In 2004 and 2005, I took part in the Paradise Ride. This was a
fundraiser for the Life Foundation, Maui AIDS Foundation and Kauai
AIDS Project.

When the Ride got started, an agency on the Big Island that has the
same mission as the other three organizations I mentioned also had a
part in the Paradise Ride. Those were the days when the Ride was over
450 miles long. A few years ago, that agency pulled-out of the
Paradise Ride, citing the amount of time, effort and expense invested
did not give an adequate return from the total donations collected
and distributed among the four agencies.

A few weeks after Paradise Ride 2005, the Life Foundation announced
that there would be no Paradise Ride after this one. The reasons
cited were the same: rising costs of putting the Ride together, the
amount of time invested, declining Rider enrollment and subsequent
decline in donation amounts.

The organizations on Maui and Kauai have stated that they will
attempt to go on their own for 2006 and have a Paradise Ride next
year, but no final decision has been reached. Some Riders have
expressed grief and shock over the sudden cancellation of the Ride,
but many of us - including myself - saw the end coming. Thity-seven
Riders attended this year, compared to sixty-two in 2004. Ridership
has been in decline since 2001. I believe 2005 had the lowest turnout
ever.

The Paradise Ride was a tough one, even for people who attended AIDS
Lifecycle in California. AIDS Lifecycle is over 580 miles long, but
Lifecycle veterans have stated that the Paradise Ride was much more
difficult, due to the heat, humidity and the amount of hill-climbing
involved. Also of note: the Paradise Ride was once voted one of the
top 100 bike rides in the USA.

It had a great history with hundreds of thousands of dollars raised
to help people in Hawaii living with AIDS/HIV in its eight year
existance.

Unfortunately, the Ride was a victim of rising event costs and having
to compete with Tsunami Relief fundraisers earlier in the year.

I enjoyed my time at Paradise Ride 2004 and 2005. I made a lot of
friends and grew as a person. In 2005, I completed the Ride on a
Bianchi Pista fixed gear bike and I am the only person to ever make
the attempt in the Ride's history. So, I have carved-out my own niche
of fame there.

I'll miss the Ride. I'll miss my friends. But, I'll keep forever the
memories of one of the best bike rides in Hawaii's history and in my
own life.


Duane Browning
Paradise Rider #1219