Margaret Simon's
I'm Riding to End AIDSThank you for visiting my home page! I am embarking on a new adventure in my life. From June 1-7, 2008, I'm bicycling in AIDS/LifeCycle. It's a 7-day, 545-mile bike ride from San Francisco to Los Angeles to make a world of difference in the lives of people living with HIV and AIDS. My first challenge is getting ready to ride 545 miles. Many people have asked me "Can you ride that far?!!!" Well, honestly, I don't know but I am certainly going to try. Those of you who know me well know that I can be pretty determined once I have made up my mind. A good friend of mine recently visited a project in Zambia called 'Grandmas' - ten grandmothers who lost their own children to AIDS take care of 75 children orphaned by the disease. I am sure that these women did not 'know' ahead of time that they could do this but they went ahead anyway because it was the right thing to do. So, maybe I am not able do what these brave women have done but I CAN pedal my bike and pedal I will until I get there. The second challenge is a more difficult one for me and this is how you can participate in this wonderful event by your generosity. In order to take part in the ride, I must raise a minimum of $2500 by May. Nearly 23 years ago, while in graduate school, I did an internship with the San Francisco Aids Foundation, working in the community on an Aids Prevention project. Then, we did not truly realize the impact this disease would have. But, like everyone else, in those 23 years AIDS has touched my life personally. When I look at our family, I cannot bear to think of the millions of children who have either been infected with HIV or orphaned in a world where no-one is left to take care of them because of this disease. So rather than just be made helpless by the 'big' problems in this world I have decided to do what I can - pedal to LA! My wonderful husband is coming along as a 'Roadie' to make sure I arrive in one piece! So, please help me support the San Francisco AIDS Foundation by giving what you can. No contribution is too little and of course, no amount is too large!! You can even come back and donate once again as you become inspired or your tax refund arrives!! Please visit the links on this site to learn more about the research being done. We'll keep riding until AIDS and HIV are a thing of the past. Thank you for your generosity and wish me luck!!
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Margaret's latest blog entry:
Saturday, May 31, 2008 
Congratulations!!!! WE have raised more than $5,000 THANK YOU!!
Margaret's Goal: $5,000.00
Current Total: $5,075.00 |
Margaret's LinksSan Francisco AIDS Foundation
L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center
Experience AIDS/LifeCycle 2007
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Margaret's BlogSaturday, May 31, 20087:02 PMWe're packed and ready to go!!!Last quick note - we went to Orientation today - handed in my bike and watched an entertaining safety video! Tomorrow we leave the house at 4 am! I am both excited and nervous - hope I can sleep...... I am overwhelmed by the generosity of my sponsors - I cannot thank you enough for supporting this RIDE... Now it is time for me to do my part - oh dear! Off to bed -------THANK YOU!!!! Permalink | Share this posting : Care2 News | del.icio.us | digg | NewsVine | Reddit | YahooMyWeb Monday, May 26, 20084:04 PMThe Gift of ACL!When I started on this venture, I have to admit it was for less than noble reasons. I had lost a lot of weight and now needed a new goal to 'get in shape'. Everything about the Ride seemed a challenge to me. Not only did I have to get in shape, learn to ride a bike further than 10 miles and climb hills, I also had to learn to ride in a group, in traffic and for MUCH longer distances. In addition, I had to learn how to fund raise even to participate. Now that I look back on the last 6 months of training I marvel at the gift ACL has been for me. I now have a sport that I love - ACL training rides provided a safe and supportive way for a total novice to become part of the spandex clad club. I have had the most patient supportive TRL's (thanks Mary Vencill, Alex Plumb, Persephone and Ben)encourage me, give me advice, get me up to the top of Mt. Diablo and bring a sense of humor to the whole escapade. I have discovered muscles that I never knew existed thanks to Hailee at the YMCA . There have been days I dreaded riding, days I hated riding but many, many more days that I have loved it. I have made many new friends and have found support in the most unexpected places as well as from those I hold dear. My children are now used to 'mom' being gone and my 'roadie' husband has faithfully 'held down the fort' for my many escapades and 'rescues' ( we don't need to go into the latter right here!) and put up with my many panics!! And probably the most heart warming surprise for me has been the overwhelmingly generous response of sponsors for the fundraising. I have connected with people from all parts of the globe, each giving what they are able. WE have raised the minimum required for me to participate and are getting closer to meeting my goal of $5000. So everyone is part of the 'noble cause' - each dollar we raise will help provide treatment as well as prevention services to high 'risk' populations. Everyone impacted by AIDS is someone's mother, father, son, daughter, cousin, aunt, uncle or friend. Whether we are aware of it or not - we all know someone who has been impacted by this disease and you can now know that you have been part of the solution. So as I approach the eve of my departure and still wonder if I am really going to be able to do this Ride, I do know that I have been given a gift - I am part of a wonderful community of Riders, Roadies and sponsors, all of us with human flaws, who have come together in a positive way to be part of the SOLUTION. THANK-YOU for making it all possible. IF YOU HAVE BEEN PLANNING TO DONATE AND JUST HAVE NOT GOTTEN AROUND TO IT - YOU ARE NOT TOO LATE - JUST PUSH THE DONATE BUTTON ON THIS PAGE AND MAKE A SECURE ONLINE DONATION. PLEASE HELP ME REACH MY $5000 GOAL! Permalink | Share this posting : Care2 News | del.icio.us | digg | NewsVine | Reddit | YahooMyWeb Sunday, May 18, 20087:25 PMFrom 13 miles to 100 miles!!Well I did it!!!! It has taken me from December 6, until now but I finished my first century yesterday (not exactly the way Mary had intended and definitely with a few more hills than planned.) I have gone from being able to ride 12 miles on a flat bike trail to a century with hills, heat, wind and cows!!! Yesterday, it was so hot (we heard numbers up around 103 but definitely 98 and above!) and those winds, 22 mph in spots, I had experienced head winds before but the ones that blow you sideways - they were something else. Virgil from Team Bear provided us with many little gems of advice including the 'hip action' necessary for riding in the wind - so I just wiggled and kept on pedaling - maybe prayed a little too! We had the best mobile support also delivered by Virgil (Team Bear) and organized and prepared by Mary. There were fresh strawberries, watermelon,pineapple, bananas, potatoes(with oil, salt and rosemary prepared by Mary), ice, ice and more ice, water, powerade etc. I met lots of new riders - thanks for hanging with me Team Bears! but a lot of the time I road alone which I didn't mind because I could keep my own pace. All went well until I missed a turn on the way back - the street sign was missing and I got turned around. I started following another rider who turned out not to now the route any better than I did so we were lost together at least. After talking to a lot of people in Benecia all who seemed to be visiting (who knew Benecia was such a tourist spot) - about how to get on the bridge on a bike trail - we finally met one lady who was so distressed that these poor girls had at least another 30 miles to go she wanted to go home and get her van and take us home! The kindness of strangers. After declining her offer we headed off in what we thought was the right direction but after a long ride all the way up Columbus Parkway followed by a lovely down hill stretch we found ourselves up a bike path overlooking the freeway and Great America along with cows who were enjoying the same scene!! At this point, Loretta headed off and I stopped to think about my options - hmmm - did I want to climb all the way back up Columbus Parkway or wait for my Knight in Shining Blue Armor to come and get me! It was getting dark so now I have ridden in the dark and my lights do make me visible - another new milestone. My iphone whilst comforting was not very useful in this situation - it could only give me directions that were meant for cars on freeways. So I plopped myself down in front of the Ford dealership (turns out I was in Vallejo) and suited back up in my various layers, refueled and called Ed to come get me! In the meantime I rode up and down the hill and around the parking lot to get in my last 5 miles to make my century!!! The best part - I had a great adventure - nothing hurts today and I KNOW that am ready for this RIDE thanks to all the support from our great TRLS, especially Mary, Alex, Keith, and Persephone, all who have really hung with me as I learned how to ride. Only thing, I am just hoping that they really mark that route to LA!! Permalink | Share this posting : Care2 News | del.icio.us | digg | NewsVine | Reddit | YahooMyWeb Thursday, May 15, 20086:48 PM16 days until we ride!And only one more week to train! Saturday is our 108 mile training ride - sounds like it will be challenging with all this heat. But our wonderful TRL, Mary, has a mobile rest vehicle following us with cold water and ice!!!!! Permalink | Share this posting : Care2 News | del.icio.us | digg | NewsVine | Reddit | YahooMyWeb Monday, May 12, 200811:40 PMOnly 21 days to go!Only 2 more weeks that I can train! It is getting awfully close so I need to start thinking about what to pack. I tend to be one of those people who stay up the night before a vacation and pack but that is not going to work on this trip. I don't exactly get to sleep all that first day like I do on a vacation! Ed, Mary and I went out on a short ride around the hills on Sunday and back up Spruce. I was tired but managed to conquer my mental attitude about Shasta and also came down Centennial before coming back up Shasta. Centennial looks kind of long and steep when you are on a bike!!! It always looked manageable to me in the car. The rear wheel on my bike is still giving me trouble - need to have it looked at this week. Also having occasional twinges in my left knee - I should call Renee and have her check that nothing has moved on my bike. Saturday's ride is my first real century - 108 miles to the Jelly Belly Factory. Supposed to be really hot and windy! Hope the weather man is wrong! Permalink | Share this posting : Care2 News | del.icio.us | digg | NewsVine | Reddit | YahooMyWeb Saturday, May 10, 200811:10 PMPig Farm HillFor the first time I had to admit that I felt pretty good about Saturday's ride BEFORE I went on it. I even found myself thinking - it's only 82 miles - I can do that! I knew that I could do that East Bay Hills Loop and that was our first 30 odd miles. It was the Cal Bears Triathalon this Saturday so there were police posted everywhere directing traffic up Wild Cat Canyon which was REALLY nice for us too. The climb seemed pretty minor since my last week's escapade - I remember a few weeks back thinking that I would pass out before I made it up this hill. Now that I know how to stand up on a hill when I need to I think I am more relaxed and tend to breathe a little better and take my time. I dropped in at home on the way up Grizzly Peak to pick up some forgotten supplies, so I ended up at the end of the pack with Mary who was sweeping, Edna who is on her 7th ride and Stu who only started a year and a half ago but looked like a pro. They were a fun group to ride with. Our first stop was back in Orinda where these two veteran riders asked us where we were headed and when I told them we were off to Crockett they commented on how strong we must be. I didn't tell them we had already done the East Bay Hills loop but I sure felt good about it! We went down San Pablo Dam Road which I hadn't been down since my first epic 16 mile ride back in December. Then off to Pig Farm Hill which, of course, had grown to a mountain in my mind! It was such a pretty ride - very few cars or riders and a beautiful day. Pig Farm Hill loomed up but I followed Edna up that hill and it was over before I had time to wonder if I could make it. We didn't really stop for lunch until we made it to Crockett. Even though we were 'refueling' on the way, this was the longest stretch I have ridden without a break - 30 miles. I am really an endurance kind of sports person - I get a real kick out of realizing how far I can go on a bike. The area around Martinez and Crockett is an interesting development of old farming and stables and big fancy new developments. Then there is the long 'tedious' stretch that runs along side Highway 4 but it can't all be fun!! It was hot and my feet started to burn - finally realized that if I took off those cute little toe warmers on my shoes my feet could cool off! Crockett is tiny and Mary had called ahead to the only deli to warn them of our arrival for which they were grateful I am sure. The home stretch was back up San Pablo Dam Road. Funny thing about memories - I recalled San Pablo Dam Road as being straight up hill the entire way from San Pablo to Orinda! It must have been overwhelming back then because I sure didn't remember all those long down hill stretches! Tomorrow is Mother's Day - I really should be doing a back to back long ride but the Sunday Cat 2 ride is going back to Mt.Diablo and that just didn't seem like fun two weekends in a row. Permalink | Share this posting : Care2 News | del.icio.us | digg | NewsVine | Reddit | YahooMyWeb Monday, May 5, 20084:48 PMMonday Ride around the hillsI managed to get in another hilly ride today with Mary and Erin. We had fun - up Tunnel Road, up Grizzly Peak by the trains, down to WildCat Canyon, over Papa Bear and back to Orinda. Then we came home through Canyon and UPPER Pinehurst Road! Today was the day I learned to stand up on a steep hill! Why can I do this hill but the little hump at the top of Shasta always does me in? Then a really fast and exciting ride down Snake Blvd to Mary's house and home! It was a blast. I am having some trouble with my back wheel - I need to get that fixed soon. Permalink | Share this posting : Care2 News | del.icio.us | digg | NewsVine | Reddit | YahooMyWeb Saturday, May 3, 20083:58 PMTop of Mt.DiabloThis was the ride that I had dreaded!!! And I had been off my bike for two weeks! The rest of the group had tackled the bottom half of the mountain via the South Gate Road a few weeks back when I was out. I woke up with all kinds of excuses running through my head as to why it would be a bad idea to climb Mt. Diablo. Fortunately there was that little 'Hailee' voice and 'Jenny' voice saying - "you'll be fine' although secretly, I was thinking -'What do they know - have they ridden up that mountain!" At this point, Ed was dropping me off at the Orinda Bart parking lot so it would have been more embarrassing to drop out without some bike malfunction or bodily injury so I got out. First thing I noticed - this is not the same group that usually shows up - somehow they look bigger and more serious than I remember and definitely more confident than I feel. Well, it turned out to be a very friendly bunch of riders- and not everyone was as confident as their outfits would imply. So off we went to the North Gate. The first part seemed to take for ever - partly because you can look up and see just how far you have to go. But after I slowed down and remembered that breathing was a good idea I started feeling better. This was not one of those 'hills' you could rush up just to get it 'over with.' I rode behind Mary and Laurie - Mary telling me to 'drop my shoulders and breathe deeply' - how did she know? She doesn't have a mirror! Then she insisted that we either talk or sing - well three moms together - we know a lot of kids songs! By the time we made it to the Ranger's Station and the last chance out of the Summit Ride - I was getting in the 'zone.' It was really hot at this point so I filled up water bottles, ate some more and poured water over my head, tried to fix my bike and off we went. The last part is steeper but way more enjoyable for me. It was a better road and we had settled into a nice rhythm. Before we knew it - there we were! We were so high up that at one point Laurie called out 'car back' and it turned out to be a 'plane up!' instead. Mary even rode her bike up that last 300 yards of 18% grade!! So I made it! Now I feel like I can do anything! I still have those moments of doubt as I start off each ride but I think it makes me more careful. There are some days my body is not ready to go and others when I feel I can go up anything. It's hard to believe 41/2 months ago the furthest I had ridden was 12 miles on a flat trail. Permalink | Share this posting : Care2 News | del.icio.us | digg | NewsVine | Reddit | YahooMyWeb Sunday, April 27, 20083:49 PMDay on the RideI was so ready for this event - I signed up early, I was packed the night before - I was ready!! And then my 'other' life intervened - gastric flu - can't argue with that one! First one child, then another and of course, Mom! So I went into panic mode - how can I have two weeks out of training at this point! My plan was to be on my bike every day. Well actually, it was only two weeks off my bike - I still have Hailee putting me through my paces at the gym. But nevertheless - it was a little scary not to be actually riding at the end of April. It was a good lesson in learning to 'go with the flow' and in the meantime, I was really encouraged as the donations started pouring in! It is really very life affirming to realize people's generosity. Permalink | Share this posting : Care2 News | del.icio.us | digg | NewsVine | Reddit | YahooMyWeb Sunday, April 20, 20081:31 PMFlat tire practice!!I had such great ambitions to take on the Mt Diablo ride on Sunday - what better than a 90 mile ride up some hills to round out the weekend. Secretly, I did not think I had it in me. I was either really exhausted from yesterday or 'coming down' with something. I dragged myself out of bed too late for the ride - feeling a little guilty but not too much. When I went out to take my bike out of the car - lo and behold! - my first flat tire! It was a sign - I was not meant to go. Ed came out and I had my first 'hands on' lesson in changing and patching a tube! First time through felt awkward but it took away the mystery surrounding what those hardy souls by the side of the road were often seen doing while 'attending' to their wheels. So, what a surprise when I pump my tube up only to find that we have sprung another leak. This time the process is easier and I learned how to use a bowl of water to find leaks - not something to be attempted by the side of the road unless you plan to travel with a bowl!! By now, I have the finding of the leak, buffing of the tube, applying the glue(I need to be a bit more generous here it seems) and applying the patch down!! After applying 3 patches I am finally ready to put the tire back on and the wheel back on the bike! The latter is trickier than it looks but after several attempts and remembering that shifting the chain before taking the wheel off is a good idea - I have it back on, have learned to check the wheel position and make sure it all 'sounds' OK. Now, as I go to check that my tire has enough air - I hear this gentle hissing and my tire is flat again!! At this point, I figure I have learned enough and maybe we should replace what is obviously a defective tube! But I do feel that I can change a tire now - maybe not fast and perhaps not with style - but I will not be the total 'damsel in distress' although I may want to be! Ed and I finish off the weekend with our yoga session which somehow completely wore me out. Maybe I am coming down with something. Permalink | Share this posting : Care2 News | del.icio.us | digg | NewsVine | Reddit | YahooMyWeb Saturday, April 19, 20081:01 PMSo that's what they mean about headwinds!Saturday's East Bay, Cat ?1/2 ride was 78 miles out to Sunol for lunch via Palomares road and along Highway 84 before returning back to Orinda. The way Mary had described the route it sounded like a pleasantly wooded road but I don't recall much description about any hills. I think that's how she gets us out there! We started out early and it seemed kind of cold - all that layering for temperatures still is kind of confusing - one minute you are hot and then you are cold. If you start off warm then you will get too hot but if you go into the shade or the winds pick up then you are cold. So you have all these odd items of clothing you can pull on and off at will, although for me that still requires stopping, so I have a tendency to 'go with the flow' and hope that I can last to the next 'official' stop. This week I remembered those 'booties' however so my feet were fine for once!!! I have learned my lesson about cold toes although I have still to try to the 'stop gap' measure of the sandwich bags over my socks approach to keep them warm. (Note - always travel with sandwich bags!) The day was cold - mostly because of the wind and I never really warmed up. I tried to keep my stops short so my muscles stayed warm but I seemed to be pushing all day! Palomares Road actually was hilly!!! I think it might have been easier if there had been someone at the top waving a flag so I knew how much further it was to go! but I made it to the top with one brief stop. I hate to stop on hills in case I can't get started again so I tend to charge up them. I have been practicing going slower and steadier but have still a little way to go with that one. I miss the days when Mary would wait for us half -way up to cheer us along - I still need that at times. We were passed by some very fast sports cars who seemed to be on some sort of convention! Downhill on Palomares seemed to go on forever and as I didn't stop at the top I was alone on this road for quite some time. I passed all kinds of wild life and interesting debris on the road and was lost in my thoughts when I was startled when a voice very close to me call 'slowing'!!! as we hit the bottom. I was sure I was alone - did I just imagine that! At the bottom we had to turn left on highway 84. Now that is one scary road!!! There is no room for cyclists - the traffic is fast and BIG and where exactly do they think you can go when they beep at you - there is truck, you and the side of the bridge! It was the first time I have felt buffeted by the wind from a truck a few inches from me! The way home was much less eventful with Persephone patiently leading the way. The winds were grueling - 25 mph with 44 mph gusts. Even when we were going downhill I had to pedal to keep going. And sidewinds!!! that was something else entirely. The only upside was that once or twice I realized that I wasn't really pedaling and we were going uphill!! Unfortunately, that didn't happen enough. Anyway, I can cross 'riding in the wind' off my list of 'must have' experiences before the ride. I made it back in decent time and my own personal 'roadie' took me Peets to warm-up. Permalink | Share this posting : Care2 News | del.icio.us | digg | NewsVine | Reddit | YahooMyWeb Friday, April 18, 200812:54 PMRiding again and it's only Friday!I planned to ride yesterday but somehow we needed food in the house and other less interesting chores!! So today, I headed out the door with Tigger and my riding partner and headed off over the hills. It was a beautiful day and climbing up and over Grizzly Peak to Skyline has become much easier. Today we headed back down Tunnel Road (I remember the first time I did this with Mary Vencill and I had to keep stopping because I had cramps in my hands from braking!) Now it seems like nothing. At the bottom I lead the way across town - trying to avoid all the obvious hills that my partner kept finding! Finally, tackled Spruce from bottom to top - not a big deal but one of those things I have watched in awe as riders pedal their way up what seemed like a never ending hill! Now I can cross that one off my list! I rounded out the day with a strength training session with Hailee. Permalink | Share this posting : Care2 News | del.icio.us | digg | NewsVine | Reddit | YahooMyWeb Thursday, April 17, 200812:34 PMRedwood/Skyline LoopThis week I was determined to up my riding time so on Tuesday I joined Steven Wedgwood and David Sexton for a short, but hilly ride around the East Bay hills. Whoever would have thought that I would call a 30 mile hilly ride a SHORT RIDE!! It was a beautiful day and I have become quite used to starting out my rides on the hills now (any time I start from home I am riding up a hill!) so after the Fairmont Hill I was quite warmed up and by the time we started up Redwood Road it seemed much easier than the last couple of times I did it. David was very sweet checking in all the time that I was still plodding along behind and Steve stopped every now and then to impart some wisdom about enjoying the descents (still not my favorite part!) gleaned from his many years of riding experience. We did the southern part of Skyline Boulevard which was new to me - what a great road - wide, good pavement, no traffic and a fabulous view. Then we finished off going around Lake Chabot and down Fairmont again which is more fun than going up. On the way down, we had a scare when a car sped past me and then rolled down the windows, veered in towards David. The car's passenger put out his hand and shoved David as he was riding down the hill before speeding off at the intersection. David was very cool headed and kept his balance but it was an unsettling experience and serves as a reminder that we all need to look out for each other out there. Permalink | Share this posting : Care2 News | del.icio.us | digg | NewsVine | Reddit | YahooMyWeb Monday, April 14, 200811:04 AMRiding in the heat!Sunday was way more successful. I joined the San Francisco Cat 2 series for a quick jaunt up to the Cheese Factory and back. Because it was such a long ride (83 miles - longest ever so far for me) I rode alone a lot because the group tends to spread out. Now I don't normally like to ride alone but there is something about knowing that eventually you will run into part of your group that keeps me going. When we made it to Point Reyes it was like the bicycling community had taken over - there were bicyclists everywhere and it was a very friendly atmosphere. After that, I ventured off by myself and did lose the group - eventually a really nice group of touring riders hung with me and I made it back to Fairfax. After that, I followed various people until I made it back to the dreaded Sausalito Lateral - I think that it is only dreaded because at 80 miles one more hill (when Ben said we had 4 hills that day - it didn't sound bad but of course then there is the return trip and the hills don't go away! so this was number 9!) seems impossible. Fortunately(or not) - my car was on the other side of the bridge so in order to go home I have to climb that hill and cross that bridge! So I made it back in one piece (we won't talk about the graceful? decent as I tried to dodge a tourist on the gravel path back to Sports Basement Permalink | Share this posting : Care2 News | del.icio.us | digg | NewsVine | Reddit | YahooMyWeb Saturday, April 12, 20089:05 PMSo Frustrating! I was all geared up for the Mt Diablo ride today with my Orinda group. Bike has been outfitted with new handlebars and tested out. I have been refitted to perfection and I was definitely hydrated and carb'd up! So just as I we are getting ready to move out I check the pressure in my tires and snap - the valve on my back tire breaks off and I have a flat. Ah well --- great time to learn how to change a flat. Mary comes to the rescue and we quickly change the tube only to find the the valve is not long enough for my rim!!! Permalink | Share this posting : Care2 News | del.icio.us | digg | NewsVine | Reddit | YahooMyWeb Thursday, April 10, 200811:50 AMCinderella Ride!Last weekend I headed out from Livermore with 2,499 other women for another metric century! It was a whole different experience to ride with such a large group and it was one of my main anxieties about the Ride. It wasn't so bad despite the wide diversity of riding styles and strengths. However, I realize how lucky I have been to start my group riding experience as part of the AIDSLifeCycle training rides with their emphasis on safety and looking out for each other. So, now I can cross that off my list of 'what ifs!' It was colder than I had imagined it would be - I always think of that area as hot!_ and we had a headwind a good deal of the way so I was pleasantly surprised when I realized that I had shaved off over 2 hours from my metric century time and I wasn't even particularly tired. I guess that 80 miles in the hills last week really did help! My strength training is coming along nicely with the help of my trainer, Hailee, who constantly keeps me off guard with our workouts. She assures me that I do indeed have muscles in my upper body and that the 'quick start' muscles are also lurking somewhere! This week I actually managed to maintain some of the poses in yoga with dignity, rather than the jelly-like stance which is often followed by the not-so -graceful descent to the ground! My Marinoni now has new smaller, ergonomic handlebars to help with my wrist pain. Renee at Left Coast patiently refitted me after they were installed so I think that now I am good to go. The goal is now to get on that bike every single day no matter how much I may not want to even if it is just around the block. I still have to fight that 'what on earth are you doing you don't ride a bike!' feeling that happens each time I put on my helmet. I figure if I do it often enough I will get over that one. My donations are starting to trickle in and my donors are being so generous!!!! Thank you! I have never been any good at asking for money - I think it is the Australian way - so I am really amazed at how responsive and supportive people are being. This weekend I am hoping to do two long hilly rides on Saturday and Sunday. My poor family only sees my when I am coming or going but it is less than two months to the ride and I have to whip this reluctant body into shape!!! Permalink | Share this posting : Care2 News | del.icio.us | digg | NewsVine | Reddit | YahooMyWeb Monday, March 31, 200812:30 PMJust a reminder to all those wonderful people who have pledged to sponsor me!Yesterday we went to the AidsLifeCycle Exp in San Francisco. It was freezing but sunny - very SF. Ed attended a Roadie training while Christopher and I mingled and shopped. We looked inside tents to try and imagine what it would be like sleeping alongside another 1499 identical tents and heard nifty ideas for individualizing your tent so that you can find it again after you go the bathroom at 2am(another problem with that hydrating stuff). We learned more about how to refuel and hydrate and what a good thing 'lean muscle' was. I watched a tall, well toned lady demonstrate just how easy it was to stand up on your bicycle going up a hill if you had 'developed' hip flexors!!!! Guess I'll have to get those because standing up on a hill is not the joy it is supposed to be for me yet. We attended a 'packing lecture', learned how to 'roll' and immersed ourselves in the biking activity of 'looking for the perfect gear.!' Christopher had definitely had enough by the time it was over. One thing I did learn from the donations office yesterdaty was that the VERY LAST DAY a mail-in donation can be postmarked and count towards my minimum on this ride is May 16. Honestly, the LAST DAY I won't PANIC will be closer to the end of April and you may find me starting to bug you more by that point! Of course, the much easier way to donate is to use the secure online service on this page and use a credit card! Next week is the Cinderella Ride - more then! Permalink | Share this posting : Care2 News | del.icio.us | digg | NewsVine | Reddit | YahooMyWeb Saturday, March 29, 200812:06 PM79 miles!!!Saturday's ride 79 miles around the Berkeley/Oakland Hills starting with UP Wildcat Canyon, UP Shasta, UP Grizzly Peak, over to Redwood Road, UP Pinehurst and then Down to Castro Valley via Danville,UP the Dublin Grade, UP Redwood Road and UP Pinehurst was my longest EVER ride!! I was a bit worried because my longest ride since I was sick was 35 miles but Mary had arranged for several bail out options and Ed was waiting for my phone call at every stop. I was doing great until after lunch when I felt like I had ridden at least another 15 miles and my computer said 3 miles! I finally realized as we pulled into Castro Valley that it had stopped working! At this point several people took a bail out option and I resisted the urge to call Ed and headed off up Redwood Road with the ever-patient, inspiring Alex Plumb. Almost immediately, I was confronted with a moment of 'I can't do this!' as I was confronted with what seemed liked a WALL instead of a slope of a hill. I was about to tell Alex that I would bail out then only to discover that he was at the top of that WALL and I would have to catch up to him to tell him! So I did make it the whole way - Alex telling me that we were nearly there when both he and I knew we weren't. The scenery was beautiful and yes, Pinehurst seemed like nothing much after the rest of the day so I MADE IT! Thank- you Alex! It felt great to ride into Orinda with Ed waiting for me and nothing really HURT! My bike fit must have worked. Permalink | Share this posting : Care2 News | del.icio.us | digg | NewsVine | Reddit | YahooMyWeb Wednesday, March 26, 200812:30 PMI'm BACK!OK. So I managed to come down with the dreaded 'bug'! I finally had my professional bike fit with Renee at Left Coast Cyclery! It was a very pleasant and reassuring experience and I left with some adjustments for my wrist pain that worked! Also, I have ordered some different handlebars that will better fit my hands. Easter Sunday - fun family picnic(a little windy and there was some issue about 'stinky' cheese Permalink | Share this posting : Care2 News | del.icio.us | digg | NewsVine | Reddit | YahooMyWeb Sunday, March 16, 20089:25 PMMy first 100K!Lots has happened since my fall! - I spent two weeks taking spin classes instead of riding. I signed up for THE RIDE (ED is coming as a ROADIE!) - bought my first real "road bike" on January 29 and covered a total of 450 miles including the 3 Bears. I rode in Sonoma for two days with some super friendly ALC riders through beautiful country and really had fun. Last Sunday there were three firsts for me; I rode across the GOLDEN GATE BRIDGE for the first time(wasn't so bad) AND finished my first 100K ride in OK shape AND I was clipped into my bike!!! I am pretty comfortable going up hills - still nervous about coming down but actually clocked 30 mph the other day which is a fast for me. So now I feel legitimate - I am going to be able to do this. I still have this anxiety each time I arrive for a training ride - 'what am I doing here - I am not a bike rider!' but then I get on my bike and I feel like I belong again. I am signed up to do the Cinderella Ride on April 5! Not sure whether I will do the 65 mile or try for that 100 mile route! Now onto the more difficult part for me. I need to start raising that $2500. Permalink | Share this posting : Care2 News | del.icio.us | digg | NewsVine | Reddit | YahooMyWeb Saturday, December 29, 20079:16 PMDecember 29, 2007This week the weather looked 'iffy' but my daughter and her girlfriend came to ride with me so I was going. When we got to Orinda there was Mary patiently waiting to make sure everyone knew that the ride was cancelled! I was disappointed but the three of us decided to go off on a shortened ride to Moraga. It was cold and a little drizzly but it seemed OK and I felt maybe a little too confident in my new found abilities. Once we were on the bike path it became apparent that it was going to get really wet so I started to think about where we could stop. Just as we got to Saranap - I looked back to see if the girls were following me - new rider mistake - don't look back as you turn especially when the road is wet! - down I went! To make a long story short - "WEAR A HELMET!" I had some impressive facial bruising, very mild concussion and bruised ribs - and orders to stay off my bike for a month!!! . Permalink | Share this posting : Care2 News | del.icio.us | digg | NewsVine | Reddit | YahooMyWeb Saturday, December 22, 20079:06 PMDecember 22This week we are headed back to Walnut Creek with Julie Brown (the Training Ride Leader coordinator!). I am feeling much better this week as we head off up that bike path - it is so cold (38 degrees) the grass is white!! It is fun - we come back on this long bike path out in Moraga that I am familiar with so I am feeling pretty confident. No falls this week. There is a lot of interest in my Zootr - Julie points out that I am working twice as hard as anyone else because my wheels are smaller, I don't have clips (why would anyone want to be clipped to their bike) and I only have a 'double'! Apparently, if you have a 'triple' those hills get a little easier because you can use your 'granny gear'. It was fun and I am feeling much more confident - calling out and occasionally even taking my hands OFF the handlebars! Permalink | Share this posting : Care2 News | del.icio.us | digg | NewsVine | Reddit | YahooMyWeb Sunday, December 16, 20078:58 PMDecember 15, 2007So now I am back for my second week and we are riding to Pinole - I discover that the "booties' aren't just for looks - your toes get cold going down those hills! There is some beautiful scenery and we are whizzing down this long hill - oh right! that means we have to come back up again! There is a fast learning curve with cycling - this week I actually pass someone - ride up a long hill without falling and only have to sit in Peets for about an hour to recover! 17 miles - each week is going to be a first for something for me! Permalink | Share this posting : Care2 News | del.icio.us | digg | NewsVine | Reddit | YahooMyWeb Thursday, December 6, 200712:57 PMMy first BLOGSo I am new to this blogging thing as well as cycling but I thought it would be fun to keep a record! I started this adventure in earnest on December 8, 2007. Prior to that, the longest I had ridden on a bike was 13 mile on my Zootr! Mary Vencill, Training Ride Leader extraordinaire, had convinced me to come out on a ride. "You don't have to sign up for the AIDS ride" she said knowing full well once I started training I would want to sign up. Mary said that if she could do it as a 62 year-old grandma then anyone could. Well - I've never ridden on a road, in a group around cars but how hard could it be!!! In fact, I had probably spent maybe a total of a month on a bike in my entire life. But I was ready for an adventure in my life and this was it! So we met at the Orinda Bart station at the crack of dawn - did I mention that it was around 40 degrees? A small group of people were assembled and 'attending' to their bikes and putting on all kinds of strange attire. Why did they put those 'booties' on their feet - did they really care how dirty their shoes got? I pulled out my shiny Zootr and tried to look busy 'attending' to my bike too and hoping Ed had taken care of what needed 'attending to" before I left home. I found Mary and reminded her that I had not ridden in traffic before so PLEASE not to lose me. First thing we did after some friendly introductions, various stretches and safety speeches was to 'hop' onto our bikes and make a right turn out of Orinda Bart in order to MERGE across three lanes of traffic and turn left at the lights where I promptly fell in the only available pot hole! YIKES - that nearly did me in right there! After Mary navigated me through Orinda with the help of some very patient Orinda motorists, we found ourselves on a nice safe bike path - but it went uphill! This was all in the first ten minutes and I am wondering - what exactly am I doing here and where is the rest of the group???? Oh, and then there is the whole thing about hand signals - with my mind spinning after the lecture on where to put your hand to turn here or there or stop or go - I realized - they want me to take my hands off the handlebars to point out hazards to others. Taking my hands off the handlebars WOULD really be a hazard to others! Mary assured me that I could call out rather than use signals if I needed to. Phew! So much to remember - potholes, 'car up' and 'rider back' - or was it 'rider up' and 'car back' ?.... grates, and round man hole cover thingies and glass and puddles ..............the list went on and on. Eventually there was a down hill, and then some more turns in traffic and finally downtown WALNUT CREEK with Saturday morning traffic! Did I know this was where they were going? But then we all stopped to eat which makes all things better - besides I have made it half-way and the training ride leaders are sooo nice. After refueling (that's bike lingo I discovered for eating - turns out that I am really good at refueling! I have been doing it for years!!) we are headed back home with my heart in my mouth each time Mary calls out - "get into the center lane now beside the cars so you can turn left across those three lanes of traffic!" I was starting to feel quite accomplished until - wouldn't you know it - there was another HILL! "Take it slow" says Mary - 'WELL OK - I am not sure I had a choice there!' Halfway up this 'hill' I realize that my legs have just seized up - and I gracefully fall to the ground. Mary reminds me that I am supposed to say ' stopping' when I am going to stop as she narrowly misses running into me - I am thinking that would be fine if one knew that they were going to stop - my legs did not inform me in time! Two very friendly 'Roadies' and the ever patient Mary picked me up from the ground - my legs were just 'jelly' and would not cooperate - and stayed with me until I could get going again. Finally, we make it back and I am wiped but feeling SOooo accomplished! And where is the rest of the group??? These are really nice people and Mary is such a great Training Ride Leader!!
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Mary hurried us out before it got 'too hot' after much advice about how to get 'safely' down the mountain as well as remembering to refuel so as not to 'bonk" - well I am REALLY good at the refueling (bike code for EATING!) and was more worried about how I was going to get UP the mountain so it seemed a little premature to be worrying about getting down again! Ah well - remember guys - we RIDE from Orinda to the mountain before we climb it!
I had been having some 'weird noises' on my bike on the way up - my bike not me
- and it turned out that I was dragging my chain slightly! No wonder it was such a hard climb!
I am glad I found out now but I am bummed I didn't make today's ride. Hopefully tomorrow will be more successful - off to the Cheese Factory in Marin. 
With lots of encouragement (read: You may not ride until you are well!) I took care of myself and missed TWO WEEKENDS! Finally, Ed and I ventured out on a short, local ride which, for where we live, always means 'hills' - 20 miles and I was wiped! SO THE PANIC SET IN as I realized that there was no way I could venture out on Mary Vencill's 69 mile ride plus climbing Wild Cat Canyon on Saturday. So instead, Ed and I headed out again with son in tow on the same short route as earlier - I felt much improved but Ed was pretty much worn out after pulling our 8 year-old up all those hills. |
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