Bicyclists in the eighth annual AIDS/LifeCycle ride along West Beach Street in Watsonville early Monday morning en route to Los Angeles from San Francisco. (Photos by Tarmo Hannula)

Just less than 2,200 bicyclists from 41 states and 14 nations rode out of San Francisco on Sunday en route to Los Angeles as participants in the AIDS/LifeCycle, the world’s largest annual AIDS fundraiser. On Monday, the group rolled through Watsonville under chilly, overcast skies — ideal biking conditions.

The 545-mile trek is expected to raise more than $10.5 million to support vital HIV/AIDS-related services at the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center and the San Francisco AIDS Foundation. The event also raises awareness about the disease and about misconceptions about HIV transmission and treatment among Americans, media coordinator Ben Carlson said.

“I’m loving it,” Duncan Dow of San Francisco said Monday on Day 2 of the trip. “I’m just taking it easy and having a relaxing ride. These people on the ride are the most caring, loving and sensitive people. We see so many locals coming out to show support and encourage us. This week, for me, is euphoria.”

Participants of the weeklong ride include cyclists and a volunteer support crew made up of hundreds of “roadies,” ranging in age from 18 to 78. Whether gay or straight, HIV positive or HIV negative, expert cyclists or novices, they share a commitment to reducing new infections and the suffering caused by AIDS, organizers said.

“People come to AIDS/LifeCycle to fight a disease,” said cyclist and San Francisco AIDS Foundation CEO Mark Cloutier. “But the event is also a celebration of health. Participants have the physical strength to complete a challenging course, and the emotional connectedness to help others succeed on an exhausting yet exhilarating journey.”

Riders train for months to prepare for the rigorous ride, and raise a minimum of $3,000 each to support the work of the two sponsoring organizations. The event has raised approximately $50 million to fight AIDS since it began in 2002, Carlson said.

“The economic recession has deeply impacted HIV/AIDS service providers on all fronts,” said Lorri L. Jean, CEO of the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center.

Laura Castellanos of San Francisco said the ride was her second trek with AIDS/LifeCycle.

“It’s an amazing experience,” she said. “The sense of community is great. I’ve lost over a dozen friends to AIDS in the ’80s. Things like this ride are essential to help educate future generations of what it is like to take care of each other. It’s about parents, churches, students, gays, straights coming together to help fight AIDS.”

There are 1.1 million Americans, one in six of whom are Californians, living with HIV — the highest number in the history of the epidemic. During the seven days of AIDS/LifeCycle, an estimated 1,080 Americans will become infected with HIV.

“One of our concerns is the governor’s budget cuts,” Carlson said. “Right now, the cuts would eradicate years of support for HIV prevention and research. It would also deny access about 35,000 Californians to essential medicines.”

The riders will arrive Saturday in Los Angeles, where a reception party will await them.



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