I Spy Lance at Madison’s Ride the Drive

On Sunday, August 29, 2010, Madison, Wisconsin, one of America’s most bike-friendly cities, played host to Ride the Drive.  Beginning in front of the State Capitol building, thousands of riders, including Lance Armstrong, enjoyed car-free streets to ride through the city.  Trek was a title sponsor of the event and it’s clear that Wisconsin residents support their home state bike builder as Trek’s were the predominate brand.  It was a casual 6 mile ride in 95 degree heat, even at 10:30 in the morning when Lance arrived to give some brief remarks before setting out on the course.  He was wearing a red t-shirt and shorts, stating that he was not wearing his usual lycra since this was a casual ride to get across the point that everybody can ride a bike everywhere.  Madison is promoting a program to see everyone complete at least 20% of their everyday errands by bike by 2020 through the 20 by 2020 campaign.

Before Lance Armstrong hit the stage, things got kicked off by the mayor of the city, Dave Cieslewicz, (who seems to be popularly known as “Mayor Dave”) and then the CEO of Trek, John Burke.  Then John introduced Lance, to the cheers of thousands.  He recalled a previous visit to Madison to work with the governor on cancer initiatives and a smoke-free campaign, the announcement of which was overshadowed as that was the day that Brett Favre announced his retirement from the Green Bay Packers, THE professional football team of Wisconsin, after playing there for 16 seasons.  (For Non-Americans reading this, Brett Favre is a popular NFL football player who at age 40 has just announced yet another return to the sport.)

Lance Armstrong

Lance went on to discuss the freedom that we all experience by riding a bike and achieving that freedom as a child when you first turn out of the driveway, leaving your parents behind as you go whizzing down the street.  Everyone in the crowd could definitely relate, with some taking that rite of passage not so long ago and others decades before.  Lance told of an early conversation with John Burke as he began his relationship with Trek back in his US Postal days.  John had suggested that instead of Lance and the team riding custom made frames, they would ride bikes produced in the Waterloo factory that everyone could buy.  “I said wait a minute…I’m going to ride the bike that you make for everybody else?  And they said yeah, you’re going to ride the bike that everybody can buy in the bike shop,” Lance shared.  “And, at the time it was shocking to me but over time it became a really cool story that the bike that I rode seven Tours on, the bike that I won seven Tours on, is the very same bike that gets stamped off the same line that you or anybody of your friends can go down and buy.  I think that’s a really unique thing.”  He praised the Trek CEO with “so not a bad idea John; that was a pretty good idea.”

Madison is actually a “sister city” of Lance’s hometown of Austin, Texas.  A few comparisons of the football team and politics ensued with the crowd eagerly chiming in.  Austin, however, doesn’t have a Ride the Drive. “Not yet,” says Lance.  Maybe Lance will organize a similar event in his hometown?
Lance reminded everyone to be safe, wear a helmet, respect the rules and be respectful of each other.   “ Enjoy the day, it’s a beautiful day, it’s hot, very hot actually. So much respect. And so much appreciation for what this city has one.  Mayor Dave thank you, it takes a lot of courage.  I’m sure there are some residents that are like wait a minute why is my road closed down?  It’s amazing.  It’s great for me to be here, an honor to be here.  Let’s go for a ride!”

And ride we did.  Thousands taking to the car-free streets with a seven-time Tour de France champion.  For free – no registration required, no fees to be paid.  Just show up on a bike and enjoy the ride.  Along the route, many “villages” were set up with family-friendly activities and many signs of ecouragement such as “Keep Going”, “Looking Good” and “I Spy Lance!”  If you’re planning on being in Madison, check out www.ridethedrive.com for info on future planned events.  And if you’re not, just get out for a ride today in your town.  Don’t forget your helmet!

By Nikki Bair, staff writer