Ellen Dowd

I lost my brother Rick to AIDS in 1984. Several years later my friend Cynthia Ribiero participated in the San Francisco to LA CA Aids Ride, and I drove up to Century Blvd to welcome the group into Los Angeles. The experience of seeing over 2,000 tired and sweaty people exuding such love and excitement planted the seed in my head that some day, there might be an outside chance that I could possibly think about making the 7-day bicycle trek. Maybe. I did my first AIDS RIDE as a present to myself for my 50th birthday, and fulfilled a 10-year old goal. Training with Team OC enabled me to complete every mile on my very first ride. And beyond the training, thecamaraderie got me up hills, and back on my bike when I was too tired, or too sore, or it was the last thing I wanted to do. As an added bonus, several individuals from Team OC have evolved into full-fledged friends! I'm convinced I would never have done the ride on my own...the fact that I have done the ride three years in a row is a tribute to Jim Toledano and Team OC.

Beverly Oden

I rode my first AIDS/LifeCycle in 2003 at the suggestion of a co-worker. I thought it would be one-time thing, but by the end of The Ride I was hooked on cycling. I ride because AIDS is still spreading at a rapid rate in the African and African American communities and I wanted to bring awareness to that fact. I also ride for the challenge. What a great accomplishment it is to ride a bicycle all the way from San Francisco to Los Angeles. And who knew it would also be such a great time! I now have four AIDS/Lifecycles under my belt and in 2006 I shot a feature documentary on Team OC's experience training for he ride called "Diary of a Rider." This is my second year as a TRL and this year I will serve as Team OC's route coordinator. It is a pleasure for me to help new riders to ready themselves for this amazing experience. See you out there!

Dean  Guzman

When I first started  cycling many years ago I thought, how in the world am I going to bicycle from San Francisco to Los Angeles? One day it hit me the way  a bug hits you  at 20 miles an hour. Its the love we have for each other that keeps that wonderful sound of all those bicycle tires rolling down the road. One person plus the rest of us all, make a difference. Nine events later, I continue to ride in the AidsLife/cycle. My commitment to you is that I will continue to ride until we win this fight against  AIDS/HIV.
See you down the road.

Aldo Gonzalez

Why do I ride? There are so many reasons why I ride. I ride for my friends who are not here.  I ride for the challenge.  I ride because it's fun to ride 545 miles over 7 days! I ride with some of the nicest people in the world.  I ride because millions of people are dying of AIDS.  I ride to make a difference.  I ride to raise awareness.  I ride so people can ask my why I would do such a crazy thing.  I ride because one day there will be a cure.  That's why I ride.

Nathan Menard

I first heard of the AIDS LifeCycle in September 2004... An ALC4 brochure was one of many advertisements in a "goodie" bag that was distributed during the Los Angeles Triathlon.  AIDS LifeCycle, a seven day event of riding my bike from San Francisco to Los Angeles was not only a covenanted challenge that I had to accomplish... it became my life that year.  My wife and son, who were accustomed of me training for triathlons, experienced a whole new level of absenteeism... they became an ALC widow and orphan that year.  I love them for their support then... and continued support now.  I have since found a reasonable balance in my life and now ride for the cause, not for the challenge. The ALC is comprised of an amazing group of people... little did I know that I would find a caring group of people that provide a safe and solid cycling community. Honest loving individuals who embrace and support the HIV community.  I am a firm believer in eliminating the stigma of this disease through a positive public example.  I will ride as long as I can or until there is a cure... please come join me on the journey of a life time. ~LETS RIDE!

Eric Hargis

When I was 13, Ryan White died. When I was 16, I got my first HIV test. Although HIV/AIDS has not taken a loved one from me, I have felt a personal experience with the disease. I remember when I was in grade school and people thought it was possible to get it from the water fountain. It was scary. I remember the first time I saw the AIDS quilt and I understood the magnitude of our loss. In recent years I have seen HIV/AIDS get less and less media attention. The young adults I meet today do not identify with the disease and do not understand the risks they face. I started doing the AIDS/LifeCycle to help those who need treatment they cannot afford, and to bring as much awareness as possible to those who are not yet infected. I would love to see a cure, but in the meantime, I want to see the new infections stopped. The AIDS/LifeCycle is a beautiful event with wonderful people. When I started I weighed 290 pounds and had bad asthma. If I could do it, anybody can!

Bruce Dennis

I lost my sister Kathy to AIDS in 1994. Ten years later to honor her memory, as well as to repay all those who who helped her, I did my first AIDS LifeCycle in 2004. Like many participants I thought that doing this ride would be a one and done event. I was so wrong. I have now done three ALC rides and I am now in my third year as a training ride leader. Making people believe that they can do this ride is where I get the biggest sense of satisfaction that I get out of the process. One need not look like Lance Armstrong to do this ride, one need only commit to the training. Do this and I promise the memory of a life time.

Eric Ducat

I have been riding for about 7 years and the biggest event I ever did was a few century rides. I was pretty happy about just riding 100 miles in 1 day. I had met some people who had done ALC 1 and I thought I could never do it. Then a friend convinced me to participate. I had not a clue as to how to ride for 7 days straight or that I could raise so much money. After the Kick-Off Ride, I met up with Team OC and some of the members became my closest friends. I never thought I would meet anyone nicer, and then you get to the event. During the event I met so many wonderful people that had come together for a great cause. I had the time of my life, and although I did not want to use a port-a-potty again I did not want the week to end. This is what sold me on signing up again (I hadn’t even completed my first ride). This will now be my third ALC and I cannot wait for it to start. See you on the road.

Corinne Puga

Doing the Aids ride was always something I wanted to do, but did nothingabout it. I did not think I could ever do such a ride, or commit the time or energy.

I started training with Team OC in 2003, for my first ALC ride. I learned with the help of Team OC how to clip in and clip out, learned new words like goo, granny gear, bonk, cadence and CARBON FIBER. I would not have been prepared for the ride had I trained alone. Team OC has been more than just a Team, a circle of friends, a small family who look out for one another.

I learned that I get such a kick out of guiding the "Newbies", helping change a tire of just to be there to see the smiles as they conquer a hill climb and of course the down hill!

I ride for awareness, I ride in tribute to family and friends, and to the voices and faces I do not see, or will not know.

David Wood and Kevin Nordine

We ride for the dozens of friends we have lose. We ride for the dozens of friends who are fighting HIV. We ride to continue our dedication to ending AIDS.

In 1991, we made our first quilt as a fundraiser for AIDS. In 1992, we started KD & Company. We said if our friends were still alive, we would have a party for them. So we went to an AIDS Hospice and put on a party for the residence that lived there. This continued for the next 7 years when they had new drugs and no longer needed the hospice.

The end on August 2007, we decided ALC sounded fun. Not sure why because we didn't ride our bikes. We had them, but they just collected dust and spider webs. After cleaning them, we went out for our first ride. Returning home with 6 miles under our belts, we almost died. Every day we would add a little more to our ride. When we started to ride with Team OC in November, we were riding over 100 miles a week and riding 40 miles on Saturday.

ALC 7 was a life changing experience for us and we made new friends that we will have for the rest of our lives. This group is supportive, caring, and loving. If you need help, just ask. They will help even if you don't ride with them.