The AIDS Lifecycle: N’everything I thought it’d be

After rushing to eat breakfast, break down the tent and butter myself up, I felt optimistic about day two. I’d succeeded in completing the entire mileage on day one despite the unforeseen difficult hills. This day was supposed to be the longest day on the ride at about 107 miles, but with mostly flat terrain. I knew I could do it.

But at about 20 miles into it, a storm came in and the rain started to pour. Winds picked up to add some freezing temperatures into the mix. Riders began pulling over to utilize ground transportation while others pushed their way through. With mud flying up my back, I decided to keep going. By mile 37, I was soaked and felt frozen to the bicycle. Only a couple miles away from rest stop two, another rider pulled up behind me and informed me I had a flat tire. I nearly collapsed getting off the bike, and the other rider realized I needed medical attention right away. As it turned out, both of my tires were flat – I’d been so overwhelmingly cold and numb that I hadn’t even noticed.

Three of us huddled together for body heat hoping that an ALC car would stop and rescue us soon. We went from a love bubble to a “let’s get the fuck out of here” bubble. Once a car arrived, they rushed me inside separating me from the bike. They got me out of my wet accessories, wrapped me in Mylar (a thin, foil like material that can retain heat) and fed me candy.

The ALC shut down the remainder of day two and everyone rushed to safety in a church near the second rest stop. Once bussed into camp, I was diagnosed with hypothermia and spent the remainder of the evening in the medic tent. The Lifecycle had gone from inspirational to completely discouraging.

The medics knew exactly what to do. The next day I woke up without hypothermia and back to just hating the early morning and cold air. I had no desire to get on the bike. On the other hand, I felt particularly encouraged to ride this 66 mile day since lunch time was in the small town of Bradley. Riders could opt out of the ALC lunch and purchase lunch from the local school’s BBQ fundraiser and it seemed to be a big Lifecycle highlight.

After riding up a nasty hill everyone dubbed a “quadbuster,” things were definitely starting to hurt. As soon as I found out there was a body work tent set up during lunch, I jumped out of the school BBQ line and got in line for some chiropractic instead. Charity could wait as my knees and shoulders were killing me.

I had assumed no sight could get better than the ocean views of day one. Yet riding inland brought us some picturesque country side farms and beautiful wine vineyards. Whatever views I had lost on day two, this would certainly make up for.