Alex Bain's
AIDS/LifeCycle Homepage

I'm Riding to help fight AIDS!

Collarbone Updates:

Update 5/6/2008: Well I went on my first (official) training ride last Saturday with the Easy Bay Orinda riders. It was a 70 mile ride that included climbing Mt. Diablo to the summit. It was definitely a tiring ride but I still feel great and I'm signed up for the next ride (82 miles!) this Saturday. I'm super optimistic about being able to ride a good portion (if not all) of the LifeCycle come June!

Update 4/28/2008: It's been exactly two months since my surgery. This past weekend was the first weekend I was able to get out on my bike and train in the saddle. Training is progressing smoothly and I strongly feel that I'll be prepared and ready to go when June comes around! My first training weekend I was able to put in about 40 miles in the siddle, and I'm hoping to break 60 or 70 next weekend. Thank you so much to everyone whose donated and offered me encouragement through the past few months! It feels great to finally be back on my bike.

Update 4/3/2008: I'm now just over one month out from the surgery. The pain is almost completely gone and I've regained perhaps 40-50% mobility. I have a second follow up appointment with my surgeon on Monday, April 3rd. I'm still hoping for early May as my "back in the saddle" date.

Update 2/29/2008: Surgery was a perfect success. All four pieces of collarbone were united as one. Pain from surgery is already dying down. Epic comeback forthcoming!

Update 2/28/2008: On Monday the 25th, during my followup appointment, it was determined I'd need surgery to ensure my collarbone heals. Today's the day I go in for that surgery. Thank you all for your support and kind words.

Update 2/07/2008: I broke my collarbone into 4 pieces in a nasty bike crash. I'll be training indoors and back in the saddle the day the doctor says I'm good to go. I'm posting frequent updates on my blog, so you can easily follow my healing progress!

Hey Reader!

First, thanks for checking out this page. I appreciate you showing interest in what I'm doing - and taking interest in a cause like this is an awesome thing to do. I got into cycling back in the summer thanks to some awesome encouragement from amazing coworkers at Six Apart. This will be my second charity ride I've done and I fully expect it to be the most physically challenging feat I have ever attempted.

If you aren't familiar with the AIDS LifeCycle - The AIDS LifeCycle is a 7 day, 545 mile bike ride that starts in San Francisco and ends in Los Angeles. It's an amazing ride and it's for an awesome cause. Friends that have done it in the past have only the most positive things to say and the funds raised help support those afflicted with AIDS. Last year the AIDS/LifeCycle raised over $11 million. My goal is to raise $2,500 to help fight the AIDS epidemic - and that's where you fit in.

I've committed to training, eating right, and riding 545 miles in June - with a broken collarbone. I'll be on my bike and in the gym, rain or shine, training. What I'd sincerely appreciate from you is a pledge. It says two things to me. One, you realize I'm a bit crazy and fully support me riding this ride and pushing myself to my limits. And two (and most importantly) you want to help an extremely noble cause because you've got a heart of gold and everyone knows it and loves you for it. Donating online is easy, only takes a minute, and you'll have my eternal gratitude once it's complete. In addition, you'll have the peace of mind knowing that you've helped fight an epidemic and that you are a great person.

Thanks for stopping by, and I hope you can find it in your heart to support me in this endeavor.

- Alex