AIDS/LifeCycle Part 2

You can read part one here. 

A Roadie is a person who volunteers their time for a full week of AIDS/LifeCycle working on the event.  Roadies are selfless, dedicated and unbelievably committed as they all volunteer to work the AIDS/LifeCycle.  For 7 days, these folks dedicate their time, energy and hearts to waking up very early, going to sleep very late and being in charge of pretty much all the work that happens on the event.  This includes, but it’s definitely not limited to, setting up and breaking down campsites and rest stops, serving meals, pouring water, making electrolyte drinks, picking up trash, parking bicycles, fixing bicycles, picking up exhausted riders, wrapping sore knees, giving massages, leading cheers, giving directions, hanging signs, making the route, and just about anything else you can think of.  In addition to all this work, Roadies are known for giving hugs, making you laugh, and generally keeping you on your toes.

The food service team was filled with all types of people.  We had a fashion designer who was a rider that was hurt and placed on the team at orientation day, a grandmother and granddaughter, loving mothers, past riders, veteran roadies, friends, a high school teacher, a musician,  a baker, a comedian, personal trainer, just to name a few.  Each Roadie team has their own theme for each day of the ride, this allows the Roadies to have some fun and to make a long day of cycling start and end with a laugh and smile for the riders.  The food service team themes for last year were fun.

The breakfast theme was the same every morning while we were serving breakfast. The theme was Pajama Party.  That’s right we got to wear our PJ’s.  Some wore their bathrobes, hair curlers and kimonos as well.  Some of the other themes were as follows.

Night 1 – Birth Place Night - This allowed us an opportunity to celebrate where we were born.  Unfortunately, I didn’t have anything for this night so I wore a baseball hat and a hoodie.

Night 2 – Rainbow/Crayola Night - The riders were riding 100 miles on this day.  The only thing we were told that we couldn’t wear was rainbow boas because the feathers get in the food.  So, I wore my red Positive Pedalers t-shirt and my rainbow suspenders.  I think I got the kid size because they kept pulling my shorts up to heights that were really uncomfortable.  I started to look and feel like I was the white Steve Urkel.

Night 3 – Dessert Night – I was amazed by some of these costumes and the detail these people put into them.  One of the team members dressed up as an ice cream cone and passed out cherry stickers.

Night 4 – Pet/Favorite Animal Night – This had to be one of my favorite night themes, I wore a monkey on my head. There was also a unicorn, a butterfly, a cat, Roadie-kill, people with shirts of their pets, etc.  It was a time to let out our inner animal self and so we did.

I should discuss Day 5 -- Red Dress Day.  The true name is Dress in Red Day. However, leave it to a bunch of gay men to turn it into Red Dress Day.  This is a very fun day for the entire camp.  My red dress costume was a long Mexican inspired dress with a Dora the Explorer piñata as a headdress.  After breakfast we gathered for a team photo on the playground of the Santa Maria campground.

Night 5 – Circus Night – There were clowns, a lion tamer, a ringmaster, and a magician’s apprentice.

Night 6 – Movie Night – We were in Santa Barbara and since we are so close to Hollywood we might as well celebrate Tinsel town.  Team members dressed up in their Hollywood attire.  There was Max from Where The Wild Things Are, Ari Gold from Entourage, a film director, Star Trek personnel, Austin Powers dancers, a cowboy, The Pink Ladies from Grease, to name a few and we even had someone dress up as a concession stand with all sorts of candy hanging off his body.  Myself, I was able to finally take my long walk down the red carpet to the blinding flashes of the paparazzi.

Not only was it the last night for the ride, it was the last time we would be serving dinner on the ride.  On the last night after dinner when it started to get dark it was time for the Candlelight Vigil on the shore of Venture Beach.  Up to 3,000 people created a massive rectangle of silent reverence for those lost and those suffering.  This was a very sobering experience and after it was over you walk up to the water to put your candle out in the waves.  In my case the candle wouldn’t go out so I kept trying to catch the waves after about the third time I stumbled and stepped into the ocean at the same time the wave came up and soaked me from the shin down.  I took off my shoes and socks and walked the beach in my bare feet back to my tent.

On day 7 we arrived in Los Angles to a crowd of people cheering as the riders were making it into the city.  At the closing ceremonies the guest speaker was the wonderful actress Jane Lynch, whom incidentally is a past rider.  We were told that the AIDS/LifeCycle 10 broke all fundraising goals.  Riders, Roadies, and Staff raised over 13 million dollars to help benefit the San Francisco AIDS foundation and the LA Gay and Lesbian center to fight HIV/AIDS.

After the ride was over and I was on my way back home to Louisville, I was a changed man.  The ride not only made me feel part of a larger community; it made me realize that I am just a part of a much larger world.  It’s very humbling. The world does not revolve around me, and there was still so much love in the world despite what the news says.  It gave me the chance to meet some amazing people and renewed my belief in human kindness.

I enjoy getting to meet new people and hearing the many stories they want to share.  But most of all I enjoy the opportunities of helping others.  Even in the most difficult of situations, being able to help someone and seeing the smile on their face is amazing.  I wanted to share this story so that you will get a glimpse into what the AIDS/LifeCycle is like if you decided to join.  Each person’s experience is and will be different but one thing is for sure; you will be changed for the better.

I am extremely excited for ALC this year.  My partner, Scott, has signed up and will be part of the food service team.  I will be able to share something that means a lot to me with him.  As I close this story I want to leave you with words of inspiration from last year’s AIDS/LifeCycle.  “Life is too short to wake up with regrets.  Believe everything happens for a reason.  If you get a chance, take it.  If it changes your life, let.  Nobody said it would be easy, they just promised it would be worth it.  Applaud yourself.”  The Chicken Lady, ALC10.