2016 AIDS LifeCycle - ROUTE!

It seems like all I've been talking about is AIDS LifeCycle for the past couple of weeks and probably all I'll be talking about for the next couple of months - well until its over anyways... LOL

Visit my Fundraising Web Page - to learn more and donate =) 

This is the Route for 2016 AIDS Life Cycle - yes cycling from San Francisco to Los Angeles!

Here is the complete route:

DAY 1	San Francisco to Santa Cruz	82 MILES
DAY 2	Santa Cruz to King City	109 MILES
DAY 3	King City to Paso Robles	63 MILES
DAY 4	Paso Robles to Santa Maria	91 MILES
DAY 5	Santa Maria to Lompoc	43 MILES
DAY 6	Lompoc to Ventura	88 MILES
DAY 7	Ventura to Los Angeles	62 MILES

TOTAL = 545 MILES!!

YouTube: http://goo.gl/0vks5e 

Mahalo for reading. 

Until next time.

Cycling - The most expensive casual sport!

So... my bike was finally delivered last night and I can't wait to start riding!  Some people have been asking me, "If I have my bike?" and the answer is YES!

(NOTE: Don't forget to check out why I am doing this ride - AIDS Life Cycle - share this link or donate! http://www.tofighthiv.org/goto/hawaiiinsomniac) 

However, there is so much more that you need for long distance cycling.  Granted, some of these things are optional, but if you want to take cycling seriously, these things become mandatory.

First, of course the bike!

Yey!  Next up for safety - helmet (that's necessary, right?)  I bought the most basic helmet available at the store.

Next up - bike pump - a must for cyclists!  Tire pressure is crucial.  If you're tire doesn't have the right pressure, its easier to puncture and it slows you down.

  

Next up, in case you do have a bike flat.  Tire lever set to remove the tire.  A replacement tube and the CO2 cartridge to put air back in the tube! and the pouch to put that in!

Oh yeah - cycling apparel.  Fortunately, I saved some from when I use to train and I also bought some in Spain - thanks Decathlon!  So much cheaper than anything here in the U.S.

What's not pictured here?!  (I've already ordered this stuff)

Lights!  The bike comes with reflectors - which is ok, if you're only riding in the day.  For Hawaii athletes, you know you have to train earlier to beat the heat - so lights are necessary!  

SPD cleats!  For short rides a regular pedal is fine.  Just use your regular shoes and ride away!  However, if you're going to start riding 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70 or more miles, you'll want clip on shoes and pedals - why - you don't have to worry about your feet sliding and you can focus on rotation!

Yes, I've already spent almost $1,000 - and I got one of the road bikes on the lower end! 

And there are still more thing I need and want.  

I even started an Amazon WISHLIST 

(in case any of you are feeling super generous)

1)  SPD shoes (not included in wish list - I have to buy these at the store to try them on!) - the cleats are just what attaches to the bike - I'll need to buy special shoes to latch on to the cleats

2) Special Bike tools - not super expensive, but its like a screwdriver set for adjusting things on your bike.

3) Bike Rack - I'm currently storing this in my room and I'll probably continue doing so, but this way at least its feasible.

4) Bike Lock - With a bike lock, my rides aren't restricted to coming back home, I can go somewhere else and secure the bike - with a more expensive bike - you'd kinda want a more secure system.

5) Phone Mount (completely optional), but hey after an hour of riding it'd be nice to listen to some music, no?

Yeah - After that - that's about it.  Focus on riding - getting back into shape - then in the future - nutrition! 

YouTube: http://goo.gl/0vks5e 

Mahalo for reading. 

Until next time.

My New Bike!

It's official!  I can start training for the 2016 AIDS LifeCycle - well starting Friday afternoon when my bike is delivered.  Make that Saturday morning, because I am hanging out with Michelle Friday night.  Actually, Saturday afternoon.  I have to go to Best Buy and return the laptop I bought and get something better for video editing.

Yeah, Saturday afternoon, closer to evening, because its really hot in the afternoon with the blazing sun.  

Anywho!  In addition to the bike, there is TONS of new gear that I bought and more I have to buy.  I have a new helmet, bike pump, Co2 cartridge, rear mount pouch to put everything in.

I still have to buy lights, clips, cycling shoes, aero bars (in the future), water bottle, maybe a phone mount, ooohhh, maybe one of those LED lights that goes around the tire!

Anywho, thanks everyone for following along this journey with me.

If you haven't done so, please check out my fundraising page, any donation will be greatly appreciated.  Sometimes I have to remember who I am doing this for.

YouTube: http://goo.gl/0vks5e 

Mahalo for reading. 

Until next time.

Day 0 - 2016 AIDSLifeCycle - I'm am SO out of SHAPE

To some people I have done some unthinkable things in my life.  Go to Ukraine during a civil war, eat an insane amount of food, get married!

I feel like this time around I am going to do another unthinkable thing again - get back into shape.  Apparently, drinking beer in large quantities doesn't help you get in the beset shape of your life - contrary to those beer runs which sounds like a great idea!

Today, like many times before, I ran around the marina.  Except today, it was really really hard to do so and to be honest, it'll probably be like that for a couple of weeks!  No worries though, I plan to whip this completely into shape, without dieting.

Soon, I plan to work out twice a day, a quick 30-40 minute run in the morning and an hour in the afternoon.

Actually, once I get a bike - that would be a really big help!  How can I compete in a bike race without a bike?  Unfortunately, there is no bike shops near me and it might be even cheaper to get a bike shipped from the mainland - crazy right?!

Oh yeah, if you want to donate - click here!  I am $300 of my goal to raise my first thousand by the end of the month!  This is going to be a hard fundraising endeavor.  Normally, the first thousand is the easiest - so if I can't even raise $1,000 - imagine the next $2,000 I'd have to raise!

We'll stay tuned to my blog... I'll be writing more and keep you abreast with what's going on in my life!    

YouTube: http://goo.gl/0vks5e 

Mahalo for reading. 

Until next time.

How are you feeling?!

Since I've arrived, one of the first questions that my friends ask me is... How are you feeling?

To be honest, I am not exactly sure.  I have been quite emotional recently, probably for the last couple of weeks.  Wresting with the idea that my backpacking days are over (for now), and going back to work (it's been over a year) and the first time since 2010 that I'll be working a 40 hour work week - crazy, right?

Besides the emotion caused by the logistics of moving back, other emotions, such as humbled, joy, lucky, blessed, also pop into mind.  

It's kind of crazy - most of you already probably know that I am doing a cycling event - from San Francisco to Los Angeles to raise money for HIV and AIDS related NGOs.  Crazy part is I am so amazed who is supporting me.  Friends from all over the world (who do not get the tax deduction), from Australia, Spain, Canada, Guatemala - I mean, how lucky am I to have the support of these awesome people.

On the flip side, I've only raised $700, and that is a long way to go until $3,000.  Considering that the first round of donations are the easiest - the last $2,000 is going to be a bumpy ride, but that's ok, I have some fundraisers planned pretty soon! 

Well besides fundraising, there is also the issue of getting back into shape - which will probably be a completely separate blog.  I have partied hard this summer and I've gained about 15 pounds, which isn't that big of a deal, my weight normally yo-yos, but getting started is always the hardest.

That and not having enough for a bike, which is actually no longer the problem since I sold nearly all of my high-end electronics.  I sold two of my laptops (Alienware M18X R2 and a MacBook Pro 13 Retina), and 2 phones (iPhone 6 64GB and Huawei P8 Lite). 

Great thing is now I have money for a bike, bad thing is here in Hawaii, it is really overpriced.  I kind of wished I had an extra day in San Diego to go shopping for a bike.

That leaves me to the fact that I do not have transportation at the money, so I'll be walking about, which isn't a big deal for me, since I don't work that far from home, but it would be nice to already have a bike or also a car, but that's not going to happen until I have finished the 2016 AIDSLifeCycle.

Another thing right now is not having the space and things right now to properly organize.  I have to help my roommate clean out some things, which I don't mind, but I kinda wish I could just do it all and get it done.  Speaking of which, if you know anyone who wants this huge entertainment center - let me know.  Letting it go for free, just need someone with the manpower and a pickup truck to haul it away!

Shopping is also an issue too, I don't want to spend that much money on things right now, so the pantry is quite limited, but I'm alright with that too...

 Well, I am getting tired, sorry for the randomness which are my feelings, but the lack of sleep and natural light maybe too hard to overcome...zzzz. lol

YouTube: http://goo.gl/0vks5e 

Mahalo for reading. 

Until next time.