The statistics are staggering.

There are nearly 200,000 people currently living with HIV/AIDS in California.

In the United States, 1.1 million people have HIV.

Throughout the world, 33 million people live with the virus.

These statistics, taken from a number of sources, including the Joint United Nations Program on AIDS and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention also say that the estimated cost of treatment for a person with HIV is $20,000 dollars per year. Funding -- for services and treatment for those who have HIV/AIDS, not to mention prevention for at-risk groups -- is much needed.

A number of Sacramentans, including friends Danny Gutierrez and Douglas Vincent, will be doing their part by participating in the AIDS Lifecycle, an AIDS fundraising bicycle event which takes place May 31 - June 6. Each participant must raise a minimum of $3,000 for the race, which will cover 545 miles and stretches from San Francisco to Los Angeles Proceeds go to the San Francisco AIDS Foundation and the Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Center.

Gutierrez is normally a production manager for Java City Coffee Company, but he's been volunteering as a cleaner and organizing kids’ programs at the Sacramento Bike Kitchen, which educates people on how to perform their own bicycle maintenance. Vincent is currently an analyst for the state's Department of Corrections and rides 200 miles per week for fun.

Gutierrez and Vincent have known each other since "sometime in high school," are training partners, make up a fundraising team named Lugged Nutz, and are former band mates for the band Amber Inn. They have been riding together every weekend recently, trying to get in shape to complete the nearly 80-mile-per-day ride.

"On the weekends, Doug and I will take about 50-mile rides, so from about Old Town to Folsom and back," Gutierrez said.

They also plan to do a 100-mile day as part of their training. According to their blog, they are called Lugged Nutz because they planned on "doing this ride on vintage steel-lugged, fixed-gear conversions."

"Danny and I both started riding [fixed-gear bikes] because they're fun, Vincent said. "As far as riding around town, riding through the streets, they're a much funner mode of transportation. Danny and I both have this attitude that we would be more proud if we did it on a fixed gear, plus, the route we're taking - there aren't that many hills."

This means that Vincent and Gutierrez will not be able to coast, and must pedal constantly. However, the ride is very well supported with cars assisting riders on the road and booths full of drinks every now and then.

Also, anyone who does not complete the day's ride after 10 hours will be picked up and taken to the next campsite. Team Lugged Nutz does not anticipate the need for this service.

Still a month away from race day, the two have not yet earned the $3,000 that they pledged to raise before the race. "Times are pretty hard, and it's been hard for us to raise money, but we've had a lot of other support other than financial, which is great," Gutierrez said.

"The whole cause has really brought a lot of good out in people," he added.

Asbestos Press hand-printed posters while New Order Ink and Splash Promotion printed T-shirts for sale at a fundraiser the bikers are holding this Saturday, May 2. The $5 cover and all proceeds from T-shirt and poster sales will going to Team Lugged Nutz's race fund.

Saturday, May 2, at 8 p.m. five local bands, including Vincent's band Flounder and Gutierrez's band Exhale, will be rocking Lugged Nutz's fundraising concert at the Kennel Club. Donations will be accepted.