To Ride or Not To Ride - that is the question

. Distance 34. 5 miles
. Elevation 1,942 ft
. Avg speed 12.2 mi/h
. Calories 1,972

5am in the morning. The loud pitter patter of the rain beckons you to go back into your warm, dry, cozy bed — which is exactly what I did. My alarm was set to go off at 6:30am for an 8:15am meet-up with Mark’s ALC training ride. I turned it off and woke up at 7:45am. I could still make the meet-time, but the 11am, 1pm, and 2pm forecast for showers, rain and thunderstorms helped me decide to do a solo ride.

The ride started out nice and flat along the Bay Trail to catch a glimpse of the gorgeous Golden Gate Bridge. I headed towards Richmond to be greeted by the Cherub on Clinton Avenue. Then on my way to  Castro Ranch Road, oops I thought Valley View Road was Castro Ranch - head back and get to the real Castro Ranch, and Bear Creek Road for some climbing.

By the way, the picture of that stop sign where the 2-lane road becomes one for at least 25 feet. That’s a road that was supposed to be fixed before 2014.

The forecast was a bit off. Noon provided a burst of showers at the foot of Bear Creek Road and into the Baby Bear climb. Mama Bear was a little wet and then dry. But at 12:29 a light shower right at the top of Papa Bear, the longest and steepest climb on Bear Creek Road, became a downpour as I was descending westward. Safety was my main concern, so my descent was slow and deliberate to ease my ride into the Goldilocks climb.

I was wet and starting to get cold, so I decided to cut the ride short and finish my ride at Orinda BART.

Yes, training is required to get us ready for the 7-day, 545-mile adventure.

My family and friends already know that I don’t just do this for fun, to wear spandex, be silly or look silly in cycling gear, be tired and have sore legs, or be WET and COLD. We are all committed to help #endHIVAIDS. I will continue to raise funds to combat this disease until we reach the day that no one has to anymore.

Less than 84 days ;-) until we ride out from the Cow Palace to ride from #SanFrancisco to #LosAngeles for 7 days and over 545 miles to help #EndHivAids.

And for my friends and family who are continuing to help end HIV/AIDS, please go to:

http://www.tofighthiv.org/goto/artdesuyo

We are all committed to help end HIV/AIDS. I will continue to raise funds for the San Francisco AIDS Foundation and the Los Angeles LGBT Center to combat this disease until we reach the day that no one has to anymore.

You are our #Heroes #RideLoveLive #TakeCareOfEachOther and we think about why we give, roadie, and ride.
.for those who can't
.for those who live
.for those who give
.and most of all, for those who can't live if we don't give

#PositivePedalers #EndingStigma will #RideLoveLive until HIV/AIDS is a thing of the past #givingbacktothecommunity #cyclinglife #volunteer