Digest 2001-04-05

From: "Eirish" 
Date: Thu, 29 Mar 2001 20:18:00 -0800
Subject: Re: [WCDL]fundraising rides/finding riding partners

Thank you for the info!  I love hearing from people who have done the AIDS rides.
You are a credit for doing the charity rides because i am learning first hand that
the fundraising (I committed to 3,400.00) and training are not easy.  I am glad to20
hear you had good experience with the AIDS ride.  I am really looking forward to
the experience in Montana.  The more I ride and train, the more I realize how20
much I love it.  I imagine that is how any athlete...runner, swimmer, gymnast feels.
I have never been into fitness but I love bike riding and the more fit I become, the
easier it gets, the more I love it and the easier it becomes.  I am beginning to feel
strong and capable and I have never felt that way before.  It is very empowering.

I would love to hear more about your ride.  The actual logistics such as the tent city and
the showers and them lugging your stuff around while you ride.  The night activities... or
were you zonked?   How many miles a day did you do?  Stuff like that.

Thanks again... hope to hear from you!

Donna
mavr 10764

If I told you I was riding to the ends of the earth to help find a =
vaccine for AIDS, would you support me?
http://www.geocities.com/eirishes/aidsride.html

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From: "Eirish" 
Date: Sun, 1 Apr 2001 22:01:01 -0700
Subject: [WCDL] I CAN DO THIS!!


Hello Friends, Family and Supporters!

Well, another milestone in this journey of mine.  Yesterday I rode my bike
68 miles.  I learned several things:

- I will not wear underwear again under my bike shorts.  (don't ask, just
trust me)
- there is a world out there and it is progressing multitudes times faster
than red bluff.
- there are a lot people out there just as nuts as me.
- sunblock does not help if you sweat for 6 hours.
- it does not matter what it is... food tastes so good when you have pedaled
a bike for hours.

I rode the Cinderella Ride which started in Dubin, CA.  I arrived there
around 7:30 as it was a three hour drive from my house.   I had to park in
overflow parking which was a mile and a half from  Dublin High School, the
check-in site.  After spending an hour and a half, along with 2500 other
women registering and getting my bike inspected, off I went.  The ride was
beautiful.  We meandered through residential areas with houses that were
literally mansions.  The money that must be flowing through that area is
beyond even my imagination.  Where do these people work and what do they
do!?  There were estates on top of hills that were unbelievable.  There were
tract homes where each house looked like Falconcrest!  Through Pleasanton
and Livermore....winding through valleys and rolling hills; wineries and
horse ranches... awesome!  The rest stops were manned by princes feeding us
and although the wait was long...it was okay because everyone talked in line
about where they were from and why they were there.  Quite a few of the
riders had costumes or adornments like princesses and were really into the
ride.  Everyone was really nice and supportive.  There were no real hills,
not like my last ride, but the upgrades were long and I drank a lot of
water!  I have learned that sunblock does not work when you sweat and
constantly wipe it off!  I have a really interesting sunburn look if you can
imagine with my bike gloves, ride wrist band, tee-shirt which I finally
rolled up the sleeves and bike shorts.  For some reason only the tops of my
upper legs burned and the bottoms are still white.  Then there was the
helmet and sunglasses.  My nose looks like someone replaced it with a
radish.    The lunch was good, although they were running out of stuff by
the time I got there... they did not anticipate so many late registrations.
The last rest stop was at a historical site...Tassajara School... which was
a little old school house in a nice little park.  Every where around the
park where horse ranches and facilities.  The ride continued through
beautiful farmland and all the hills were green.  They had little signs
along the way cheering us on...kinda like burma shave signs of old.  When we
got to the top of the last upgrade... they had the lemondrop man waiting for
us and he did a handoff to us of a lemon drop, shouting encouragement and
atta girls!  After that, the ride back to the start was great!  Around 16
miles, but flat or slight downgrade which made it fun!  We continued through
Danville and San Ramon and back to Dublin.  The route was very well marked
although I was hardly ever on my own with so many riders who were all
friendly and many had done the ride before and knew where they were going.
It was an awesome feeling when I rode into the high school knowing I had
finished the ride, and more, and I cannot even begin to explain it.  I only
wish I had someone to share it with there.  The after ride meal was
delicious... a vegetarian Minestrone soup and other foods, although I could
barely finish the soup.   I was ready to head home.  This was one of the
best rides I have been on.  The weather was perfect, the scenery was varied
and beautiful, the SAG wagons were well marked and everywhere, the stops
were a little long in waiting but very nice, plenty of portapotties, route
was well marked, all the riders were friendly and totally into the ride
(could it be because they were all women?  of every size and shape and
background?) and I love the patch we got at the end.  I have pictures but it
may take a while to develop.  I will put them on my webpage.

I am very proud of myself, but I realize I have such a long way to go.  What
I have gained from this ride is the knowledge that I really can do this.  I
can really do this.

Lots of Love,

Donna

If I told you I was riding to the ends of the earth to help find a vaccine
for AIDS, would you support me?
http://www.geocities.com/eirishes/aidsride.html

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Date: Mon, 2 Apr 2001 08:24:54 -0700 (PDT)
From: Janet Lemon 
Subject: Re: [WCDL] I CAN DO THIS!!

Hey!  I did the Cinderella too!  Yes, I've got
funny tan lines/sunburn marks too.  This was my
first time also - what a great ride.

I have a suggestion for you, I did the California
AIDs ride last year.  Get a tube of zinc oxide!
It's the only thing that prevented me from frying
my face and arms off on the ride.  Sure, you have
the lovely white stuff on your nose, cheeks,
sholders, where-ever, but so does everyone else!
And it works!

Janet

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From: 
Date: Mon, 2 Apr 2001 17:36:31 EDT
Subject: [WCDL] people to ride with

I live in central Florida, and the weather is GREAT now--however, in 2-3 
months it is actually too hot to ride.  I'm looking for a group of casual 
riders, but riders who like to do distances of  @ 50 miles.  I've done a 
century ride, and loved it; I've also done a Backroads tour of the California 
wine country.  I did the extended ride every day and had a fabulous time.  
I'm looking for some good rides on the east coast--either guided or 
self-guided with good maps and lodging ideas------any ideas???????
Trish

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Date: Mon, 02 Apr 2001 18:00:57 -0700
From: Susan Hutson 
Subject: Re: [WCDL] I CAN DO THIS!!

I rode the Cinderella also last weekend- what perfect weather! Luckily
it was not  on Sun- where the wind was blowing (by all those
windmills!)and was overcast. I rode this 5 years ago, and never have
waited so long in a registration line! Got there at 7:45, and didn't get
out of reg. until 9 am!  Awesome ride though!
Susan

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Date: Tue, 03 Apr 2001 07:24:26 EDT
From: 
Subject: Re: [WCDL] people to ride with

Hi Trish,

I am in Central Florida, Would love to ride with you.

J

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From: "Deanna Sanderson" 
Date: Mon, 2 Apr 2001 05:57:53 -0700
Subject: Re: [WCDL] I CAN DO THIS!!

Wow!  Thank you for sharing your experience. Wish I could have been there.
Deanna

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