I had expectations about what it was going to be like. I was mistaken on most of them.

First off, thank you. I pedaled myself down each road and up every hill, in all weather from Minneapolis to Chicago!! I made it!! I didn't walk my bike ever or get picked up by the sweep vehicle (cars along the route to keep people safe.) It was much a more extensive and diversified event than I thought it was going to be.

Every rider out there was on a different mission to a common goal. It was labeled as a "ride" and not a "race." The idea is that everybody finishes the ride, but not everyone rides every mile. For some it was a race against themselves, to see if the body would give out. Ride and try rolling across the finish line everyday. Some wanted to finish 100 miles in 6 ½ hours while others struggled to make it half way. For others, it was just to ride a bicycle. It was about stopping to talk with people on the sides of the road or buy lemonade from kids. If you didn't pedal every mile it didn't matter, it was just a ride. It was more than just the bike. All of us were working together to raise awareness and fight against the HIV and AIDS virus.

The event happened because of you and people willing to support. Thank you for being great. If you have a few minutes, I've written about my experiences below if you'd care to ride with me…

Love

Jay

I had known there would be a variety of riders, but I didn't realize the extent of who would participate. And the riders came from all walks of life. Youngest riders were 17 and the oldest were in their 70's. Husbands and wives, brothers and sisters, girlfriends and boyfriends, boyfriends and boyfriends, girlfriends and girlfriends, Blacks, Whites, and Hispanics; There were little skinny people and big burly people. Everyone was riding. Everyone got on their bike to do this ride. It blew me away.

All meals were prepared for us. There were pit stops every 10-17 miles, which had energy bars, water, Gatorade and anything else you could use to re-energize your body. There were bike-techs to repair your bike if necessary. Medics on-site to take care of you if you get hurt or just the standard re-issuance of ice or pain medication. Yes I needed the pain medicine.

Prior to the ride I thought I would be rolling into camp about 3 in the afternoon. I'd have some time to relax, read, write in my journal and maybe play some Frisbee. I know I can ski hard all day and go out afterward. I've been in boxing matches in the afternoon and had plenty of energy for a bike ride that night. I had mistakenly overestimated my own abilities in this type of athletic challenge.

Day 1: Was 87 miles and wasn't incredibly hard. We had a partial tailwind to help push us along. That night I had extra time to eat, read, play a bit of Frisbee and meet riders around the camp. I met my tent mate for the first time and had lots of time to relax before bed at 10 P.M.

Yes we all slept in tents. They were all the same make/model/type/color of tent in the same area. Each night we camped in school athletic fields. There were hundreds of blue Coleman, 2 man tents, all organized in perfect rows. They were so close that there was about 6 inches between the sides of each tent. Also tent walls do not equal sound proof, and those that slept lightly had a hard time with snoring from across the camp. (We were all so tired it didn't really affect many people)

Day 2: Rode 110 miles. Woke up at 5:30 A.M, ate, took down the tent and hit the road at 7:15 A.M. I had to bust my rear to get into camp before the safety sweep vehicles were required to pick riders up on account of darkness. This day was all kinds of crazy hills. And it was incredibly tough. I actually passed the finish line at 8:15 P.M., 13 hours after I first put power to my pedal. I have enough time to shower and go to bed at 9:30. This day my left knee began to feel an uncomfortable twinge in it. First time this has EVER happened.

Day 3: I can barely walk in the A.M. After mile 60 I think I am not going to make it. My knee hurts so much and I am compensating with my right leg so much my Achilles begins to hurt so much I really want to quit. I take 6 Ibprofrin at lunch and am able to finish the day at 110 miles again. We were detoured 10 miles further than planned for road construction. I stopped and talked to get some lemonade from these 2 girls on the side of the road named Michele and Ann. They had been outside all day waiting for the riders to come by. They were out early enough in the morning to require blankets!! They didn't even see their first rider until 1 in the afternoon. I stopped about 5 P.M or so. The girls were not totally alone though. They had brought their goat out and tied him to the tree next to their lemonade stand. The goats name was Billy. Get it. Billy goat. Get it…Its easy. They also had brought out their 2 rabbits Cinnamon and Carmel for company. Guess what color the rabbits were? That's right, beige and darker beige. Get it, Cinnamon and Carmel. Get it… oh yea…. then when I stopped their light gray cat walked up…. that's right his name was Smoke. Get it… so they weren't really lonely

That night I go to the ever busy chiropractor tent and met Morgan, my new best chiropractor friend. She tapes my ankles so my Achilles doesn't move around as much and she also stretches my knee to alleviate some of the pain. The time from when I get off my bike to when I go to sleep is maybeeeee 2 hours. I honestly haven't felt this beat up in a long time (probably since sometime in the 70's when it was fashionable to wear pink stretch pants.)

Day 4. This is the day/thought process. Take 6 Ibprofrin in the morning. Get warmed up during the first 20 miles and convinced that you can't make it to the end. But you convince yourself to at least make it to lunch. Ice the knee and Achilles at each pit stop (every 10-17 miles.) Hydrate and replenish your electrolytes with Gatorade and powerbars. Get to lunch and take 4 more ibprofrin pills and more ice. Then its just cruising because the last 30-40 miles are always easier than the first. Just put in the time and keep pedaling. Visit Ms. Morgan the chiropractor that night to get loosened up again. Take a shower, eat, and go to bed. The time from getting off the bike seat to bed is about 2 hours max.

The Storm
Well about an hour and a half after we all go to sleep the weather went crazy. I wake up to howling wind and lightning and the tent seems to have flipped over. Well it wasn't upside down but it was just about flattened. My tentmate Pat can't seem to say anything but "Dude…..but dude wait where….dude….what the…..dude where are we supposed……man"

Pat, I say, man move everything away from the sides or the water is gonna just come right in……

Dude, Jay….dude…..man…it's already too late.

(There's already an enormous lake at the foot of our tent, and the rain seems to be coming straight through the roof. Yes there's a rain fly, but it's not designed for a Wisconsin cheezehead thunderstorm)

The crew begins to run through tent city yelling for everyone to evacuate because we've moved into action for, PLAN B!!

Plan B is to evacuate everyone into the school gymnasium as fast as they can. Off we move hobbling and limping across the tent city flood plain. 2,000 tired/wet riders and crew, with nothing to sleep on but the hard gym floor. And the silver Mylar emergency blankets that each of us were issued. The sound of, 2,000 crinkling and snapping emergency blankets was just about as loud as the storm we had been evacuated from. We looked like a room of 2,000 baked potatoes!! I slept fine, but others faired worse. The next day it was neat to see how much water the tents could hold on the inside. That's the kind of field-testing you don't get to hear about!

Side note. Jays Flood resume

1997 Grand Forks, ND
College town flooded and burned
Evacuation issued by National Guard

2001 Bellingen, Austrailia
Town floods, all roads exiting town under 26 ft of water
Overnight stop to rest turns into 6-day game of scrabble

2002, God knows where,WI AIDSride
Tent city caught in flash flood
2000 foil blanket wrapped bikers evacuated to high school gymnasium

The Crew
They are wonderful and have the hardest part of the event to do! The only reason an event of this caliber can be executed so safely and efficiently is because of the crew. They go to sleep after the riders do and they are up in the morning before any of the us are moving. They make sure all the meals are set up, every pit stop is stocked and that we are all staying hydrated. Constantly you are being reminded to stretch every hour or to drink. The saying constantly quoted is "Drink and Pea no Iv!" On almost every hill they write motivational comments on the ground with sidewalk chalk. They cheer you on constantly at each pit stop and along the route. Every day you ride into camp there are about 100 crew and riders there just to cheer you in each day.

Day 5 Was a really hot day. Rode 87 miles through a town with the highest population yet; the busy tourist attraction Lake Geneva. We passed by a buffalo farm with an old man outside just sitting and watching the riders. He had his dog with him, a beagle. So I yell to the dog, "hey beagle" And what do ya know, the dog looks at me. That's what the old man named him. Beagle. I've come to the conclusion through extensive research during this ride, it will be ok for me to name my first child "Kidd White." I have proven this through the observation of social normality's. Specifically, the naming of pets the obvious. Examples once again are: Billy the Billy Goat, Cinnamon/Carmel the beige rabbits, Smoke the gray cat and Beagle the Beagle.. Since I know of these instances of naming behavior, I deem it normal. Cheers and thank you AIDSRide; here's to my future child "Kidd White!"

The last 13 miles of day 5 are vastly different from every mile up until that point. Veteran riders have been speaking of the final leg prior to arriving at McHenry, IL since the trip began. I discovered later, it was with good reason. Up until this point, we'd had hills, wind, hot days, bad storms. I'd seen more corn and soy than I had EVER seen before. Not that there was more (quantity) of it, but I spent more time in transit through it. Say I was on a road trip across the US, I'd certainly drive through more (quantity) corn in 6 days, but I wouldn't have spent as long looking at it. There's more that you're able to see driving for 5 days averaging 70 MPH than riding your bike for 5 days and averaging 13 MPH.

What you wouldn't see on your average drive at 70 MPH was that last 13 miles to McHenry. Hanging from every single telephone pole for that last leg was a red ribbon. Accompanying many of the ribbons were hand written signs. Each sign said something different, with personal thoughts, motivations and words of encouragement. This town had spent so much time and effort just to welcome up and remind us that we are helping people. To see a Red ribbon every 100 feet for that remaining hour of the ride. A simple ribbon, speaking words of hope to each of the 1,200 riders and 400 crew.

Day 6 closing ceremonies
The only weather we hadn't had yet was continuous rain while pedaling. That point came today. And thus completed the circle of all possible weather conditions to pedal through during the ride. It only rained for about 5 hours in the morning. I am actually glad it did. It was a nice change of pace and we were riding into familiar surroundings. As we passed the Bahi Temple the rain began to clear. Continuing down Sheridan road on the North Shore, the sun began to peak its head out from the overcast. We riders enter the North end of the Chicago Lake Shore bike path in gorgeous sunlight. 2 miles from our destination and the weather has made its contribution to the closing ceremonies of the Heartland AIDSRide.

Just outside of our final destination we hold to group us together for the final bit. Thousands of people had come out to cheer us on for our arrival. Every rider was wearing their red long-sleeve t-shirt. The cheering was amazing. People lined the sides of the path for the remaining ¼ mile and then all grouped together surrounding us around the final stage. There were huge signs, streamers, horns, yelling, cheering; spraying us with both water and praise…

The riding was done.

Approximately 540 miles total distance in 6 days. It ends with this sight.

The closing ceremonies were emotional. Many tears were shed. The ride was a personal challenge. The ride was for awareness. The ride was to remember those who had lost to the disease. Riders had photos, of friends affected by it, and those who had not won the fight. The opening ceremony began with a riderless bicycle that was lead through group by 7 HIV positive riders. Symbolically honoring those no longer with us, and yet those infected are unwilling to give in. Following our accomplishment and cheers of arrival at Montrose harbor a moment of silence was taken. The same bicycle was lead through the riders again. The same HIV Positive riders had finished the ride and now were leading the lone bicycle through the crowd. Riders, crew, observing supporters broke down into tears. A moment of sadness, and to remember that this is a Ride to help others in any way we can.

More news came that this was the 7th and final Heartland AIDSRide. At its high point it once had 2,700 riders. Each year, ridership had gone down, with this year being 1,200. Due to the reduced ridership, our struggling economy and the cost of producing the event, unfortunately this ride will not happen again next year.

The beneficiaries are planning to have another ride next year, but it will not be as long or extensive. Its possible that they may have a 3 day ride next year so it's not like all Rides will cease to exist from this point on. If I learned anything during the ride, its that the power of people on a mission to do good are unstoppable.

I am motivated to do something more, and for a cause. I'll keep you updated on "Ride 2005."
I had an amazing experience, and we made a difference.

I was able to be a part of this wonderful event because of you. Thank you for helping contribute to a great cause and make a real difference in peoples lives. You are wonderful.

Love

Jay

P.S.
The total distance was 540 Miles
I averaged about 13 MPH and finished the ride.
I ate an average of 6 powerbars a day, drank 7 water bottles of Gatorade, and 18 bottles of water I ate about 40 ibprofrin, went through probably 5 tubes of Icy Hot
I lost about 6 or 9 lbs, and dropped below 160lbs. Last time I was there was when I was 17.
I'll post photos on the web, when I learn how (soon)

It only happened because of support from all of you