Aids / Lifecycle 2025, the Final Ride
We’re vacationing in Europe at the moment on the beautiful island of Mallorca in the Mediterranean Sea. The weather is balmy and there are a lot of cyclists touring the island. The climbs of the Tramuntana mountain range look daunting. And yet, there is no cycling on my calendar. We are here celebrating our 25th wedding anniversary and are hopping between towns, calas, and beaches.
I woke up yesterday to a flurry of sad messages from my cycling team. They were devastated by the news from the AIDS Lifecycle town hall meeting the night before:
AIDS/LifeCycle 2025 will be the final Ride We have made the difficult decision that 2025 will be the last year of AIDS/LifeCycle. This decision was not arrived at easily or hastily. It has become clear that it is no longer financially sustainable for us to produce the Ride due to skyrocketing production costs, which have been exacerbated by year-after-year declines in ridership and fundraising. The Ride has been a significant part of so many of our lives, connected to those we’ve lost, those who live, and the incredible, beautiful community that we’ve helped to create.
News outlets quickly picked it up: After a huge drop-off, AIDS/LifeCycle says next year’s ride will be its last
While I’ve been riding with the South Bay Blaze for the past 3 years, and participated in my first ALC in 2023, many in the team have dedicated decades (!) to the cause. Some have ridden over 20 times to Los Angeles. There had been rumors about fundraising issues and perhaps merging with another cause. Yet, there was no bat signal for help or for ideas. Obviously, the news hit them like a nuclear bomb went off. The shock is real. There will be lots to chat about when we return back home.
Like many upon hearing the news, I signed up for AIDS / Lifecycle 2025. The Final Ride! Our team for 2025 counts already 50 riders strong, with more to (re)join. Let’s make this an epic final ride.