July 2010
2 posts
Fun stuff we like to do in downtown LA, summertime →
Woohoo! Summers at the pier are back! →
May 2008
50 posts
Orientation Day Tips
You made it to San Francisco, and you’re reading the directions for how to get to the Cow Palace on Saturday. Not quite sure what to expect on Day 0? Read on for some tips and tricks to help you navigate Orientation Day. What to bring today? patience hugs and thank you’s for all the roadies and volunteers, and all your friends your bike yourself your e-ticket any extra checks and...
Take Me To The Palace Of The Cows!
So you’re in San Francisco, but don’t know your way around - how do you get to the Cow Palace? To your hotel? To or from the airport? All the directions are below, courtesy of Stanley: FROM SFO AIRPORT So … you just landed at SFO. Now What? Take the tram at SFO to BART. $5.35 Take BART and get OFF at Civic Center Walk through the park to Van Ness Take #47 or #49 bus 9 blocks up to...
Are You Ready Yet?
Less than two days till Orientation…. here is a final to-do list, especially for all of you last-minute packers! Getting Ready Find and test those extra camera batteries, memory cards, chargers, and any new devices. Making new things work is much easier in the comfort of your living room and the manual at hand. If you have pets, make arrangements with your vet and a local emergency animal...
Food, Fun, Camp Life And Red Dresses
The final training ride and Shifting Gears send-off picnic was a big success - everybody got to relax and mingle, meet other team members again, the food was wonderful (especially those delicious pastries), and Tony Z had everybody up and laughing as we learned more about who is an early bird vs a late riser, chatty in the morning vs not awake till noon, snorer vs non-snorer, and many other...
Send-Off Ride, Picnic And Fashion Show - THIS...
Join us for a last, short ride this Sunday, May 25th to celebrate the end of training season before we leave for San Francisco. We’ll take an easy spin through the Marina into Playa Del Rey, with a lap up Westchester Parkway and return to Helen’s in time for the Send-Off picnic. ALC Riders and roadies - please join us for the big ANNUAL POT LUCK PICNIC CELEBRATION from 11am on Sunday May...
Team 100 Jerseys Are Here!
The new jerseys are in, and they’re beautiful! Pick up yours at the send-off picnic this Sunday, or contact Leslie to make other arrangements if you’re away for the weekend. We will have a few extras available for anyone who didn’t order one, but there are not many left so we will sell them on a first-come-first-served basis.
Party This Sunday - And Fun-Raise!
With just 9 days to go, now is the time to recover, rest, relax and have fun before the big Ride. Most people even get Monday off, so why not plan a fun evening on Sunday? We can offer you not one but TWO choices for a wonderful evening that also raises money for ALC, and helps our friends Kristen and Peanut make their fundraising minimum! ________________________________________________________...
Sparkle In Your Eyes - And Your Jersey
Are the regular ALC jerseys just not bright and sparkly enough for you? Help is at hand: rider Ali Rahimi (#6069) is offering a beautifully designed and bedazzled jersey with a bright AIDS ribbon of Swarovski crystals, so you can sparkle all the way from SF to LA! Best of all, the entire proceeds from the sale will go directly to ALC so you get style AND substance! Ali is offering three options: ...
In Silent Memory
On May 21st, 30 riders from all different backgrounds gathered at Helen’s on Broadway for the Santa Monica installment of the Ride of Silence. This ride was first held in Dallas in 2003, in memory of local cyclist Larry Schwartz (struck and killed by the mirror of a passing bus), and has grown into an annual memorial ride around the globe. With a slow, silent procession of riders throughout...
ALC Rider Injured In Hit-And-Run
Fellow ALCer Randy Cruz (Team Midnight Ridazz) was injured in a hit-and-run accident in downtown LA recently while commuting by bike. Reportedly, the driver tried to leave but was soon found and questioned by police. Initially, there were no plans to prosecute the driver but that may change soon, thanks to the efforts of many fellow riders who have been contacting both police and local government...
Ride Of Silence - May 21st
We’ve all ridden in traffic, and experienced first-hand how distracted drivers can be a significant hazard for cyclists. Our safety rules exist to pre-empt a lot of these problems, and keep us visible, predictable and safe, but sometimes even the safest behaviour isn’t enough - and in a contest between car and bike, the cyclist invariably loses. Please join other riders and the LA...
All You Need Is Love
The recent news about Chicken Lady’s stroke inspired a change in plans for this Sunday’s training ride - Team 100 joined forces with several other teams to form a special “Ride to the Chicken Lady Coop”, and deliver ride-by best wishes, love and support to Chicken Lady. Thanks to Brian Hodes, Sue and Joy from Team Easton, and Beth for rearranging plans and bringing all the...
All Stocked Up
A big thank you to Jaime and his team at iMartin for keeping the store open so late yesterday, and offering some amazing discounts so we could all stock up in time for the Ride! Lots of riders came to shop, browse and stayed to hang out and socialise over snacks, pizza, drinks and coffee (thank you Shifting Gears for providing the food and drink - pizza was delicious!!). We also got to watch the...
Chicken Lady Down! Get Better Soon!
Please send some positive energy, wishes and prayers out tonight - Ken Thomason, ALC’s much-beloved “Chicken Lady”, is recovering at a care facility in Torrance after suffering a stroke. Chicken Lady embodies the spirit of the Ride like few others, and is practically an institution. Ken - we will miss you terribly this year, and the Ride just won’t be quite the same without...
Reminder: iMartin Blowout Sale This Thursday, May...
Remember to set your TiVO for Thursday May 8th, so you can attend the annual i.Martin special AIDS/LifeCycle blowout sale!! For one night only, the folks at i.Martin are putting their weekly karaoke excursion on hold to keep the store open after hours, just for YOU! From 7:30pm to 9pm you can take advantage of great deals like 20% off ALL merchandise, up to 60% off SALE RACK items and even 15% off...
Photo Exhibit Fundraiser This Saturday, May 10th
Always wondered about all those nighttime rides in LA? Need some great cycling photos for your wall? Come out to the Team Midnight Ridazz “Photographing LA Bike Culture” Photo Exhibit on May 10th, 2008 at the Bike Oven in North East LA. Stop by the exhibit any time, or join us for the monthly Spoke(n) Art Ride first - a leisurely nighttime ride that stops at a bunch of North East LA...
Cops 4 Causes Benefit, May 22nd
Missed the big Team Easton party? Fear not, we have another big celebrity bash coming up at 11 Nightclub so you get another chance to PARTY! before we leave for San Francisco. Our friends from “Cops 4 Causes” - the first law enforcement cycling team to participate in ALC - are hosting a huge benefit kick off party as their fundraiser. The spectacular evening will include a Hope Wine...
House Concert Fundraiser May 25: Randi Driscoll
Acoustic artist and AIDS activist Randi Driscoll will be playing a house concert on Sunday, May 25th in Altadena as an ALC fundraiser. Come to listen to an amazing artist, and support a fellow rider in her fundraising efforts! “A brilliant example of how the power of music can be used as a tool for good, Driscoll has fervently and consistently placed herself in the middle of revolutions...
Still Need Camping Gear? Rent It!
Outdoor outfitters Adventure 16 is offering a special Shifting Gears discount on the rental of sleeping bags (rates include a sleeping pad, and cleaning). So if you haven’t bought your camping gear yet, or can’t decide what to go with, just rent it for the week! Prices are as follows: 20-degree down Bag: $18.00 first day, plus $2.00 each additional day 20 degree synthetic Bag: $16.00...
Bikers, Cranks And Derailleurs, Oh My
Clearly, it’s high training season - over 70 people showed up for the Malaga Cove training ride on Sunday! The ride turned into a masterpiece of improvisation: a footrace in Santa Monica meant a route change from the start; we had to make our way through the parade of several thousand motorbikes in support of a Pediatric brain cancer foundation in Redondo Beach; and dealt with several flats...
Fiesta Fun-draiser Party This Saturday
Celebrate Cinquo de Mayo a little early, have fun and raise money for ALC all at once this Saturday evening (yep, that’s tomorrow). Dust off your sombrero and bring out your revolutionary spirit! Mary-Lyn Chambers and friends are hosting a special fundraising party, and you’re all invited! They will have complimentary cocktails and appetizers along with music and good times. Where...
Master Spin Class Fundraiser TOMORROW
Don’t miss “The Masters” Spin Fundraising event this Saturday, May 3rd at Train in W. Hollywood at 11am. It will be an intense 90 minute master class taught by three of LA’s top spin instructors: Gordon Duvall, Paul Taegel, and Steve Stamstad. Plus, as a special treat, the music will be spun live by TRAIN’s former spin goddess, Jacquie Jacq! $20 minimum donation....