Southern California - AIDS Lifecycle 2008 Anyone?

Anyone doing, thinking about doing, or could be talked into doing the AIDS Lifecycle?

The event starts in SF on June 1st, 2008 and finished in LA on June 7th, 2008. The ride is 545 miles. It seems as if the event is pretty well run, they provide tents, food, SAG support, entertainment, and hot showers.

More info: http://www.aidslifecycle.org

I know it is far off but I am thinking about doing the ride. I have wanted to ride from SF to LA and this would be a pretty easy way to do it without much planning.

I did it last year and a friend in HB has already signed up for 08. I'm undecided.

I did it last year and a friend in HB has already signed up for 08. I'm undecided.

How was your experience last year?

I'd love to do it if I only could take the time off work....

Ok, I have to ask, and I am sure this will insult some.,,do you wish to do it for the fund raising or for the ride logistics. I have complaints about both but will only articulate the latter. Because this ride is so large, unfortunately it does not do the coast at Big Sur which is my favorite part. To me, that alone would be a deal breaker.

Good question thomson, my wife asked the same thing when I asked if the LGBT Center at her university might sponsor me. Honestly I am going it for the ride and the experience, i.e. for selfish reasons. In the end though a good cause is being benefited by my participation. A win win for everyone.

one of these days we will have to put together a BF SF to LA ride....

The arthritis route is similar in mileage per day and accommodations but has a better route. You might find it better.
http://www.californiacoastclassic.org/about.html

one of these days we will have to put together a BF SF to LA ride....

Right on

thats a beast of a ride.. much props to those who accomplish it... i dont think im quite ready for a ride such as that.. i would like to see a SF TO LA RIDE :) or vice versa

i knew youd be into it jim! just have to find a way to easily get up there...amtrak maybe

The arthritis route is similar in mileage per day and accommodations but has a better route. You might find it better.
http://www.californiacoastclassic.org/about.html

I sponsored a rider last year for the the Arthritis ride, and he has ridden the aids ride three years in a row prior to last year when he did this one. He said you simply cannot compare the two. The Arthritis ride was superior, in his opinion, in planning, support and the route. His comments to me were that the Aids ride, although well planned, has become this behemoth event without any soul left and no longer a grass roots kind of feel to it at all. He did not like the change in route (I don't know from what year) and felt it was simply too big of an event to really run properly. Of course, this is one rider's views and I'm sure there are some riders who have also ridden the Aids ride who may have a very different opinion.

i knew youd be into it jim! just have to find a way to easily get up there...amtrak maybe

I'd be down for that too, but NO WAY would I organize it. So, Scoot, you volunteering to do so? :D

i knew youd be into it jim! just have to find a way to easily get up there...amtrak maybe
Amtrak was going to be $60 for a 9-10 hour ride via train and 2-3 buses. I flew JetBlue for $80 and was there in 80 minutes.

i imagine i could be talked into it....

now i just have to figure the best way to get up there with bikes. the route will be easy compared to that....

Yeah Scoot!!!

btw, I rent a car and drive, it costs me about $40 (plus gas) and I have gone with 2 and 3 people. Much easier than train or plane. (the 3 people + 3 bikes required a mini van, it was more, if I remember $60).

my man.....awesome idea!!!!! now i just have to figure when and over how many days.........

its all (sort of...) coming together

Let's set it up ! i'd love to do this ride led by Jim... :)

I even have a bike rack I can give up (meaning use it on the ride up and give it to a bike shop that can give away). That would get about 3 in a car or 4 in a van.

Another possibility is ship the bikes to somebody in San Francisco and then you can fit a whole bunch of people in a car or van. If there is a sag volunteer, that would transport some of the bikes/people. I don't think we need a sag though.

Yet another possibility is to simply ride the bikes up as well!! OK, maybe not a lot of takers on that one.

But, Dubayoo's comments aside, I know he had a positive experience, but flying with bikes sucks!! And, if there is any damage to the bike or lost panniers or something, you will encounter further delays.

I'd consider this for sure. It would be my first "bike tour" as such. It would just be a matter of timing as I would have to ask for some days off work. Are we looking at five days? Taking off on a Wednesday, finishing on a Sunday? Or shorter/longer? Also, is this camping type thing?

EDIT: Oh, and we should start a new thread so as not to highjack this one! Sorry, Mtbmaven! :o

Let's set it up ! i'd love to do this ride led by Jim... :)

Wadaheck?? I don't plan things very well, I am more of a "just wing it" guy.

btw, anybody every notice the "3 Amigos" painted along the coast from San Francisco to LAX? I ran across them one year (camped together in Big Sur) Great group. They do the ride every summer and drive to LAX and then fly Southwest to Oakland and ride down. They are volunteer firefighters and have some cockamamie story about the long wide and shallow boxes being some sort of fire equipment or something like that. Saves the transport cost.