Day 7 and more

What can I say…after sitting out for 2 ½ days, trying to be smart and an example to others on how to take care of yourself when injured (so not to further injure yourself further), I decided to ride the last day. Thank you to James Ray and Sarah Sypniewski my ALC Cycle Buds for letting me vent, consultations and comforting me with this disappointment.

Saturday, Day 7, my knee was still tender, but at least I could bend it by this point in the trip. I was so excited and nervous about getting back on a bike. I started out slow and then realized that I needed to go my normal speed. I took off. It felt so good; going along a course that I was very familiar with. I was both excited and sad that the event was near the end. The weather was doing me in. I am not a fan of cold, wet & windy. Yet all the months of preparation and the event sort of flew by. I made it in very early to the VA 11:50am to be exact. I stopped at every stop and even sat down to chat with Brian from SF. Ironically I spent the day riding solo and not with my usual group. It was rather fitting. As I rode I was able to process the week.

I got to think about why I did the ride this year. The ride isn’t about me and how many miles I do (even though I felt like I was letting a lot of people down, especially my new coworkers). Yes, it is for the cause (AIDS/ HIV), but I think my work put’s it best with it’s motto. Ride Life, Ride Giant. I’m out there with everyone else Riding Life... I wasn’t there this year only to ride, but to support others experiencing life’s challenges and triumphs that the ride creating for them. ALC is an experience of a lifetime, we all grow and change on the ride it is inevitable and a gift. I was challenged to take my eyes of myself and focus on others who needed my support. Whether it was me cheering up those riders who are struggling to get up those hills, telling stories and singing songs to distract other riders of the many more miles still to come or was there to cheer on that newbie who had never ridden that many miles before and finished their first day, to help instruct new riders of what was to come and see them cross that finish line. To help that cyclist stranded on the side of the road with a flat tire, or to council a fellow cyclist with bad news from home, struggling with a situation or personal issue. A couple people amazed me. Heidi had gotten 8 flat tires (sometime 2 a day), lost a screw from her cleat and couldn’t get her shoe off the peddle, yet she continued to have a smile and continued to conquer each day as if nothing had ever happened. She was a real inspiration.

Since I finished early on Saturday, I got to see most people cross the finish line, for some it was their first time, some that I had lead on training rides and spent time with on the ride, some I had helped up that hill or cheered them on because they were riding a Giant bicycle. It was very humbling to be able to sit there and watch the riders cross the line of victory, not only for the cause, but for themselves. Their elated faces as they had accomplished a life long goal that they didn’t think imaginable, living the memory of ones they had lost. I got to witness firsthand snapshots of their life while they road with them and got to see before my very own eyes life transform in just a week. Who could ask for more…and yes even though I said that this would be my last year with ALC, I came to the conclusion that I need to come back. I still haven’t ridden every mile. I don’t know when but I will do it again.

For now, my knee needs to heal. I went to the doctor and I did tear a tendon (dinged it) and stressed some ligaments. My doctor says 4-6 months for it to fully heal, but by my birthday (beginning of July) I can start riding again, while cross training, but stay on relatively flat ground. I will be aiming to do a ride in August called the “Cool Breeze” Ventura to Santa Barbara. The doctor said I probably would be ready if I take the hills very slow and take very good care of myself. He gave me some medicine to help with the pain and inflammation. He also complimented me for stopping when I did. He noted that if I had continued on I definitely would have done far more damage resulting in the need possibly for surgery. I guess with my getting older I am actually getting smarter. I hope that I don’t loose my new found wisdom.

I also went back over some of my mom’s entries and made a few additions that I forgot to tell her on the phone. So, please re-read when you get a chance. She did an amazing job and everyone is so very impressed by her writing skills and blogging ability. Thank you Mom and thank you for the support via the phone.

Day 6

Today's ride was from Lompoc to Ventura 85.5 miles. Well the good news is San Buena Ventura Beach is almost home. The bad news-Deanne was not able to ride today. She woke up this morning feeling great but was in a lot of pain a little later. Tonight was the candle light vigil to honor those that have died and those that still are living with AIDS/HIV. The vigil takes place on the beach. The riders, roadies, and staff are joined by a tremendous group of families, friends and media. The sight of all those people holding candles is awesome and very moving. Tomorrow will be another emotional day when the cyclists ride into the V.A. facilities in Westwood and the ride comes to an end. Well, my job is done. Deanne will be the next blogger. Good Bye.

Mom

Day 4

Today's ride was from Paso Robles to Santa Maria-94.7 miles. Last night Deanne and her friends were able to enjoy a rootbeer float. It sure tasted good after the long, hot, and windy day. D wasn't able to sleep much last night because of a security light that was shining on the tent all night. Every day when the new camp sites are set up the tents are rotated so no one tent has to experience the lights, traffic to rest rooms and whatever two days in a row. The tent mates are assigned a site and that's where they have to pitch their tent. The tents are always in the same order they just rotate up and down the rows. The weather was very cold this morning and it was really hard to get going. Deanne was able to make it to the halfway marker around 11 am. I told you that it's a tradition to have their picture taken at the sign. What I didn't tell you is that they get their picture taken while holding their bike over their head. Wow, halfway from San Francisco to Westwood and on a bike. The wind was 30 + miles per hour today. At rest stop two, Pismo Beach, the wind was blowing so hard everyone was getting sandblasted and the crew had to take down their canopy. Deanne said it looked like one giant dirt bowl. There were a lot of dead animals on and off the highway today. When the group was climbing a particularly difficult hill today they noticed an extremely large group of hawks circling overhead. Everyone started joking about the hawks anticipating a few, not so tender, bikers for lunch-sorry, not today. In all the comotion to get up the hill in the wind someome noticed that Alison (sp) was missing. Alison is having trouble with her back and so everyone was looking frantically for her. When someone looked up at the hill, that they were having such a difficult time climbing, there was Alison at the top. As they were struggling to ride up Alison got off her bike and walked up to the top-at least she hadn't been carried off. Thanks to Alfred Hitchcock any flock of birds can be intimidating. Deanne's knee was giving her a lot of pain. She said "it felt like someone was stabbing me under my right knee cap with a screw driver". Needless to say, at mile 33 she asked if someone could tape the knee for her. The rest stop crew insisted that she go on the bus to the Santa Maria Camp to see the medics. Deanne thought that she could go back and finish the days ride but the medics had a different idea. D tore a tendon and damaged a ligament. But with massage, manipulation, and some Tylenol she should be able to ride tomorrow. She was upset that she had to SAG -be picked up by the Support and Gear vehicle, but realizes that she probably couldn't pedal up another hill with just one leg. Over 400 cyclists SAGed before lunch today. Heather was the only one of "the group" to make it all the way today-way to go Heather! The food is great and everyone is having a lot of fun. Deanne keeps seeing more and more Giant bikes, mostly guys though. Tomorrow is "red dress" day. Let's hope that tomorrow is a better day and that the wind isn't as brutal.

Mom

Day 3

Today's ride was from King City to Paso Robles-77.3 miles of the worst road in all of California. As I mentioned last night, this section of the ride is known as the "Quad Buster". The weather was very hot and many cyclists (including Deanne) got a little sun burned. Deanne commented on seeing a lot of Giant bikes today. She was wearing her Giant Kit (shirt & matching shorts) and her friends were teasing her about her Giant butt and Giant chest (the word Giant is in very large letters on the back of the shorts and across the bustline) oh well, a little laughter is good for you. Today is the day that the ride goes through the small town that a school in Bradly hosts a BBQ as a fundraiser for their elementary school. This is the only fund raiser the local school conducts and everyone looks forward to the ALC's visit. Obviously, a good time is had by all. D had a double cheeseburger, chips and a coke. A few miles back on the road she started to re-think such a heavy lunch in such hot bumpy conditions, but she was ok. There was a dead mountain lion that kind of made her sad, it hadn't been dead very long and was under a tree on the side of the road. Deanne and Heather were the only two of their group to make it all the way today. A nice shower can rid you of more than the road dirt and Deanne is always glad for those great big trucks with the portable showers and plenty of hot water after a ride. D is feeling pretty good except for a pain under the knee cap. Someone gave her some Bio Freeze and she is feeling better. Tomorrow they will pass the half way marker, where it is a tradition to have your picture taken. Tomorrow the riders will face the "Evil Twins" -two exceptionally difficult hills and end their day in Santa Maria. The mission that they saw yesterday was the Mission Soledad. I think thats pretty much it for today.

Mom

Day 2

Day 2 was a long day-105.4 mile ride, mostly flat, from Santa Cruz to King City. D woke up to a tent drenched with condensation from the fog. Everything was wet. The day's ride included a visit to the "Cookie Lady" (she starts baking cookies in March for the ride and made over 2,600 this year-vegan, raisen, chocolate chip etc.), a peek into a mission, views of strawberry fields (where the workers stopped working to wave to the cyclists), again, amazing views of the ocean and fabulous surroundings. She missed out on the skinny dipping, darn. The weather was cold in the morning but warmed up to the upper 80's /lower 90's. The winds blew from every direction and at times the cyclists were riding slanted to one side just to stay upright. Deanne is feeling pretty good, just has some pains in her shoulders from leaning forward so much-thank goodness for those instant heat packs. At one of the stops today they were handing out "otter pops"- boy did they hit the spot. After a couple of chocolate milks for breakfast and lunch she was ready to tackle anything. D stayed behind to ride in with a newbie so they didn't get into camp until around 7 pm. The girl she was riding with thought that they were the last of the cyclists to get to camp. Deanne had to tell her friend to turn around and look behind her- there were somewhere between 100 and 150 people still coming. Except for running out of bandaids everything is going pretty well. D hasn't been able to reach Gab Cast, there are just too many people trying to leave phone messages. Hope she gets plenty of sleep tonight because tomorrow's ride is known as the "Quad Buster" due to the bad condition of the road.

Mom

Day1

D's group of riders decided to hold back and leave Cow Palace close to the end of the 2333 cyclists. The group consists of 10 riders six of whom are "newbies". At the start of the ride it was very windy and cold, no rain but a lot of dampness and fog. The 10 mile climb to Skyline can be a little challenging and except for dropping her chain at mile 3 everything went smoothly. Her Giant bike was great shifting and made all the difference in climbing those hills. Deanne credits her bike rides at lunch (with her Giant co-workers) for helping her ride in the wind. Since Skyline was in the clouds it was the coldest part of the ride. Once out of the clouds though, everyone was peeling off those extra layers. D enjoyed the beautiful views of a light house and amazing surroundings. Deanne and her tent mate Heather were the only ones (in their group) not to sag today. Way to hang in there D! Deanne did have a mishap when she cut her finger (small cut) on a piece of glass helping someone change a flat tire. Todays ride was 94 miles but all are safely tucked in their tents, "lights out" is 9 pm. Roadie up date- 568 are making complete camp "communities" including security, food, showers, restrooms, hospital and transporting all equipment from one camp site to the next and in some cases transporting the ridders via van to the next camp site, not to mention manning rest stops every 20 or so miles. Wow
Night night, Mom

D and Beth spent several hours Thursday night loading and packing 9 bikes and gear into a U-haul truck. They, along with Keith, left Ventura about 5 am on Friday. The trip fortunately was uneventful and all arrived in San Francisco safe.
Saturday was check in day at the Cow Palace. Again things went fairly well. Bikes get turned in and tent assignments are handed out. All paper work etc. gets sorted taken care of. Lots of people but very well orginized.
This year there are 2,300 cyclists and app. 450 "roadies"(volunteers). The Aids Life Cycle 6 raised 11 million dollars- that is 3 million more than last year's record breaking 8 million. Participants are from 10 countries and 43 states.
The only downer seems to be the dark,cold, and windy weather that is San Francicso. There is a possibility of rain on opening day. Everyone is expecting a colder ride this year.
Opening Ceremonies were to begin at 5 am this morning and the first riders should have left Cow Palace an hour or so later. Since I can't find any information on how the Opening Ceremonies went I must assume that it all went well.
Will the weather be a plus or a hindrance during that tuff climb (biggest climb of the ride) out of the Cow Palace in Daly City (near San Francisco) and on towards the first camp at Harvey West Park in Santa Cruz? I guess we will hear about that later if and when D checks in.
Hope to have more info on day 1 later.

Mom