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Michelle Diaz's Journal
Ride Report: World AIDS Day Morgan Hill Ride
posted by michellelovesbikes at 10:34 AM on December 03, 2007
The temperatures near freezing at 7:30am on Saturday morning might have scared away many, but not the 12 of us who arrived at the Specialized Corporate Headquarters to commemorate the 27 years of the AIDS pandemic on Saturday 01DEC07, World AIDS Day.
I was positively frozen even before the ride started and I was wearing two base layers with arm warmers, two set of knee warmers, ear bags, neoprene shoe covers and deflect gloves. I decided to brew a couple of pots of hot coffee to clutch and warm our hands and innards as we gathered in the Specialized lobby to introduce ourselves, go over ride logistics and hold our moment of silence to reflect on why we had gathered that day. I was in elementary school when we lost David, a family friend to AIDS. Years later into adulthood I came to learn that my mother's only brother, my uncle and godfather, who died from unrelated causes very young in the early eighties was probably one of the first undiagnosed cases of what was then being called "Gay Cancer." HIV/AIDS activism and service has been a part of who I am since I was a child. Organizing this simple ride was such a small thing that I could do in the fight against this horrible disease.
We set out in tight formation through the neighborhood and kept a fairly close pack for the first 10 miles or so. Then people split away for various pit stops, regrouping at various intersections along our beautiful course. I must say that despite the frigid temperatures, the day was crystal clear and glorious and made the ride very worthwhile. I enjoyed the conversation and the scenery at our contemplative pace.
Unfortunately I forgot my camera to document the ride. Fortunately, the other rides were more prepared so here are some cross-links to pictures from World AIDS Day rides elsewhere:
pictures from the San Francisco ride: link link2 link3
pictures from the Los Angeles ride: link
pictures from the Fremont/Newark ride: link link2
pictures
Thank you riders for raising awareness through riding!
Yours until the Victory Ride,
Michelle
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