Coasta roller.

• Position: Final - Kyle V. Berg on joining the bike ride for the Arthritis Foundation - Interview

Kyle V. Berg, CPA is a tax practitioner at Buckley. Patchcn, Riemann & Hall in Walnut Creek. He's also undertaking an eight-day bike ride down the California coast to raise money for the Arthritis Foundation, starting at Pier 39 in San Francisco and ending down in Santa Monica. The riders will stay on Hw. I as much as possible during the Sept. 13-20 California Coast Classic. We asked him what else he was expecting about the ride.

Why participate in this ride?

I was invited by my father-in-law a lew years ago. and did this ride for the first time in 2008. I haven't really been active on my bike for about four years. Last winter my wife and I realized we had emerged from baby-fog my oldest w ill be 5 in December, and his tw in brothers will bi 3 in September . We started getting more active and she suggested I do the California Coast Classic ibis year. As CPAs, we're in a great position to evaluate organizations, and I took a look at the Arthritis Foundation. 1 went on GuideStar and reviewed its 990s for the last three years. I war pleased to see (at least in my opinion that the organization runs pretty lean. Executive compensation was reasonable, and I was happy to see how much went into the programs it runs. Its biggest expenditures arc programs for community support and summer camps for kids with arthritis. Thai's a cause I can really rally behind.

What has your training entailed?

It's all about time in the saddle. I get out super early in the mornings on weekends, do my roughly GO miles and big climbs and be back for lunch to spend the rest of the day with my family. 1 do spin class twice a week during my lunch hour with a coworker. As a training goal, we try not to ride 10 percent to 15 percent more than anything we've done in the last four weeks. The first day of the California Coast Classic is about 86 miles. That means that sometime within the last four weeks leading up to the ride we should have at least one 75-plus mile ride in.

Any ride highlights you're looking forward to?

Day 4: "Two Turn Tuesday" Big Sur to San Simeon. We make a left onto Hwy. I from Big Sur and. 66 miles later, turn right into camp! This is the biggest climbing day but with the descents and the views along the coast, it's well worth it.

What do you expect to encounter out on the road for this ride?

Peace. I can't tell you how much I'm looking forward to just having to worn about pedaling for eight straight days. It's great to be doing so for a cause that helps...