AIDS Ride 2000

...The Trials and Tribulations(but mostly Joys!)
of Team Oz

Day 4, Thursday
From Reedsburg to McFarland(90.5 miles)

Just a brief update on day 4 of our ride. Reedsburg to McFarland.

Really a pretty ride today!
Happy New Year!
The sun was quite warm today, the sky beautifully clear. Wisconsin's hills awaited us. Perhaps I should say "killer" hills! Some of the countryside we went through seemed out of a storybook. One photo of a farm captures that beauty and serenity. Riders took their time today, hydrated often, and took the hills in the lowest of gears. I took many photos at the "Pit Stops." An interesting thing about the pit stops is that each day they each have a new theme. The same crew works a given pit stop number the entire ride. After awhile you get to know the crew at each pit well. Some of the themes so far this week included, the Flintstones, Happy New Year, The Cat in the Hat, Mexico, Hawaii ... If you see some people dressed in strange attire, it probably is related to the themes of the day! The entire ride celebrates life and having a good time with each moment you have. At the pit stops we are served fruit, snacks, water and Gatorade. We also can use the toilets, access medical treatment and have bike repair done. A pit is typically about 15-20 miles from the next stop. Typically we have 5 pits a day.

the Aloha Pitstop Crew!
the Cat in the Hat Pitstop!
There are angels helping us along our way. There is a photo of two fellows(below), one in a Spiderman top, the other in a T-shirt. They are also riders, but help their fellow riders unselfishly. The support you receive from folks like these when you climb hills, have mechanical failures, or need help in other ways is incredible. It has been a tradition on these rides to help fellow bikers along their way. A team called "Team Large" was the most visible with this help. Up and down the hills they'd go talking the weaker riders up! It did help; they cared that those riders make the hill!

Pitstop Crew!
Spiderman to the Rescue!
There are quite a few HIV positive riders; those riders have an orange flag waving from the rear of their bikes. I had the opportunity to talk to two fellows from the Chicago area. One fellow, Keith from Aurora, was actively engaged in trying to start an AIDS ministry in his church. Another fellow, Brian, led the riderless bike during the opening ceremonies in Minneapolis. Brian is pictured beneath the Viking in one of our earlier photos.

1st AIDS Ride Wedding!
Hi St. Joan!
Wednesday night we had the privilege of witnessing the first wedding at an AIDS ride. The bride and groom had met at the previous ride. It was a beautiful wedding!
Well, time to retire. Our day starts early, and runs late.

The Bride and Groom

Edie Kalweit has been a St. Joan of Arcer for 23 years now. Now that her children are grown, there is time to participate more fully in activities taking place at St. Joan's. She very much looks forward to the AIDS ride next week! Team "OZ" will make every attempt to keep St. Joan's informed as they approach Chicago!

Back

Really a pretty ride today!	Happy New Year!
The sun was quite warm today, the sky beautifully clear. Wisconsin's hills awaited us. Perhaps I should say "killer" hills! Some of the countryside we went through seemed out of a storybook. One photo of a farm captures that beauty and serenity. Riders took their time today, hydrated often, and took the hills in the lowest of gears. I took many photos at the "Pit Stops." An interesting thing about the pit stops is that each day they each have a new theme. The same crew works a given pit stop number the entire ride. After awhile you get to know the crew at each pit well. Some of the themes so far this week included, the Flintstones, Happy New Year, The Cat in the Hat, Mexico, Hawaii ... If you see some people dressed in strange attire, it probably is related to the themes of the day! The entire ride celebrates life and having a good time with each moment you have. At the pit stops we are served fruit, snacks, water and Gatorade. We also can use the toilets, access medical treatment and have bike repair done. A pit is typically about 15-20 miles from the next stop. Typically we have 5 pits a day.
the Aloha Pitstop Crew!	the Cat in the Hat Pitstop!
There are angels helping us along our way. There is a photo of two fellows(below), one in a Spiderman top, the other in a T-shirt. They are also riders, but help their fellow riders unselfishly. The support you receive from folks like these when you climb hills, have mechanical failures, or need help in other ways is incredible. It has been a tradition on these rides to help fellow bikers along their way. A team called "Team Large" was the most visible with this help. Up and down the hills they'd go talking the weaker riders up! It did help; they cared that those riders make the hill!
Pitstop Crew!	Spiderman to the Rescue!
There are quite a few HIV positive riders; those riders have an orange flag waving from the rear of their bikes. I had the opportunity to talk to two fellows from the Chicago area. One fellow, Keith from Aurora, was actively engaged in trying to start an AIDS ministry in his church. Another fellow, Brian, led the riderless bike during the opening ceremonies in Minneapolis. Brian is pictured beneath the Viking in one of our earlier photos.
1st AIDS Ride Wedding!	Hi St. Joan!
Wednesday night we had the privilege of witnessing the first wedding at an AIDS ride. The bride and groom had met at the previous ride. It was a beautiful wedding! Well, time to retire. Our day starts early, and runs late.