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Training | Preparing for the Event | Cycling Resources | HIV+ Participants
We have all sorts of resources to
make your fundraising successful and four days on the
road comfortable and fun. Some participants may be
very self-sufficient, while others may need a lot of
encouragement, advice, and information. It’s
likely that most of us will fall somewhere in between.
Please take a look at the following and see what works
for you!
Cycling
Clubs
During
the NorCal AIDS Challenge, you’ll be riding
through some of the most bicycling-crazy regions
of the country that are home to some of the largest
and best-organized clubs, rides, and other cycling
events in California. These clubs a huge number of
informal and formal rides every week that are FREE
and almost always open to the public.
To
get some more group riding experience, see some new
terrain, and meet members of the bicycling community,
consider going on some of the rides hosted by these
clubs, or even joining your local cycling club[s].
Check out their websites for ride schedules, route
maps in your area, and information on how to join
one of their rides.
Chico
Velo
Davis
Bike Club
Ophir
Milan [Sacramento-based for women]
Sacramento
Wheelmen
Sacramento
Bike Hikers
Santa
Rosa Cycling Club
Stockton
Bike Club
Cycling
Events
If
you’ve never done one before, it’d be
a great idea for you to ride in at least one large,
fully supported century or metric century before
the NCAC. In addition to being great training, it’ll
help you get used to riding with large groups of
other cyclists, cycling rest stops, and doing really
long distances without having to carry all your food
and water with you. Some of these rides even overlap
with the NCAC route, so you’ll get to preview
some sections before the event in May!
Listed
below are some of the more popular rides that take
place in the Central Valley in the months leading
up to the NCAC. Links and dates are provided to the
2008 editions if they’re available. We’ll
update this as more information becomes available.
Party
Pardee - a super-fun metric century in the
lower Sierra foothills. Challenging, but
not too much so with lots of rolling hills and
beautiful scenery. Scheduled for Saturday,
April 5nd 2008. Registration opens in January.
Cinderella
Classic – a popular female-only century in
the eastern San Francisco Bay foothills. Scheduled
for April 5nd, 2008.
Bike
Around the Buttes - a benefit ride for the
Diabetes Society of Yuba Sutter with 40 and 100-mile
options. An excellent, awesomely-supported
first century that usually takes place on the second
or third Saturday of April.
Chico
Wildflower - when the timing’s just right,
this is the most beautiful spring century in California. They
offer several routes of differing length and difficulty. And
the food always kicks butt! Scheduled for
Sunday, April 27th, 2008.
Delta
Century - this is a relatively easy century
which follows levee roads and country lanes along
various rivers. Scheduled for Sunday, May
4st, 2008.
Cycling
Shops
You’re
encouraged to find a local cycling shop you like
and trust, and stick with them as much as possible.
The reason is simple. Although you may be able to
purchase some equipment via the web and through large
cycling clearinghouses, you won’t get the attention
and advice you’d like from these anonymous
sources. Your local cycling shop [assuming it’s
a reasonably good one] will handle your small and
large repairs including adjustments, will work with
you to make sure your equipment fits, and offer invaluable
advice to you. Please be sure
to develop an ongoing relationship with them, and
your loyalty will pay off big time.
The
following cycle shops and providers have donated
their time and skills to support our Cyclists before
and during the event. Please show your appreciation
by supporting them!
Discount
Program
We
are currently working with several recreation-based
and cycling businesses in the greater Sacramento
region for discounts and other services. These will
be listed here as
they become available.
Online
Resources
You
can do a google or other kind of search for almost
anything on the Internet these days, and come up
with something relevant. However, here are a couple
of sites for bicyclists that you may find useful:
http://www.bicycling.com/ -
road and mountain biking magazine. Provides reviews,
gear, cycling tips, and training information.
http://bicycling.about.com/ -
excellent clearinghouse for all types of bicycling
information.
http://www.bicyclinglife.com/ -
focuses on the good news about bicycling as a means
of transportation and recreation in everyday life.
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