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.
Sunday, September 9, 2007
Monday, August 6, 2007
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.
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.
Thursday, August 2, 2007
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
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
Monday, July 30, 2007
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.
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.
Saturday, July 21, 2007
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.
I got my first donation yesterday. Thanks Andrew. Hopefully more will be coming soon.
Friday, July 20, 2007
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.
This is not an official google blog, and the opinions expressed here are those of the riders.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
