Branching Out

Lots of miles. Lots of hills. Lots of water. Lots of soreness. Lots of learning. Lots of support. Lots of goals. Lots of firsts. Lots of progress. Lots of inspiration.

I've definitely experienced a lot during these past couple months of training. Each of these experiences has prepared me for the big event. And much of this preparation has been with the help of my friends and community... fundraising, gear acquisition, support, inspiration and cycling knowledge.

But my training rides have always been solo.

It's time to change that and branch out into a community of cyclists.

I actually love going solo on my training rides. They're very peaceful experiences with amazing scenery and allow me some time in my own head. No work. No fundraising. No dog parenting. No distractions. At the end of a ride, I generally feel very centered and balanced which is something we can all use once in awhile. In many ways, I feel I could continue riding by myself until the event begins.

However, next June I'm going to be riding with over 2,000 participants. That's got to be a logistical challenge for the event planners and roadies. Riders have a challenge to meet as well... it means learning the rules of sharing the road. Yes, I've been reading quite a bit about group riding... things like bar-to-bar, pacelines, peeling off, pulling through and use of hand signals for pointing out obstacles, hazards & maneuvering. In my head, I can picture myself doing all of these things with precision. In reality, will I do them when I'm heading into my third hour, my fortieth mile, and fighting off a bit of road hypnosis? Probably not. Unless I have real-life experience and, like everything else we try to master, I practice, practice, practice.

From the beginning, I've told myself that once I felt comfortable on my bike I'd start learning to ride in groups. Well, if I'm completing 40-mile rides it's pretty obvious that I've found my place in the saddle. So a few weeks ago when I met a fellow cyclist during one of my rest stops, he pointed me to a website for Las Vegas cycling enthusiasts. That afternoon, I signed up as a member but I haven't yet joined them on a ride. Anxiety about learning something new? Or being judged? Or missing my solo rides? Probably all of the above. This weekend, that changes.

In a way, this also means taking a step back in some my training. To learn group riding, I really should start with the beginners. The rides will be shorter and the pace slower. But, if I'm going to do this properly, I'm going to start where everyone does... at the beginning. On Sunday, I'll be joining the Biking Las Vegas group for a beginner's ride. The route will be much flatter than I'm used to, the pace will be 4-6 mph slower than I'm currently achieving, and the distance will be the shortest I do these day. But I know I'll be getting so much out of it! The ride leader will be giving a tutorial on riding safely in a group and helping with tips on shifting and gearing. And after the event, I'll walk away having my first experience riding with others!

The following weekend I've signed up for another group ride... with a twist. The BLV group is hosting it's 4th Annual Halloween Ride! Since I'll have a little experience riding with others, I've decided to join this event which includes riding in costumes! It's like the school-day Halloween parades except we'll be on road bikes... woohoo! In addition to getting more experience in group riding, I'll also be taking my first step in preparing for the Red Dress Day during the AIDS/LifeCycle event!

Finally, I also think I may join another group event in the coming weeks. This one is an organized fundraiser called the Honor Ride for the Ride2Recovery and benefits combat veterans who have sustained injuries while serving and protecting our country. There are a few levels of participation including an 18-mile ride for beginners, a 35-mile route for weekend warriors, and an 80-mile ride for the real experts. I'm still on the fence for this one since it's a benefit event and I can't take any focus away from my ALC fundraising efforts. However, there is no minimum for raising funds and my registration fees will benefit a cause I support. So I might just do it... feel free to let me know your thoughts in the comments section about whether or not it would be a good idea.

Gaining experience in riding with groups doesn't mean my solo rides will be ending. Quite the opposite I think. Most likely, I'll ride by myself just as often and the group training events will add to my training schedule. Plus, I'll still be planning rides with my cyclist friends like Brian, Kristen, Jason & Lacy. Wow... I've got a lot of pedaling to do in the coming months!

There may be one other benefit in branching out with these group rides. My friends, family and colleagues have shown incredible support for my ride and that support has achieved amazing progress in fundraising. But contributions have slowed down over the past couple weeks because so many have already become sponsors. I am working on getting creative with my fundraising events but, by participating in these group training rides, I'll meet many others and my community will grow. And maybe along the way I'll meet some who believe in the reasons I'm participating in the AIDS/LifeCycle event and they'll support the cause. Or maybe I'll even find a local cyclist who'll join me on the ride! In the end, I know I'll make a few new friends and that's the best part of it all.

Gearing Up - Part III (With A Little Help From My Friends)

Those who have been following me on my ALC journey know that I went into this with almost nothing... no experience, no cycling gear, no idea where to start. What I did start with was a whole lot of determination. That and an old mountain bike.

One month ago today, I walked into a bike shop for the first time and started a conversation with the pros. Purchased my first cycling outfit. And pulled my bike off its hook in the garage. The following day I went on my first ride... and completed 7.6 miles. Thirty days later, I've gone on seven rides totaling 140 miles. I've acquired more gear - shoes, pedals, tires & tools. I've learned how to ride in clipless pedals without falling over (not even once!). And I've added a passion for cycling to my determination.

Y'know, as I learn more about the ride and read blogs from last year's riders, I realize more and more that I can do this. It's an organized event with tons of support. People of all ages, from all backgrounds, and many different fitness levels successfully complete the ride. The ride is SAG'd (stands for Support and Gear). We're provided tents, meals, manned rest areas and vans to carry our personal camping gear and clothing. A SAG'd ride also provides assistance during emergencies and picks up riders who have fallen too far behind and transports them to that day's campsite. So yeah, I can do this... if I can't make it one day, a van will drive me to the end of that day's route. But my goal is to actually ride each and every mile on that 545-mile route. I will not "get SAG'd."

So it's apparent I won't be doing this alone. It's a community effort. A team of Roadies will ensure all riders are safe and provided for. We reach our fundraising goals through the support of the greater community... our sponsors... you. All we have to do is train, gear up, and ride.

This week I also found there's another unsung hero in this community that will help us riders achieve our goals. Gear sponsors. Recently, a few friends asked if they could help by supplying some of the gear for my ride. As difficult as it is for me to ask for assistance, I've realized as I've gotten older that we all get support and assistance throughout our lives in many, many ways. After some internal wrestling, I allowed myself to accept their offer and sent them to my "Wish List" on Amazon. The support was definitely welcome and having a friend spend $15 on a pedal wrench or $50 on cycling shorts would ease the personal financial commitment I've made to the ride. I had to keep in mind that I started with pretty much nothing and the packing list for the ride includes these items and more:

General Packing List
Sleeping Bag (mandatory) - Sleeping pad or air mattress (sleeping surfaces are hard) - Ear plugs (highly recommended) - Small camping pillow - Plastic tarps or painter sheets (rain protection; place underneath your tent/over your tent) - Flashlight or headlamp - Alarm clock (non electric) - Clothespins or binder clips (to dry wet clothes or to hold your tarp to your tent) - Cold-water detergent (to wash clothes) - Solar Charger for electronics (event does not supply electricity for charging equipment)

Cyclist Specific Gear

Helmet (mandatory) - Bike (mandatory) - Jerseys (2-3) - Bike shorts (2-3 pair) - Cycling Socks - Knee and arm warmers - Tights or leg warmers - Cycling gloves - Sunglasses (cycling-specific) - Windbreaker or Windvest - Rain jacket/pants - Shoe or toe covers - Bike Shoes - Pump (required) - Patch kit, tire irons (required) - Water bottles/Hydration Pack (required) - Spare tubes - Seat bag - Bike tools - Bike computer - Spare cleats - Spare bike tires - Shower cap (cover your bike seat at night)

Experienced cyclists had also told me that much of the clothing I purchase today will be worn out by the time I ride next year. So instead of 2-3 pairs of shorts, I'll need 5 or 6. Same for jerseys. Socks. You get the picture.

I found when buying shoes and pedals that Amazon was the way to go when it came to cost. So I created an Amazon Wish List to help me keep track of the things I needed to purchase over the next ten months. Little did I know that it would allow others to help sponsor my ride. The packages began arriving this week. Lots of packages. Oh wow... I mean, it's almost enough to bring tears to your eyes.

Some of the gear my "sponsors" have supplied.

Words can't express the gratitude I'm feeling for shows of support like this. While I'm spending those seven days on the ride, I will not only be with 2,000 Riders and 1,000 Roadies - I'll be with each of you every day. I now realize, I'm not only riding to help those living with or affected by HIV/AIDS.... I'll be riding to say, "Thank you for believing in me." 

(You can check out my Wish List here)