Cyclists who participate in next week’s AIDS/LIFE Cycle Bike Ride through San Luis Obispo will not only break a sweat, but help fund the work of two organizations dedicated to AIDS testing and awareness.
Riders will spend seven days moving through Santa Cruz, Monterey, San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara using the state highway system between 6:30 a.m. and 7 p.m.
Participants have pledged to raise a minimum of $3,000 and ride 545 miles down the California coast.
The top fundraiser as of Sunday was Michael Purdy of San Francisco, who has raised over $83,500.
San Francisco AIDS Foundation, established in 1982, and Los Angeles LGBT Center, established in 1969, are the two beneficiaries of the event.
Participants will be following this plan:
Sunday, June 3, the riders will use southbound State Route 1 and US 101 before arriving at Harvey West Park in Santa Cruz County during the afternoon hours.
On Monday, June 4, the riders will leave Santa Cruz and use portions of southbound State Route 1 and US Highway 101 ending their day at San Lorenzo County Park in King City in Monterey County.
On Tuesday, June 5, the riders will leave King City and use a portion of southbound US Highway 101 before reaching the Paso Robles Fairgrounds in San Luis Obispo County.
On Wednesday, June 6, the cyclists will leave Paso Robles using Hwy. 46 West to Hwy. 1 south through Morro Bay and State Route 227 through Pismo Beach before reaching Preisker Park in Santa Maria in Santa Barbara County.
On Thursday, June 7, the cyclists will leave Santa Maria towards State Route 1 and continue south ending their day at Ryon Memorial Park in Lompoc in Santa Barbara County.
On Friday, June 8, the riders will leave Lompoc and use State Route 246, State Route 1 and US Highway 101 towards southern Santa Barbara County before ending their day at San Buenaventura State Beach in Ventura County.
The California Highway Patrol (CHP) will be present to maintain a safe environment for motorists, cyclists and support vehicles. The riders will travel single file with the flow of traffic.
