Several individuals within the Aidslifecycle Community were asked to reflect on and comment about the 575 mile, 7 day journey from San Francisco to Los Angeles.  Here's what they had to say:

Name: Spill Kincaid

Education: San Francisco State University, S.F. CA.
Height: 5' 11"
Weight: 160 lbs.
Age: 28
Birth Place/Origin: Origin: Lexington,Kentucky
Occupation: Author, "Goat in the Tower"
Present Location /Where do you live? San Francisco, CA 94131
Favorite Book: "Goat in the Tower"

What do you think is the world's greatest asset?

- A backyard with a row of okra, squash, mustard greens, kale, beets, and a watermelon patch in the shade. . . .

If you could make one wish for humanity what would it be?

- My wish is . . ...that every family would have "cromag" rims, a titanium Nordic Track, and enough gasoline to feed the children.

How has the AIDS/HIV Pandemic affected you?

- It effects me because, it effects my brother man ............ Once upon a time, I was in the loonybin. I was in line to receive my daily medication. And, I was with a fellow patient, my good friend Tim.

Tim was aware of his HIV Status. Tim had AIDS. He was in line to receive the results of his blood test. The test results showed his T-cell count had dropped significantly below normal. At that moment, I witnessed him crumble.

Because of our "suicidal intent," Tim and I were admitted to the loonybin. Tim failed to "off himself" because he really wanted to live. Tim had contracted AIDS years before, but when so few cells were left in his body to allow him to fight, when he faced death without a choice, then .. .I realized how important an answer is needed to cure HIV/Aids.

Name: Tia Barnard

Occupation: Network Engineer - AKA "Geek"
Height: 5' 6"
Weight: 200 lbs.
Age: 32
Present Location /Where do you live? San Francisco, CA 94117
Favorite Book: Cat's Eye by Margaret Atwood

What AIDS Charity events have you participated in?

- In 1999 & 2000, I was a cyclist in the " Twin Cities to Chicago" AIDS Ride.
In 2004, I was a crewmember / roadie in the " HOPE Ride " (now called the ACT Ride).
In 2005, I participated as a cyclist in the "Ride for AIDS - Chicago."

As an American Women, why is it important for women to participate in the AIDS LifeCycle Event?

- AIDS is a human disease.  It effects all communities.  It is important for our friends & family to be cared for and educated.  I believe in our society women are given the caretaker role, and we need to be compassionate and responsible with that role.  The Aidslifecycle event allows me to help speak out, educate and raise money for people with AIDS, who are often looked over or feared by society, where compassion is more appropriate.

Name: Christopher Matthew Altman

Education: Bowdoin College, Maine / College of Soma
Height: 5' 9"
Weight: ? lbs.
Age: 35
Birth Place/Origin: Origin: Boston, Mass.
Occupation: Arborist / Bartender
Present Location /Where do you live? San Francisco, CA 94118
Favorite Book: The Botany of Desire

As a 1st Yr. Aidslifecycle cyclist, what would you like to see more of in the cycling community?

- It would be nice to see more respect in the bicycle community for fellow cyclist.  For example:  When fellow cyclists pass me and they pass too close (without a warning) - it scares me - I feel like their gonna hit me.  And, I'm afraid I'm gonna wanna beat them up.  It creates "road rage."  Passing without giving a warning is rude, it's dangerous, and someone may get hurt. 

Who is your greatest hero?
- Harvey Milk .

And what is your greatest fear?
- That my family will somehow find out I have HIV.

Name: Sonya Prybutok
Education: BA, English & Rhetoric, UC Berkeley
Height: 5' 5"
Weight: 121lbs.
Age: 35
Birth Place/Origin: New York
Occupation: Marketing consultant
Present Location /Where do you live? San Francisco, CA 94131
Favorite Book: "Hard Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World"

Starting with which AIDS Ride, how many times have you participated?

- California AIDS Ride #7 (I think?). And this will be my 5th ride.

As a 5th Yr. Veteran, if you had one thing to say to "first time participants," what would it be?

- It's impossible to fail! This will be one of those life changing experiences that you WILL remember for a life time! You are stronger thenyou think.

Also, which day of the seven day event do you find the most challenging - and why?

- Day 4.  Here's why...The first day is pure adreneline, and we have a wonderful tail wind, so we sail into Santa Cruz, and we're filled with joy and excitement about what's to come. Day 2 we are still up and thrilled and it's a really flat and easy journey (though it's one of the longest days). In general, I always find that the 3rd day of riding in a row (on and off the ride) I am stronger then day 2 - my legs know what to do.  It's day 4, when you wake tired and sore with new saddle sores in all the WRONG places, and you realize that you still have 3 more days of riding to go that SUCKS...BUT, when you make it over the day 4 hump and we start to wind our way back to the coast -  your spirits are lifted again...

Name: John Reichel
Education: Westfalische - Wilhelms - Universitat Munster
Height: 180 cm.
Weight: 79.5 kg.
Age: 45
Birth Place/Origin: Cleveland, Ohio.
Occupation: Studienrat
Present Location /Where do you live? 22769 Hamburg, Germany
Favorite Book: "Eleven Minutes" by Paulo Coelho

From your California AIDS Ride #6 Experience, what was the most memorable moment?

Ich erinnere mich an meinen ersten Tag, alles war sehr aufregend und spannend.  Habe ich auch nichts vergessen? Sind die Wasserflasehen gefullt? Wo kommt das Gepack hin?  Mit wem werde ich das Zelt teilen?  Wie wird es wohl sein, wenn 3, 000 Radler den California AIDS Ride beginnen?  Eins war mir bei all der Aufregung auf jeder fall entgangen. Dies machte sich gleich beim ersten Pit-Stop "schmezlich" bemerkbar.  Immerhin ca. 15 bis 20 Toiletten nahmen uns in Empfang.  Dennoch bildeten sich von den Tueren Schlagen ca. 10 Personnen und ich begann hochzurechnen, wie lange es noch bis zum Ersehnten dauern wuerde.  Den Moment , als vor mir das Tuerzeichen von rot auf gruen wechselte, werde ich nie vergessen.

P.S.
Du=ieses Problem sollte in den folgenden Tagens des California AIDS Rides nicht wieder auftreten, da die 3000 Radler danach nicht nicht mehr gleichzeitig die Tagestouren starteten und somit die Pit-Stops nie ueberlaufen waren.

And if you could say one thing to "first time" Aidslifecycle participants - what would you say?

1. Informiere dich ausfuehrlich und rechtzeitig
   + Offizielle Site of AIDS LifeCycle
   + Tony's Site

2. Statte dich mit einem sehr guten Rennrad aus, das macht vieles einfacher

3. Beginne rechtzeitig mit dem Training
   + get your body in a good shape
   + trainiere regelmaessig und progressiv (feste Termine sind hilfreich, z.B. jeden Dienstag und jeden Samstag)
   + der Besenwagen sollte immer nur die letzte Moeglichkeit sein, an das Tagesziel zu kommen

4. Mache dich vor dem ersten Training mit den Verhalten- und Sicherheitsregeln  fuer das Radfahren vertraut!!!

5. Bilde Traininggruppen (du solltest mindestens einen Trainingspartner haben)

6. Geniesse jeden Tag beim Training und beim AIDS-Ride

7. Lasse deine Freunde, Familie und Sponsoren an deinen Erlebnissen teilhaben
   + Photo-CD , Web-Blog , Email, Brief, ....

8. Wenn du beim AIDS-Ride schnell fahren moechtest, musst du morgens moeglichst frueh aufstehen ("je schneller, desto frueher"), da du sonst den ganzen Tag die langsameren Fahrer ueberholen musst. Dass ist langweilig und mitunter auch gefaehrlich.

9. Alles gute fuer deine Tour, ich waere auch gerne wieder mit dabei.
   

Name: Michael May - AKA "Miles"
Education: Currently Studying Community Outreach - S.F. City College
Height: 5' 11"
Weight: 145lbs.
Age: 42
Birth Place/Origin: ?
Occupation:  IHSS Consortium
Present Location /Where do you live? ?
Favorite Book: "My Journal and Sketch Book"

As a first time Aidslifecycle Cyclist, Rider #6154, how did you find out about aidslifecycle?

- I know people who have ridden before.

What would you like to gain from your upcoming 575 mile, 7 day, journey to Los Angeles?

- This ride is a personal challenge for me.  I have many friends affected by AIDS / HIV and others who have died.  They are part of the reason I am riding, I love them so much.  When some of them where sick, there was nothing  could do to help them.  This is a way of helping them and remembering them, and helping others.  Also, it is a way for me to focus and workout my anger.  AIDS has made me very angry.

What would your mother think about your upcoming endeavor?

- My mother would think that I was crazy to ride all the way from San Francisco to Los Angeles.

Name: Eric
Education: Studying for a Bachelor's in Journalism - S.F. State University
Height: 6' 3"
Weight: 140lbs.
Age: 20
Birth Place/Origin: San Jose, CA--though I grew up largely in Charleston, South Carolina
Occupation: Student Journalist - Cashier
Present Location /Where do you live? San Francisco, CA 94133
Favorite Book: "House of Leaves" by Mark Danielewski

As a San Francisco Resident, has the AIDS Pandemic affected your immediate community of friends, family, or self?  And if so, how?

My uncle died of AIDS shortly after I was born, and it has always been a taboo subject in my family. I know his death was and continues to be difficult on many fronts, but I often wonder if the fact that he was gay also has anything to do with why I never hear stories about him.

As a fellow cyclist, have you ever heard of and/or considered participating in the Aidslifecycle Event? And, what would it take to get you involved?

I've never heard of it (before today, anyway), but all it would take is a free week and whatever money I had to contribute! It sounds like a great event in so many ways.

In what ways does the Aidslifecycle Event sound like a great event?

AIDS LifeCycle excites the hell out of me because "pedal power" excites the hell out of me. The realization that I can go anywhere I need to by the strength of my own legs was almost religious to me, and to see that principal en mass over hundreds of miles would be something both humbling and empowering. I think an event like this would naturally work for the greater good, and to be a huge source of revenue for fighting a horrible pandemic...I'd surely hop on a bike for that.

And, if you could suggest one thing that other human beings could do to assist in making the world a better place, what would it be?

To be honest, following the vectors of their passions whenever possible. Nothing creates more positive social capital than a person for whom existence is joy.