AIDS Lifecycle: "I Can't Believe I'm Doing This!"

When the alarm rang at 4:30 a.m., I could have knocked it off the nightstand. My biking uniform was laid out on the dresser, the bags were already loaded into the car and I had dropped my bike off on Saturday at the Cow Palace, near San Francisco (where the ride begins and the opening ceremonies were starting at 6:30 a.m.).

It's moments like this that I question riding 545 miles from San Francisco to Los Angeles. When I heard we had raised $10.5 million a few hours later, the reasons were clear why we had to embark on this journey. With budget deficits threatening many social programs in California, and federal cuts looming right behind them, this money is critical for The San Francisco AIDS Foundation and the Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Center. I found myself becoming emotional as we listened to the speakers and looked around the room to see 2,000 bicyclists bleary-eyed but ready to go.

Just 30 minutes later, I rode my Bianchi out of the Cow Palace and into the dawn fog of San Francisco. The bitter moist cold was a wake-up call, but not so much as what we were about to do. I met some incredible people today, and as I write for Tonic.com I now sit in warm sunshine under redwood trees in a camping area in Santa Cruz. We live in an amazing and beautiful place, and it's awesome to do this ride along the California coast. We have been met by many locals cheering us on (some dressed in everything from a condom costume to chicken outfit). Any doubts that I had at 4:30 a.m. are now a distant memory.

Here are some photos taken today as we made our way down the Northern California coast. Tune in all week as I post updates on my ride and share ways for you to help. You'd better fasten your seat belts, though, as it is bound to be a bumpy ride. And don't forget a spare inner tube.

Photos: (top photo) AIDS/Lifecycle Opening Ceremonies; (second photo) Some of the 2,200 riders leaving San Francisco; (third photo) Richard Prendes, Alex Contreras, and friend Bettina Rivas (who got up at 4:30 am to drive our group to the ceremonies); Author Dan's helmet head (fourth photo); (bottom photo) Rich and a friend at our lunch stop at San Gregorio Beach. (Photos courtesy of Dan Estabrook and Richard Prendes.)