Thousands of bicyclists pedaling through the Central Coast for final AIDS/LifeCycle fundraiser
Dave Alley
SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. – More than 2,000 bicyclists are pedaling through the Central Coast this week during the last ever AIDS/LifeCycle bike ride from San Francisco to Los Angeles.
First held in 1994, the event has been a fully-supported, seven-day, 545-mile bike ride down the California coastline that raises money and awareness in the fight against HIV and AIDS.
However, last year’s organizers announced the 2025 ride will the final one, citing increased production costs combined with a significant decline in both participation and fundraising.
This year’s ride started in San Francisco on Sunday at the Cow Palace and will conclude with what is sure to be an emotional ending this Saturday at Santa Monica Beach.
This year, there are about 2,500 cyclists taking part and about 800 volunteers.
For those who are taking part this year, both the cyclists and volunteers, who are affectionately referred to as “roadies,” they said the ride so far has been has been a bittersweet experience.
“I’m glad we got to know in advance that this is the final one,” said cyclist Bill Marsland of Los Angeles, who is riding for the seventh time. “It’s also sad to leave everything. Thinking like that might be the last time I cycle that route, but being part of this community has just made that so great, giving you shoulders to cry on, and folks you just laugh with every time, so yeah, every step of the way has been wonderful in this final year.”
As the days and miles start to dwindle, some of the longtime cyclists are feeling nostalgic about what this event has meant to them over the many years.
“This is it,” said Roland Roth, a cyclist from Marysville, Washington, who is participating in his 16th AIDS/LifeCycle. “It feels like, in a way, like a really long funeral, but at the same time, it’s a celebration because these are people that I see once a year, and they are making a difference in the fight against HIV and AIDS. I’ve cried more this week than I have in a long time on this ride. I’m stopping more. Frankly, I’m taking more pictures and breathing it all in because I don’t know, the next time I’ll be here.”
On Tuesday, the cyclists first entered the four-day portion of their ride on the Central Coast with an overnight stop at the Paso Robles Event Center, home of the California Mid-State Fair.
On Wednesday, cyclists are traveling through some of the most picturesque locations during the entire ride, pedaling about 85 miles from Paso Robles to Santa Maria, where they will finish for the day and spend the night at Preisker Park.
The next day is the shortest ride of the route, a quick 42-mile trip from Preisker Park to Riverbend Park in Lompoc.
Later in the week on Friday, the route will start in Lompoc and end at San Buenaventura State Beach in Ventura.
Since it was created, the AIDS/Lifecycle has brought in more than $300 million, giving it the distinction as the largest HIV and AIDS fundraiser in the world.
This year’s ride has already raised more than $17 million and counting.
For more information about the AIDS/LifeCycle, click here to visit the official website.
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