ALC is almost here, training hard

Great team rides this weekend. Saturday, 6 riders, 60 miles, then team meeting/ prep talks about items to pack, how logistics will work for camping all week, travel to and from, important details, etc.

 Brandon, our newest member, on his longest ride ever, and a few short but very steep climbs.

 Brandon and Jason coming up Cross Rd in Livermore

 Jason & Jan, thanks to Isabelle, our fastest strongest rider to forges ahead to take photos.

 Julio over the top of Cross Rd.

 Julio, almost to the top, not sure the grade, Garmin sometimes lies, but it was steep at top.

 Lunch at the PG&E site, Western Regional Lineman's Rodeo in Livermore,
Jan in front, Isabelle, Brandon, Jim, Jason & Julio.

After we changed out clothes for team party/meeting. Keith, Jim, Julio, Tom, Jan, David, Mary, Isabelle, Larry and Brandon. 

Need volunteers for the Cow Palace, Sat & Sun, June 2 & 3

We've been busy training, changing a couple of flat tires, climbing hills, and more hills, and fundraising.
If you can volunteer, for the send off from the Cow Palace, we have a PG&E contingent, or you can pick your own shift, click below.
PG&E 6.2.18_8:30am - 2pm

volunteers for Sat or Sun

Saturday we rode Morgan Territory & Sunday Tunitas Creek and Half Moon Bay. Isabelle is a strong, fast rider, and takes photos for us.

 Isabelle helping Julio, both are quite proficient at changing tires though.

Jim, Isabelle & Jan on a snack break. The amount of calories we need to consume is over the top.

Highway 1 view, we will ride by this again on Day 1, June 3.

Towering redwood trees on Tunitas Creek Rd, a climb of 2000' in 6 miles.

The Pulgas Water Temple in Filoli, taken from Canada Rd. One of the best benefits of riding is the scenery we get to enjoy. Another, of course staying fit and the best of all, knowing we are helping others with our fundraising efforts.

4 weeks until we ride from SF to LA

Several team members joined the AIDS/LifeCycle official Day on The Ride. It was a simulation, although only 70 miles it exposed riders to port-a-pottys, snack filled rest stops, and costumed volunteers. Isabelle and Laura rocked the day. Isabelle is a super strong rider and takes the time to stop and shoot photos. For an I-Phone the water shots came out great.

 Isabelle snapped the water photos with a great sun shining.

Jan just after finishing.

Isabelle is in the bright green jacket, with the big smile, during the pre-ride ALC talk to 350 riders.

Laura coming down one of many hills that day.

 Isabelle & Jan in motion, (captured by the pros)

Laura riding out with the group of >350 riders. All 3 of the women on the PG&E team rode.

Team rides as well as AIDS/LifeCycle training rides are in progress

Jan with pink sleeves. Isabelle in hot green vest. Andres in blue El Salvador jersey. Jason holding up a peace sign. Laura in pink jacket.

Some great team rides early in the year. David in white & Michaelangelo in red jacket joined as special guests. Both are Training Ride Leaders for AIDS/LifeCycle.

Emilia, pink helmet, joined for 1 ride, she's a Roadie this year, so training not such a priority.

Jason helping Isabelle get her chain even cleaner, like his is.

We've had some really cold rides.

Wheels For Meals, Wexy Wheels, Team PG&E, 2017

Matt Masters, raised over $2000.00 of the Team's total >$7,000.00

It is always fun to see Isabelle's smiling face, especially at 6:30am

Sam, Isabelle, Matt, Jim & Giancarlo, and Eric & Rick,

 70 mile riders waiting until 7am, & sunlight, to ride out. It was a chilly 45 degrees.

Sarah, David & Eric, rode the 35 miler

 By 8am, the sun had started to come out and the 35 mile riders were shedding layers.

We had at least 5 riders, do the 35 miler, that had never ridden that far in their lives.

They all rocked it and finished with no problems.

David, Jason, Sam, Alexi 

 The rest stop in Livermore was a great place for 70 and 35 mile riders to meet.

Kristin, Anja, Sam & Jan are all PG&E Employees.

 We took the team photo, with the 15 & 35 mile riders, before the 70 milers finished. 

We had over 40 riders and couldn't find everyone for the photo at the same time.

Jan & Matt, sporting 2 different PG&E jerseys, finishing the ride.

PG&E Hosts Lineman Rodeo in Livermore

Of our regular riders, only one other PG&E employee was available to join me (Jan) for a ride to the Lineman Rodeo in Livermore. This annual event is hosted at a PG&E Learning Facility. It's only 22 miles each way and fairly flat, so easy day. On the way back we met another PG&E rider, Tony. Hoping to convince him to ride with us more too.

 

 Lineman from several western states competing for the Western Regionals title to go to national IBEW rodeo.  Jan & Jason in front of the helicopter. The kids were posing inside for photos, we wanted to show off the new Kits that Pride helped pay for.  

Tony, from Bishop Ranch & Jason from PG&E Hanger 8, Oakland

Day 7, June 10, 2017, 555 miles done, in LA

Day 7 is the most emotional day of the week for most of us. We made it!
Chicken Lady, an iconic rider of many AIDS rides in many states, and I think 21 AIDS/LifeCycle rides, is making a difference in the world. Every year on the morning of Day 7, riders find a plastic egg with a message inside attached to their bike seat.

Day 7 appears to have one very steep climb towards the end of the day. In reality, because the length of the ride isn't that far, that steep line on the map isn't too bad or too long. However, there are cyclists who have to walk up it. None of the PG&E team though. We all trained hard and were ready for it.

At the beach lunch stop, some of the PG&E team, Emilia, Jan & David, posed with 4 ladies from Team Box. These 4 ladies trained with us and Awesome Ahead for months and were able to ride like rock stars. One of them didn't even own a bike until March. Proof, that if your mind is in it, your body can be too, if you give it enough effort, time, luck and love.

This link is a video of Tom & Steven riding across the finish line. 

The announcer calls out Team PG&E!

https://www.facebook.com/mlsn25/videos/1476532485746226/

Steven on the left, Tom on the right.

Tom in the back greeting his wife (also a PG&E employee), Steven in front.

I (Jan) rode in by myself. It was really emotional for me.

Next year I hope we can ride in as a team.

It's hard to facilitate because we all had different times 

we had to catch flights or get picked up by relatives.

At the finish there is a celebration where many folks are lucky enough to have family and friends greet them. This cheer team was amazing.Recruiting for next year has begun as well. Want to join us next year? Email me for info: jhw8@pge.com

Larry who is a strong, healthy, 70 year old, finished strong again this year.

He is registered for next year too. Jan also rode every mile and is signed up for next year.

John had lots to be happy about.

Not only did he finish strong,

John and Tom got engaged on Day 1 of the ride.

Tom worked as a Roadie on Sweep all week.

Congratulations to you both!