(California AIDS Ride 7)

On June 6, 2000, Porter and I got on our bikes (along with 2700 other riders) and headed to L.A.  Yes, L.A!   Why?  To raise money for folks with HIV and AIDS.

My thank you letter to sponsors and other supporters: 

Thanks to all of you for sending me to camp, er, I mean to the 
California AIDS Ride 7 presented by Tanqueray. (Gotta say the whole 
thing! ;) 

I was a first time rider and I thought I knew what to expect - boy howdy 
was I wrong! I was so moved and inspired by the community and spirit 
during the week...everyone supporting everyone else, barriers between 
rich and poor, fast and slow, black and white, (geeks and marketing ;), 
gay and straight - they were all broken down for one magical week. I 
feel as though my system has "been re-booted." 

I was one of the riders who rode every mile they could, not every mile. 
(For example, on day 3 I was pulled from the ride due to severe 
dehydration - another day I got tendonitis in my left Achilles.) I was 
feeling really low about this but everyone around me bolstered my 
spirits and encouraged me, and what's more, believed me that I had 
indeed done my best. I rode when I thought I was done, I rode when I 
knew I couldn't keep going, I rode when I was too hot and too cold, when 
it felt like knives were piercing the balls of my feet (and other 
places!) I learned about real and imaginary limits. I burst out crying 
when fast riders and crew cheered for those of us getting off the bus 
and limping into camp one night. 

I signed up to "recycle," meaning I'll ride again next year in CAR8. 

We're forming a "Team Loudcloud" for next year - I already have about 
10 interested folks. 

***Please let me know if you'd like to join us and please forward this 
to anyone you think would be interested!*** 

Now I know why one wants to be faster and fitter - not for ego's sake 
(as I'd earlier misjudged of so many of the very fleetest pedallers!) 
but to make it all more pleasant for oneself. Next year I look forward 
to spending perhaps 6 to 8 hours a day in the saddle, not 12! :) And to 
saying "On your left" much more often! 

I met people like Mary Pat, who rode back down the second Evil Twin and 
then up it again to cheer on us slower spokes - she encountered me 
struggling up the hill and offered to ride along with me. We reached 
the top, where my sister had gotten a group of folks chanting "Go Katie 
Go Katie" and before I knew it, Mary Pat was off to help the next 
person. I never saw her again to really say thanks! 

AND HERE'S THE MAIN THING: We raised over ELEVEN MILLION 

DOLLARS for services for people with HIV and AIDS. It's an all-time record for the 
ride. Tanqueray pitched in with a million dollars to cover the logistics of the ride itself. 

Pretty cool. 

Thanks again and again. I couldn't have done it without you!!!! 

:) 
Kate Merriman, CAR7 Rider # 3456