SHIFTING GEARS IN AIDS FIGHT; CYCLISTS DEDICATING HEARTS AND MINDS TO HELPING THOSE SUFFERING WITH VIRUS.

Byline: Carol Bidwell Daily News Staff Writer

Not so long ago, if you said ``AIDS'' or ``HIV,'' you could clear a room.

Many people thought it was just a ``gay disease.'' But more than 15 years after the AIDS virus was first identified, babies, women, the elderly, hemophiliacs, heterosexual males and teen-agers are contracting the disease at epidemic rates with still no cure in sight.

AIDS has come out of everybody's closet. And maybe that's why the roster of riders for the fourth annual San Francisco-to-Los Angeles bike rideto raise money for AIDS programs and services was full months before the bike tires started spinning.

``It's always been more difficult for us to raise money,'' said Jim Key, an administrator with the June 1-7 California AIDS Ride 4. ``But I think there's a lot of changing attitudes. The perception of the disease has changed. More people than ever are getting infected - and they're not all gay men. People realize it could happen to them, and they want to do something about it.''

Billed as the largest fund-raising ride in the United States, with 2,500 bicyclists, last year's ride raised $8.2 million for AIDS programs in the Los Angeles and San Francisco areas, said Key.

This year's ride promises to raise even more, judging by the pledges made so far. To participate, riders must pledge to raise at least $2,500 and to spend a week bicycling - a unique commitment in charity fund-raising, said Key. About 60 percent of the total collected goes to AIDS programs, with the remainder spent on meals, tents, campground rental and transportation for the riders.

``It's tough to compare this event to any other fund-raising event because there's nothing else like it,'' Key said. ``AIDS Ride 3 was the largest AIDS fund-raiser in history in terms of money raised, and we expect AIDS Ride 4 to be even bigger.''

The success of the AIDS Ride is even more remarkable now when, with the advent of life-prolonging AIDS ``drug cocktails,'' many previous supporters of AIDS-related causes seem to feel their help is no longer needed, said Gerry Ansel, spokesman for AIDS Project Los Angeles, which recently sponsored its ninth annual AIDS Danceathon.

About 8,000 people attended the April 26 event, which raised about $702,000, but previous danceathons have raised as much as $1 million, he said.

``I think the initial shock of AIDS is beginning to wear off,'' Ansel said. ``People with AIDS are living longer because of newly discovered drug treatments, and that's had a chilling effect on donors. People think, `Why give money to this when the cure's right around the corner?' But the drugs cost a lot of money - from $10,000 to $17,000 or more a year. And people are still dying. The cure is not here. We still have a long way to go.''

Valley believers

There will be more than 400 San Fernando Valley and Ventura County riders departing from San Francisco's Fort Mason on June 1 for the 525-mile ride, with overnight stops in Santa Cruz, King City, Paso Robles, Santa Maria, Santa Barbara County's Lake Cachuma and Ventura before arriving at a coming-home rally in Century City on June 7.

For three local men, the athletic challenge of the state-spanning AIDS Ride was the initial reason they got involved. But now, they're equally dedicated to the cause it supports.

Leo Weilmann, 68, a retired newspaper advertising salesman from Woodland Hills and one of the oldest riders participating in the ride, already has $4,700 in pledges and is hitting up friends for more.

Weilmann - whose wife, Diana, will be one of 600 crew members accompanying the riders to provide mechanical and medical care, food and campsites - said he got involved in the annual ride after seeing the National AIDS Quilt on display at California State University, Northridge, a few years ago.

``It was one of the most moving experiences I've ever had,'' Weilmann said. ``It really moved me to tears. My wife and I are interested in the arts, and we've lost so many artists, actors, musicians to this disease. I saw this as a way of trying to help eradicate it.''

For Doug Cox, a 40-year-old Burbank actor making his second ride this year, the physical challenge was what prompted him to sign up the first time.

``But it became much more than that,'' said Cox, who has pledges totaling $4,200 so far. ``It's just an incredible thing. It changes your life. You see HIV-positive people on the ride, and they're trying so hard. Last year, it was 111 degrees and they were out there. There were people riding who had one leg, people who had one arm, a newlywed couple. It really puts things in perspective. One of the HIV riders who I'd never talked to came over after the finish and gave me this big hug and just disappeared into the crowd. That's what it's all about. You know you're helping a lot of people.''

And Charlie Volk, 47, an engineer from Newbury Park, has pledges totaling $9,000.

This will be the third year on the AIDS ride for Volk, who enjoys the pace of pedaling with people who often become friends by the end of the week. ``It's a ride, not a race, and you get to see some beautiful scenery,'' he said.

Besides the exercise, he looks forward to the publicity the 2,500 riders will draw for AIDS fund-raising and programs.

``I'm doing it because of the need to raise public awareness about the issue,'' Volk said. ``We need to control this disease, or it's going to get worse. I think a lot of people join in the ride because it gives you the opportunity to do a lot more than you could by yourself.''

Most of the riders said convincing people to donate to an AIDS-related cause wasn't difficult. Cox said he was embarrassed to ask the same people for money two years in a row, but the same donors - and more - responded.

``People generally didn't need to be convinced,'' Cox said. ``One guy who gave me $150 last year gave me $500 this year. Another friend gave $100 last year; she gave me $200 this year.''

Weilmann, who's making his first ride, said he sent letters pleading for pledges to 125 friends and acquaintances and got donations from 78 of them. But a few, he said, were reluctant to donate to a cause they still connect with gay men.

``One donor - a relative, in fact - hesitated (to donate) because of her attitude toward `those people.' I tried to educate her a little bit,'' he said. ``I'm getting $50 from her.''

Volk - who collected $3,500 in pledges on his first ride and $7,000 on the second - said a few people he approached two years ago were reluctant to donate to an AIDS-related cause, but that hesitancy has dwindled in the past two years as the news media has made people more aware of how AIDS is spread.

``I've encountered people who still feel it's a `gay disease,' but then, I've seen a big change, too, in public attitudes. For instance, last year, I could have made my ($2,500) commitment with donations from just two people. I think people are a getting a little more concerned that all sorts of people can get AIDS. I think that makes people more willing to donate, too.''

For Earl Gallaway of Van Nuys, it is the memory of a childhood friend and fear for the futures of his niece and nephew that keep him peddling.

Gallaway, 44, rode in last year's AIDS ride, but because he's part of the ride's administrative staff this year, will ride instead in the 470-mile Twin Cities-to-Chicago ride benefiting AIDS charities to be held July 7-12.

He has a very personal reason for getting involved. ``A friend of mine passed away from AIDS,'' Gallaway said. ``I knew him when we were kids. As he got sicker, friends of his moved in to care for him. On the AIDS ride, I'll ride the bike he helped me buy. And I have a niece and nephew, both under 25. That's the age group that's being hit the most by this disease.''

Such a long ride - even with nighttime stopovers at campgrounds to regain strength - takes more training time than many people are willing to devote.

Gallaway plans to up his miles as the Midwest ride nears. For now, he's concentrating on administrative details and encouraging more pledges for riders who have signed up.

``One encouraging thing is that people with AIDS are living longer - but they're going to need care longer, and that's going to cost more money,'' he said. ``We need to raise all we can.''

To sponsor a rider, call the California AIDS Ride 4 office at [phone].

AIDS Ride facts and figures

Money raised on the upcoming California AIDS Ride 4 will be divided between the San Francisco AIDS Foundation and the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center's Jeffrey Goodman Special Care Clinics in Hollywood.

The Goodman clinics, at 1625 N. Schrader Blvd., provide counseling, health care and medications free or at low cost to anyone with HIV or AIDS.

And there's no dearth of patients. According to the Goodman clinics, Los Angeles is one of the worldwide epicenters of the AIDS epidemic with 34,834 AIDS cases reported by Dec. 31, 1996, up 3,346 cases from 1995. Los Angeles County AIDS cases account for 35 percent of the 98,297 statewide HIV/AIDS cases and 6.3 percent of the 548,102 national cases.

The incidence of HIV/AIDS cases in Los Angeles is highest in Hollywood, where people living with advanced HIV disease account for 22 percent of the county's total cases, said center officials.

Additional statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:

Nationally, African-Americans accounted for 25 percent of AIDS cases in 1985, rising to 40 percent in 1995.

Latinos accounted for 15 percent of AIDS cases in 1985, increasing to 19 percent in 1995.

An estimated two-thirds of all new HIV infections reported in Los Angeles County are among gay or bisexual men.

Fifty percent of all new HIV infections reported in the United States are among people 24 years and younger; 25 percent of all new infections are among teen-agers.

In the United States, at least two young people under age 24 are infected with HIV every hour.

CAPTION(S):

3 Photos, Map, Box

Photo: (1--Cover--Color) LIFE CYCLE

Going the extra 525 miles in fight against AIDS

Tina Gerson/Daily News

(2) Leo Weilmann, 68, of Woodland Hills has already raised $4,700 for his California AIDS Ride 4 trek. His interest was sparked by seeing the National AIDS Quilt.

Bob Halvorsen/Daily News

(3) Doug Cox, 40, a Burbank actor training for his second California AIDS Ride, says ``It's just an incredible thing. It changes your life.''

Phil McCarten/Daily News

Map: CALIFORNIA AIDS RIDE 4

Box: AIDS Ride facts and figures (See Text)