Eric Thomsen's AIDS/LifeCycle Blog

2008 Santa Barbara Ride- 200 miles!

Mon, 28 Apr 2008 14:36:00 PST

What an adventure! I have completed two Santa Barbara rides, but I still had anxiety about the 2-day 200 mile ride to Santa Barbara and back. My roommate volunteered to be part of the massage team and my spin instructor Gordon decided at the last minute to join the ride.

200+ riders met at Santa Monica and began the journey up north. Spirits were high and the group was energetic. Our ride up the coast was fantastic. Everyone was having fun. The support of the crew and organizers made for an incredible day of cycling. Beth Brown and Shifting Gears have organized this ride for 13 years and I admire her immensely for her commitment.

After leaving Santa Monica, we headed up the coast. The rolling hills and traffic along the way were not problem for me, because I was “in the zone” and taking everything in and enjoying every moment. At the first stop my roommate was hard at work massaging cyclists that needed help.

After the lunch stop, Gordon and I got into a great groove and blasted past many miles until the 4^th rest stop. We rode out and rode for quite a bit until Gordon put his hand on his head and realized he left without his helmet! We laughed and turned around and added extra miles to our century ride.

Our arrival into Santa Barbara was as beautiful as ever. The beach, the cool breeze, the scenery was over-whelming. We ended up on a sidewalk instead of the bike path. I didn’t think this would be a problem until we hit a bus stop with a couple of indigents. Because they blocked the path, we passed on the outside of the bus stop sign. Gordon’s tire slipped into the crack between the curb and the sidewalk. He was thrown into the direction of the person, but he compensated and hit the adjacent tree instead. Despite his injuries, Gordon rode on to the finish so he could get medical attention. His determination inspired me.

After we checked into the hotel, it was time to hang out, relax and meet other riders. I love getting to hang out with other people (riders & crew) who have all decided to embark on “an excellent journey”!

The next morning, in addition to the normal announcements, we were told of a tragic loss to our family. An ALC7 rider who wasn’t with us, we found out passed away. Everyone was affected. This was the first of many demoralizing moments for me on Sunday, my hardest ride ever.

I was so amp’ed by the previous day’s ride that I was confident I could fly home with no problems. Perhaps it is always at these cocky moments when life throws you curve balls.

Shortly after a spin out of town, we hit a second day of head winds. The increased heat had a huge impact on my ride. It was over 98 degrees along some of the wide-open many mile stretches that we endured. At one point, Gordon & I had found our stride and were pushing through. We were in the groove when suddenly Gordon hit bad, uneven asphalt. I still hate to vision seeing him crash. It was horrific. I didn’t know what to do. He was in pain and let us know it. I was stunned.

Someone was looking over us, because out of nowhere, a rider Brian appeared. He was amazing. He took charge of the situation and started calling out what needed to be done. Riders and passers-by all coordinated to get everything taken care of. Gordon was taken to the hospital. After everything was done, Brian turned to me and said, “Are you O.K?” I was so caught up in the moment that I didn’t know how to respond. I replied, “I think I’m O.K?” He looked at me and said, “Ride with me, you don’t need to be alone right now.” The situation was new to me, but my belief in the support of fellow riders was reinforced.

The rest of the ride became increasingly worse. I was worried about Gordon. The heat was intense. The head winds were fierce. The route included long straight stretches with dusty head winds that didn’t seem to ever have an end. Once again, I hit a bad place that made me doubt what I was doing and who I was as a person. I played mind games with myself. Sadly my body won the fight over my mind. I was done. After an eternity, I saw a tree in the middle of nowhere. I collapsed. Even though I knew exactly what was going on, I couldn’t fix the situation. I drank lots of water and just hoped to feel again.

The last day of the ride was the toughest challenge I have ever had to overcome. It’s hard to show weakness in front of others, but when you hit the bottom, there is little choice. I was so glad to have supportive people around me that shared their concern. I didn’t realize how bad I was, until my fellow riders said, “we’re so worried about out you!” It was not in a judgmental way; They just could see on my face that I had hit a wall.

My roommate really got me through. He might not even remember, but he said in an off-handed comment, “You know you’ve got it in you to finish”. Those words were vital to my final stretch into Santa Monica. The trip down PCH was horrific. Every car was leaving the beach and at times we didn’t have a lane, so I was super-stressed that at any moment I could be checked out. When we hit the bike path, I stopped to bless the ground (and take a little break).

The final ride-in included one last climb that I completed despite feeling below empty. I just figured that after this whole trip I had to do it all. At the end, everyone was celebrating, but it was apparent that everyone suffered the hot day and the heat plus 100 miles had taken it’s toll on everyone.

I did enjoy meeting so many wonderful people and I know this is just a sweet taste of the awesome ride that I look forward to in June.

A Day on the Ride

Sat, 19 Apr 2008 17:22:00 PST

"I'm on top of the world!"-- the line from Titanic never rang more true than today. After my defeat in the heat last weekend, I was discouraged and lacked confidence about the 80 mile fully-supported training ride called "A Day on the Ride". Before sunrise on Saturday morning, 400+ riders gathered at the starting point in Santa Monica by the beach. I ran into old friends and immediately picked up on the excitement of the crowd as they prepared for a journey that would be a small taste of what ALC7 will offer.

After the safety speech and announcements, we rolled out at a brisk pace. The weather was much, much cooler than the weekend before, and it made a big difference. My bike was in top shape and I had new cycling cleats so I was well prepared for a good ride; I just wasn't sure about my strength. I knew that big, long hills awaited in Palos Verdes. As I rode down the coast to the hills, I kept having flashbacks of the near breaking point I reached last Sunday.

At the base of the hill, I prepared for the 5+ mile climb and varying inclines. When I reached to top, I was in disbelief that it was much easier than I remembered. I raced to the lunch stop, feeling pleased with my climbing success along with a great endorphin rush!! I arrived at Point Fermin Park in high spirits. After a tasty lunch, I started back on the route. I hoped that I hadn't burned out early, giving my all at the beginning....

I throughly enjoyed the second half of the ride. Along the way, I visited with other riders I've met through my experiences with ALC. Hearing everyones' stories about past rides along with their enthusiasm about our upcoming adventure, I was reminded of all the incredible life-experiences we'll share together.

When I arrived at the last pit stop, I couldn't believe that the ride was almost over. I was having too much fun! For the final miles back to Santa Monica I followed a group of fast riders. Normally I'm alone at the end, because I'm struggling to finish. Today I enjoyed powering on with others to the finish!!!

Next weekend I'll ride to Santa Barbara and back. 200 miles in a weekend! Read about it next!

Tough Hills in 100 degree heat

Sun, 13 Apr 2008 19:48:00 PST

I assume every training program has high and low points. My ride today felt like a low point for me. After breakfast and lots of water, at 8am I joined a training group at Griffith Park for a “Day of Hills”.

I started with enthusiasm and confidence. The first 5+ mile climb was hard work, but at the top I felt strong and ready for more. My bike and I were an unstoppable team! I knew the heat was increasing with each passing hour and I made sure to keep drinking water and Gatorade. At the first pit stop I refilled both of my bottles and stretched.

After getting in some distance mileage, our route took us back up into the cannons around Pasadena. It was noon when I started up a long super-steep climb up and over a canyon. I made it about half way up when I felt like I hit a wall. I shifted to my easiest gear, but it still took everything I had to keep pedaling.

I remember our ride leader Doreen’s safety speech in the morning. She said that because of the heat it was important to watch yourself and take a break in the shade if you’re unsure of yourself.

My progress uphill slowed down to 4 miles-per-hour. Yikes! I couldn’t see an end in sight. I thought to my self, “You’ve got to keep going! You’re better than this!” I pushed further. The sun’s heat kept beating down and I crept along. After a bit, I started to loose focus and my thoughts seemed jumbled. In a moment of clarity, I swallowed my pride and pulled off the road and sat under a tree. I finished my bottle of Gatorade. I doubted myself. After a while I saw other riders slowly climbing up. I gave them a shout out for encouragement. At least I could support others while I tried to pull myself together.

After I cooled off and came out of my funk, and I started back up the hill despite my fatigue and frustration. During the rest of climb I was concerned about my struggle.

I’ve done many longer, harder rides!

I’ve been training for ALC7 since last November!

What’s happened to me?

After what seemed like an eternity, I reached the top. I met riders Mike and Tracy under the shade of a tree. When a ride buddy, Tom, finally joined us he too was out of breath. I took comfort in the realization that the steep hill in the heat was tough on other riders.

It took a few hours at home for me to recover. I think I was slightly dehydrated. I learned it was over 100 degrees today in Pasadena. Today’s ride was a kick in the shorts, but I won’t let it discourage me. Some days are better than others. I’ve experienced this on previous AIDS rides. I’ve got to take care of myself, keep my focus on the reason why we ride, and remember that for every down there is an up!

Next Saturday is the official “Day on the Ride”. I’m looking forward to it. Really, I am.

Bike overhaul

Sat, 12 Apr 2008 16:26:00 PST

This week I picked up my bike from the bike shop. I took it in for a tune-up, but my 6-year-old bike that served me so well over a few thousand miles during training and participation in 3 AIDS-rides needed a total overhaul. Most of the components had to be replaced so I ran up a bill over $500.

Saturday morning I took my “new” bike out for a spin around the neighborhoods. The overhaul was worth it. What a difference! In the afternoon the heat became a formidable adversary. Traffic was heavy because the summer weather encouraged people to get out, so I finished up early. My bike’s peek performance made me a better rider, but now need to get my body in top shape to match!

Palos Verdes Climbs

Sun, 30 Mar 2008 17:38:00 PST

Saturday morning I loaded up the car and met approx. 50 other riders at a bike store in Santa Monica. We warmed up, visited briefly, reviewed the route and prepared for a day along the beach with some challenging hills in Palos Verdes. I saw Steve, a guy I shared a hotel room with during the overnight Santa Barbara double-century weekend ride 2 years ago. It is always fun to meet old friends from past rides!

I ended up pushing myself harder than planned because I still haven't had my bike tuned, so I can't switch into my lower front gear. This caused me to get up out of my seat and push hard to get up some of the steep climbs. I was able to keep up and it felt good, but I can already tell I will pay for it over the next couple days of recovery.

I realize that we only have a couple of months left to train. I can't believe the date is approaching so quickly! There is no room for slacking now. I'm prepared for some tough, serious training over the next few weekends. I'll be sure to keep you all posted here on my ALC7 page! Please check back next week!

Easter Weekend Ride

Sun, 23 Mar 2008 13:35:00 PST

This year the beginning of spring coincided with an early Easter weekend. The sunny days provided the perfect opportunity to ride my bike and prepare for the big ride in June. ALC7 is quickly approaching and the amount of my training will rapidly ramp up. By the end of April I will ride in the Santa Barbara Weekend Ride which is 100 miles on Saturday and 100 miles back on Sunday. In the past it's always been fun although it's quite a challenge.

The only difficulty I had this weekend was because front derailer on my bike isn't shifting correctly. This prevented me from using the optimal gears so I had to work harder. I'll be sure to take my bike into the shop this week for a much needed tune-up.

I've booked my flight to San Francisco and my hotel stay before the ride. Everything is starting to come together. As the starting date draws closer the reality that I'm going to be participating in another AIDS Lifecycle ride sets in! Yep, I'm really going to do it again!

Spring Training: Spin & Climb

Sat, 08 Mar 2008 14:20:00 PST

Early this morning, I joined a training ride in Culver City. There I met an old ride buddy, Alfredo. His partner, Rick, is participating in the AidsLifecycle for the first time this year. The weather was perfect and the group was lively and entertaining. We rode into Beverly Hills and then climbed up Benedict Canyon up to the rolling hills in the canyons. I completed the climb and was ready for more. I'm felt strong and was ready to endure more miles. Talking with others about the upcoming event made me even more excited about the ride. My training is now in full swing so be sure to visit this blog often to see more pictures and stories from the training rides!

Dallas Training Ride

Mon, 03 Mar 2008 12:45:00 PST

My vacation weekend in Texas provided a boost to my ALC7 training because my longtime friend, Denise, lead a training ride that included riders from Greensville, TX. I was reminded that the California ride from San Francisco to Los Angeles includes a wonderful mix of people from all over the country! Denise has done so many rides that she knows all of the tips for success! It was a great ride and also super informative. She showed me a battery-operated charger that can charge cell-phones and bike GPS devices. This was awesome news for me because finding an electrical outlet on the ride is almost impossible. Huge winds kept us from riding on Sunday and it was a reminder that winds will be a big challenge, as always, on the ride. After my Dallas ride, I’m very excited to continue my training in sunny Los Angeles.

Thanksgiving Weekend Training

Sun, 25 Nov 2007 14:05:00 PST

After eating turkey and visiting with friends during the holiday, on Sunday I knew it was time to get back on the bike and keep up with my training.

Although the weather is getting colder as winter approaches, there were still a lot of people enjoying the sun at the beach. My friend Erica and I road down to the beach and then took the bike path down to Hermosa Beach. It has been weeks since Erica and I have ridden together so we had a lot to catch up on. It was a good visit and a nice 30-mile ride at a quick pace.

This Thanksgiving I'm thankful for all of my supportive friends and family who are helping me prepare for ALC7 in many wonderful ways. Thank You again.

Austin, TX - Barton Creek Greenbelt Mountain-bike Ride

Sat, 17 Nov 2007 16:20:00 PST

This weekend I went to my old college town of Austin, TX to visit my brother. I wanted to keep up with my training and add some variety to the routine, so I rented a mountain bike. Together my brother and I tackled the Barton Creek Greenbelt!

We rode 14 miles, but the climbs, dives and rocky terrain made it feel like much, much more. What a trip! It was a challenging and sometimes scary ride that excited me.

A cold front came in so the weather was cool, but light rain made the rocks extra slippery. At times we agreed it was best to carry our bikes over some treacherous parts.

Sometimes the creek was peaceful and scenic, at other times it was not. When we smelled a nasty smell, we stopped at a dried up part of the river (there hasn't been rain for a long time). Lots of dead fish lay at the bottom of the dried up creek bed. It was a sad sight.

On a brighter note, along the way we also passed a bike club that were working with the city to cut back overgrowth and keep the route open for mountain biking. Seeing such devoted people hard at work for the rest of us made me think of the roadies on AIDS/Lifecycle. They work hard and give a lot of themselves so that we can keep riding; They're incredible!

At one point I had a flat tire. I didn't think big, thick, nobly mountain bike tires got flats! I realized even tough bikes are vulnerable to setbacks. Luckily I asked for a spare tube at the rental store, so I was quickly back on the trail...

The "Hill of Life" at the end of the creek proved to be too much for me. It was a gain of 300 feet in .3 miles over nothing but rocks. I made it as far as I could and carried my bike the rest. Climbing up that grade, over rocks, carrying a bike was still quite a workout!

The ride today was a welcome change and allowed me to spend some quality time with my brother and still stay on my training schedule. I look forward to our next ride.

First Training Ride

Sat, 10 Nov 2007 12:35:00 PST

At 7:30am I put on the gear, checked out the bike, gabbed a quick snack and headed to I.Martin bike shop to begin my training for ALC7. I planned for a cold overcast ride since winter has hit California. Instead, at 8am clear skies and sunshine made for a perfect day to be on a bike.

The ride was with the "Chain Gang" cycling club. I reconnected with Keith, a guy I haven't seen since California Aids Ride 5 in 1998 (almost 10 years ago). One of the great things about the Aids ride is the family of caring riders that you become a part of. I met cool new people on todays ride. (Adam, Steve, Bennet, & Scott) I'm adding their names to help me remember them.

This warm up ride was an easy 25 mile ride out to the beach along the Ballona Creek Bike Path. At the beach we ran into another ALC7 training group that were headed to Hermosa beach. I met my friend Matthew. It has been a bit since we've been riding together so I really appreciated the chance to see him.

There were a few new riders who did a great job today. It is always fun to see people discovering the fun of bike riding. "It's like being a kid again", I shared with Shawnett. She was laughing and having so much fun, it made me smile.

It was a super fun ride this morning, but soon I'll ratchet up the training, adding miles and hills. I know how important it is to push yourself in training to make the 7 day 565 mile trek through California a pleasurable experience.

My training has begun and so far it's been fun!

I'm registered for ALC7

Fri, 02 Nov 2007 13:35:00 PST

Autumn has finally arrived in California and so my thoughts turn to the beginning of my training for ALC7. This will be my 5th 7-day ride in the fight against AIDS.

I've set up my webpage so that my supportive friends and family can check in and see how my training and fund-raising are coming along. The California AIDS Lifecycle rides are incredible experiences that should be shared. Years ago, I first experienced the wonderful feeling of being a part of a powerful movement to help people in need. It is a feeling that doesn't go away, it just gets stronger. I hope you'll share with me the awesome opportunity we have to feel good.

I'll be focusing on getting in shape so I'm strong enough to pedal for hours a day for seven days straight. It's a long journey, but well worth the ride.

As I did last time, I'll be sure to update this page often so that you'll experience the thrill of training, the excitement of the ride, and the good feelings that come from supporting a worthy cause!

Here we go!!!!