david m phillips

Ride On

A memoir of love, loss, and hope

He had survived cancer and was looking for a challenge. He had lost a loved one and was searching for closure. And he loved riding his bike. He wasn't looking for a cause. He certainly wasn't looking for the fifteen-year journey that would become a defining chapter of his life. AIDS/LifeCycle changed all that.

This memoir tells of an unexpected life journey, countless interactions with people the author would never have otherwise encountered, and a transformation of perception and convictions, all experienced in the context of a remarkable bike ride. The reader is invited to share this journey through words that were written over his fifteen years on the ride.

Ride On is expected to publish in November.
It will be available on Amazon in hardcover, paperback, and Kindle.

AIDS/LifeCycle

The AIDS/LifeCycle ride was a twenty-three year phenomenon (thrity-one years including the predecessor California AIDS Ride), an epic 545-mile week-long bike ride from San Francisco to Los Angeles which annually attracted thousands of riders. They raised millions of dollars each year in support of the Los Angeles LGBT Center (formerly Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Center) and the San Francisco AIDS Foundation to support their efforts in providing treatment, educational services, and general support to victims of HIV/AIDS.

All net proceeds from the sale of
Ride On will be donated to the
Los Angeles LGBT Center and
the San Francisco AIDS Foundation.

the launch

Day One

Hello riders! Hello roadies!

The week began at the Cow Palace where thousands of eager cyclists and hundreds of volunteer "roadies" assembled for a rousing send-off. And with that, a massive cavalcade of bikes was launched into the streets of San Francisco and on down the highways and back roads of California.

on the road

Half way to L.A.

Day four..."hump day"

Three and a half days of pedaling, 270 miles behind, them, countless stories shared, aches and pains being endured for the bigger cause of providing support for victims of the scourge of HIV/AIDS, the riders pass the half way point. Together, they are a massive force, bound by a common goal, overlooking stark differences in background, beliefs, orientation, gender, and age.

the finish!

Crossing the finish line in L.A.

A moment of triumph

The realization of a dream; the absurdity of a 545-mile week on a bike, the blending of so many diverse individuals into one grand effort, and the riders reach L.A., many ready to ride again the following year.

He had survived cancer and was looking for a challenge. He had lost a loved one and was searching for closure. And he loved riding his bike. He wasn't looking for a cause. AIDS/LifeCycle changed all that.

About the author

Born and raised in Southern California, David Phillips relocated to the Salinas Valley where he practiced dentistry for forty years. He and his wife Janice raised two children in Lockwood, a remote and dusty community a half hour out of King City. Always active, he took up cycling at fifty-five, which led him to a fifteen-year involvement in the AIDS/LifeCycle ride. It proved to be a life-changing experience.

This book is dedicated to Janice, his late wife of forty-four years, and his wife, Lorenda, his “second chance” love of his life.

“Facing the vast sea of onlookers, Juanita stood proudly in her faded denim jeans, pullover sweater, and Birkenstocks, one hand on her cherished copy of the Torah, the other raised. Svetlana stood at her side, her hand resting gently in the crook of her wife’s elbow. And in minutes, the United States of America had its first Puerto Rican president.”

Coming in 2027:

WHY NOT US?

A novel by David Phillips

A light-hearted tale of endless possibilities.

Follow the journey at www.davidmphillips.com