It's the end of the road for AIDS/LifeCycle, the 7-day, 545-mile bike ride fundraiser from San Francisco to Los Angeles.
In a joint statement on Wednesday, the San Francisco AIDS Foundation (SFAF) and the LA LGBT Center announced that AIDS/Lifecycle 2025 will be the final ride.
AIDS/LifeCycle (ALC) began in 1994 as what was then called the California AIDS Ride. Since then, over 70,000 riders, roadies, and volunteers have made the journey and raised over $300 million for HIV and AIDS-related services of the SFAF and LA LGBT Center.
“AIDS/LifeCycle has existed as a beacon of strength and hope for people living with HIV and LGBTQ+ communities for more than 30 years,” said Tyler TerMeer, PhD, CEO of San Francisco AIDS Foundation. “As a person living with HIV, participating in this event for 16 years has been life-changing in the best ways–as it has for so many other past and present participants."
AIDS/LifeCycle riders at the halfway point. | Photo courtesy of AIDS/LifeCycle
"We have built an incredible community, and supported so much more than an annual bicycle ride – we have made an impact on the HIV epidemic. The work of SFAF and the Center remains as important as ever, and we look forward to working with the AIDS/LifeCycle community to find meaningful ways to continue the Ride's legacy," added TerMeer who's a 16-year ALC rider and roadie.
“We are incredibly proud of the impact the Ride has had on our local communities and the HIV epidemic nationally,” said Los Angeles LGBT Center CEO Joe Hollendoner.
“Funds from this event helped change the trajectory of the AIDS epidemic. No longer is HIV the death sentence it was when the ride began thanks to the advancement in treatments, and new cases of HIV are declining thanks to interventions like PrEP," added Hollendoner.
TerMeer and Hollendoner shared the news with ALC riders and alumni at a virtual town hall meeting on Wednesday. Approximately 893 people attended the town hall where where participants were allowed to ask questions at the end of the event through a moderator.
TerMeer tells Hoodline that questions will be collected and composed into an FAQ posted on ALC website.
AIDS/LifeCycle's Otter Pop Stop. | Photo courtesy of AIDS/LifeCycle
SFAF and LA LGBT Center explained that AIDS/LifeCycle was no longer "financially viable."
"This is not just an AIDS/LifeCycle issue, this a peer-to-peer fundraising issue across the country," TerMeer tells Hoodline.
Each year riders begin their ALC journey at San Francisco's Cow Palace, making stops along the road down to Los Angeles in Santa Cruz, King City, Paso Robles, Santa Maria, Lompoc, and Ventura. This year riders crossed the finish line in Santa Monica.
Highlights along the route include the Otter Pop Stop, Quadbuster, Red Dress Day, and Rest Stop 4.
AIDS/LifeCycle riders on Red Dress Day. | Photo courtesy of AIDS/LifeCycle
Over ALC'S 31-year history, the ride has not been without controversy.
In 2002, the event was rebranded as AIDS/LifeCycle after a falling out with longtime for-profit event production company Pallotta Teamworks and its founder Dan Pallotta. Critics argued that Pallotta Teamworks overhead costs were too high and not enough went to the charities supported in the ride.
Covid forced ALC to cancel in 2020 and returned in 2021 as TogetheRide, a ride-at-home event.
2022 marked the first year back for the ALC and the event set a record-breaking fundraising total of $17.8 million, breaking the previous record of $16.8 million in 2019.
However, the past two years have been marked by a decline in participation and fundraising. In 2023 the ride raised $11.8 million, followed by $10.98 million in 2024.
"In the aftermath of the Covid pandemic, production costs for the 7-day event have skyrocketed, while fundraising has been on the decline," explained Hollendoner and TerMeer.
AIDS/LifeCycle raised nearly $11 million in 2024. | Image courtesy of AIDS/LifeCycle
Multiple riders and volunteers have told Hoodline that the ride was down approximately 1,000 participants in 2024 and 2023.
In an effort to increase ridership, TerMeer says they partnered with CG Events to help with merchandising and produce open ceremonies and the Santa Monica finish line event.
The most recent financial disclosures for SFAF and LA LGBT Center indicate that ALC 2023 cost $5.4 million to produce.
Last year, SFAF moved its offices from 1035 Market to a smaller office at 940 Howard St. while maintaining Strut Center for Health & Wellness in the Castro at 470 Castro St.
"The downturn in the real estate market in San Francisco and the changing needs of our staff — many who are able to successfully work remotely — have enabled us to make a change that will ultimately result in cost savings for the organization and improved access for our clients," said TerMeer at the time.
Despite only two down years, TerMeer said the decision was made to end the ride. "We hoped to see a pathway to recovery in the past two years that allowed us to stay within an ethical cost of fundraising limit."
TerMeer explained that AIDS/Lifecycle tried to "hover around 30% cost of fundraising, but the last two years have nearly doubled those costs."
Filling the funding gap caused by government grant and fundraising reductions has proven difficult. "SF AIDS Foundation is always looking for ways to continue to diversify our revenue," said TerMeer.
Team Fruit Punch. | Photo courtesy of AIDS/LifeCycle
Despite the ride ending after 2025, both SFAF and LA LGBT Center remain committed to ending the HIV epidemic.
With every mile ridden and every dollar raised, the AIDS/LifeCycle community has brought us closer to the end of AIDS," said Hollendoner. I could not be more grateful to the AIDS/LifeCycle community for all they have done for the clients served by the Center and SFAF.”
According to the non-profits, the virus has claimed the lives of more than 40 million people worldwide and more than 30,000 people are diagnosed annually with HIV in the United States.
ALC 2025 will go on as planned and event organizers plan to focus on "ensuring this last event honors the long history and incredible impact of AIDS/LifeCycle."
Registration is currently open and limited to 2,500 riders and 600 volunteers (roadies) with the goal of exceeding 2022 record-setting $17.8 million.
Photo courtesy of AIDS/LifeCycle
Looking toward the future TerMeer said, "Evolution has been in the DNA of AIDS/Lifecycle."
While a new event has not been announced, TerMeer said AIDS/LifeCycle will host additional town halls and release a survey to gather feedback about how to move forward.
"Community in the weeks and months ahead will help us figure out how they want to stay connected to the mission," said TerMeer.
With government grant and fundraising reductions, TerMeer says SFAF is "always looking for ways to continue to diversify our revenue."
Hoodline reporter Steven Bracco is riding in ALC 2025. Help support the San Francisco AIDS Foundation by donating today.
