counting the days...
My how the time flies. Today marks 9 days until ride out. I look back to when I first got my bike and rode it 3 blocks from home to work and thought what the %#$@ have I gotten myself into! And recently I rode my first century, a ride of 100 miles. Wow, what an accomplishment.
And to you all, my friends and riders in spirit. You have cheered me through the tough times, seen me up the toughest hills, and contributed financially to my cause. While I have not yet made my personal goal of $5000, I have met the minimum to participate in Aids LifeCycle, $3000. In fact, I have raised just over $3500 for SFAF.
So I'll get my bike cleaned and tuned up, get a bike fitting, take a short celebratory ride with fellow riders Sunday, take a few days to pack, and then we're off. And don't forget mom, who is a Roadie on the traffic crew, as well as my tent mate! We are going to have so much fun. Of course, Raj will be riding too, so it's almost like a family vacation.
Thanks again to you all who have really made this happen. No matter how much training, if it were not for your contributions I would not be able to participate in this amazing event. I'll let you all know how it goes when I return June 14th!

by Susan Walia on Thu, Jun 03, 2010 @ 4:17 PM

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A$$ Numbing
My ass is still numb from yesterday's 68, almost 69 mile ride to Nicasio Valley. As with most rides, we ride from Crissy Field over the Golden Gate Bridge, through Sausalito, onto the Marin Bike Path and over Camino Alto (aka a big hill). We may go through the towns of Larkspur, Kent, Ross, and Corte Madera into Fairfax and sometimes we continue through Fairfax and go over White's Hill (aka another big hill) and into other towns like Langunitas and last weeks Nicasio Valley. Sometimes, we go from Larkspur into San Rafael and hit places like China Camp. Next week we'll go to Lucas Valley. Whatever the route, you can be sure lots of big and rolling hills are involved. Some of the ride to Nicasio Valley was within Samuel P. Taylor park, and it was beautiful. It actually reminded me of hiking in New Zealand some years ago, with all the ferns, moss, and dense foliage.

Knowing you guys are rooting for me keeps me going on. Yesterday, when it got really uncomfortable to sit in the bike saddle, I kept thinking that I had to keep going because there are so many people encouraging me on, so many people who have donated to the San Francisco Aids Foundation because I'm participating in the Aids Lifecycle event, and I don't want to let you all down.

A fellow rider donated to my fundraising and I'm proud to say that has put me at my minimum of $3000! My goal is actually $5000, but I needed $3000 to be able to ride, and now I'm there! There is no turning back now...

by Susan Walia on Fri, May 28, 2010 @ 9:41 AM

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I'm on my way...
Thanks to all of you who have been supporting me physically, emotionally, and financially. I have so appreciated all your well wishes and I take all of you with me on every ride. If your ears start buzzing on a Saturday or Sunday, it may be me thinking about you as I ride through beautiful Marin County!
I have come so far from last fall when I got on my new bike. I am riding both days on the weekends most weekends, and doing 40 miles per day, with significant hills. I no longer fear coming back to SF via the Sausalito hills. I don't fear the hills of Tiburon. The Headlands and White's Hill? Well there's still some work to be done on these hills, but I'm definitely up for the challenge.

by Susan Walia on Mon, Mar 29, 2010 @ 2:47 PM

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Family vacation?
I am so happy to announce that mom is going to be a Roadie on the Aids Ride! With Raj and I riding, it's like a mini family vacation (our other brother, Dave, won't be joining us). I don't know if she's on the lunch crew or if she'll be a roadie, but either way we will be sharing a room together. While I'll miss the camaraderie of those at camp, I am looking forward to sleeping in a real bed and having my mom there for support at the end of each day.

by Susan Walia on Mon, Feb 22, 2010 @ 10:30 AM

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Getting in the Groove
11-09 Fall Crawl
I added Pilates to my workout regimen, and am going to continue to try to swim. While I like swimming more than Pilates, it's a bit harder to get to the pool after work (I do Pilates before work). Also, I've been wanting to increase my mileage bikeriding, as well as get my nutrition and hydration set. Those will be my targets for the Fall. With the coming rain, riding outside will get harder and harder, so I'll need to setup the bike inside to ride. Remember when I did that in September? Well, it'll be harder to do now that I've been riding outside, because the two are very different. Inside seems very boring to me now, and I'm constantly peddling. Outside the scenery changes, keeping my eyes engaged, and I change my pace - peddling harder to get up hills, and taking a bit of a break when going down hills. But, it will have to be.
I've gotten a few fundraising commitments. I will ramp up my fundraising this fall as well! That's probably the hardest part of it all so far - asking for people to have faith in me and donate their hard-earned money to me and finding a cure for Aids in these tough economic times.

by Susan Walia on Mon, Feb 22, 2010 @ 10:24 AM

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My Progress
10-09 4 weeks, 4 rides
It all began Labor Day Weekend. I signed up for my first training ride, what I call the Lake Merced Loop. We started at McLaren Lodge at Fell and Stanyon, rode through GG park and turned onto the Great Highway, continued past the zoo and onto Lake Merced, rode around the lake, and returned to McLaren Lodge on the same route. 17 miles and it kicked my @$$!
I returned the next day and rode it again! It didn't kick my @$$ quite so much and I felt GREAT! A week later I went back and rode to Lake Merced again with my friend Michael. Again, not as tough as the first time, but still exhilirating. I was building my confidence.
So I signed up for my 4th training ride, Crissy Field to Mill Valley and back. Raj and his broken arm drove me to the drop off point, and on the way he said there was a big hill but that I could do it. Ok, here's where it gets tricky. He didn't say anything about riding over the Golden Gate Bridge, or the series of hills on the return ride through Sausalito! But I did all 22 miles! I can't tell you how great I felt as I rode back into Crissy Field.
My goal for this month is to add swimming and pilates to my work out so I can get more exercise and cross training into my routine. I hear from talking to others that this will help build my strength for the rides, and I like swimming and pilates!

9-09 I'm Riding to End AIDS
Some of you know that my brother Raj rode the ALC last year and not only did he have a great time but also he got in great shape. This year I am joining him. I've recently bought a new road bike and have begun training at home. I hope to take my training out on the road in September by joining in on Training Rides in and around the city.
Throughout the next 10 months I'll keep you posted on my progress. From June 6-12, 2010, I'm bicycling in AIDS/LifeCycle. It's a 7-day, 545-mile bike ride from San Francisco to Los Angeles to make a world of difference in the lives of people living with HIV and AIDS.
Help me support the San Francisco AIDS Foundation by giving what you can. We'll keep riding until AIDS and HIV are a thing of the past. I know you all are with me in spirit and thank you for all your support.

by Susan Walia on Fri, Nov 06, 2009 @ 1:08 PM

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