ALC 6 Videos

Here are links to the "Unwritten" video shown at closing ceremonies in Los Angeles and two other videos shot during AIDS/LifeCycle 6.

Unwritten - a montage of Cyclists & Roadies

Proud - a montage of Cyclists & Roadies

Thank You, Roadies! - A "Thank You" video for the Roadie volunteers

Day Seven photos

We've posted the photos from Day 7, with Cyclists and Roadies ending their triumphant 545-mile journey at Closing Ceremonies in Los Angeles' VA Center.

Day Seven Podcast

Download the Day Seven Podcast (20:00 min, 14MB, .mp3)

Day Seven saw the triumphant arrival of the AIDS/LifeCycle 6 riders and roadies into Los Angeles. Hear a recap of the events and the speeches of L.A. Gay and Lesbian Center CEO Lorri L. Jean and San Francisco AIDS Foundation Executive Director Mark Cloutier.

You can listen to the podcast by clicking on the name of the episode in the ALC Podcast Player in the left hand column of this page or download it by control-clicking on the direct link above and saving it to your hard drive.

Day Six Podcast

Download the Day Four Podcast (14:21 min, 13MB, .mp3)

On Day Six, the cyclists ride from Lompoc to Ventura. Brand new and veteran cyclists alike share how it feels to be so close to the end of the ride and what they'll take home from the experience. Blogger James Ferguson and his partner talk about AIDS/LifeCycle and "putting a face" on HIV.

You can listen to the podcast by clicking on the name of the episode in the ALC Podcast Player in the left hand column of this page or download it by contro-clicking on the direct link above and saving it to your hard drive.

Day Six photos

The photos for Day Six illustrate the cyclists' journey from Lompoc to Ventura. Highlights include ice cream  frolic at Santa Barbara's Paradise Pit and contemplative moments at the beachside Candlelight Vigil.

Day 6 edition of The Daily Spin

In the Day 6 edition of The Daily Spin [1.5MB PDF], we hear personal stories from a cyclist and ALC's Specialty Team Deputy about why they are participating.

Register now for next year's AIDS/LifeCycle

Inspired by the adventure our bloggers are chronicling? Feel like you're missing out on all the fun? Register for AIDS/LifeCycle 7 as a Roadie or Cyclist! The event will take place June 1-7, 2008, and registration is $20 off through August 1, 2007. We'd love to see you out on the road!

Bloggers chronicle Day 5

• Cyclist James, who is HIV positive, talks about the honor of taking part in the team photo for the Positive Pedalers. "A philosophy of theirs that I truly admire and have put into practice in my life is to feel no shame in disclosing my status. The most effective way to rid this disease of the stigma it carries is to make the epidemic a human condition, not only a statistical one." Find out other highlights of James' day, and what was the most impressive costume he saw.
• Cyclist Annette writes about the sea of red she saw upon waking today - AIDS/LifeCycle's traditional "Red Dress Day." "There was a group of minnie mouses, cow girls, dominatrixís, Sunday church going frocks, dresses made of duct tape, fringes, tassels, sequins, spandex, lace, and tons of boas.  Oh and let us not forget the fake boobs." Hear more about her day, and find out what's Annette's favorite part of any ride.
• Roadie Erin made a special effort for Red Dress Day, but she notes, "After all that work of painting my fingernails, putting on bright red lipstick and decorating our truck (Special K) with red roses, streamers and balloons, who gets all the attention? The boys." Erin also talks to Roadies who are hitting their stride on Day 5.
• When Cyclist Bart saw the rider in front of him -- who was dressed as the devil -- fall off his bike, Bart sprang to action. "I got my [first aid] kit out, I let the Florence Nightingale in me take over and fulfilled my duty. Finally I could help someone else and that felt really good. A witty guy who gave emotional support looked at us and commented: 'The devil is helped by an angel. How ironic is that?'" Read more about Bart's day, and unexpected ALC connections with his native Netherlands.

Day Five Podcast

Download the Day Five Podcast (18:06 min, 16MB, .mp3)

Day Five was a short, fun day of riding. Hear about "Red Dress Day" and how one rider was able to ride it because of the help of the medical staff and the Positive Peddallers. Lorrie Jean and Mark Cloutier chat about their personal experiences on AIDS/Life/Cycle, and Roadies and Cyclists share what they're most proud of.

You can listen to the podcast by clicking on the name of the episode in the ALC Podcast Player in the left hand column of this page or download it by contro-clicking on the direct link above and saving it to your hard drive.

Day 5 photos

We guarantee that you'll be seeing red in our batch of photos from Day 5, a.k.a. AIDS/LifeCycle's "Red Dress Day"!

Bloggers' tales from Day 4 (Wednesday)

• Cyclist James writes that "the most rewarding part of the ride so far was at the top of Evil Twin #2 where the official half way to Los Angeles mark is set. As you crest over the top of the hill, the vista opens up to a sea of grassy hills with the ocean beyond, the perfect location for the marker." Read more about James' day ... and what happens while waiting in line at AIDS/LifeCycle.
• When cyclist Bart made it past rolling hills that seem to go down but actually go up, "an extremely heavy side wind kicked in. The riders who were in front of me were in a diagonal position, which looked rather silly since everything else – the trucks, the electricity poles – kept their vertical position. It was as if some unknown force changed the rules of gravity." What else did Bart face today? And what's the "fake halfway point"?
• Erin writes that her fellow roadies call Day 4 Roadie Meltdown Day. "My truckmate, Darla, said the focus of the ride is so much on the riders, Riders and RIDERS! that it can easily humble and wear down even the most altruistic roadie. And that usually happens on Day 4, when all that pep in our step and bending over backwards for riders starts to take its toll." How did she hold up?

Day Four Podcast

Download the Day Four Podcast (16:50 min, 11MB, .mp3)

Day Four saw the cyclists pedalling over the Evil Twins to the halfway point of the ride. Peg, the oldest participant on AIDS/LifeCycle 6 shares why she decided to do this for the first time at 79, and Joel, a Positive Pedaller, talks about how AIDS services saved his life.

You can listen to the podcast by clicking on the name of the episode in the ALC Podcast Player in the left hand column of this page or download it by contro-clicking on the direct link above and saving it to your hard drive.

Day 4 photos

The photos from Day 4 follow the cyclists as they conquer the Evil Twins, ascend to the Half Way to L.A. point, and roll into camp in Santa Maria.

Day 5 edition of the Daily Spin

The Day 5 edition of the Daily Spin [840K PDF], AIDS/LifeCycle's camp newsletter, covers the challenge of bicycling safely through urbanized areas, and talks with folks in Casmalia, where a barbecue for participants raises money for the local school.

Our bloggers tackle Day 3 (Tuesday)

• Roadie Erin is gathering a collection of bruises on her legs from her volunteer work on the Gear and Tent team. "Some onlookers might find them unsightly, but I wear them with pride. See this green one here, I got that from lugging that lumpy brown bag over there. See this yellowish mark on my knee, that was from Day 1, sigh. Mind you, I don’t like getting bruises, but I like how they make me look tough – so I can point to a new shiner on my arm to the cyclists, and say seeee, I’ve been working hard, too." Read more about Erin's heavy lifting.
• Cyclist Annette takes on the big hill of the day -- Quadbuster. "As you approach Quadbuster it looks very long and turns a bit to the left and with the lighting from the sky it looked quit ominous.  I just took my time and worked the grannies like no tomorrow.  There were times when I was barely hitting 2mph.  I just kept cranking away.  At one point I passed my sister who was ahead of me.  I asked if she was okay.  She said yes and then told me to keep going.  So I did.  I wasn’t about to stop anyway…well not unless I saw blood." Find out whether Annette conquers the hill.
• One of the highlights of cyclist James' day is the lunch stop in the tiny town of Bradley. "What is great about this stop is the symbiotic relationship AIDS/LifeCycle has with the local school.  It is my understanding that it is a K-12 school whose academic year depends on the money made from the lunch sales in front of their campus to the riders.  The money funds their field trips and enabled them to build a much needed computer lab for their students.  So, they need their funds and we need to get fed.  Perfect combination." Catch more of the highs and lows of James' day.
• Cyclist Bart tells of a discussion he had about a rider who almost died of AIDS when he lost his medical insurance in 2005. "Through the help of the L.A. Gay and Lesbian Center he got the help he needed. Today he can participate in AIDS/LifeCycle. Now, for me as a European this is not easy to understand. In a lot of European countries anybody who needs medical care can get it, whether you are insured or not." Read more of Bart's observations about the United States.

Day 3 edition of The Daily Spin

In the Day 3 edition of The Daily Spin [800K PDF], AIDS/LifeCycle's camp newsletter, read about HIV-positive cyclist Lois Springsteen's decision to join the Positive Pedalers, and see profiles of people whose lives have been changed by funds raised in AIDS/LifeCycle.

Day Three photos

Check out photos from Day 3 (Tuesday), which saw cyclists pedal from King City to Paso Robles, by way of the infamous Quadbuster hill.

AIDS/LifeCycle 6 Podcast - Day Three

Download the Day Three Podcast (14:12 min, 9MB, .mp3)

Day Three took the cyclists 75 miles closer to LA. Hear their thoughts as they meet the first big hill of the ride, Quadbuster. Cyclist Justin tells the story of why he decided to join the ride the week before it left and the Roadies have an over-the-top trashy fashion show.

You can listen to the podcast by clicking on the name of the episode in the ALC Podcast Player in the left hand column of this page or download it by right-clicking on the direct link above and saving it to your hard drive.

Day 4 edition of the Daily Spin

The Day 4 edition of The Daily Spin [1.1 MB PDF], AIDS/LifeCycle's camp newsletter, covers the event's impact on HIV awareness around the nation, and profiles the top two participant fundraisers.

Bloggers' stories from the road on Day 2 (Tuesday)

• Cyclist James writes, "Those who have little faith in humanity any longer need to do this ride. It has certainly changed my outlook of the world and it has been only two days." Find out why James' perspective changed.
• As Roadie Erin was unloading bags at the camp site in King City, "it was that sun-beating-down-on-you hot. Other roadies kept circling around reminding us to drink water and put on sunscreen. I love how we get so wrapped up with our job we need people to remind us to pee." Read Erin's interviews with other roadie teams.
• Cyclist Bart, who is from the Netherlands, tells of an HIV-positive AIDS/LifeCycle participant who had done 15 AIDS rides: "He added that he was very proud of that fact. You see, showing some respect for what you have done is quite uncommon in my country I think. So I liked his honesty and his self respect." Read more of Bart's impressions cycling through California.
• On this 105-mile day, Cyclist Annette feared she might not be able to finish in time and would get picked up by the Support and Gear (SAG) vehicle. "This was my first century and I was damn well going to finish.  However, throughout the course of the ride I wondered when I would decide to end it and just SAG.  I was even trying to come up with names for SAG.  Sad Ass Girl was at the top of my list, as was Sassy Able Girl, Special Agent Girl, and finally Silly Attractive Girl." Did Annette SAG?

Day 2 edition of The Daily Spin

Today's issue of the camp newsletter [1 MB PDF] looks at AIDS/LifeCycle's Education & Prevention Initiative, which will work with local health departments and AIDS organizations to leverage the visual impact of 2,333 Cyclists and 500 Roadies traveling the state to strengthen local programs.

Read The Daily Spin, AIDS/LifeCycle's camp newsletter

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:

• Orientation Day (Saturday) edition [1.1 MB]
• Day 1 (Sunday) edition [700K]

AIDS/LifeCycle 6 Podcast - Day Two

ghtDownload the Day One Podcast (13:50 min, 9MB, .mp3)

Day Two has the longest route on AIDS/LifeCycle - 105 miles from Santa Cruz to King City. Roadie volunteers tell us what Roadies do and why they do it. Cyclist Claudette shares the story of how HIV/AIDS has touched her life and why she decided to start riding well into her fifties.

You can listen to the podcast by clicking on the name of the episode in the ALC Podcast Player in the left hand column of this page or download it by right-clicking on the direct link above and saving it to your hard drive.

Day Two photos

We've posted photos from Day 2 (Monday), which saw cyclists noshing at the Deep Fried Artichokes stand, experiencing contemplative moments in Mission Soledad, and achieving their first century (100-mile) day.

Our bloggers post their Day 1 adventures

AIDS/LifeCycle's four participant bloggers have started sharing their journeys, with posts from Day 1 (Sunday):

• Cyclist Annette tells how Opening Ceremonies made her think of her brother, who died of AIDS in 1994. "We arrived just in time for the presenting of the Riderless bike and for a moment of silence.  We all held hands and I thought of my brother Chris and how much I missed him.  But I didn’t cry, I felt a calm settle over me and I felt better.  I knew Chris was with me and I would be fine."
• Cyclist Bart, who lives in Amsterdam, is basking in the Golden State's beauty: "Cycling through California is an event in itself. My lord, have I enjoyed the scenery, ranging from woods with skyhigh trees and replenishing scents, to the Pacific coastline with its thundering waves."
• Roadie Erin is getting the hang of her Gear and Tent tasks: "I learned to ask people if they forgot anything before they hand over their packs. This is a key question because one cyclist today had one truck team unload half the truck because he forgot his cycling shoes. "
• Cyclist James reflects on how the ride has affected him and his partner:  "If it was not for this ride, David and I would not be as close as we are now. The training and our common need to help others has brought us together in a way I never thought possible."

AIDS/LifeCycle 6 Podcast - Day One

Download the Day One Podcast (18:45 min, 12MB, .mp3)

The cyclists finish their first day - 90 miles from San Francisco to Santa Cruz. Listen to highlights of Opening Ceremonies and a recap of the day. Paul Serchia, Positive Peddlars Board Member, shares why he rides in AIDS/LifeCycle and first-year Cyclist Andy Samwick talks about what it's like to finally be here on the ride and his ambitious goal for the week.

You can listen to the podcast by clicking on the name of the episode in the ALC Podcast Player in the left hand column of this page or download it by right-clicking on the direct link above and saving it to your hard drive.

Day 1 photos

After an exhilarating and exhausting first day, our Cyclists and Roadies made it into their first campsite, at Santa Cruz. Check out our gallery of photos capturing Day 1.

AIDS/LifeCycle 6 raises a record $11 million to fight AIDS

A record 2,300 cyclists from 10 countries and 43 states rode exuberantly from the Cow Palace this morning as they began AIDS/LifeCycle, a 7-day, 545-mile bike ride from San Francisco to Los Angeles. The riders and nearly 450 "roadie" volunteers raised a record $11 million this year -- surpassing last year's total by nearly $3 million.

Read more about ALC's most successful year yet.

Experience AIDS/LifeCycle 6 (2007)

We invite you to see AIDS/LifeCycle 6 through the participants' eyes! 

Starting Monday June 4, the AIDS/LifeCycle web team will post:

• Daily audio podcasts       
• A variety of event photos 
• Blogs written by four 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.

If you'd like to be a part of AIDS/LifeCycle Opening Ceremonies in San Francisco or Closing Ceremonies in Los Angeles, the details can be found at http://www.aidslifecycle.org/ceremonies.html. We would love to see you there!

"Experience AIDS/LifeCycle 2007" will remain online indefinitely after the event.

ALC 6 Preview Podcast

ALC 6 Preview Podcast (2 min, 3MB, .mp3)

A brief overview of the upcoming web coverage for AIDS/LifeCycle 6 at http://aidslifecycle.typepad.com/alc6/. You can download the podcast episodes directly or listen to them in our podcast player on the web site in the left column on any page by clicking on the episode you'd like to hear.

AIDS/LifeCycle 6 Photo Gallery

Photography by Jeff Brock Studio.

Looking for more ALC6 photos? Check out:

• Old Soul Photos by Kristopher Azevedo. Kristopher shot the entire week.
• Hodes Photography by cyclist Brian Black Hodes. Brian photographed the Teams on Day 5, as well as Quadbuster on Day 3.

AIDS/LifeCycle Photo Archive

• AIDS/LifeCycle 5 (2006)
• AIDS/LifeCycle 4 (2005)
• AIDS/LifeCycle 3 (2004)
• AIDS/LifeCycle 2 (2003)
• AIDS/LifeCycle 1 (2002)

AIDS/LifeCycle 6 Route Map

For a more detailed map and information about Opening and Closing Ceremonies locations and camp sites, please visit the ALC Travel Planner's Interactive Map.

Archive of web coverage for AIDS/LifeCycle 1-5

• AIDS/LifeCycle 1 (2002)
• AIDS/LifeCycle 2 (2003)
• AIDS/LifeCycle 3 (2004)
• AIDS/LifeCycle 4 (2005)
• AIDS/LifeCycle 5 (2006)