Cycling: ALL ABOUT FASHION. Me and a fellow rider wearing shiny mylar duds, BTC 2008.

This one reason alone might be incentive enough to spend my weekends from April through September doing things that would seem crazy otherwise—drinking smoothies by 6am, cycling out into the morning while the sun is coming up and I’m still half-asleep, having “lunch” before 11am, spending five or six hours riding instead of eating brunch with my spouse, and wearing Fashion Victim cycling spandex, cycling shoes, and a helmet for most of the day: The people, the people, the people. The number of fabulous people I come into contact with because of the ride and the training it necessitates is staggering. Here’s who I’m talking about:

The people at Housing Works, the beneficiary to the ride this year: amazing. They do everything in the name of fighting homelessness and AIDS. Housing. Medical care. Behavioral health services. You name it. They do a ton of stuff locally—many of you know them through their numerous retail thrift stores around the city, but they do a lot more than that so it’s worth checking out the NYC section on the primary website—and they do a great deal of national work (e.g., lobbying Congress on AIDS/HIV-related legislation) and international work as well (e.g., they have been doing major initiatives with Haitian activists living with AIDS since 2008).  The scope of their programs surprised even me and made me proud to be working to support all they do.

The Braking the Cycle participants who ride and crew this ride, which supports what Housing Works does: amazing.They are my fellow riders, and many have become close friends who are more like family. Cliché as it is, they make me smile and laugh, they inspire me, and they give me a hug and comfort me when I cry. They also dress in drag and ride bicycles (yes, some of them at the same time!), which is a definite plus, too, though it’s somewhat dispiriting when a gay man in fish nets has better legs than I do.

And yes, all the people like you, dear Reader, who have supported me in the past and who are supporting me doing this ride: amazing. A million thank-yous wouldn’t be enough to express my gratitude and how much your encouragement helps. Donations and contributions are coming in from family, from friends, from old friends who have resurfaced, from colleagues, from second-hand connections I’ve never met. Case in point: Just the other day I had an email exchange with the lovely people at the jewelry shop when Jen and I got our wedding rings, and I mentioned the ride when I was asked what was new with me; I didn’t even think to ask for a donation in that moment, but the ride links are in my email signature, and the next day, a contribution was posted on my First Giving page. All my supporters out there, each and every one of you: you rock.

Equally important, I’ve been in touch with hundreds of people about this cause and in the process, I’ve gotten more messages of love and support and cheer-leading from all of you than I ever could have imagined. As I’ve noted, it’s been a physically challenging season, so the gestures of support really been a wonderful boost. Your words keep me going on the days when I’m exhausted, cranky, or feeling demoralized and wondering why the hell I’m doing this. So thank you thank you and thank you again—and keep it all comin’… I’ve still got a month to go here before the ride! Hundreds of miles and thousands of dollars to go before I take a ten-minute break and sit on something that isn’t a bike saddle.

If I listed all the lives touched through this process, my individual Braking the Cycle process alone—of training, of asking for donations, of blogging, of talking about AIDS and Housing Works, of reminding people to donate—all by name, you would be scrolling for eons through pages and pages of names.

Instead I’ll leave you with a photo array of images from the three Braking the Cycle rides I’ve done in past years. They are far from comprehensive and only begin to scratch the surface of what the actual Braking the Cycle ride experience is like, but they are a concrete reminder of why showing up is always worthwhile and meaningful. You never know what will happen on the road, where the possibility of change is ever-present; what seems impossible one morning can feel welcoming the next.

When I signed up the first time in April 2008, I had no idea it would change my life. I didn’t know a bike ride of all things could change me. I truly hadn’t a clue that four years later, I’d have logged nearly 9,000 miles on a bicycle and raised nearly $30K to support services for those affected by AIDS/HIV. (That $30K figure does *not* include this year’s ongoing fundraising, by the way, which exceeds $4K as of this writing and, like me on my bike The Blue Streak, keeps climbing.)  I get kind compliments from people sometimes about what I’m doing and what I’m giving, and it’s flattering and energizing to be praised. But the fact is, I’ve always received and gotten back far more from doing this than I’ve given, for which my gratitude is immeasurable. The pictures will, I hope, give you just a tiny taste of what I mean by that.

Yep, that’s me in the foreground. So fast I’m blurry… When arm warmers come back into fashion, I will be so ready.

The fabulous Tim Fitzpatrick who kicks my ass going up hills every time. My better half Jen, also a Braking the Cycle crew member, is giving him a pep talk.

Yes. Photographic evidence. I hollered my way up this beast of a hill in Connecticut. Twice. In 2009. And then again in 2010. Successfully. Perhaps the screaming helps? Mount Archer (AKA Mount Eric), which I’ll be facing again on September 29, still scares the crap out of me.

William Thompson, flat on his back, for a change. Would you believe this guy has done multiple marathons, triathlons, and Ironman events? He always looks as fresh as a daisy, too. I am certain a painting of him is sitting in a closet somewhere, aging.

Trust me. Simon Chung, who does, in fact, ride his bike very well in outfits like this, is a very, very Bad Witch. He also has fabulous legs.

Believe what you read. 90 miles and still smiling.

If you’re friends after 300 miles on the road, most of it through rain, you’re really friends: Terry Christopher, Kerri Fox, Gregg Passin,me, Rich D’Amico.

Look! A Braking the Cycle ride day when it’s not raining! We look pretty decent considering we’re about four miles from the end of the ride. Thomas Capobianco, me, Gregg, Rich Monreal, Terry, Kerri, John Gonzalez, ?, Steve Kolbo.

My friend Clay Williams hugging previous BTC rider Greg Baker at closing ceremonies.

This isn’t a photo from the ride. Obviously. But this is my family, and all this biking and training and fundraising and all the rest wouldn’t be possible without their love.

How often does one get to participate in something that make one feel like this?