545-mile bike ride to finish in Santa Monica June 10
AIDS/LifeCycle, the seven-day, 545-mile bike ride fundraiser traversing the golden state from San Francisco to Los Angeles, has announced a new finish line location in Santa Monica.
Co-producers the Los Angeles LGBT Center and San Francisco AIDS Foundation this week, the gFrom June 4-10, the route wheels out nearly 3,000 participants “from the Bay to the Beach” for the very first time in its almost 30-year history.
“We are excited to welcome the AIDS/LifeCycle Ride to Santa Monica. The work of the San Francisco AIDS Foundation and the Los Angeles LGBT Center made possible by the Ride advances our commitments to equity and inclusion as we support and celebrate the LGBTQIA+ community during SaMo Pride this June,” said Santa Monica Mayor Gleam Davis.
The 2023 ride will begin at the Cow Palace in the San Francisco Bay Area. Cyclists will camp in six California cities to experience the diverse landscapes. On June 10, riders will leave Ventura for LA and turn south on San Vicente Blvd, past Santa Monica Pier, to the finish line.
“Whether this is your first or your 20th AIDS/LifeCycle, this finish line will contribute to an unforgettable final day on the Ride,” said Tracy Evans, AIDS/LifeCycle’s Ride Director. “Riders and volunteer Roadies will have the Pacific Ocean as the perfect backdrop to celebrate their incredible accomplishment. What could be better than the Pacific Ocean as the final stop for an iconic California event?”
The new location offers a fresh experience for cyclists and volunteer ‘Roadies’, while also being a beachside festival for friends, family, and spectators. Photo ops, sponsor activations and interactive stations will be part of the day-long celebration.
Proceeds from AIDS/LifeCycle benefit the HIV/AIDS-related services and research of the Los Angeles LGBT Center and San Francisco AIDS Foundation. Last year’s record $17.8M will serve these LGBTQ+ nonprofits, at a time when such assistance is most needed.
There are three ways to participate in AIDS/LifeCycle and support its mission: As cyclists who must fundraise a minimum of $3,500 for their “Ticket to Ride”; as roadies who are seven-day volunteers who may or may not fundraise; and @Home Heroes who set personal fundraising and fitness goals without traveling. Roadie teams cover areas of health services, route, and camp-based teams, while helping cyclists complete their 545-mile journey.
