AIDS/LifeCycle 5 Web Coverage

October 2006 Podcast

ALC — Tue, 14 Nov 2006 13:09:51 -0800

Listen to the podcast for October 2006 (.mp3, 7.8 MB)

This is the second in our series of podcasts throughout the year to help keep ALC participants and supporters informed about AIDS/LifeCycle 6. We'll have participant interviews, fundraising and training tips and answer listener questions. In this episode, Andrew Samwick--a brand new ALC Cyclist--tells us what it's like to make the decision to ride 545 miles when you haven't been on a bike in years. We'll talk with LA Cycle Buddy Sarah Sypniewski about what to look for in a new bike and how to get your fundraising off to a good start.

August 2006 Podcast

ALC — Mon, 28 Aug 2006 16:04:09 -0700

Listen to the podcast for August 2006 (.mp3, 19.2 MB)

This is the first in our series of podcasts throughout the year to help keep ALC participants and supporters informed about AIDS/LifeCycle 6. We'll have participant interviews, fundraising and training tips and answer listener questions. In this episode, Jeff Brock (ALC Webmaster) tells us about the training and fundraising tools available on aidslifecycle.org. We'll talk with SF Cycle Buddy Kari Boatner about what cycle buddies do and what it takes to make it to the starting line on Day One of ALC. Roadie Kelly B. talks with us about why she's a Roadie and why you may want to be one too.

One Hour Podcast Recap

ALC — Tue, 27 Jun 2006 14:39:35 -0700

Listen to the One Hour Podcast Recap (mp3)

This one hour recap of the AIDS/LifeCycle 5 Podcasts features highlights from all seven days of AIDS/LifeCycle 5. During the event, we produced a podcast everyday. If you'd like to hear the highlights from the over three and a half hours of podcasts in a single one hour show, this is the podcast for you.

Route Cues

ALC — Tue, 27 Jun 2006 11:26:29 -0700

Route cues for all seven days of ALC5 are now posted at http://experience.aidslifecycle.org/2006/route_cues/ These cues were given to cyclists each morning at rideout and detail the day's directions and mileage, and feature an elevation chart.

Closing Ceremony photos

ALC — Fri, 23 Jun 2006 16:56:25 -0700

We've posted the final set of ALC5 photos -- 180 pics from Closing Ceremony at the V.A. Center in Los Angeles.

Day Seven Photos - PCH and Ride-in

ALC — Wed, 14 Jun 2006 16:21:33 -0700

We've posted 110 photos from Day Seven, chronicling the final leg of the ride along busy Pacific Coast Highway, a victorious ride-in to the VA Center amid cheers of supporters, and panels from the AIDS Memorial Quilt. Coming soon: pics from the Closing Ceremony.

Day Seven Blogs - "We Did It"

ALC — Mon, 12 Jun 2006 08:14:34 -0700

Four of our bloggers (Dusty, Gary, Jon & Midori) have posted their thoughts about the last day of AIDS/LifeCycle.

Day Six Photos

ALC — Mon, 12 Jun 2006 08:09:23 -0700

More than 130 photos are now posted from Day 6, moving along the beach to Santa Barbara & Paradise Pit, on to the "Playboy Mansion" and ride-in at Ventura, and finally the Candlelight Vigil at San Buenaventura State Beach.

We're taking a break on Monday, but on Tuesday we'll start going through the 800 photos we shot of Day Seven & Closing Ceremony to pick out the best ones to post.

Day Seven Podcast

ALC — Sun, 11 Jun 2006 13:49:40 -0700

Listen to the Day 7 Podcast (mp3)

Episode 7 features the Closing Ceremonies in Los Angeles with ALC Director Chris Cole, CEO of the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center Lori Jean, the mayor of Los Angeles and SFAF Executive Director Mark Cloutier. We'll have a wrap up/week-in-review episode for you next week.

Day Six Podcast

ALC — Sat, 10 Jun 2006 12:22:38 -0700

Listen to the Day Six Podcast (MP3)

Day 6 is the Cyclists' and Roadies' last day in camp. We talk with a few of the Cyclists to see how they feel so close to the end of the ride. We'll visit ALC's famous unofficial rest stop, the Paradise Pit in Santa Barbara, and we'll have an interview with ALC Director Chris Cole. From Thursday night's Talent Show, Albee Park reads his poem "Alchemy."

Day Six Edition of The Daily Spin

ALC — Sat, 10 Jun 2006 11:16:29 -0700

In the Day Six edition of The Daily Spin [760K, 2-page PDF], ALC's camp newsletter, read about L.A. cyclist Beth Parks, who was inspired to ride in AIDS/LifeCycle by ... Xena!

Day Five Photos

ALC — Sat, 10 Jun 2006 10:29:25 -0700

Red, red, red. An ocean of it, in our gallery of 90 pictures from Day Five, a.k.a. "Red Dress Day." Plus, talent show pics.

Day Five Edition of The Daily Spin

ALC — Fri, 09 Jun 2006 16:26:10 -0700

Featured in the Day Five edition [700K, 2-page PDF] of The Daily Spin, ALC's camp newsletter, is a profile of cyclist Marc Sobul, an HIV-positive client of the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center's Jeffrey Goodman Special Care Clinic. Also, an update on the ALC Education & Prevention Team's health fair at the Bridge House Shelter in Lompoc.

Day Four Edition of The Daily Spin

ALC — Fri, 09 Jun 2006 14:34:21 -0700

The Day Four edition [800K, 2-page PDF] of ALC's camp newsletter, The Daily Spin, features the latest gossip from camp as well as a profile of Corry Notkin, a 62-year-old L.A. cyclist who, when she started training for ALC5, hadn't ridden a bike since age 14.

Day Five Podcast

ALC — Fri, 09 Jun 2006 11:48:10 -0700

Listen to the Day Five Podcast (MP3)

Day 5 is a fun, short day for the Cyclists. We'll have some fun with them and highlights from the evening's talent show.

Blogging in Red

ALC — Fri, 09 Jun 2006 10:26:41 -0700

Our five participant bloggers (Dusty, Gary, Jon, Tony, & Midori) have been busy posting new entries each day. For Day Five, they'll tell you what it's like to travel down the coast decked out in little red dresses and assorted lingerie, for "Red Dress Day."

Day Four Photos Posted

ALC — Fri, 09 Jun 2006 10:19:05 -0700

We've posted a batch of 90 Day Four photos, ranging from the heights of the "Halfway to LA" mountaintop to the depths of "Dante's Inferno" at Rest Stop 4, as participants travel from Paso Robles to Santa Maria.

Day Four Podcast

ALC — Thu, 08 Jun 2006 09:32:00 -0700

Listen to the Day Four Podcast (MP3)

The Cyclists pass the half-way point on their journey from San Francisco to Los Angeles. We'll meet some of the Roadies and find out what they do and why they do it.

Show the Participants Some Love

ALC — Thu, 08 Jun 2006 09:24:02 -0700

There's still time to send a message of support to participants, which they can read in camp. Cyclists and Roadies have received more than 8,000 messages so far -- thanks for the outpouring of support! It means the world to us to see them smile as they read words from friends and family. We'll continue to accept messages until 3pm Friday, June 9.

Day Three Photos Posted

ALC — Thu, 08 Jun 2006 09:18:44 -0700

We've posted more than 150 photos from Day Three, capturing the highs and lows of Quadbuster, BBQ in tiny Bradley California, and the Roadie Fashion Show.

Wind and twins

ALC — Wed, 07 Jun 2006 21:00:00 -0700

Curt and Quentin from the L.A Gay & Lesbian Center chronicle their further adventures ...

Greetings from Santa Maria at the end of another long day of pedaling through gorgeous California countryside and more W I N D. There ARE places in the world that are famous for being windy (Chicago comes to mind), but as far as we know, California isn’t one of them, but take it from us, it’s windy in California!

At Rest Stop One (just before the dreaded Evil Twins – More about them later), we espy two women with the most fetching helmet decorations, featuring pheasant plumes poking jauntily into the air. And so we met Gitty and Pam, San Francisco riders who together make up the Royal Pheasant Posse. Gitty explains that they used to be the Royal Pheasant Society, but a diminution in membership reduced them to a mere Posse. Then and there, we both declared our intention to sign up so that they may once again qualify as a Society. And of course we put in our order for helmet plumage, which Gitty promised to construct and send to us.

At the top of Evil Twin II, the second of two killer hill climbs, Curt stops to take a picture of riders making their way to the top of the hill and captures an image of a rider, who stops and hands his camera and asks him to take his picture. A brief conversation ensues during which the young man, whose name is Brou, says that he’s from the Ivory Coast. Not something one hears every day. He’s done the AIDS Marathon in Hawaii and is currently doing all AIDS rides to promote a cycling event in 2008 that will support the West African AIDS Foundation. In addition to Brou, there are folks from nine different countries one from as far away as Turkmenistan. Amazing the reach that this ride has.

Half a mile later, Ginger Brewlay was fighting with the California Highway Patrol to keep her five “Halfway to L.A.” signs on display for photo ops. She won.

Lunch is particularly eventful today. We’re treated to yet another BBQ fundraiser (locals seem to be catching on to the captive generous audience they have) by the nearby AIDS Support Network. While Lorri Jean was regaling us with her morning of praying to the porcelain god (in this case plastic as in Porta Pottie) a man came up to her to relay the most amazing story. He was going to skip the lunch stop but spontaneously ended up there and, when he arrived, heard his name called out. Lo and behold, it turned out to be an ex whom he had written off for dead. Wow! As Lorri said later, how many times do you get to take someone off your list of people you’ve lost?

We can’t help it. We LOVE Nuhya from Rest Stop 4, where the theme is Hell. Nuhya isn’t her name today. She says she’s whoever we want her to be. Curt threatens to “turn” for her, but no one believes him. She IS devilishly beautiful, though. As we’re leaving the rest stop, one of the devils yells, “Get the hell out of here!)

And with that, we bit you a good night. We have to get our outfits ready for Red Dress Day tomorrow.

Quadbusting

ALC — Wed, 07 Jun 2006 19:02:32 -0700

The Day Three edition of The Daily Spin [800K PDF], our camp newsletter, features a profile of four-time cyclist Kai Brothers, who has lived with HIV for 25 years.

Here's an excerpt from Curt and Quentin's latest email to L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center staff about Day Three.

As we were breaking down our tent, we met Salimah Muhammed from Houston and her tent-mate Terrence Tulloch from Boston. Originally friends from Boston, they were the perfect examples of why people do this ride: he to bring attention to the silence around AIDS in the black community and she because she was inspired by Terrence to get in shape (she used to weigh 300 lbs – though it was hard to believe to look at her now.) Salimah cracked us up talking about what sorry preparation training in the Houston area is for this ride, as the closest thing they have to hills there are freeway overpasses. Welcome to the ALC 5 family.

So, we were very busy congratulating ourselves on how much better shape we’re in than we were last year, talking about how easy we found Quadbusters last year, and today, Quadbusters KICKED OUR ASSES!!! They say pride goeth before a fall. Boy, ain’t THAT the truth!

We <<HEART>> Bradley. As everyone who’s followed ALC over the years knows, the lunch stop in the tiny town of Bradley (pop. 120, according to the sign), when the entire town shows up to serve a lunch of burgers and all the trimmings, is an ALC highlight. Our coming through Bradley is not only an opportunity to spread the message of the ride, it’s also the largest fundraiser of the year for the local schools. It never fails to move us all to see the school children wearing ALC t-shirts and to read the letters they compose to us riders. A special addition to Bradley for the day was the LAGLC’s POW (Prevention on Wheels) van which was passing out HIV/AIDS materials and good cheer. Bringing the van northward were Zella Gildon and Pierre Chambers. This year we’ve also added a whole education component overseen by Dean Goishi and Patrik Manning from our own AIDS Clearinghouse as well as a team from SFAF. They’ve been working with agencies in every local community along the way to use the Ride to raise awareness throughout California.

Finally, at dinner, we met Wing Team as they were spreading out a silver tablecloth to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Father Eugene Herbert’s becoming a priest. They are from Annunciation Church in Arcadia and have been riding, with various members, for five years in memory of those they have lost to AIDS. Their first year they raised over $40,000 – Keep it up!

In all, this has been a beautiful day. See you down the road.

New batch of Day One photos posted

ALC — Wed, 07 Jun 2006 18:44:26 -0700

We've added a second batch of Day One photos, featuring beautiful San Gregorio Beach, camp at Santa Cruz, and all the sights in between, including the famous Chicken Lady.

Day Three Podcast

ALC — Wed, 07 Jun 2006 11:47:04 -0700

Listen to the Day Three podcast (mp3).

We talk with the cyclists before and after the first big hill of the ride, Quadbuster. The cyclists become donors at a local school fundraiser along the route. We'll hear about the new LAGLC Prevention On Wheels and talk with William Bland, SFAF's Director of Community Programs about what the Foundation is doing to build healthy communities through outreach. Finally, we'll sit down with Cyclist Craig Hermes and find out why he's riding for both SFAF and LAGLC.

Commemorating 25 Years of AIDS

ALC — Wed, 07 Jun 2006 02:20:18 -0700

Here's another excerpt from Curt Shepard and Quentin O’Brien's missives to their colleagues at the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center, describing Day Two (Monday).

Best to start with how the day ended: A commemoration of the 25th anniversary of the Centers for Disease Control (CDC)’s recognition of AIDS. It’s impossible to put into words what this epidemic has meant to all of us both individually and collectively. Here we are on the ride -- the biggest one yet -- part of a great community and a wonderful event, but all we want is to not have to do this. Not have to bring attention to the fact that AIDS is still with us, that more and more people live with it and, worse, more and more people become infected every day. One day maybe we won’t have to do this; we can just do it for fun.

Today brought the humor that has long kept us laughing through tragedy: skinny-dipping men and women forming a naked ribbon in the river, organized by our favorite drag queen Ginger Brewlay (very much out of drag).

Some impressions of today:

You’ve heard of “Quadbusters,” a famously difficult climb we’ll be tackling tomorrow. We’ve decided to call River Road outside of Salinas (with due deference to those of the female persuasion) “Ballbusters.” What is with those little invisible divits in the road, right near the shoulder of the road, right where we’re riding? Ouch! Ouch! Ouch!

Although we’d like to pretend it’s all fun and games out here, we feel it’s our responsibility to apprise you of a hazard. Today, on River Road a poor confused and panicked coyote ran across the road, first right in front of Quentin and then, back the other way right in front of Curt. Both of us saw our lives flash before our eyes (if only perhaps the last five minutes worth.)

Not to pick on LAGLC CEO Lorri Jean, but we couldn’t help remarking to ourselves today how difficult it must be (and out of character) for her to be passing all these lovely wineries without stopping.

All in all, it was quite an eventful day. We didn’t remember from previous rides that the stop for fried artichokes, skinny-dipping, and the Cookie Lady (this year in disciplinarian mode) happened all in one day. A day that, in addition, may be summed up in one word: W I N D. We had it every which way as we crisscrossed the beautiful, bountiful Salinas Valley. For much of the day we were blessed with tailwinds that made us feel like supreme athletes. As for the rest of it, well, we don’t know which is worse, headwinds or crosswinds. Curt saw a rider almost literally lifted off the ground by a blast of wind, startled to find himself completely off the road and over to the far end of the shoulder. One result of the wind is that we have dust in places we didn’t know we had places.

And with that attractive image, we bid you good night from King City.

Day Two Podcast

ALC — Tue, 06 Jun 2006 14:05:22 -0700

Listen to the Day Two Podcast (mp3)

Marking the 25th year since the first reported case of AIDS, Episode Two of the AIDS/LifeCycle Podcast features interviews with two cyclists -- and a dancing bear volunteer -- about the impact of AIDS and HIV. Mark Cloutier, executive director of the San Francisco AIDS Foundation, reflects on the last 25 years of the epidemic and offers a vision of hope for the future.

Day Two (Monday) updates

ALC — Tue, 06 Jun 2006 09:01:20 -0700

A quick note from King City, the bucolic site of camp for Day Two ... we've posted 125 photos from Monday, and all five of our bloggers (Dusty, Gary, Jon, Tony, & Midori) posted new entries. We're almost finished with the Day Two podcast and we'll post it as soon as we get to a speedy Internet connection.

Voices of ALC

ALC — Mon, 05 Jun 2006 15:25:09 -0700

In our preview podcast, we promised you a surprise … here it is! Audio entries from our participant bloggers. First off, Roadie Midori has called in three entries from the road. Click to download the MP3s:

You’ll hear from the other four bloggers later in the week. Then you can decide whether their voices match their JPGs.

"Hellloooooo Riders!"

ALC — Mon, 05 Jun 2006 14:37:30 -0700

In addition to our five intrepid participant bloggers (check them out in the box to the left – they’ve been busy making updates), we’re bringing you the musings from two L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center staffers, Curt Shepard and Quentin O’Brien. Curt, the Director of Government Relations, and Quentin, Director of Health and Mental Health Services, are cycling and are emailing updates to their colleagues at the Center. We’ll excerpt them here.

DAY 1, 4:15 am

Okay, okay, we know it’s not about us. We remember -– after we regard our bleary-eyed puffy faces in the mirror with utter horror and stagger around our hotel room trying to gather our wits and overcome our revulsion at having to wriggle into the spandex while gagging down room service coffee and the now-stale bagel we bought last night -– yes, we remember why we’re doing this. We’re doing it to make a difference in the fight against the AIDS epidemic, now – unbelievably, inexcusably -- 25 years old, and we’re doing it to honor the people we’ve lost to it to provide medical care and other services for the people who are currently living with it and to keep others from getting it. And we’re doing it to make sure that Californians don’t forget that the epidemic is still exactly that – an epidemic, still affecting the lives of thousands of our fellow citizens.

We learn at opening ceremonies that so far ALC 5 has raised a total of $8 million, an impressive increase over last year.

Lorri L. Jean, director of the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center, blows 1800 helmets off 1800 hundred heads with her now famous rallying cry, “HELLLOOOOOOOOOOOO RIDERS!!!!!!!”

It strikes us as funny that pretty much everyone who appears onstage gets a little thrill from talking about butt balm in front of a large audience.

We’re touched by San Francisco Supervisor Bevan Dufty’s poem about the epidemic and the government’s history of neglect concerning it.

At Mile 13 a very handsome lad lowers the back of his bike shorts, giving me (Curt) a look at his very comely, very white rear end. He was mortified when he realized I wasn’t who he thought I was, but as far as I’m concerned the day was off to a fine start.

Thanks, Subaru, for the perky little pig propellers, which we have affixed to our helmets. We used to eschew cutesy little helmet and bike decorations, but now, in addition to the moo-cows, we have these propellers.

And now in camp… Sen. John Laird welcomes us to Santa Cruz letting us know that today is Gay Pride here (we keep this guy busy don’t we?) Most impressively, he lets us know that the California legislature has worked (with LAGLC and SFAF’s support) to restore HIV Prevention funding to previous levels.

And with that, good night.

The Daily Spin

ALC — Mon, 05 Jun 2006 09:41:31 -0700

Each morning in camp, as participants load up on carbs and scrambled eggs to prepare for a long day of riding, they can also read The Daily Spin, our camp newsletter. It covers highlights from the previous day, tells Cyclists and Roadies what they can expect on the route, and features profiles of their fellow participants. Get a taste of ALC life with these PDFs:

Day One Podcast

ALC — Mon, 05 Jun 2006 09:03:30 -0700

Listen to the Day One Podcast (mp3)

Episode One of the AIDS/LifeCycle Podcast features highlights from the Opening Ceremony in San Francisco, a talk with Cyclist Kai Brothers about riding into his hometown of Santa Cruz with AIDS/LifeCycle and a preview of the ride from Santa Cruz to King City.

ALC5 Participants Break Records

ALC — Sun, 04 Jun 2006 00:04:28 -0700

A record number of AIDS/LifeCycle participants has raised more than $8 million! Here's an excerpt from the press release that just went out:

During a week that will mark the passage of 25 years since the first reported cases of AIDS, more than 2,200 people are participating in this year's AIDS/LifeCycle -- a 7-day, 585-mile bike ride from San Francisco to Los Angeles that raises millions of dollars for AIDS services and heightens HIV/AIDS awareness throughout the state.

Now in its fifth year, the event benefits the San Francisco AIDS Foundation and the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center, two of the largest AIDS services providers in the country. In the last four years, AIDS/LifeCycle has raised more than $20 million for HIV/AIDS services. This year the ride has raised more than $8 million. No other event raises more money for HIV/AIDS services and prevention.

Read the entire press release.

The participants are getting their last few hours of sleep before the ride. Check out the Orientation Day musings from some of our bloggers -- Dusty, Jon, and Tony.

See the Journey of a Lifetime

ALC — Fri, 02 Jun 2006 12:16:00 -0700

More than 2,000 participants of AIDS/LifeCycle 5 are preparing to travel down the coast of California to raise funds for the San Francisco AIDS Foundation and the HIV/AIDS services of the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center. You'll be able to partake vicariously in this emotional and rewarding voyage right here on this website.

Starting Monday, June 5, 2006, the AIDS/LifeCycle web team will post:

A written travelogue from the road, summarizing the previous day's highlights
Daily audio podcasts
A variety of event photos
Online blogs written by five participants as they experience life on the road and in camp

Now and throughout the event, you can send a message of support addressed to an individual participant or to the entire group. Participants can read those messages in camp each day.

Preview Podcast

ALC — Wed, 31 May 2006 13:46:43 -0700

The AIDS/LifeCycle Preview Podcast

This is the first AIDS/LifeCycle 5 podcast. We'll interview SF Cyclist Derek Martin and find out what AIDS/LifeCycle means to him, hear from a few of the SF cycle buddies who'll go over some last minute tips for cyclists and give you a preview of the upcoming daily podcasts from the road June 5th through 10th.

Archive of AIDS/LifeCycle 1-4

ALC — Tue, 30 May 2006 12:23:00 -0700