One week to go..
I'm hanging out with our son watching "The Ride: 7 days to end AIDS" Amazed that I'm going to be doing this is 7 days.. 7 DAYS!! Holy crap.. how did it come so fast?

I rode this morning with ACTC. I did the Tour de Franks.. lol. I love the Franks, Scott and Susan are such great people. It was a short ride and I got to ride with Merideth again. I'm so glad I started riding with these guys again. Merideth and I ride at pretty much the same pace and she makes me laugh which is always a good thing, especially when you are ready to fall off the bike from exaustion.

So, this week was good.. last week a whole other story. It was a comedy of errors with me and my bike. I crashed, almost took Merideth down with me, f'd up my gears, skinned up my knee, almost fell right in front of Susan causing her to almost run over me and basically was a complete and total wreck all day.

So, I'm nervous about next week. I know I'm not prepared enough. I know I'm not conditioned enough, but at this point there isn't anything I can do about it except do my best.

I've already decided that I'm going to do the ride again next year and it will be different.

Anyway.. there's still this year to get through.. But here's the thing I keep in my mind.. for all the people that are dealing with HIV/AIDS, for all the people that are sick and struggle everyday to keep their hopes and dreams alive knowing that they are living with something that could kill them.. for all the young people that think they are so invincible that they will never ever get something like HIV.. for them, I am doing this.

For all the people in my life that are living with this, for all the people in my life that have lived with this.. their fight everyday is harder than I can imagine.. so for them I will do this it will help someone, somewhere..

by Niki Hutson on Sun, May 24, 2009 @ 9:34 PM

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GG Bridge and 40 days to go!
Last Saturday, I joined the Cyclist rep ride from the Sports Basement near Chrissy field. It's the first time that I've been there and it was a fantastically beautiful day. It was great to see all the other cyclists out ready to ride.

We had quite a few join us, I think 18 was our total number. We set out after the mandatory streching and safety speech. I had ridden the day before in the Los Altos hills by myself and my legs were tired, not the best way to start this ride.

I unfortunately fell quickly to the back on the way to the bridge. I was sooo not ready for the climbing to get there, but thanks to Susan and Russ, they waited for me.

Crossing the bridge was amazing. I wish I had had time to stop and admire the view, but I needed to catch up.

We rode across the bridge, down into Sausilito and then on to FairFax. It was beautiful and the ride was great. Susan and Russ were excellent company.

We caught up to the others in FairFax and had a bite to eat. Then we started on the trip back.

I wish that I could say that I did better, but it was a struggle. The climb from Sausilito back up to the bridge was sooooo hard. I'm not sure if it was just because I was tired from the day before, or because I'm behind on my training, but whatever, it seriously freaked me out because it was so hard.

I've made the commitment to get back in the gym even harder and start riding on my off gym days even if only for an hour.

There are so many reasons for me to be doing this ride.. I can't let myself fail.

I have a ride this Saturday in Morgan Hill.. stay tuned for the details. :)

by Niki Hutson on Fri, Apr 17, 2009 @ 9:30 AM

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Past time to get serious
Still riding.. still fundraising.
Not much new to report on this end. except to say that I need your support more than ever to make this happen!
Check back soon for more news.
:) Niki

by Niki Hutson on Wed, Apr 08, 2009 @ 10:52 PM

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First training ride!
So, last Saturday I had my first training ride with the ALC group, but it was also my first time back on the bike since my accident in October.

I met up with a group in Mountain View, Chris' group (http://www.ridewithchris.org). There were 28 of us, a nice mix of experienced ALCers and newbies like me. I knew it was going to be a 40 mile ride, but mostly on flats so I didn't think there would be too much problem with that. I was more concerned about how I would be on the bike.

We took off at 10 and immediately it felt fantastic! I was so happy to be out riding again. I felt good.. strong and comfortable on my bike. No issues from the accident at all.
We rode 14 miles before we hit our first rest stop, Starbucks on Homestead, and I got to talk with a few people in line for the bathroom. In line I met Maggie, a girl that did the ride last year and is now a TRL this year.

The training rides really are go at your own pace, so when Maggie was ready to ride, I decided to ride out with her. We were going down Stelling to McClellan, a route I have done previously on my rides up to StevensCreek Reservoir.

Things were good for a while, Maggie and I conversed comfortably for a while, but we hit a slight uphill grade and Maggie is just stronger than I am, so I told her to go on. I played catch up for a while.. I'm always fast on flats and downhill, though not as fast as I used to be.

About 24 miles into the ride, I started to peter out.. I really struggled the last few miles before rest stop #2, another Starbucks in Menlo Park. I was tired, I hadn't eaten enough, but mostly.. my ASS hurt! Apparently your butt is like a callous. After being off the bike for a while, it forgets what it's like to be on that little saddle for 4 hours.

At the rest stop I met a few more people, Susann, Nancy, Lionel, Patrick and a couple others.. Everyone was fantastic. I did learn though, that a good number of riders judge their routes by the coffee they can get on their rides. lol.

We took off after a bit, only 10 more miles to go, but my body hurt. There were a few moments when I felt close to giving up, but that's the thing about riding.. uh.. where ya gonna go if you don't ride home?

I pushed through it and many thanks to Nancy for sticking by me those last 10 miles, talking with me and encouraging me to take it at my pace.

I was the last to come in from that ride, but I did it. I was hella sore that night, but my girlfriend was nice enough to get us a hotel room for a special night away.. jacuzzi and all. I sat in that spa for over 2 hours. I definitely have the best partner ever!

So, tomorrow I go for another ride with a Cat-1 group, a shorter, slower ride but I think I need it for a while until I get my strength back and until my butt gets used to it again.

Again a big thanks to all of those that I rode with last week and a bigger thanks to those that have donated!

Stay tuned for another ride report after this weekend...

by Niki Hutson on Fri, Jan 16, 2009 @ 10:02 AM

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Amazing video
We got an email today from our Cyclist Rep at SFAF. They send us email from time to time with info and ideas on fund-raising.

Today they sent out this video. One of many from SFAF's http://youtube.com feed.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hhmq8Mwc_T8

It's a great video to watch to remind us all what is at the heart of this ride and what we are raising money for.

Love you all!

by Niki Hutson on Thu, Dec 18, 2008 @ 1:26 PM

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The beginning of a long journey..
I have wanted to do this ride for as long as I can remember, for the challenge, the achievement, the community but mostly for the cause.

I truly believe that if I can completely change my life in a year to complete this ride, together we can change the future of AIDS/HIV and those affected by it.

This is the start of the second part of my journey, the first of which began last May when I decided that this was the year I was finally going to do the ride.

I've had to take a break from getting ready after an accident in mid October. Ever the eternal Gemini, always in a rush to get where I am going, believing I was invinceable, I was careless and took a road I didn't know too fast. I lost control and crashed into a guard rail at 30 mph.

After 2 days in the hospital, 2 brain bleeds and a broken collar bone, I was told not to get back on a bike any time soon.

I finally got clearance to ride in January and I can't wait to start. I can't believe how much I've missed being on my bike. For the fat girl that's always been just a little too lazy to ever be into outdoor activity that was too strenuous, it's unbelievable.

On to more changing and training and adventure..

by Niki Hutson on Sat, Dec 13, 2008 @ 12:35 PM

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