50-miles busts my behind today

nuun - my electrolyte of choice

Since I started AIDS/LifeCycle (ALC) on February 2014, I learned more about cycling, and what we needed to have on each ALC training ride. February 2014 is when I purchased a road bicycle. When Richard from Tip Top Bike Shop asked me how much I wanted to spend, I responded with "Maybe $500." Those of you who know the cost of road bikes scoff at me, but I digress.

I became aware of electrolytes because of ALC's guide to training.

These are the required items needed to participate in an official AIDS/LifeCycle training ride:

• Bicycle (mechanically safe and in good working order)
• Helmet (ASTM, Snell, ANSI or CPSC approved)
• 2 Water bottles (one filled with an electrolyte replacement drink) OR 1 hydration pack (like a Camelbak), plus a bottle filled with an electrolyte replacement drink.
• Bike frame pump or CO2 cartridges
• Patch kit or spare tube that will fit your tire size.
• Tire Irons

For my first year of training mostly in the East Bay and the 7-day 545-mile ride from San Francisco to Los Angeles, I used Gatorade and Powerade. For me, these drinks were much to sugary and on one of my many visits (shopping sprees) to REI, I discovered "nuun." Well, more like, I saw this hunk, Bobby Mack, marketing dreamboat for nuun. Bobby shared with me the virtues of nuun including its ingredients at 10 calories per tablet per 473 ml / 16 oz bottle:

• 10 calories
• sodium: 360 mg
• potassium: 100 mg
• magnesium: 25 mg
• calcium: 13 mg
• vitamin c: 38 mg
• 10 calories
• 1 g of sugar
• other ingredients include:
• plant based sweetener monk fruit and a touch of stevia leaf extract to provide a crisp and light sweetness
• non-gmo sourced dextrose to increase the speed of absorption and hydrate you faster
• avocado oil for clean, plant-based production

After tasting and really not hearing anything Bobby said, I did purchase a tube of nuun Active and nuun energy. I was hooked and since the fall of 2014, my electrolyte of choice is nuun.

As a volunteer ALC Training Ride Leader, I'll be sharing nuun Active with fellow riders on each ALC training ride. I'll let you know their response.

Please note this post is not an advertisement or that I am not being paid to share this information.

With your help, get us to Zero HIV Transmission

Click on this link if you're ready to donate to AIDS/LifeCycle

Planning to cycle 44 miles after 5 weeks off ...

We shouldn't complain ... BUT IT WAS COLD

Today was our last AIDS/LifeCycle Del Norte Dragonflies training ride for the fall, but we won't stop. Please click on the links for highlights of today's COLD ride.

Facebook Album of today's Ride

The holidays are upon us ...

and we still continue to cycle in the cold! We hope in the near future that our efforts bring us to the day where  HIV/AIDS is a thing of the past. But it ain't and that's why you'll see many others, including me ...

• raise awareness
• fund resources 
• help the needy
• bring love and cheer to the community

Since the AIDS/LifeCycle 2016 ride ended June 11, we rested. Very soon after some said the heck with resting. I've been a bit quiet with what I've been doing in fighting HIV/AIDS and that's because I lied. Yes, I lied about 2016 being the year when I take a break from fundraising and riding. With the generous help of friends and family we have been the top 10 fundraisers in Northern California since I started riding for AIDS/LifeCycle 2014 and happily top 10 overall for 2014 and 2016.

So why the LIE? Well, you can agree that my lie is the kinda lie that is sorta, kinda okay. Honestly, I was planning to take a much needed break of asking you year-after-year to donate to the cause. I broke my promise only a few days after the ride. Many in the AIDS/LifeCycle community couldn't believe that I was taking a hiatus. I was one of the biggest cheerleaders and energetic supporters for new and returning riders. I came back because ...

• my cyclist rep asked me to reconsider (back me up on this one, Ken)
• WE raised $115,617 in the last three years
• most importantly, HIV/AIDS is still here and we CAN do something about ending it

Marti Nemer, has been the first to generously donate each year being in the Top 10 Fundraisers on behalf of my participation. I promise (and this is not a lie) to post the Top 10 for my last three years in January when I'll start, once again, asking my loved ones for their help.

The most recent event, besides training on weekends, was the AIDS/LifeCycle Holiday party. 

Melissa Lewis, Director of AIDS/LifeCycle, mentioned our participation in the Ride is what will make the world a better, brighter and stronger place.

Joe Hollendoner, CEO of the San Francisco AIDS Foundation spoke to the many successes we helped the Foundation accomplish this past year.

I wanted to share them with you - we are making a difference.

1.   Our syringe access program expanded its work at our 6th Street harm reduction center from 2 days per week to 6, and now incorporates hepatitis C testing and linkage to care.

2.   Our Stonewall substance health program provided mental health and substance treatment services to 800 clients each year.

3.   Our mobile testing unit helped the foundation provide 10,000 HIV tests this past year.

4.   Our PrEP program has 1,500 patients enrolled and Bridgemen recently reached 2,000 members. 

Those four points only scratch the surface. Thank you for making an impact in reducing HIV transmission rates, and ending stigma by being a part of AIDS/LifeCycle.

Here is a link of Bob Katz's Photos and a few of mine 

Marti Nemer THANK YOU - Please tell me I'm doing a good thing

I wrote an email this morning to Marti Nemer ...

Well, guess who didn't have the heart to say NO and let himself be talked into registering for AIDS/LifeCycle 2017? So, I LIED, about 2016 being my last year so I could take a break.

So what got me back? My cyclist representative told me how important I am to helping the San Francisco AIDS Foundation. My fundraising has helped SFAF provide critical services for people who cant afford them so they can continue to live with HIV and AIDS. 

I did share with AIDS/LifeCycle that I was not going to be the gung ho fundraiser. My plan is to send three email messages:  

1) to let everyone know that I’m a liar and will continue with AIDS/LifeCycle

2) to remind folks who want to donate (mid-March 2017)

3) last effort a few days before June 4, 2017

PLEASE KNOW - NO PRESSURE.  I just want to make sure I don’t give up your reign as first to donate every year.  And you notice how I didn’t call and sent you an email :)

And, the picture shows the result ...

Thank you Marti Nemer​ -- you are the best for being the first, top donor and wonderful supporter on my behalf of AIDS/LifeCycle 2014, 2015, 2016 AND 2017!