OK, while it might not be anywhere near as cold in San Francisco as it is elsewhere in the country, it's still really damn cold to be going on a bike ride first thing in the morning.

That's why I got foot cozies for my cycling shoes last week. The neoprene warmers cover your toes so the cold air can't flow through the ventilating mesh on cycling shoes. At least that's how they work if you remember to bring them with you, when Casey and I got to the meetup spot I couldn't find them. This was Casey's first official training ride for the AIDS/LifeCycle, a 545 mile ride from SF to LA to raise money fight AIDS. And at 23 miles, with a 1.5 mile climb near the start, it's a huge step for him too.

Two years ago, I was a volunteer ride leader for the training ride program. This last ride was a bit like coming home, for one stretch Julie Brown even directed a few first time riders to follow my lead.

I never would have thought I'd be riding a bike 545 miles from SF to LA for the third time, I actually don't feel I can really say that, having spent half of the last ride sick (seriously, as in on an IV drip sick) and I know I can ride every single mile because I did it the first time, but I want to prove I can do it again.

While I've made this a personal challenge, this is not about me, this is a ride to end AIDS and you can help with a donation of support.