Dan's
AIDS/Lifecycle 6 Pictures
Day Seven (Saturday 6/9/2007) - Ventura to Los Angeles
62 Miles
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Day Seven. It all went by so fast but I was glad to see it ending. My body was fatigued, along with my knee problems, and I just wanted to go home and sleep in my bed. Today we had to get on the road a half an hour earlier, but honestly, I was in no rush. I could do 62 miles in four hours, easy. Closing ceremonies wouldn't start until 3:30 (actual time was 4:00, but we went to our bikes at 3:30), so there would be much waiting around. That's what rest stops, lunch and Starbuck's are for ;-).
I visited Sport's Medicine one last time and I was ready to go. We handed over our tents and gear to our gear truck crew and said our goodbyes. Time to get rolling. It was going to be a flat day until we got into LA where Pacific Coast Highway would throw rolling hills at us. A volunteer at bike parking was shouting out that it was going to be a flat easy day and I took him to the side and told him it would be no such thing. The rolling hills I mentioned would be tough on our tired legs. I didn't think it was right for him to misleading the riders. Especially when he told me (after I had asked him), that he had never actually ridden the course on a bike.
Roll Out at 7:15 am. Really, no rush, but the organizers wanted us out on the road so they could get to the finish line.
Riding through Oxnard on the way to PCH!
Point Mugu Marine Air Base, right before PCH starts.
Rest Stop One at mile 20.
The Jelly Belly Clown. She dressed as a clown the whole week. I loved her spirit!
A RS1 crew member.
And more. I think the theme was Catholic School...
The beauty of the Pacific Coast Highway never ceases to amaze me.
More.
And more...
My annual shot taken by Mom of Mom & Dad fame.
Getting closer to Malibu. This is where traffic would be most dangerous.
Malibu!
Rest Stop Two in Malibu.
My new friend Gordon, a very strong rider who I look forward to spending some quality Fixed Gear time with in the future. He wasn't riding a fixie but something tells me (mainly him) that he may do this ride next year on one.
Lunch near Pepperdine University. A very beautiful setting. 14 miles to go!
A Team PMS rider on the left, my co-worker (the Mini-Mouse the flipped me off on Day Five) Bob and me.
My dear friend Nicole. She was on her ninth ride!
Traffic in LA on the way to closing
And more...
My old friend Lincoln, Gordon and Tracey at Starbucks in Beverly Hills. We hung for about an hour.
My Brother for life, Paul who came to see me at closing. He was taking a picture of me. We flew back together.
Closing. This is what it looked like from my perspective.
After checking in, we greeted rider's coming in. The rider in front is a long time rider and training ride leader, my friend Julie Brown, who went down this year much like I did last year. Fortunately, she was able to complete the ride.
Riders still coming in.
And finally, the Chicken Lady!
After rolling in dead last (so we could make a quick exit), here are the roadies marching to the front. They were awesome. We depend on them so much, one doesn't begin to realize! They are what make it possible for us to ride the ride. Without them, there would be no ride!
My friend and long time rider, Ron from the Oakland Yellowjackets Bicycle club. He and his lovely wife were driving their personally owned vehicle (known as a POV) as a sweep vehicle. Ron told me, he would be riding next year!
Larry, who usually rides was a roadie. I honestly thought he was riding this year. He's ridden as long as I have.
A moment where we were asked to hold hands and remember the lost. You could hear a pin drop.
Another shot of closing ceremonies.
Paul.
And me. I really was in the back of the crowd. Since this was my eleventh ride, I figured I'd let others be close to the stage. And I could still make a quick exit.
After I dropped my bike off, Paul and I grabbed my gear (notice who is schlepping it ;-) and we were off to hop in Paul's car.
So, it was over. As quickly as it had started. I'd like to thank my contributors. All 55 of you! With your help, we raised over $5,600! You are my hero's.
I'll be back next year for my twelfth ride at the AIDS/LifeCycle 7.
Till next year...
Dan