Riders & Roadies – Let’s Get Ready to Roll!
Everything is taken care of once you’re on the road with AIDS/LifeCycle, but there are things for you to plan ahead for before you get to the Cow Palace for Orientation Day on May 31. Be sure to follow the checklist below to plan your travels prior to the start of the event in San Francisco, and to get you back home from the Finish Line in Los Angeles.
IMPORTANT
Impacts to the Day 7 route resulting from the Palisades Fire are still unknown. The AIDS/LifeCycle staff are evaluating the situation in conjunction with Local Authorities and will share further details with participants when we know more. For now, we urge anyone who plans to book lodging and airfare home from LA to book refundable accommodations in case things change.
Orientation Day
Orientation Day takes place Saturday May 31st and is your chance to check in for the event, pick up your participant credentials and fundraising incentives, shop for new merch at the Camp Store, and meet event sponsors.
NOTE: You must attend Orientation Day to check in for the event.
Opening Ceremony & Ride Out
The Opening Ceremony takes place Sunday June 1st and is the official kick-off of AIDS/LifeCycle 2025. Invite your friends and family to come cheer you on, honor the legacy of this community, and celebrate your fundraising efforts!
The Opening Ceremony will begin at 6:00 AM and at 6:30 AM cyclists will hit the road to begin their journey.
Finish Line Festival
Celebrate the end of your 7-day journey with fellow Cyclists and Roadies as you cross the finish line in Santa Monica on Saturday June 7th. After you ship your bike home through one of our shipping partners, enjoy live DJs and food trucks, shop at the Camp Store, and cheer on your friends as your AIDS/LifeCycle experience comes to a close!
Bike Shipping & Assembly Services
AIDS/LifeCycle has partnered with various companies to help you get your bike to San Francisco prior to the event, and back home from Los Angeles after you cross the Finish Line. Depending on where you live, your options range from boxing and shipping your to shipping it fully assembled.
NOTE: Do not ship directly to the Cow Palace unless you ship with one of our approved shipping partners. Only these vendors are authorized to consolidate bike shipments for delivery to the Cow Palace. If you ship with another carrier we cannot guarantee that your bike will be waiting for you when you arrive.
Bike Rentals
We get it… Bikes are expensive! And travelling with one can be challenging. To help make things a little more accessible, AIDS/LifeCycle has partnered with NEWBURY PARK BIKE SHOP to provide top of the line rental bikes for the week of the Ride! These professionally maintained bikes will be waiting for you at the Cow Palace when you arrive on Orientation Day.
AIDS/LifeCycle has also partnered with charities BICYCLE ANGELS to offer no-cost bikes to registered AIDS/LifeCycle participants for use at the event. Check out their websites for full details.
Hotels
Looking for a place to stay in SF before Ride out or following the close of the event in LA? AIDS/LifeCycle’s partner hotels offer rooms to our Participants at a preferred rate both in the San Francisco/Bay Area and Los Angeles. And if you stay at one of our partner hotels you can book a ride on one of our shuttles to get you and your gear to the Cow Palace on Ride Out morning.
Air Travel
Are you planning to travel by air for AIDS/LifeCycle 2025? See below for our airport recommendations and details on how to book discounted airfare through our proud partner United Airlines.
AIDS/LifeCycle is proud to partner with United Airlines to offer discounted airfares for participants flying inbound to San Francisco Bay Area Airports (SFO and SJC); and outbound from Los Angeles / SoCal area airports (LAX, BUR, ONT, SNA) between May 27th and June 9th!
- To take advantage of this offer, Participants can click the link below to be taken to the booking page on United Airlines website or use code ZQJK156864 Note the restrictions listed above as to arrival and departure dates and airports.
- Bike Check-in - Fees for traveling with your bike will be waived upon check-in at the airport counter.
- United is not liable for damages to bicycles that have been improperly packaged or boxed
IMPORTANT: As of the new May 7, 2025 deadline, you must present a REAL ID to check in for domestic flights unless traveling with a passport.
Transportation to the Cow Palace
If you're traveling to San Francisco from out of town, we offer shuttles from our partner hotels on Sunday June 1st to make getting to the Opening Ceremony a little easier.
