regrouping after lunch
Matt, Sam, David and Eli had bagels across the way.
Varun, Steve, Charistine, Newbie and I stayed at Starbucks
Diana F-W had provisions for us, but we were ready to roll.
See
Steve says, "So soon?" Christine says, "Yes, my Gentlemen. We are ready."
But, but look at what I have for you ... PB&J, strawberries, water, snacks. Oh, my.
Thank you, Diana. We're off to mile 52.6 Starbucks in Lafayette. Mark decided to stay at the lunch stop a bit longer. He claims THEY, not me, were riding too fast - really, Mark? Mark who does Quadbuster several times to motivate other riders to get to the top. I am in awe.
So we're riding, we're riding ... what a surprise? Another climb, ho-hum. Climb, climb, climb. Outside voice - glass. And this was behind the Speed Queens. Oh no. An F-word. Christine had Gentlemen Sam, Matt and Eli helping her. She was in good hands. I could continue, and that, I did. With David, Steve, Chris, Varun and Newbie (I still didn't get his name - shame on me). We arrived at our last and third Starbucks.
Where ...
is ...
Christine while this F-word is getting fixed? Documenting the experience with photos, of course.
Varun still smiling - she said, "YES!"
Chris provides a semi-smile.
And, they're here, led by Eli ...
then, Sam
then, Christine - sorry, Matt, a car blocked your arrival
Christine says Kabuki Riders. I say Geisha Girls.
and, then, we do this
And, we're ready to cycle about 13 miles to Orinda BART to finish the ride. And, just 2-3 miles into our way back, this happens to Eli. Such a supportive group, folks stayed with Eli and I forged ahead.
We're back! Awaiting more photos from Christine to update the blog.
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