Have you ever worked on bikes for 16 hours a day, 8 days straight … as a volunteer? Well that’s just what a group of 25 mechanics from Cannondale, Mikes Bikes, Helen’s Cycles and a team of volunteers know as “Bike Tech” just did. They also loved every second of it!

AIDS/LifeCycle has been a major force in raising awareness about the continued effect of HIV and the growing need for services as the number of people living with the disease continues to increase year after year. This event has also raised an incredible amount of money to help combat this trend.

Over the course of the week-long event, the riders (sometimes outnumbering the populations of the communities they ride through) are greeted by local residents of eight counties who line roadways and visit rider pit-stops to show their support. In past years, cheering groups of schoolchildren have stood alongside the road with homemade signs and refreshments. Many local residents show support with signs of thanks that invoke memories of loved ones lost to AIDS.

AIDS/LifeCycle ride is the single largest AIDS fundraising event with riders ranging in ages from 18 – 81 riders. No; not everyone is a “true” cyclist, but for 7-days over the 545 mile ride departing San Francisco in route to Los Angeles, every single rider exemplifies courage and determination for this worthy cause.

“This is the most incredible event I have ever been a part of. It’s literally a rolling city on wheels of over 3000 riders/roadies all coming together to make a difference in the world” stated Bill Rudell marketing manager for Cannondale. “I’ve witnessed riders on $14,000 race machines and a mother daughter team on Magna’s encouraging each other to keep pedaling”

With over 2,500 riders traveling from 12 different countries and 42 US states represented, our team of mechanics worked sun-up to well into the night in an effort to keep everyone’s bike operating smoothly. With the such a wide vintage flavor of bikes on the ride, there are always going to be a few “impossible” repairs, in which case Cannondale was happy to supply one of 40 high-end loaner bikes ranging including SuperSix, SystemSix and Synapse models that enabled riders to keep their dream alive.

Rudell commented, “When it’s all said and done, you have 3000 plus people with sore muscles, blistered feet and sun/wind burns who have 51 weeks to catch their breath and who can’t wait to do it all over again! Cannondale and our staff will be ready to go for AIDS/LifeCycle 8 in hopes of breaking another record”