Training has been coming back to Peter Schmidt like an old friend.

 Dust had been gathering on his 1984 red Ciocc bike. He hadn't been riding much during the past year at all.

 Then Schmidt, a 62-year-old former triathlete, decided to make the 525-mile ride from San Francisco to Santa Monica . He signed on for the Arthritis Foundation's Amgen California Coast Classic Bicycle Tour, Sept. 20-27.

 Now Schmidt is wheels to the pavement by 5:30 a.m. His training rides take him between 20 to 30 miles at a time.

 From his home in Palm Desert , Schmidt often rides out to La Quinta Cove through Indio and back again. Sometimes he rides up Highway 74. Other times he takes long and quiet rides through Thousand Palms.

"I love being outside," he says. "I love the feel of being on my bike and the smell and taking in everything that goes by."

 He'll do the same in September when he pedals next to the rugged California coastline, past sunny beaches, wineries, lighthouses and forests.

 And he'll be wearing a custom-made jersey, donated by Windermere Real Estate, where Schmidt is a local Realtor.

 This is his first time attempting the challenge. Schmidt's nephew, who has done the ride a couple times before, has been hounding him to do it for years.

 "If there are any regrets, it's that I didn't do this sooner," Schmidt says.

 The money Schmidt raises through this ride will go to the 46 million Americans suffering from arthritis and related conditions.

 "As someone who has logged thousands of bicycle miles, I consider myself one of the fortunate who is able to get out of bed in the morning and have the energy and strength to take on a challenge like this," Schmidt says. "Many people with arthritis are not so fortunate."

 Maggie Downs is a features reporter for The Desert Sun. She can be reached at 778-6435 or maggie.downs@thedesertsun.com.