Rides to Make You Feel Good

Life in the Bike Lane

By Tom Frady

After over 30 years, June 1 -7, 2025 will be the last AIDS/LifeCycle, a charity ride from San Francisco to Los Angeles to benefit AIDS services, education and research, not only in California, but the rest of the US and the world.

I tell you this because ALC is what changed me from a bike rider to a cyclist.  Initially, I had to train to be able to ride 60-100 miles a day for seven days.  I had to think about nutrition, exercise, rest, equipment and clothing.  After I had done it for a couple of years and moved to Lincoln and joined the Lincoln Hills Cyclists, I didn’t train – I just rode a few more miles.

ALC was killed off, I think, by COVID and the rising cost of putting on such a major event for as many as 2500 riders for seven days and 550 miles.  The first year I rode, $6,800,000 was raised.  The last year (2018), $17,000,000.  After skipping the COVID year, participation and fund-raising dropped precipitously.  Other smaller, local events have experienced similar problems.

Don’t get me started talking about AIDS/LifeCycle.  You won’t be able to get away and I will send you several of my scrapbooks to read.

Of course, locally we have 22 years of The Tour de Lincoln, now held in October.  It’s a great Metric Century (62 miles) showcasing the beauty of the countryside around Lincoln.  There are also shorter routes available.  I have participated 17 times and it is always a great day.  There were years early on where there were over 900 participants.  Recently, it’s been closer to 300, but there are more corporate sponsors.

Add in the Chico Wildflower, Party Pardee, Foxy’s Fall Century, the Sacramento Century and one or two others and a rider doesn’t have to go far to participate in a charity ride.  While you may have to get up early, it’s easy to get there, ride, and get home in a day.

Riders participate not only for the scenery, but the challenge, the cause or the beneficiaries and the chance to ride with buddies or family.  For me, a chance to experience new roads and vistas other than what I ride every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday is a major draw.

There are usually two to four distances offered, the most popular recently seems to be the metric century, but one can still find the century (100 mile) rides.  If you are an avid cyclist there really isn’t much need to train for most charity rides.  They are rides, not races and will have well-appointed rest stops every few miles with great food.  Most will have a post-ride BBQ and maybe some entertainment.  There are usually t-shirts, jerseys or other swag involved.  If you are just a casual rider, you can pick a shorter distance or find a shortcut back to the start.  Nobody cares.   

Of course, a big part of a charity ride is the charity.  Some rides will raise money through just the registration fee.  You pay $50-100 to ride and the beneficiary gets what’s left after expenses.  Others ask you get donations from friends and family for the beneficiary, on top of the registration fee.

‘Tis the season for charity rides.  Why don’t you look one or two up and make a commitment?  Train if you need to.  Find a friend to go along.  You’ll not only feel good about what you accomplished, but feel good about helping out a worthwhile organization.