Raised over $3k for AIDSLifeCycle - SO NOW WHAT? (PRE-RIDE)

Well, now its pretty much about preparing (minus the training) for the race... which is actually quite intensive!  I'm going to break this down into two blogs: PRE-RIDE and during the RIDE

First, check out this packing list: ALC - Packing List, which has everything from a sleeping bag, sunscreen to everything bike related, helmet, spare tubes and everything in between like laundry soap!  I still need a sleeping bag! and rain-cycling gear in case it rains... yikes! 

Since, I don't have a car - I had to get get a rental - just to run errands around the island before I go!  Special thanks to Alamo for hooking me up with this ride!  

Next up: preparing bike for shipment!  Special thanks to Island Tri and Bike - for being super helpful when I had bike issues and for taking good care of my bike!  They will be boxing up my bike - which I will be picking up on Friday on my way to the airport.

Yup, preparing for a ride like this costs a pretty penny - checking in my bike alone is $150 each way - add in another $25 for my own luggage - that's $350 for luggage fees!

Other than that, it is just packing, flight, fees, and orientation.  I'll be leaving Friday night arriving into San Fran at 7am - and heading straight to a 9am orientation.
(HOPEFULLY THEY HAVE COFFEE!)

At orientation, I'll be signing up for a tent, getting my bike put back together, meeting other cyclists that are doing the ride!  (=

Oh yeah - I have to get my hair DID! 

YouTube: http://goo.gl/0vks5e 

Mahalo for reading. 

Until next time.

Going on a Diet! 4 months left! #AIDSLifeCycle

With a little bit more than 4 months to go in training, I have decided to go into overdrive - which is funny because I have been so sick that I haven't been able to ride my bike for 2 weeks.

NOTE: Don't forget to donate! 

Considering there is 4 months and 4 days left, I have to take some extreme measures.

1) I'm going on a diet.

You heard that right.  A diet.  Most people may hard that find to believe that I am going on a diet, consisting mainly of lean vegan proteins and protein shakes, but then again, I can quit smoking cold turkey and give up alcohol the same way - without being tempted when its around me.

This is just to jump start my metabolism.  I need to get leaner for riding and shifting to a lean protein diet will help me get there.

Breaking it down into detail:

Breakfast: consisting of either oatmeal or cottage cheese

Lunch/Dinner: Brown rice, vegan patty

2) I have a trainer.

That sounds crazy - but that is correct.  I am in it to win it, well not LITERALLY to win the ride - but winning in the sense to finish the ride.  I have signed up with a trainer with 24 hour fitness and pretty soon, I'll be cross training with weight lifting to make me even stronger.

3) New equipment.

I have bought new running shoes!  Crazy right!?  I didn't realize this, but I have a half marathon in April!  Soooo, I gotta get my butt in gear for that one.  

There are a couple of things I still need to get:

A) A bike lock - USPS has managed to lose my Amazon order

2) Bike shoes - I'm going to wait for this one - maybe mine is still in Reno

It's still trippy that I have to do all of this, but I feel that if I don't put these external pressures on myself that I will not be fit enough for the ride - the last 2 weeks of not training probably had something to do with this extreme reaction to have the need to do all of this, but its done - and you guys know I'm cheap so since I'm signed up - it's going to happen!

YouTube: http://goo.gl/0vks5e 

Mahalo for reading. 

Until next time.

#AIDSLifeCycle - Training 01/09/2016

Training today was pretty fun.  

It has been a long time since I rode my bike to Kailua - years - over 4 years probably and it was pretty cool to see that I could still do it.  

NOTE: Check out my Fundraising Page - if you have done so yet.

Yup, got a flat tire - thanks to my CO2 cartridge, I was able to ride all the way to Kailua.

What do you do after you ride your bike 25+ miles?  Go swimming - of course!

Ha!  After the cycling, swimming, napping, breakfast time!

Special thanks to my friend Michelle for dropping me back home - yup, no way I was making it back.  lol

YouTube: http://goo.gl/0vks5e 

Mahalo for reading. 

Until next time.

First time cycling in forever!!

Back in the day, I use to ride my bikes over mountains, across cities, past bridges as far as I possibly could.  Crazy part is, because I still use the same tracking app - RunKeeper, the LAST time I rode on a bike was back in 2012 - when I was in Florida!

Oh my times have changed!  My first time on my bike since 2012 was crazy fun - I remembered exactly why I love to ride my bike... 

I went on a quick bike ride before heading out to work yesterday - while I was sick!  Long story short, I've been sick since yesterday and I'm finally getting over the mild case of food poisoning.

Well, a lot more training to get to 545 miles!  

YouTube: http://goo.gl/0vks5e 

Mahalo for reading. 

Until next time.

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.