Armstrong Recovering From Surgery
Seven-time Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong is recovering after undergoing surgery this morning to repair his collarbone, which was broken into four pieces in a crash in Spain on Monday. In an article posted on Armstrong's Astana team website, doctor Doug Elenz, the orthopedic surgeon who performed the procedure in Austin, Texas, said it wasn't yet clear when Armstrong would be able to return to racing.
The cyclist himself said Tuesday night that he hadn't ruled out a return in time for the Giro d'Italia in May, with the Tour de France still in his sights. "Normally we see eight to 12 weeks for something like this to heal completely," Elenz said, but added that Armstrong could be back in action before that, depending on his progress.
Elenz and his team repaired the injury with a five-inch stainless steel plate with 12 screws. Armstrong was expected to be back at his home in Austin on Wednesday evening. He is then supposed to rest for a week, after which he can begin aerobic training on a stationary bike.
On the eve of the procedure, the 37-year-old Armstrong said he believed the Giro was "still very doable". "It's a very common cycling injury, so you hear of guys who have raced two weeks later, and guys who have raced two months later," he said.
Johan Bruyneel, manager of Armstrong's Astana team, had already said in Spain that he believed Armstrong could be back in action for the Giro, with the American's prospects of racing in the Tour de France even better. "A broken collarbone in March does not change anything as regards the Tour de France," which starts on July 4, Bruyneel said.
The US cycling legend broke his collarbone when he fell along with several other riders about 20 kilometers (12 miles) from the finish line of the first stage of the Tour of Castilla y Leon on Monday.
A cancer survivor who went on to claim a record seven Tour de France crowns, Armstrong ended a three-and-a-half year retirement at the Tour Down Under in Australia in January to launch a comeback aimed at challenging for an eighth Tour de France title.
Armstrong Strike Back : Recovering From Surgery
First-Ever Green Commuting Social Network
We just got a press release via email:
WorldCommute.com Establishes First-Ever Green Commuting International Social Network
Web Site Enables Tracking of Carbon Offsets, Social Network, for Global Users
OSAKA, Japan - Embracing the global demand for solutions enabling eco-friendly transportation, CatEye, the leading global manufacturer of bicycle electronics, introduced WorldCommute.com, a not-for-profit, free social-network Web site designed to encourage, promote and track the use of non-motorized transportation around the world. CatEye, through the feature-rich Web site, promotes its core philosophies of environmentalism, personal health, safety, and active enjoyment in a way that engages and encourages average citizens to use non-motorized transportation as a way of life, and to more importantly make a difference in their part of the world.
WorldCommute.com is designed as a truly global interactive social networking platform, offered in six languages, to help track and record the positive contributions made by choosing human-powered efforts over a typical vehicle trip. WorldCommute uses various forms of measurement to encourage users to track and analyze a variety of human powered trips they take - by bike, walk, run, skate, wheelchair, skipping and otherwise - then create a profile to measure the impact on their personal life and the world. WorldCommute users will be able to interact individually and as groups with others and challenge each other to increase their commute participation and ultimately reduce their combined carbon offsets.
To find out more or to register, please visit the World Commute website.
Naked riders brave the cold in Brighton
A group of cyclists shed their clothes and rode through Brighton to publicise the World Naked Bike Ride. They pedalled along the Madeira Drive seafront road wearing nothing but woolly hats, gloves and scarves.
Their aim was to promote the main Brighton naked ride on Sunday 14 June, and also to show solidarity with protesters in the southern hemisphere who are holding similar events this month.
The World Naked Bike Ride is an annual event celebrating cycling, protesting against climate change and demonstrating cyclists' vulnerability on the road.
Rides will be held across the UK this summer, with the Brighton event forming the finale to a weekend of naked rides in southern England. Other cities taking part include Southampton, London, Manchester, Sheffield, York, Cardiff and Edinburgh.
Organisers hope to inspire hundreds of people to strip off for Brighton's fourth annual "bare as you dare" demonstration. Last year, 400 people cycled the easy eight-mile route through the city centre.
Nick Sayers, who first brought the ride to Brighton in 2006, said: "The World Naked Bike Ride always gets a great response from crowds of onlookers – with incredulous gazes, smiles and laughter – and greatly boosts cyclists' confidence and feeling of liberation. When it comes to cycling, especially in the buff, there's considerable safety in numbers – more is definitely merrier!"
The event starts at noon with a naked lunch and body painting at The Level park, and finishes with a sea swim and picnic at the naturist beach in Kemp Town. The ride has a carnival atmosphere, with bikes adorned with flags and flowers, music, and bodies painted with slogans.
Planning for the Brighton ride was officially launched on Friday 13 March at a clothing-optional film night. More pre-ride events and a post-ride party are being planned to get more people involved. People are also invited to join the ride's Facebook and Yahoo groups for up-to-date information.
Ride co-organiser Duncan Blinkhorn said: "Cars have become a symbol of over-consumption as we wake up to the threat they pose to life on earth. Our ride calls for less dependence on these unsustainable and dangerous vehicles, and more priority for the cheap and cheerful alternative that is cycling. I'm confident that this year we'll see more bikes and bodies than ever taking over Brighton's streets and joining in the chorus to The Bare Necessities."
About 400 people took part in last year's World Naked Bike Ride event in Brighton
GT golden bike goes 'missing'
GT’s intriguing Golden Bike series is set to kick off the first leg of competition at next month’s Sea Otter Classic in the US - but one lucky ‘winner’ may have already taken home the prize.
According to GT marketing man Robb Zbierski, one of the company’s specially finished GT Zaskar race bikes was lost in shipping last month – while the shipping label arrived at the intended destination in an envelope, the bike did not. In addition to the flashy gold paint job on the frame, the bike also features a custom gold finish on the Shimano XTR drivetrain, Mavic Crossmax SLR wheels, and Ritchey bar and stem.
Just as was the case with Lance Armstrong’s stolen – and recovered – one-off Trek Equinox time trial bike, Zbierski is hoping the bike’s distinctive appearance will hamper any potential illicit sale and will lead to a quick recovery.
Nonetheless, GT is offering a US$3000 reward for the bike’s return. If you've seen it, drop GT an email at goldenbike@gtbicycles.com.
