Intro | Training | Day 1 | Day 3 | Day 4

Introduction

My Biking Experience

I suppose I should start explaining my AIDSRide (aka DCAR7 - DC AidsRide #7) with a brief description of my biking experience. I have been riding a mountain bike since I moved back to DC in 1997. I spent hundreds of hours on the bike trails all around DC, but my trips usually involved more time sitting on the side of the trail somewhere sketching than actual biking. I had never been on a road bike. I had no idea what a SPD cleat was & would laugh if you told me I could tumble to the ground while attached to a bike. Attached??!

Why I Signed Up

Everyone had their own reasons for doing The Ride. I had two:

I had heard about The Ride for years. I have a good friend who did the ride a few years ago. I remember hearing her tell amazing stories from her experience and I was sold - I decided to sign up. The timing of my decision to do the ride was excellent because I was also trying to kick a nasty habit I've had for 15 years: smoking. After more unsuccessful attempts than I care to remember, I thought the ride would add a new dimension to my attempt that could very well make this the last time I'd have to quit (so far, so good - only a few slip-ups in 4 months!).

After I signed up and had started training I realized that the last day of the ride, the day when we would ride into Washington DC, would be the one year anniversary of my father's death. Every time I felt the slightest fatigue during the ride, the smallest bit of annoyance at continuous rain or wet socks....I remembered how very proud my father would be, and I pushed on.