Fly the routes

These movies were created by Google Earth using GPS data from the ride.

Day 1

Day 2

Day 3

Annie Lennox -- Sing

On her new album, Annie Lennox was joined by 23 other women singers to create an anthem to women with AIDS. Please go to www.annielennoxsing.com to sign up and join Annie and her effort to shed some light on this important issue.

Pictures from the ride

Day 3

Today I learned many things, but the most important was the meaning of this bike ride. While we were on the bus on day -1, one of the riders, Amy, said that the ride was for us. I didn't understand this, but now I do. We left as we did on every day at 6:45 for today's 85 mile ride. As I rode between rest area 1 and 2, I began to think of the friend's I had lost. I thought of Richard and his fear of death, the surgery where I held his hand because he was afraid, and the love of his mother. I thought of Wesley and the friendship he created between people, his alienation with his parents and the reunion with them when he died. And I thought about Keith, his sudden death, his kind soul and good heart, and his legacy. I started to cry.

As I entered Oasis 2, someone came up to me and asked how I was doing. I said that I was trying not to cry, and could use a hug. She hugged me, and a wept, shuddering with grief. I whispered to her, "You don't understand. I don't cry." "I've lost many friends too. Sometimes we all need to cry. It's OK."

After three days, our bodies were worn down. The shields we erect to protect ourselves and the walls around us to keep people out crumble. We can grieve, mourn, remember and find comfort in those who have experienced similar losses.

That is what this ride is about.

When I got on my bike today, I experienced a new level of pain from my knee. As it loosened up, I rode more comfortably. The medical team had wrapped it for me, but I needed more. I discovered Bengay.

The ride today went from Clinton, New Jersey to Manhattan. The ride had several good climbs, and lots of nice down hills. I rode with Alan again. As we entered the next to last rest area, Alan wondered whether we should hop on the van. His legs hurt, my knee hurt, and maybe 70 miles was enough. I wanted to go on. There was one huge climb at the end of the ride which gave us great views of Manhattan. We stopped and had a photo op. We then went down to the ferry which took us across the Hudson. A police escort cleared traffic so the 120 riders could join the closing ceremonies. A check for $300,000+ was presented to the Center for its HIV/AIDS programs.

I saw my friend from Oasis 2 there. During the moment of silence she hugged me and I cried again, tears of loss rolling down my face.

The ride was a great experience. The bike techs took care of us, fixing a bent derailure on my bike and making sure the bikes were safe. The crew fed us, kept us hydrated, attended to our medical needs, stopped traffic at dangerous intersections, and cheered us on up when we climbed the steep hills.

Dimitria, Francesco and I have already signed up for next year's ride. My partner Champ has signed on with the Crew. Will you join us?

Day 2

First, I want to mention the bike techs that are on the ride. They are fantastic. Yesterday, before the ride, one of the techs adjusted my gears so they weren't scraping. Then, at the end of the ride, as I was entering the hotel, I heard a periodic clanging sound. "Sh!t, I broke a spoke." But none of the spokes seemed broken. This morning, all was fixed. The rear derailure had bent in and was clanging against the spoke. During today's ride, I lost my lowest gear with the same problem, and the techs are once again working on the bike.

The support for the ride is AMAZING. There are always vans and cars with roadside aid (haven't had to use that, knock wood), "sweep" vehicles to take riders between rest stops or to the next rest stop, and sac vehicles for riders that can't do anymore.

My knee acted up most of the day. Still, I averaged 14MPH on very hilly terrain. There were numerous climbs, and without a lower gear, I did have to walk the bike a bit a few times. My riding partner is still Alan, and I am a better climber than he is. Alan enjoys passing me when I am walking the bike. My revenge is to pass him immediately after. I enjoy riding with Alan. We're starting to exchange dessert recipes.

The ride was 112 miles today. Alan and I did 90. His neck and my knee plus time constraints, well, we decided we had had enough. Francesco's knee is also bad, so he came back with us. Ya, we feel bad that we didn't do the whole ride, but we have another 80 miles tomorrow, and it was for the best.

Today's route took us through Lancaster, into Montgomery, Berks and Buck's counties in PA. After the second rest stop began the climbs. Two big ones, like a roller coaster. As soon as you came down off of one, another started. After lunch was another huge climb and a steep descent into the Schulkill river valley. After crossing the river, the climb out went on forever. Up, a bit down, more up, a bit down, more up. It was fun, but with a bad knee and no lower gear, it was a bit of a challenge. When we pulled into rest stop 5, we were told it was closing. We needed to get back on the road if we wanted to have time to complete. Without food, I began to zonk -- the second time today. Luckily I had a candybar, and Alan and I split it. Francesco caught up to us and we decided this next rest stop would be our last.

Many of the rest stops are held in parks, and the scenery is very beautiful This is a wonderful ride.

Today, I spoke to another rider about the two men she is riding in memory of. One was a roommater, the other her best friend. One man talked about losing his brother, he and his mother hugging his dying brother as he took his last breath.

I've decided to do the ride again next year. I hope there is a Team Google to ride with.

More tomorrow...

Day 1

Braking the Cycle is underway. Francesco, Chris, Dim and I bussed from Manhattan to Gettysburg yesterday. The bus ride was fun. We met some of our fellow riders and watched The Truman Show.

In Gettysburg, we had to sit through the safety presentation, and the orientation. They memorialized all the people rider's had dedicated the event to, including Keith Smith, Wesley Light and Richard Lewis. Finally we had to deal with confirming our donations ($3500/rider), dealing with medical waivers, and checking our bikes. Frank and I stayed at the Wyndham and Dim and Chris stayed at the Holiday Inn Express. We needed to be out of the hotel at 5:30 AM.

Arriving this morning, breakfast started at 6AM. At 7 was welcoming ceremonies. They asked riders to shout out names of people they knew who had been taken by HIV/AIDS. I shouted Keith Smith. Throughout the ride I told people about what a wonderful person Keith was and all he had accomplished.

Today's ride was 95 miles. I have to admit to being an impatient biker. Chris and I started out together, but eventually I had to break away. Eventually I caught up to another rider who was about my speed. We ended up biking the entire route together. Alan lives in Manhattan and has a partner in Princeton.

The ride is very well organized. There are rest stops about every 10 or 15 miles, and they make sure everyone is well hydrated (aka, that we pee a lot). There are crews that make sure dangerous intersections have people to guide the riders. There are medical teams at every rest stop if someone is hurt. And, if you get into trouble, there are vans to take you to the next rest stop or help with road-side bike repairs.

The route started by looping around Gettysburg, travel through Adams to York counties, then into Lancaster. There were two big climbs, the longest about 1.2 miles and the second a bit shorter.

Alan and I averaged 15 miles per hour. Dim and Christine did about 14 miles per hour. Francesco didn't have a bike computer, but suffered a knee injury and had to shuttle the last few miles of the ride.

More tomorrow.

catching up

It's been a month since the last post. Since then, training has gone great. Scott is doing 20 miles a day and has no fears about the ride. I'll let the others post about their training.

Our big fear now is fund raising. We've really lagged in this area. I sent out an email to my friends, and contributions are trickling in. I want to make my goal by the end of the week. I'll let you know how that goes.

Tomorrow I'll post about the second person whose memory I am biking in.

Lost in Manhattan

Dim and I went for a two hour ride on Sunday. It was my first back since having a cold (cough cough). Dim ran a half marathon that morning.

We met shortly after 10 and took off to do a perimeter route around Manhattan. Well, that was our plan. Perhaps such a ride is no problem for experienced Manhattanites, but for two that moved here only months ago and both of whom are directionally challenged, well...

We took off up the west side. At the end of the trail, we climbed Riverside Drive. We had heard rumors of a trail up the Harlem river, so set off down 125th St and other eastish/westish streets. Finding the intersection to the FDR and Harlem River drives, we sought out bike paths and bike signs. Wandering aimlessly, we found a bridge the seemed to link to a bike path on the other side. We crossed, looked around and figured out that perhaps the bridge over the river was a mistake. Queens? Where in Manhattan is Queens? Back over the bridge we went.

Giving up on going north, I suggested south. I knew there was a ride that way. So south we went, crossing 125th St for the fourth or fifth time. At about 116th St, we headed over to the FDR to see if we could find the trail. That's when I heard the sound ---pffffffft. Flat tire. I had a tube, but no tire levers.

OK, there are times show tunes run through my brain. This time, I heard A Chorus Lin. "Today, we're going to do IMPROVISATION!" Using keys as tire levers, we managed to change my tube. The tire looks like it has some wear, so I may decide to get new before the ride. We kinda inflated the tire and took off.

After travelling south, and feeling my tire going flat again, we broke off after about 2 1/2 hours, went home, showered and have brunch.

Tonight I get to fix the tire again.

Yay for Team Google!

Hello All- Christina here, or Eggs, as some call me. I led a ride to River Road last weekend and had the pleasure of meeting Dimitria, who invited me to join Team Google.

While I don't work at Google (I was an Amazonian for 4 years) it feels great to be a part of a team! I love riding my bike and enjoy spending time with others who do as well.

This is my third summer doing a tour and there's no doubt it will likely be the most fulfilling one yet. Please donate to Team Google and help this amazing cause. I'll keep you updated on my training progress.

Thank you! ~Christina

Why Ride: Scott, Part 1

This past weekend, the GLBT Center sponsored a preparatory workshop and rides for participants of Braking the Cycle. True to form, I came down with a cold and couldn't ride. So, it's a week off for me while I let my body recover from germs infinitely smaller than myself.

Given the cause, it seems petty to complain about a simple cold. I'm healthy, in good shape, and expect to live a long life. The simple virus that I'll get over in a week's time could kill someone who is immuno-supressed.

I came out as a gay man in 1990. Being somewhat of a do-gooder, I became involved in an AIDS service organization, the Pittsburgh AIDS Task Force (www.patf.org), in their buddy program. This program, copied from AIDS service organization like Gay Men's Health Crisis, teamed a trained volunteer to provide emotional support to a person dying from HIV. That's how I met Rick and his mother.

In 1990, Pittsburgh was a low-incidence city for HIV. Pittsburgh is also very segregated, both in general and in the LGBT population in particular. A decade later, a survey of African-American Pittsburghers found that they would not go to an LGBT social service agency located in a black neighborhood for fear of being recognized and identified as gay.

To escape a community that would not accept him, like so many other black men, Rick moved to Washington DC and came out. That is where he became HIV+.

He returned to Pittsburgh when he could no longer care for himself. He had enjoyed his job as a porter on AmTrak's DC to Chicago line, and had always hoped to return. CMV Retinitis, KS and other diseases had other ideas. In his late 20s, Rick was destined to spend the last years of his life in a cinder block apartment living with his mother.

I remember several things about Rick. His optimism. His hope. His wanting to live. I also remember the love of his mother, unwilling to let her son die. I was called upon several times to drive Rick to the emergency room, to hold his hand because the surgical procedure to place the IV Central Line in his neck scared him, and to clean up the vomit when we tried to see a movie. Through out the hardships, his mother stood by him, fighting for him.

I know Rick held on for his Mom. When his body had given up, he fought to stay alive to spare her the trauma of his death. Finally, in the hospital room, I sat with his mother and we talked. Finally, she cried, accepting the inevitability of Rick's death. As she said the words, Rick's breathing began to ease. Even though he was unconscious, he seemed to understand that his mother was willing to let him go. He died several hours later.

At Rick's funeral, Rick's mother introduced me as her friend.

While I'm doing the Braking The Cycle Ride, I will be thinking of both Rick and his Mother, and how this disease effects families and friends.

Getting started

This is going to be a slow weekend. A couple members of the team are out buying new bikes today, so we'll have a first practice ride next weekend. I cleaned my bike and may take it out after I hit the gym a bit later today. I've also been updating the website, adding more content, and generally geeking out.

I got my first donation yesterday. Thanks Andrew. Hopefully more will be coming soon.

What is this blog?

BrakingTheCycle (www.brakingthecycle.org) is a 275 mile ride from Gettysburg to Manhattan from September 28 to September 30, 2007 to raise money for HIV/AIDS services provided by the Gay , Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Community Center (www.gaycenter.org). A team of people who work at Google will be participating in this ride. This is our blog describing our training and why we are participating.

This is not an official google blog, and the opinions expressed here are those of the riders.