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.