ALC5 Cyclist Gary Cotti: We did it.

Tonight, instead of blogging to you from a rowdy blogging tent next to Jon and Dusty and Midori, I'm sitting here in my apartment in West Hollywood, and my boyfriend is patiently waiting for me to finish this post. I just got back from a pizza dinner with a bunch of friends, and soon I'll be off to sleep.

Today was our last 60 miles, and our closing ceremonies. These last 60 miles were extremely emotional. First, I was feeling very proud of myself, I was about to complete the entire trip, peddaling the entire route with no pushing, no stopping and no getting in to sweep vehciles. I did it. I had set that one personal goal for myself and I am so happy about it. Next year, however, having that under my belt, I'm going to take more time to stop and smell the roses.

I was starting to feel depressed riding today becuase well, the week was over, and our little community of 2000 people was going to disband for now, the cell phones started coming out at rest stops, buisiness was being conducted. The landmarks of the outskirts of LA were getting more familliar.

Then I was excited, to see my friends, roll in to ~~camp~~, home, and just ready to close the week out. It all sort of culminated on the PCH headed in to Santa Monica and I just felt woozy. I sat down on a bench and took a rest and I simply asked a fellow rider for a hug, thats all I needed. He immediately agreed and we just sat and talked, chatted, congratulated each other, and then, I was ready to finish.

Finishing the ride was a blur, hundreds of smiling faces, familliar faces of riders, supporters, screaming, cheering, high fiving, it was a total blur, I just had this big grin on my face. I DID IT. I called my father and he immediately fell to pieces saying how proud he was, I called my mom and it was the same thing.

After the closing ceremony it was time for goodbyes, there was a little disappointment as the crowd is so big, that I wasn't able to see everyone one last time, just becuase it was so busy. Gladly, I got to give many hugs and say many thank yous and goodbyes to Jon Garrison. I can't say enough good things about this man. I hope he rides next year, just so we can hang out. He made my experience better just by being there and being himself.

I have always been talking about how this community of riders have been so supportive of each other, and something that was brought up in the closing speeches I want to reiterate.

Yes, we raised $8,000,000, and AIDS/LifeCycle has become one of the most successful AIDS fundraisers in the world. And what makes those statistics even more wonderful is the fact that this dedicated community of almost 2000 rider and roadies were about as diverse as you can get. We had families, husbands, wives, straight men and women, gay men and women, older people, younger people, from every race you can imagine, being completely united and supportive of each other.

This week we were just all Riders and Roadies.

A former rider told me - before the ride - that he enjoyed riding so much in the past, because the community of people riding became "like a glimpse of what a perfect world would be like." I totally understand what he means now.

LifeCycle has been an extroadinary experience, physically and emotionally challenging, I have never laughed or cried harder in recent memory. It was a little jarring at times, but in the end, I couldn't be happier about my decision to ride.

And I will keep riding until we don't have to anymore.

I went in to this whole experience with no expectations of what was going to happen, and I would put that as advice for anyone who wants to register next year. I just let it happen.

This was my first experience on AIDS/LifeCycle, next year, you can have yours.

See you next June.

Love to all and goodnight from Los Angeles, CA.

Gary Cotti
2007 Registered LifeCycle Rider.