Boys on Bikes: Greg, Howard and Bruce at the bottom of Calaveras Road
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EARLY SIGN UPS FOR TWO BIG RIDES IN 2012
The WINE COUNTRY CENTURY in Santa Rosa Saturday May 5th - sign ups in February - check site for exact date - limit 2500 and they always sell out fast.
Levi's King Ridge Grand Fondo - sign ups January 17th starting at 9:00 AM - THis also sold out fast last year.
a not to be missed event!
[Posted: THe COach, Wednesday, December 28, 2011] (616)
TOM'S TWO BRIDGE RIDE
THANK YOU TOM FOR A TRULY NICE RIDE OVER THE BENICIA AND CARQUINEZ BRIDGES! JOINING TOM WERE 'ARTIST' GEORGE, KIM OVERAA, HOWARD, BRUCE AND YOURS TRULY (DM). I THINK WE RODE THROUGH EVERY MICROCLIMATE IN THE BAY AREA.
[Posted: DEBI MILLER, Monday, August 29, 2011] (597)
WE DID IT! MY DONORS ARE AWESOME! AIDS LIFECYCLE 10 MY STORY
IN the briefest interlude between winter and summer, after rain threatened to dampen our spirits and wreck our ride, 2500 cyclists rode their bikes from San Francisco to Los Angeles, to end HIV/AIDS. Their journey was called AIDS LifeCycle and I was honored to be part of this mobile community.
Thanks to all of you, my beloved donors, together we raised over $6,000, which will provide money for critical services to HIV/AIDS patients of the San Francisco AIDS Foundation. You far exceeded my expectations and blew the ceiling off of my $5,000 goal. Thank you so very much. I am humbled indeed. Here a few highlights of the ride.
You can view my photos at https://picasaweb.google.com/debrahbmiller/AIDSLifeCycle10#
Day Zero: HAPPY ANNIVERSARY! Saturday, June 4 was my 44th wedding anniversary. Happy Anniversary Sweetheart! It was also called the day I was to check in at the Cow Palace and leave my bike, “Einstein” to the trusted souls in charge of AIDS LifeCycle 10. In pouring rain, Rick and I drove from Walnut Creek to the Cow Palace in San Francisco, where I watched the Safety Video, got my bike and helmet tags, my $5000 fundraising jersey (yay all of you!) and checked into the Galleria Park Hotel to celebrate our anniversary.
Day One: SF – Santa Cruz 82.5 miles. Ride out from San Francisco to Santa Cruz: NO RAIN. Unbelievable as it was, probably because I wore my rain jacket around my waist all day, the sun gods stayed awake and we had nice weather to pedal from the Cow Palace, through Daly City, Pacifica, Millbrae, Skyline, Crystal Springs, up up up Hwy 92 with a fabulous descent into Half Moon Bay. Then down the coast to Santa Cruz.
Day Two: Santa Cruz to King City 107.3 miles. Rest Stop 1 Manresa Beach was sunny and lovely. This is a long, long day through the agricultural fields of the Salinas Valley, where I once again felt incredibly humbled as I rode my very nice bike while I watched day laborers stooped over to harvest the fields. Strawberries and artichokes were as big as your head.
Day Three: King City to Paso Robles 66.7 miles. This is the day of Quadbuster, which if you train in the East Bay with me, is a piece of cake. Highlight Rest Stop 4 at Mission San Miguel where we watched a Jazzercise “performance” and saw a real friar (not a costume).
Day Four: Paso Robles to Santa Maria 97.7 miles. The day starts with the Evil Twins (more like quintuplet hills, or twins with pets), highlighted by HALF WAY TO L.A. stand on the rock, hold bike over head and take picture before you fall down. Then we ride an awesome 7% descent down to the Coast, and heavenly stop in Cayucos for real coffee and real bathrooms with flush toilets. Wow. At mile 67.3 at Mary Herrington Park I write a postcard to my granddaughters, which are provided postage paid along with salt water taffy.
Day Five: Santa Maria to Lompoc 41.0 miles is RED DRESS DAY! Don’ t we all look fabulous? This is a short day, but not an easy day, as it is all uphill from Santa Maria to Vandenberg AFB (imagine their surprise when they see 2500 cyclists all wearing red dresses?)
Day Six: Lompoc to Ventura 85.5 miles. This is a beautiful day, riding down the Gaviota Pass. Highlight of the day is Paradise Pit, an Ice Cream Social in downtown Santa Barbara. Riding through Beach towns and seeing the first lovely lavender Jacaranda trees in full bloom says loud and clear, we’re in Southern California.
Day Seven: Ventura to L.A. 60 miles. From Camp to finish, it’s Ocean, Ocean, Ocean, with a lovely lunch stop atop Malibu Bluffs. Highlights of the day, stop on bike path at Will Rogers Beach to meet Rick and take another picture with bike over head, and stop at Starbucks on San Vicente. Closing Ceremonies are moving and remind me once again why I ride.
I ride to raise awareness of HIV and AIDS.
I ride to be a straight ally in the gay community.
I ride to honor those who we have lost to HIV/AIDS.
I ride to end AIDS.
The Ride won't end until AIDS does.
[Posted: Debi Miller, Monday, June 20, 2011] (583)