Wheels and News: April 2007

Sunday, April 29, 2007

Bicycle Diaries II - Birthday in Santa Barbara

What is the better way to celebrate my birthday than on a special-fun-great bicycle ride? None. So I rode with more than 160 riders, most of whom are also AIDS/LifeCycle riders, on the two-day Santa Monica-Santa Barbara Ride.

This was my second year doing this back-to-back century ride which was organized by Shifting Gears, a cycling club in West LA. Despite some headwinds that we hate and dazzling here and there on Sunday, the weather had been pretty much very cooperative. None of my regular cycling buddies sign up for this ride, so on the way u to Santa Barbara, I was riding by myself most of the time. I finished the ride shortly after 4pm.

I went to dinner with Steven, Lorenzo and Kevin at an Italian restaurant. I told them it was my birthday, but to my surprise, they told the waitress, so she brought me a piece of chocolate cake and they sang me birthday song, which I haven’t heard in years. Yea, I don’t really celebrate my birthday, at least not in the partying way.

By the time we got back to the hotel, more people were told it was my birthday, so I heard another birthday song by the pool at the hotel. Then one of the TRL, Martin, who happened to bake a chocolate cake for a rider who had her birthday a few days before, kindly shared the cake with me. As a result, I had another piece of birthday cake. Yes, the ride was special, doing the ride on my birthday make it more special.

After a not-so-well sleep I woke up around 6am on Sunday, getting ready for the ride home. This time I rode with Pam, Cynthia, Michael, Evelyn and Judith. We really had fun and kept a pretty fast pace along the coast. The ride along PCH in the afternoon was certainly dangerous as usual, with lots of cars traveling on full speed and surfers, beach goers, visitors getting on and off their cars, we had to ride with extra caution. Of cause, team work was important too, as we taking care of each other and make sure everyone gets back in one piece. I finished at around quarter to 4pm. Both days I better my time from last year and I didn’t feel as tired.

I felt bad when Kevin told me he fell twice on the way back to Santa Monica. Why? Because he is new to ALC and cycling, at one point he asked if he could ride with our group, and I say of course. I didn’t pay much attention at him as I thought he could keep up with our pace. But that was not the case. I should have look after my new friend. Well, besides birthday and cakes, I learn another lesson. I will not let this happen again in the future.

Thanks to all the staffs and volunteers who worked so hard to make this ride a success.

Total mileage of the week: 206 miles

Registration, meet-n-greet in the morning

Breakfast is very important

Yes, you can have more than one piece

Don't forget about the drinks

And stretching (leads by Leslie)

Everyone wants to prevent injury

Oh, that's our bags

Cycle Buddy Kerry, she incharge of the traffic

Get to pit stop 1, eat!

and drink!!

of course, who could resist a massage?

hardworking bird, wow.

Ginger in pink, as sweet at the strawberries

Sarah and Sheri handling out sandwiches

there's pasta and potato salad too

Michael, Evelyn, Pam and David enjoy lunch at the park in Ventura

TRLs Scott, Brian and Daniel

Dragon relaxing at pit stop with new friend, the ALC Monkey

Another friend, the ALC Bear

Their parents... j/k Vince and Pam

Greeting from Amtrak passengers

Riding in to the El Prado Inn

Birthday boy with birthday cake

The gang, me, Steven, Lorenzo, Kevin

Sunset in Santa Barbara

Getting ready for the 2nd day ride

I didn't know sunscreen comes with different colors

Looking strong after first 30-mile

Pit stop with Chinese theme

Ginger in another special hand-made costume

Sunday, April 22, 2007

Bicycle Diaries II - Earth Day on Hills

Earth Day - what have I done to save the world? How about spending 4356 miles on the bike instead of driving? Kudos Riders!

Alright, it was another back-to-back hard-core training weekend, climbing some butt-kicking hills along the coast and the valley, and I’m VERY tired.

Saturday 4/21 was ALC 6’s “Day on the Ride,” which was intended to let all riders, especially the newbies know what a typical day in June will look and feel like – with rest stops, roadies crews, sweep vehicles and some road signage.

The registration started at 6am, followed by some important notes and announcements, stretching session. More than 400 riders roll out at 7.30am attempting for their 80 or 40 miles challenge. I rode with my buddy Suzann, and met Khoa from OC, who is another member of our very own “Team Misfit.”

We climbed a few big hills around the South Bay-PV areas, the neighborhood that I had so much memories of, the area where I spent most of my training rides last year. We stopped for lunch at the park in San Pedro, across the street from the Korean Friendship Bell. The way back wasn’t any easier, there were some rolling hills waiting for us. I finished the ride in 5 hours 40 minutes, with an average speed of 13.9 mph, better my time from last year’s 12.5 mph.

There was a after-ride-victory-party waiting for us at the end of the ride. The pizzas, salads, burritos and cakes tasted SO good. Thanks to all the sponsors!

Sunday was our monthly consolidated training, we had like 50-60 riders for previous months training, but only 12 showed up this time. Maybe most of them were still recovering from DOTR.

The 50-mile ride may not sound very distance-challenge but there were 3 big hills, the famous La Tuna Canyon, an all-new-to-me 0.7 mile Harvard street in Burbank and they ‘baby-hill’ in Griffith Park. We had lunch at the farmer’s market in Montrose.

Total mileage of the week: 130 miles.

I’ll be turning 31 next Saturday and what is a better way to spend this special day on a special ride? I’ll participate in the Santa Monica-Santa Barbara Ride for the 2nd year in a row, this is a double century ride, where we will spend a night in Santa Barbara and ride back on Sunday. What do I want for my birthday? How about your donation?