A CAUSE TO RIDE AIDS FIGHTERS WILL PEDAL FROM BAY AREA TO DODGER STADIUM.

Byline: Carol Rock Staff Writer

SANTA CLARITA - Several local cycling enthusiasts are taking a long ride next weekend to raise money to fight AIDS.

The third annual AIDS LifeCycle, a 585-mile bicycle ride that starts Wednesday at the University of San Francisco and ends June 12 at Dodger Stadium, will raise money for AIDS and HIV-related services in both the Bay Area and Southern California.

Christy Belknap, 29, whose brother has been struggling with AIDS for the past 12 years, is riding in her third fund-raising race. She and her brother, Michael Price, rode from Norfolk, Va., to Washington, D.C., a few years ago to raise money and this is her second AIDS LifeCycle in California.

``He's doing OK now, but he can't make it this year,'' she said of her brother. ``His partner, Louis Hinton, is going to ride with me this year.'' Belknap has raised an average of $5,000 per race, with much of her support coming from her co-workers at Princess Cruises in Valencia.

Saugus resident Mike Padovich, 55, a transportation coordinator for Warner Bros., said he got involved with the ride in 2003 for health reasons.

``I was intrigued by the challenges and wanted to see if I could actually do it,'' he said. ``But the more I read materials and did some personal research, I realized that a lot of folks are dealing with this disease.''

Padovich raised more than $6,000 his first time and is coming close this year with pledges from his friends, family and co-workers.

``I was quite impressed with the generosity of people,'' he continued. ``It kind of opened my eyes to being a little more charitable in my life and help where I can. I was surprised when I started to get involved how many people came to me and said they had a friend, a cousin, a brother or sister that died of AIDS or had been affected by it.''

Before last year's ride, a location manager approached him and shared the story of his brother who had recently died from AIDS. Padovich had the brother's name embroidered on a jersey and asked people who made contributions to sign it. On the last day of the race, as he returned to Los Angeles, Padovich met the man's family and presented the jersey to his mother.

``It brought some comfort and peace to her,'' he said. ``This year, I'm riding for my grandchildren, all nine of them, in the hopes they just keep themselves clean and pure and not be burdened with these things in life that have a way of creeping in.''

The Rev. Ricky Hoyt, 41, the minister of the Unitarian Universalists of Santa Clarita Valley, worked as the director of human resources for AIDS Project Los Angeles before joining the seminary in 1995.

The Southern California native has always been interested in physical fitness, but hadn't ridden a bicycle since he was young.

``I was eager to do the physical challenge for myself as well as make a statement for a cause I believe in,'' he explained. ``When I registered in November, I didn't even own a bike.''

A friend gave Hoyt a bicycle to use and he started training in January. An online journal (www.revricky.com) outlines his adventures in outfitting the bike as well as the hardships of training for the seven-day, six-night journey.

``It's been tough, but I pace myself,'' he said. ``It's really cool to have something tough to push myself, not only for my own fun and ego, but for something I really believe in.''

Hoyt is hoping to raise $5,000 and is currently at $4,670. His congregation has held small fund-raisers for him and he has support from Universalists around the region. He also has a symbolic jersey for the trip that he is asking donors to inscribe with the names of their loved ones.

``It gives people a chance to relate personally to what's going on,'' he said. ``I'm not good at asking people for money. I want to tell them that it's more than my riding a bike or you writing a check - these are people's lives you're affecting.''

``What's moving is that as people tell me about the names, I'm hearing about all these people who are going 'with me.' It gives me strength and emotional energy to support my ride. I've got a reason and motivation.''

Hoyt has 60 signatures on the jersey to date but is quick to point out that there is room for several more names. His congregation also blessed his bicycle when he brought it to worship services last week, gathering around and laying hands on the frame, wheels and handlebars.

Other local riders include Loren Burghout of Newhall and James Biehahn of Saugus.

Sponsored by the San Francisco AIDS Foundation and the HIV/AIDS services at the Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Center, AIDS LifeCycle is one of the biggest fund-raisers for the cause. Nearly 1,900 riders are expected to participate, raising a minimum of $4.75 million in the week-long event.

To follow the progress or make donations to the cyclists, log on to www.aidslifecycle.org and key in the rider's name.

Carol Rock, [phone]

carol.rock(at)dailynews.com

CAPTION(S):

2 photos

Photo:

(1 -- color -- ran in SAC edition only) The Rev. Ricky Hoyt, minister of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Santa Clarita Valley, will participate in the AIDS ride.

(2) The Rev. Ricky Hoyt's racing jersey bears the names of AIDS victims, giving his ride a personal touch.

David Crane/Staff Photographer