Iyengar Yoga Teacher, tony eason cycles 585 miles for AIDS Charity: AIDS LIfeCycle 2007

San Francisco to Santa Cruz - 79.3 Miles

ALC6 Route Map

Over the years, I have recorded my Annual AIDS LifeCycle Experience. And, during each year's 7 day journey, I dwell in the retention /or/ kumbaka of the breath - and bring awareness to everything within & around me.

Stay tuned (and check back) to get a taste of this year's, 545 mile, 7 day, San Francisco to Los Angeles adventure.

Here's a glimpse of AIDS LifeCycle Day Route 1 - San Francisco to Santa Cruz.

Don Colnago - AKA - Barry Elliot -

At 4:00am. on 03 June 2007 (in accordance with tradition), 6th Year California AIDS Rider / AIDS LifeCycle Cyclist, "Don Colnago" telephones to state "Tony, I'll pick you up at 5:00am." At 5:30am, Don Colnago and I arrived at the Cow Palace for the opening ceremonies of AIDS LifeCycle 2007.

And although, each ride has brought me a new experience - some things remain the same. As I looked around the Cow Palace, I saw a bunch of bulls waiting to be set free. And although the key to "surviving" such a journey is to pace oneself, as they opened the gates, I and 2,500 other cyclist, jetted out like the running of the bulls in Pamplona

However, like human beings, even a bull can only run so far. . . So as I embarked on an approximate 9 mile hill climb up Skyline Blvd, I turned down my testosterone and put myself in low gear. And as I made my decent down the hill. I witness a "rock star!"

Cycling 8 feet in front of me , moving at about 32 miles per hour, intertwined in a pace line of 15 cyclists, wearing a pair of cut off jeans & Vans, cycling with toe clips - this guy was cooking.

In all my years of endurance cycling, I've pushed wearing the spandex shorts, the cleats, and having the "so called - appropriate gear." However, with each day we have the opportunity to learn something new. So now, I would say "if you can ride a bike - you can ride a bike wearing anything."

A San Francisco Local Cyclist - "ROCK STAR!"

Name: Alexei

Education: Stanford Graduate Student, Philosophy
Height: 5'10"
Weight: 155 lbs.
Age: 31
Birth Place/Origin: Santa Cruz, CA.
Occupation: Graduate Student
Present Location /Where do you live? San Francisco, CA 94103
Favorite Book: "As I Lay Dying"--Faulkner/"The Sun Also Rises"--Hemingway

Q. - If you had any advise and/or words of encouragement for the AIDS Lifecycle 2008 Cyclist - what would they be?

A. - "My advice would be to make sure that you keep your eyes on the ground ahead and your legs on the pedals below, chug like a train, and most importantly, concentrate through breathing. Like that, seven days is a breeze."

Over the past 6th months, each and every cyclist has built a tight community /or/ sangha of individuals with whom we have gone on training rides with, met yoga classes, met in a bar, or even met at Sports Basement.

Upon my arrival to the lunch stop - I was reunited with my "posse."

And after a 2 hour lunch, some Paschimotanasana, and conversation, I rode the remaining 45 miles - non stop to the finish line in Santa Cruz.

The Slacker -

Greeting me at the finish line was Ramon - "the slacker." He informed me, "in past years, you've come across the finish line 15 to 45 minutes after me . . .Yet today, you came in 3 hours late. Are you feeling okay?"

(And the challenge was on!)

Team Google -

At 4:00pm. Ramon - "the slacker" and I proceeded to the dining tent. Yet unknown to me, I was seated next to a 6 man cycling team, Google sponsored - "Team Google." And while sharing in conversation & eatting dinner, Team Google presented me with the google seal of approval for my outstanding AIDS LifeCycle Packing List. Team Google says, "it was exactly what they were searching for .. . "

And a wonderful day it way - stay tuned for Day 2 - AIDS LifeCycle 2007.

Related Links:

Ivengar Yoga Teacher cycles 575 miles - 2005

Ivengar Yoga Teacher cycles 575 miles - 2006