Why I tremble, and what brings relief.

I'm humbled and amazed by the way support appears in after I set my mind to a task. Yesterday was the first time I had mentioned to anyone that I had signed up for the AIDS LifeCycle ride. It was a particularly social Saturday, and so I had a chance to mention it to a lot of people. Responses included:

*That's great. I know people who have done that and had an amazing experience.
*Good for you!
*How many miles is that? (545). In how long? (7 days) Jaws drop...

Yep, even though I've considered myself a cyclist since I was in high school, this event will match any mileage and endurance records I've ever set on a bicycle, and surpass them by a long shot.

My longest ride in one day ever, to this point in my life: 60 miles in December, 2002. It was during a bicycle tour around the Big Island of Hawaii. Here are some statistics for comparison:

Ride	Total Miles	Days to complete	Miles / Day
Hawaiian Ride	350	30	12
AIDS LifeCycle	575	7	82!

Why I am not worried: I did the ride around Hawaii alone, unsupported, and in frequent torrential downpours of rain, with all my belongings, including tent, clothing, and equipment, strapped to the back of my bicycle. The AIDS LifeCycle, in contrast, consisted of over 2,300 riders, raised over 11 million dollars, and was supported by a crew that carries luggage and sets up tent camps for each stop along the way.

Also, friends and family have already come forth saying they would contribute to my stress-inducing goal of raising at least $2,500 in donations. I've never enjoyed asking people for money, but by necessity, I'm ready to get over that. It's easier in some way, since the money isn't for me, but is donated to the LA and SF AIDS foundations to provide funds for HIV/AIDS support programs.

I've also been getting a lot of advice as to how to get my body in shape for this massive undertaking. I'll write a separate post about that.

So, in conclusion, I think that even though I've previously spent 30 days in the saddle, I haven't done anything like this...