Have you booked your lodging yet?

Best Buddies has secured Room Blocks at a number of Monterey/ Carmel and San Simeon/ Cambria area hotels. In order to secure the special Best Buddies rate, please make sure to ask for the Best Buddies Room Block.

A full list of Best Buddies hotels and rates are now listed online.

Friday, September 7 - Monterey/ Carmel

Saturday, September 8 - San Simeon/ Cambria

Please note the drop date of each hotel. If your room is not booked before this date, we cannot guarantee availability or pricing.

If you have any questions about hotels please contact Dylan Taylor, DylanTaylor@BestBuddies.org or 415.503.1776.

T-Mobile riders confirmed

We are very excited to announce that ProTour rider and 2007 Giro d"Italia finisher Aaron Olson of the men's team along with Kimberly Baldwin and Olympic medal winner and long-time Best Buddies supporter Mari Holden of the women's team are thus far committed to riding in the 2007 ABBC: HC.

Check back for more info and more confirmed riders from T-Mobile and CSC.

This Just In: CSC riders to join the ABBC: HC

CSC, the number one cycling team in the world is sending riders to the 2007 ABBC: HC.

Team CSC

Which CSC rider(s) would you like to see at the ABBC: HC? Let us know in the "Comments" section.

Breaking News: T-Mobile riders to the ABBC: HC

In addition to the 30 odd member T-Mobile team who for the past few years have attended the Audi Best Buddies Challenge: Hearst Castle, the T-Mobile Professional Cycling Team has committed at least four riders.

Stay tuned to find out which T-Mobile riders will be in attendance.

T-Mobile Professional Cycling Team

Who from T-Mobile would you like to see at the ride? Let us know in the "Comments".

Training ride this Saturday, June 16

We will be riding this weekend, weather permitting.

More details.

ABBC: HC participant competing in the RAAM

Joe Petersen (pictured above), a participant in the 2006 Volvo Best Buddies Challenge: Hearst Castle with Team Oxy who blazed down the 100-mile course in under five hours, is no stranger to going fast.

The Bakersfield resident, an eight-time California State Time Trial Champion, is for the ninth time competing in the grueling Race Across America, the premier ultra-distance endurance bicycle race in the world. Beginning in Oceanside, participants have a simple objective - ride some 3000 miles across the country to a finish in Atlantic City, New Jersey.

Last year saw the 49-year-old Petersen, and teammate Kevin McNulty, set a new record in the two-man team competition, completing 3,043 miles in 6 days 11 hours and 24 minutes for an average speed of 19.58 mph. This year, they return to the two-man competition hoping to top their own record.

Rumors that Petersen is using the RAAM merely as preparation for the 2007 ABBC: HC , could not be confirmed, but TeamOxy captain Bill Dykes says that Petersen will be there on September 8 and maybe even RAAM partner McNulty.

We wish you both the best and thank you for your support!

You can follow them with live updates on the RAAM homepage or daily results and reports at Cyclingnews.com.

Bikely.com

Looking for a route in your area? Want to show your friends where you rode this past weekend. Then check out Bikely an interactive ride sharing site.

Here's the HC course below.

2007 Audi Best Buddies Challenge: Hearst Castle

http://www.bikely.com/

Training Rides return June 2

We'll be riding again on June 2 and meeting at the Fort Baker lot at 9 a.m. for now. Nothing formal, the pace and distance will depend on the group's interest-call it SF collectivism done right. But, plan for 1.5 hours or more and, as we will be riding in Marin County, hilly terrain.

For more info, email Dylan, or comment here.

Additionally, if you have your own rides or are looking for people to ride with, let us know. Comment or hit up the "Bulletin Board" at the ABBC: HC site.

Postcard from the 2006 ride

A rider relaxes at the finish., originally uploaded by bestbuddieschallenge.

Training Ride postponed until 5/12, Best Buddies getting ready for Hyannis Port

Training Ride postponed

The BB training ride that is scheduled for this Saturday, May 5 has been postponed until next Saturday, May 12. We apologize for any inconvenience to any one's schedule and look forward to having you all join us then.

That ride will leave from Fort Baker, just across the Golden Gate Bridge, at 10 am for two to three steady hours of riding through the Marin hills. If anyone has a route suggestion for this ride or for future rides, please let us know. Additionally, if you have your own ride and would like to let everyone know about it, email it to us or comment with all the details here.

Find out more at Training Rides

Best Buddies Challenge: Hyannis Port only two weeks away

Best Buddies supporters in the North East are gearing up for the return of the Best Buddies Challenge: Hyannis Port on Saturday, May 19. Now in its eighth year, the 2007 ride will be one of the biggest fundraising events in Best Buddies history as over 700 cyclists will take to some of the most beautiful New England roads for 90 or 20 miles from Boston to Cape Cod in support of enhancing the lives of people with intellectual disabilities. Following the ride, participants will enjoy a clambake and a concert by the one-and-only Rick "Jessie's Girl Springfield.