Maynard Rabara's
Please Support Me In My Bicycle Ride To LA - Fighting To Find A Cure For AIDSThank you for taking the time to view my homepage! Last June, I rode in my first AIDS/Lifecycle (2007, ALC6) and had one of the most memorable and fun (not to mention, most challenging) weeks of my life. This year, I've reaffirmed my commitment to helping find a cure for AIDS and will be doing the 7 day, 545+ mile ride from San Francisco to Los Angeles again (June 1 through 7), along with over 2300 other cyclists and 500 roadie volunteers. Because, as they say, "The ride doesn't end until AIDS does". It's unfortunate, and the epidemic continues. In fact, in San Francisco alone, almost 19,000 people are living with HIV/AIDS - and over 18,000 people have died from AIDS in San Francisco since its discovery here. More broadly, since the start of the AIDS epidemic, 1.5 million Americans have been infected with HIV and more than 550,000 have died of AIDS in our country. That said, I've become extremely dedicated to focusing my passion for bicycling on the challenge of ALC. Knowing that what I'll be doing is making a difference in the lives of people with HIV/AIDS (among them, my eldest brother, Michael) motivates me to get on my bike everyday; whether it's for riding around town running errands, doing my short commute to work, recreationally enjoying the weather, or putting in actual training miles in the Oakland Hills (currently, approximately 125+) for the week. Finally, I hope my conviction to biking and ALC inspires you as a supporter. I ask that you please donate what you can. Your money goes to raising awareness of the presence of the disease in our community and stopping the spread of HIV/AIDS globally, through the San Francisco AIDS Foundation and the other sponsors of ALC7. (www.aidslifecycle.org) If all goes as expected - with your help, we'll be able to surpass the $11 million(!) in donations we raised last year and we'll be that much closer to making AIDS a thing of the past. Of course, your monetary support is tax deductible and helps me to reach my personal goal of $2500. If nothing else, please leave me a personal message of support here on my homepage - your words, blessings and thoughts are infinitely encouraging and keep me riding, everyday! Much love and gratitude, Maynard www.aidslifecycle.org/1707 If you have any questions, please let me know; email me at hatch@xandersdesign.com - or call me at 925-366-2803 - I look forward to hearing from you!
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Maynard's latest blog entry:
Friday, May 30, 2008 
Approaching the summit at Mt. Diablo, elev: 3850ft - Sporting my ALC6 souvenir jersey!
Maynard's Goal: $2,500.00
Current Total: $3,695.77 |
Maynard's LinksSan Francisco AIDS Foundation
L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center
Experience AIDS/LifeCycle 2007
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Maynard's BlogFriday, May 30, 20087:41 AMLeaving Sunday - Find Me Here!Chronicling the ride as I go: http://www.flickr.com/photos/momentofinertia/ - Check back here every day (or so), as I'll be snapping photos while out on the road and in camp and sending them to The Web. It'll be like you're right there with me. Kinda. And without the sweating, spandex and snoring. ALC7 Up-to-the-minute video podcasting and photo experience, hosted by ALC: http://aidslifecycle.typepad.com/ - Some interesting people and footage. With higher production value than I can offer via my iPhone. A trip down memory lane: My pictures from last year's ride (ALC6 - 2007) Flickr photos - http://www.flickr.com/photos/momentofinertia/sets/72157600350126568/ Needless to say, I'm really excited! Please wish me luck... Thanks again everyone for all of your support; spiritual, financial and written. I'll be drawing bits of energy and inspiration from you as I crest peaks and bomb descents on my way to Los Angeles. Permalink | Share this posting : Care2 News | del.icio.us | digg | NewsVine | Reddit | YahooMyWeb Thursday, May 8, 200811:40 AMThe Week Of The Ride, Campsites and 'Princessing'Hey All, In case anyone wanted to visit me at the various campsites along the route of The Ride, or was curious about life in-camp, here's a link to the interactive map website: www.aidslifecycle.org/about/travel/map.html (on the left, click 'ALC Campsites'). Goin' Plush Also, I'll be 'princessing' (staying in more luxurious accomodations - ie, hotels) on nights #3 (June 3rd, Paso Robles) and #5 (June 5th, Lompoc) in order to alleviate some of the stress that riding scores of miles and then camping can have on one's body. Yeah, I'm a huge wimp. Or a princess, if you will. As you may know, on last year's ride, the cold nights in the tent, the morning noise of early risers - all led to a lack of restful sleep for me; and as a result I began to fall ill toward the end of the week. Not good. I ended up finishing the ride every day, but it did get rough and tiresome (almost too much so); and it was a lot more painful than I needed it to be in the end. If it hadn't been for my parents stopping by to see me (thanks Lolo and Lola!), and taking me back to their hotel room for at least a few hours of respite (not overnight, however), feeding me non-camp food and washing some of my sweaty spandex, I might have ended up in worse shape. Anyway, this year, hopefully by princessing at least a few nights, I'll be a little more well-rested and feeling stronger at the end of the day because of it. And most importantly, not getting sick! I'd love it for you to come see me along the way - It's really heartwarming to arrive at camp to familiar smiling faces among the 1000's of strangers (even as friendly, outgoing and energetic as they are). If not, you can always leave me a message here on my blog page, and I can retrieve it from the computers in camp. (For those of you who are interested, please let me know if you'd like my hotel information for the 3rd and/or 5th.) See Me Off, See Me In... Oh, don't forget that opening ceremonies are Sunday morning, the 1st of June at the Cow Palace - and closing ceremonies are in Los Angeles at the VA Center. It would mean the world to me for you to see me off at the beginning or show me home at the finish line. Click here for date, time and parking information about opening and closing ceremonies: https://www.aidslifecycle.org/login/sites.html Thanks, and I hope to see you soon - Wish me luck! Permalink | Share this posting : Care2 News | del.icio.us | digg | NewsVine | Reddit | YahooMyWeb Wednesday, May 7, 20083:28 PMLess Than A Month Left, The Garage Sale and a Ten Week Old Kumquat"Hey, Wanna Buy a Bejeweled Toilet Seat/Cover..? $3, no - $2!" Less Than A Month Left 'Til The Ride! We've Got A Kumquat-Sized 10 Week Old Fetus... Ultrasound Next Week! Thanks So Much For Your Inspiration, Motivational, Financial And Spiritual Support Everyone!
Permalink | Share this posting : Care2 News | del.icio.us | digg | NewsVine | Reddit | YahooMyWeb Tuesday, April 29, 200810:45 AMMakin' Room For Baby, Raisin' Funds!Just an update folks: Spring cleaning (ie: clearing the house for our new arrival) AIDS/Lifecycle 7 fundraiser BBQ/GARAGE SALE Collabo': THIS SUNDAY - May 4th 8:30am - 4:00pm 6508 Shattuck Ave Oakland, CA 94609 ----------------------- Furniture - Ikea! Kitchen tables and chairs! Kitchenware Art Supplies like CRAZY - Drafting table Bike parts and accessories - vintage, new, used - BROOKS SADDLE! Road and mountain shoes/cleats/SPD Electronics: iPod and cell phone accessories (Samsung A920, etc.) BOOKS BOOKS BOOKS Singer sewing machine and accessories Automotive: Vintage BMW and VW parts CLOTHING, new and used - SHOES! Food and beverages ... Accepting items for donation to sell - 100% of proceeds to go to ALC7 Permalink | Share this posting : Care2 News | del.icio.us | digg | NewsVine | Reddit | YahooMyWeb Thursday, April 17, 200811:17 PMUnder 6 Weeks Away: Thanks, Fundraising & Training News; and Mesh Top Glove Tanline AnxietyHoly. Cow. Having recently realized that The Ride is now just a little under 6 weeks away, a tiny 'semblence' of the idea that I might not be ready by June 1st dawned on me. So much has been going on in my life (see below), that I've gone this entire season without even having written a blog! I know that writing this will quell some of my anxiety, so here I am with an update. Firstly, my THANK YOU's to my recent donors are WAY overdue. From the bottom of my heart, I owe my most sincere and inspired gratitude to those of you who've already contributed to the fund. Needless to say, I'm deeply moved and motivated by your spirit of giving. Without you, I would not be where I am today: well more than 1/2 way to my easily achievable goal of $2500 (all of which, by the way, for clarification - goes to funding a cure, NOT for administrative costs of the ride). Returning donors from last year and new contributors alike - You all ROCK! And for those of you who have yet to give, thanks in advance! TRAINING A lot has been different this year in terms of training compared to ALC6 (last year's ride, my first time), but certainly not lacking. For one, my commute to work is a lot shorter (7 miles round trip this year vs. 37 miles round trip last year). In light of this, I've supplemented my mileage with 'higher' quality, albeit shorter mileage, daily hill rides. (As opposed to high miles, flat terrain - as was the majority of my training last year.) Throughout the Winter, I was doing 12 (cold!) morning miles into the Oakland Hills daily (1400 ft. of elevation gain). Since daylight saving's time, I've switched to riding after work (a lot warmer), doing the same ride into the hills, PLUS taking advantage of the daylight by adding more miles and longer climbs. It usually ends up being about 20 miles daily. Mostly climbing! Lately, I've been doing at least one evening a week in the hills on my fixed gear bike (see more here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fixed_gear) - which adds a level of difficulty to things. Oddity: What's the deal with wild turkeys running around on Uplands and Grizzly Peak Rds? So random! Also, I haven't been partaking in organized ALC weekend rides as much as I was last year; mostly due to scheduling and other things going on in my life. I have managed to sneak in at least half a dozen Category 3 rides (highest difficulty level in the ALC structure) led by "Rocket" Rod Wong (http://www.aidslifecycle.org/3150 - Check him out - he's been the highest fundraiser from the Bay Area the last few years running; also my tent mate this year.) Because of these, I can now say that I've gotten some of the Bay Area's most difficult climbs under my belt: Lucas Valley Rd over Big Rock, Marshall Wall out Marshall-Petaluma Rd., and of course, Bear Creek Rd. over 'Papa Bear' (one of my regular rides), to name a few. Perhaps one of my biggest feats of the season has been climbing to the summit of Mt. Diablo (elevation 3850 ft.) on a weekend ride with my wife Alison. (Congratulations, her first time up!) Despite not doing as many organized ALC rides, I still manage to log in at least 70 miles on the weekends on my own or with the riding group from next door at the Nomad Cafe. (See http://www.nomadcafe.net/) Overall, the lower mileage hasn't discouraged me as I thought it might, as I feel a lot stronger having trained on more difficult terrain and elevation. "Quality over quantity," as Rocket says. And it seems to have paid off, as I feel a lot stronger and more confident; and along with knowing what to expect from the upcoming 550 mile route, from last year's experience, I'm set, both physically and mentally. I'll be training hard up until a week before The Ride, so watch out! For those of you who don't know already... We're about 8 weeks pregnant. We found out on the 26th of March when Alison took 2 (just to be sure!) at-home tests before we left for a week in Mexico to celebrate my cousin Tanya's wedding. Needless to say, one of us went sans alcohol. We're both really excited; and we added this news as another reason to celebrate when Alison's entire family came out to California from Colorado last week - meeting my entire family for the first time at a party at my sister's house in Menlo Park (thanks Ken and Rebecca!) She had her first Doctor's appointment last week, and took some tests - all is good and normal! Man, I can't wait to be a dad. Before The Ride, I plan on throwing at least one fundraising event; perhaps an open house/party, but most certainly a garage sale... Gotta clean house in preparation for the newborn! This will be happening in the next couple of weeks, so if you'd like to donate some merchandise to sell, let me know. If not, as always, a simple tax-deductible donation will do; and of course, would be greatly appreciated. I will update you on a definite date for the garage sale (and fundraising party) as soon as it's settled. Thanks for reading, and thanks for the support, all!
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