7 Weeks...$6k...7 Days...545 Miles....

What an adventure so far!!! Sylva and I have made it!!! We raised the money...we have trained...changed over our bikes...now to pack our bags...we leave tomorrow morning!! But first, Today's Thank yous!!!

Thank You!!!

Austin Park

Noah and Emily

Chris Van Ooyen

James Chaps

My brother has warned me about putting up videos that are "too bike" cause he doesn't get it...here's one for you bro, if you don't think this is funny, well, it is....

I'm feeling very somber at the moment but I think Sylva put it best on her facebook post last night:

"There are endless analogies which encompass the idea that to succeed, one must suffer. While I have my doubts that the suffering part is absolutely necessary, I certainly have many experiences under my belt which demonstrate this idea ever-so-perfectly. I'd like to think that with no pain, there CAN still be gain, but often the pain/gain dichotomy is found pulling me two directions at once. Today is no different. As the final days to prepare for the AIDS/LifeCycle approach, I have met my share of tear-inducing, hair-puling, why-meeeeeee moments….. None of these have much to do with the event itself, it's just that the preparation is really really super time consuming! Getting all my regular work done is hard enough, but adding the daunting challenge of raising $6000 with my ride partner Casey, training to be physically prepared for this huge ride, and hosting numerous fundraising events all in the short time frame of 7 weeks, is f*****ck off overwhelming . My first donation arrived from John Green on April 10th Thomas Gunter brought me up to $3000 with my most recent donation. This is amazing. Like super super super amazing. So as I sit here pulling my hair and cursing my career, my mind is brought back to the reality that a whole bunch of people reached out to me n Casey, donated money, time, services, and even cupcakes, to help us collectively raise alllllmost $6000 in a matter off weeks for the AIDS LIfecycle Organization. You guys are really really nice. Thank you a whole whole lot!!!!!!! "

I'm in ahhhh of what can happen when people come together!!! Well I guess this happens!!!

  


Next is the adventure that awaits us!!! If you are in San Fran Sunday and want to see us off here is the opening ceremony link:
ALC Opening Ceremonies 

If you want to see us roll into LA here is an invite to the closing ceremonies...I don't know what state we will be in or when we will roll in but would love to see your smiling faces cheer us on!!!
ALC Closing Ceremonies

THANK YOU!!!! SEE YA ON THE 7TH!!!


 

Life's a Happy Song...

WOW!!! For todays GINORMOUS list of ahhhmazing people who have donated to AIDS LifeCycle I'm bringing in the big guns...the muppets!!!

Thank You!!!

Brett Sperry

Anthony Cailan

Dominique Ovalle
Corey 'Cornbread' Godfrey

Peter Gesswein

Tammy Rice
Mike & Mary Urso

Craig Roper

Maria Notarnicola

Schmidty

Beverly Austin

Crafthaus

Sheilah Glasco and Stella 

Michael Bernard at MBD Metalsmith

With only 4 days left there is a lot to do!!! I'm doing bike mechanic work, trying to convert my kickass beasty dirt grinding mountain bike into a lighter, road friendly bike. Then the packing will start!!!



We leave Friday to drive up to San Fransisco, have orientation on Saturday and then take off Sunday at 6am!!! Ohhhhh hot damn!!! If you are in the area please come to the opening ceremonies and see us off!!!



Opening Ceremony Details ALC

 Things are changing!!!

 Sometimes a girls gotta change up from the regular boring cycling gear!!!

 Never a dull moment riding with this rad chick, good thing, we have 7 days together!!! Bring it!!!

 Helping Sylva with her shoes, she is now clipless and a bit freaked by the idea of it...but she's almost a pro now!!!

 If you'd like to support AIDS LifeCycle please do so at the links below!!!

Casey

http://www.tofighthiv.org/site/TR/AIDSLIFECYCLE2014/AIDSLifeCycleCenter?px=3070983&pg=personal&fr_id=1630

Sylva

http://www.tofighthiv.org/site/TR/AIDSLIFECYCLE2014/AIDSLifeCycleCenter?px=3070979&pg=personal&fr_id=1630

Also there is one day left in the Auction for "I've Got A Golden Ticket" Necklace, place your bids and help others in need....plus you get this kick ass one of a kind necklace!!!

THANK YOU!!!!

http://www.ebay.com/itm/171338674476?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1558.l2649

 

 

Final Countdown

With only one week til the ride, Sylva and I have raised $4800!!! We are only $1200 away from our riding goal of $6k!!! Keep those donations coming!!

THANK YOU For Donating:

The Wills Family (Karen, Matt, Talley, Leim)

RC Wonderly

Kevin O'Connor

James Ashley

We won't be able to ride or help to stop HIV/AIDS if it wasn't for all those that have donated!!! Thank you!!!

FUNdraising Events:
 
I'm auctioning off a necklace on Ebay, 100% of funds go to AIDS LifeCycle

http://www.ebay.com/itm/171338674476?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1558.l2649

Sylva has a hat (rad horned helmet!!!) for silent auction, please contact here on facebook (photo below)
https://www.facebook.com/sylvasylva?fref=ts

Miss G Designs (who I intern with) will be donation 10% of her sales this week to my campaign...so check out her ahhhhmazing headdresses
https://www.facebook.com/missgdesigns


10% of sales from my shop will go to ALC from now til June 1st!!!
www.etsy.com/shop/caseyshepparddesigns

Here's the link if you'd just like to make donation:

Casey
 
http://www.tofighthiv.org/site/TR/AIDSLIFECYCLE2014/AIDSLifeCycleCenter?px=3070983&pg=personal&fr_id=1630

Sylva

http://www.tofighthiv.org/site/TR/AIDSLIFECYCLE2014/AIDSLifeCycleCenter?px=3070979&pg=personal&fr_id=1630

Hold Onto Your Shammy.....

To explain this video to the seasonless peeps out there "Rock-It" is a bike delivery service in Minneapolis (another reason that city is sooo damn rad!!!) where they have snow, rain, wind, seasons and kickass bikers!!!

Think the weathers gonna be pretty beautiful for the AIDS LifeCycle Ride which is only 10 days away!!!! Hot Damn....

Todays thank yous!!!

Jill & Randy Flagel

Ali Spagnoletti

 Current Stats:

10 Days til ride

$1730 to raise

Fundraisers 

Two Silent Auctions where 100% of the money goes to AIDS LifeCycle!!!

Sylva's Rad Hat!!!

 Place your bid here:

 https://www.facebook.com/BubblesAndFrown  

Casey's Necklace:

 

 Place your bid here:

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Casey-Sheppard-Designs/84190561475

Or Just Donate!!!! 

 

Sylva:

http://www.tofighthiv.org/site/TR/AIDSLIFECYCLE2014/AIDSLifeCycleCenter?px=3070979&pg=personal&fr_id=1630  

Casey:

http://www.tofighthiv.org/site/TR/AIDSLIFECYCLE2014/AIDSLifeCycleCenter?px=3070983&pg=personal&fr_id=1630

 Thank you!!!!!!!!!

Dirty Girls....

Sylva and I went to REI to get supplies for our ride...I needed skinner tires (eeekkk) for my 29er I'll be riding and Sylva needed cycling shoes....it was a blast running round the store picking out new bike shwag....but alas, we arrived too early so we were forced to eat a super yummy breakfast while we waited at a nearby cafe...

While we enjoyed our breakfast we realized how dirty our hands were, as makers we use our hands and get them filthy but as ladies...well...still thinking bout that one!!! Can't wait to see what our hands will look like after 545 miles!!! Guess we will all have to wait and see....

We have 12 days and $2k left to raise, so what are you waiting for...donate today!!! Thank y'all!!!

Sylva's Page:

http://www.tofighthiv.org/site/TR/AIDSLIFECYCLE2014/AIDSLifeCycleCenter?px=3070979&pg=personal&fr_id=1630

Casey's Page:

http://www.tofighthiv.org/site/TR/AIDSLIFECYCLE2014/AIDSLifeCycleCenter?px=3070983&pg=personal&fr_id=1630

Sunday Funday...

Thank you to the following kickass supporters for your donations!!! Soooo AHhhmazing!!

Michael Pacyna

Jaime Scholnick

Chuck & Karen Harris

Getting so much closer to our goal!!!

We have 14 days....$2000 left to raise but we are getting there!!! Just got an email from AIDS Lifecycle informing us that there will be a chapel set up on the 5th night for couples to get married...hope Sylva doesn't get me drunk and try to get me to marry her...awkward!!! 

Help us reach our goal and Donate Here!!!

Casey!!!

http://www.tofighthiv.org/site/TR/AIDSLIFECYCLE2014/AIDSLifeCycleCenter?px=3070983&pg=personal&fr_id=1630

Sylva!!!

http://www.tofighthiv.org/site/TR/AIDSLIFECYCLE2014/AIDSLifeCycleCenter?px=3070979&pg=personal&fr_id=1630

Happy Sunday!!!

Training Day...

We are getting so close...with only 15 days left til we ride 545 miles!!! The heat has made for some intense training rides, yes it's been 100 degrees all week!!!

 Before our ride I hit the am freeway traffic to Downtown...soo glad I don't have to take the 110...pheewww!!!

Sylva is the best riding partner....never a dull moment...

We still have to raise $2k so get on it and join us by donating to this fantastic cause...

CASEY!!!
http://www.tofighthiv.org/site/TR/AIDSLIFECYCLE2014/AIDSLifeCycleCenter?px=3070983&pg=personal&fr_id=1630

SYLVA!!!
http://www.tofighthiv.org/site/TR/AIDSLIFECYCLE2014/AIDSLifeCycleCenter?px=3070979&pg=personal&fr_id=1630

Went off with a DRAGG....

Miss Dee Floward, Pearl Necklace & 'Merica

at the AIDS LifeCylce FUNdraiser...

Sylva posted a thank you on facebook that was moving and spot on...gonna let my riding partner take this one....Thank you to all for an amazing night and all your support, we are both blown away...

"I am having a hard time saying "Thank yoU!U!U" fast enough to keep up with all the amazing and generous people who have been contributing their funds, time and efforts to benefit the AIDS/LifeCycle ride Casey and I are going next month. This past weekend we raised about $1200 in donations at our Drag Party. This in itself is pretty amazing, cause hot damn... our guests not only came with financial contributions they also came dolled up and looking fucking fabulous!!!!!!! In all ways we felt really really (REALLY!!!) lucky.

I will be posting some (er….300) photos soon but in the meantime… Thank you to Casey for being my ride partner and being crazy enough to take on a 545 mile ride and the grand task of raising 6 grand in about 5 weeks (most the other riders have about 6 months). Thank you to Jim Hillas for driving all the way down from Sacramento to set up sound and DJ in his pretty pink fishnets!!! wink wink!!! Thank you to the beautiful BeEv for bar tending in the her luscious outfit for so many hours, and to Marco for taking over at the bar after spending so much time creating a custom painting for our silent art auction!! Thank you toJohn for wearing his unicorn hat and sitting at the door all night harassing people out of their money, and to Jin for taking over with her sweet hubby till late into the night!!!!!! Thanks to Matt, who I just met this past weekend, for sitting and letting people into the building all night long!!! Thank you to Inobe for making baked goods (and even a gluten free option for meeeeeee) and bringing her sexy entourage to serve them all night!!! Thanks to Deborah for sending out emails to all her friends and getting contributions for me!! Thank you to my roomie Patrick for running around last minute and help to set up, and running around after to clean up as well!!!Thanks to every fucking one for dressing up like rock stars and showing up!! I am seriously humbled, once again, that I have asked for help and friends and strangers have shown up to offer it to me! What. the. amazingness. Oh yeah, and thank you to all the people who have been sending in money without asking for anything in return, you. guys. rock.

We appreciate all of your donations!!!"

17 days left, $2k left to raise (we are raising a combined $6k)...Still time to donate:

Sylva!!!
http://www.tofighthiv.org/site/TR/AIDSLIFECYCLE2014/AIDSLifeCycleCenter?px=3070979&pg=personal&fr_id=1630

CASEY!!!
http://www.tofighthiv.org/site/TR/AIDSLIFECYCLE2014/AIDSLifeCycleCenter?px=3070983&pg=personal&fr_id=1630

Tuck and Roll....

 In preparation for our Drag FUNdraiser party I did a bit of online searching to figure out how to do my make up....this is what I found and holy shit...I'm exhausted...really cool to see, hope I can do something even a bit close to that...hope you are getting ready for the big event...Sylva and I are...now off to buy a glue stick....

Drag Party Details:

Come one, come all, and be fucking fabulous. Drag out your most delicious sequins, your gaudiest wigs, and your insatiable desire to flaunt your sweet style and join us for a night of stuffed brasiers, mystery cocktails, home baked goods, and a take-your-own-photo-booth.

THEME:
Live life to the fullest! Dress in drag and soak in the beautiful experience of living in this decadent world, where anything is possible….. even gender bending. 100% of the proceeds from this event go to the AIDS/LifeCycle which Casey Sheppard and Sylva Hattington are participating in this coming June 1-7. We are riding 545 miles from SF to LA to raise $$$$ for AIDS research and awareness. Although there is no cure for AIDS yet, it is possible to help those affected live healthy lives, and that is pretty awesome. Hopefully someday we can find a cure, but until then, live well!!!!

LOCATION:
The notorious Pillar Box Studios. Compete with a plethora of strange sets, magical music, and a take your own photo booth. Make sure to dress the fuck up, cause you'll be forever immortalized with your skirt hiked up and your stick on mustache!

COST:
$10 before 11 pm
$15 pre-paid (accepting Paypal)
$20 door fee in costume
$30 for couples
$30 for uncostumed guests
YayyyyyY!Y!YY!!!!!

Yummy foods for sale to satiate your hunger m!m!m!M!

SILENT AUCTION:
Both Casey Sheppard Designs and Bubbles And Frown Haberdashery Shoppe will be donating one of our creations to a SILENT AUCTION in which the proceeds will go towards our fundraising :-)

Not in LA? Donate here!!!

Sylva!!!
http://www.tofighthiv.org/site/TR/AIDSLIFECYCLE2014/AIDSLifeCycleCenter?px=3070979&pg=personal&fr_id=1630

CASEY!!!
http://www.tofighthiv.org/site/TR/AIDSLIFECYCLE2014/AIDSLifeCycleCenter?px=3070983&pg=personal&fr_id=1630

Facebook Party link:
https://www.facebook.com/events/630235917054029/?ref_dashboard_filter=upcoming

Big DRAG thank you for the recent Etsy purchases were 10% of the sales will go to AIDS LifeCycle:

Matthew Wegener
Cindy Eggleton

 
Etsy Shop to see more details:
https://www.etsy.com/shop/CaseySheppardDesigns

 

Hot Damn...

Thank you to everyone that came to Movie Night last night...was a blast...we had great movies...Where The Trail Ends, Rising From Ashes and ended with....Pee Wees Big Adventure...We raised money (yeah), geeked out on bike stuff and pigged out on the most delicious of treats....

Join us for our next event....Drag Night.......Saturday May 10th at Pillow Box Studios....

So it's bout damn time....I never thought it would happen, especially in LaLaLand but looks like I belong here...thanks to AIDS LifeCycle and Kerry Castillo (our very own Cyclist Rep)...

ALC really knows how to take care of us!!! I found this really great info on Kerry's page that helps break down where your money goes...check it out, pretty freaking ahhhhmazing...so glad to be part of this....

$5,000 covers a full year of laboratory testing for 18 patients.
$1,000 covers a full year of medical supply costs for 55 patients.
$1,000 funds one client receiving Post Exposure Prophylaxis.
$250 provides Rapid HIV Antibody tests to 20 clients.
$175 provides HIV prevention counseling sessions to 20 teenagers.
$150 provides comprehensive HIV/STD testing to 1 client.
$100 provides Hepatitis A and B vaccinations to 1 client.
$25 covers the treatment medication for 1 client infected with an STD.

$10 buys 143 condoms that the Health Education and Prevention Program will distribute.

But consider this! Larger donations can be broken up into several payments!! Break a $100 donation in to 10 easy $10 payments over 10 months! NOW this is starting to sound doaable, isn't it!?

Here are our pages where you can donate...thank you...

Casey's Donation Page

Sylva's Donation Page

MOVIE NIGHT FUNdraiser...

Friday Night May 2nd is Movie Night....8pm at Pillow Box Studios (931 E Pico LA, CA) Show up...watch some rad bike documentaries and help out others in need...we will be vending popcorn, booze and other tasty treats...all funds will go to AIDS LifeCycle for our crazy bike venture of riding 545 miles in 7 days to raise money and awareness for AIDS/HIV...

$10 Donation for one movie
$15 Donation for double feature

Here is a sneak peek of the movies...

Where The Trail Ends


 
















  

Rising From Ashes 

There are rumors of a possible third film that about bikes, the basement of the Alamo and ex convicts...ohhh exciting....

If you can't make the movies but still want to donate, you can do so by clicking on our pages below...

Sylva's Donation Page

Casey's Donation Page

See ya at the Movies....

Dead Men Tell No Tales....

Okay Lassies....time to take your potty break (I will so unfriend you if you 'wet' yourself while watching this video...and no...you can only blame farts on the dog)...handsomely grab a darn tasty snack pack, okay grab two, one vanilla and the other chocolate then mix..freaking rocks...right!!! Now grab your bean bag which will cause you to swim for almost the entirety of this post...well just til ya find that riiiiiight spot...yeah...that's it....what ever happened to that beautiful creation...ohhhh...bean bags....with duct taped seams and all.....



(I've been wanting to add this video to a blog post for a while now...Michael Bolton doesn't do it for me (he almost had me at Scareface, almost)...but Mom...how are ya? Needing some CPR??)

Now if you haven't picked up on the theme of this post yet, then I'm gonna Cat o'nine tails ya....Blimey, enough PIRATE talk...let's do this....For todays Rebel Training Ride, Sylva and I rode to Long Beach...I've never been there but have heard bout it a lot lately...didn't know what to expect from today's ride...as usual...

Starting off as a typical LA ride....river(esk), freeway, powerlines...then we hit Long Beach...

  
Ahhhh Yeah....gotta say pretty damn beautiful...there were the touristy bits too but the breath taking views made it so easy to ignore the stench of commercialism that sneakishly mixed its self with the salty sea air. 

....as we headed away from Davey Jones Locker, high noon began to blanket us in its super amazing 93 degree April sun...gotta say we were excited to have hit our goal of 35 miles...oh and to be done...too damn early for this kind of heat....I was also glad that there were no ER visits, crashes and no broken anythings....

But this is all for a fantastic cause....AIDS Lifecycle....Sylva and I are riding 545 miles in 7 days from San Fran to LA...to do this we are raising $3k each...we are getting close...thanks for all the support so far and keep donating....

Sylva's Donation Page

Casey's Donation Page 


Here are some fun links to help feed that inner Pirate...

Pirate Cycling League 


"Pirates In Me Panties" 
By Peter and the Pansexuals

International Talk Like A Pirate Day
Sept 19th

Ciclo Urbano....

Let's start off with a little slap to the face, shall we...Urban downhilling is one of the most ahhhhmazing and terrifying sports on a bike...I can't wait til I have the skills to try it myself...

 
I am very new to urban cycling and I feel like I am literally getting a crash course in it....but cycling is my love and passion that brings people together...I am a big believer in community and biking goes hand in hand with that idea....this also brings me to one of my favorite bike shops in Chicago, Ciclo Urbano they focus on community, education and having a kickass time...the last time I stopped in, I bought up some rad handmade hats and the profits helped finance the youth ladies to a bike event in DC...check out their website, they have a ton of stuff going on and are developing our next generation of cyclists...awesome....

Onto our update:Rebel Training Ride take 3??? Sylva talked to a bike friend and they suggested a bike path that goes from downtown LA to Long Beach...I had no idea what I was in for, LA bike training has become it's own adventure...I was just hoping for no crashes or cars....what happened at the end of this ride was again something I had never thought would happen, thought we had used up all our fairy event power...guess not...

But first, let me say a HUGE THANK YOU to the following for their very generous donations....

Henry Cavillones

Jaime Rauner

Pyper Hugos

Joshua Essay

The urban bike trails, a bit different than Nebraska but just as rad....

Someone call a cab??? I think LaLaLand will always have something ups it's sleeve....

May have found some singletrack, looks promising...will keep ya posted....

After a very smooth, fun and uneventful 20 mile ride we came back to the police waiting for me at my car....ohhh shit...what now....

 Uhhhh...my rear window had been shattered!!!! Okay bike gods, we have always gotten along, especially through some of my most difficult and challenging rides but are ya trying to tell me something????

Oh I know....don't weed wack on urban terrain...is that the lesson learned....so the run down, a city worker was weed wacking "weeds" and a rock hit/shattered my window....good news, the amazing city of Vernon has already paid and replaced my window...hellz yeah!!!!

Here is the spot where they were weed wacking....I thought LA was the Leaf Blower Capitol of the World...I have nothing further to add....except....

Donate!!!!

I'm at 25% and need your help...

Casey's page to donate:

http://www.tofighthiv.org/site/TR/AIDSLIFECYCLE2014/AIDSLifeCycleCenter?px=3070983&pg=personal&fr_id=1630

Sylva's at 35%...her page to donate:

http://www.tofighthiv.org/site/TR/AIDSLIFECYCLE2014/AIDSLifeCycleCenter?px=3070979&pg=personal&fr_id=1630

If you are in the LA area here are a list of upcoming fundraising events...they are going to be a blast!!!

Movie Night: This Friday night, May 2nd!!!

Drag Party!!! Saturday May 10th!!!

I know you have all missed me and the blog, I've been on the road but now I am back and will be posting much, much more....til then...go get RAD!!! and don't forget to DONATE!!!

Rebel Yeah.....

One of my favorites growing up was of course Pippi Longstocking....we had so many things in common like killer fashion sense, ability to piss others off, end up head to toe in dirt and the FRECKLES....

Here is a rad story about this rebel role model....hellz yeah...

http://sweden.se/culture/pippi-longstocking-rebel-role-model/

A big Rebel Thank you to my newest supporters Tom and Kim Sheppard!!!! THANK YOU!!!

Speaking of rebellion, let's get to our bike ride....the second day of duo training...think I'm gonna start calling it rebel training, has a nice sound to it....the second day of Rebel Training was sooooo much better in the fact that neither Sylva nor I flipped over the bars or got hit by a car....you can all breath now....

I picked up Sylva and we drove to the Valley with our bikes...I know, right, the valley...actually I don't...the only thing I know bout the Valley is that it gets hot there and the Nic Cage movie...

Yeah, doesn't look like much, especially when you are use to the trail system in Nebraska but we were separate from the cars, mostly, and we got in 45 miles...not too shabby...Here are some photos from the ride...

 Please ignore my finger, I know, I forgot to photoshop so gotta use your imagination...this was towards the end of the ride, close to Burbank...now this is more like it...

Stopped for a little Pose off session....when in LA.....

*************************************************************

Let's take a quick break to watch a super rad video about a rebel, kickass, totally inspiring bike chick...shall we....Missy Giove y'all...



*****************************************************************************

"Masses are always the breeding grounds of psychic epidemics" Jung

Since I'm in LA I should have a psychic, there is actually a listening in Yelp...I'm starting to love the zaniness of this city...

http://www.yelp.com/search?find_desc=Best+Psychic&find_loc=Los+Angeles%2C+CA

These were pretty damn dope...bike lockers...ahhh...yes please...I think I may rent this out as a studio space...

 Had to stop for tacos...knew I was hungry when we passed a sandwich on the bike path that had been on the ground for....well....let's just say awhile and it looked sooooo amazing...so instead of ingesting what was surely infested with creatures I don't even want to know exist, we stopped for tacos....we housed it....then started our new venture into a food coma!!!

What a awesome day in the saddle with the coolest chick....thanks for the nice steady miles....

Again, here are our AIDS LifeCycle pages where you can donate...June is coming fast...we both can't wait for this exciting adventure...well, think the adventure has already started....



SYLVA!!!
http://www.tofighthiv.org/site/TR/AIDSLIFECYCLE2014/AIDSLifeCycleCenter?px=3070979&pg=personal&fr_id=1630

CASEY!!!
http://www.tofighthiv.org/site/TR/AIDSLIFECYCLE2014/AIDSLifeCycleCenter?px=3070983&pg=personal&fr_id=1630



This is for all those amazing rebels out there....keep on letting 'em have it...