2006 archive

Fire warnings for cyclists in western states

I made light of some grassfires sparked by a bicycle dragged behind an RV last week in Idaho, but wildfires are serious business for bicycle tours.

In addition to the obvious danger of being caught in a conflagration, there's the hazards of emergency equipment speeding along winding mountain highways and lung-choking smoke from fires that could be many miles away.

The Red Eagle Fire, pictured above, in Glacier National Park, Montana, is just one of four fires in Montana and 40 large fires in the western states reported on Tuesday that are burning about a half-million acres. …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2006/08/08/fire-warnings-for-cyclists-in-western-states/

Deutschland repeat doubtful for Levi Leipheimer

P>With one day to go in the Tour of Germany, it looks unlikely that American cyclist Levi Leipheimer will repeat his 2005 overall victory in the nine-day bike race.

German cyclist Jens Voigt has won three stages and has a firm grasp on the overall leader's yellow jersey. …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2006/08/08/deutschland-repeat-doubtful-for-levi-leipheimer/

Fire sweeps across Montana road

Here's a fire sweeping across a highway near St. Mary, Montana. There are obvious risks to cyclists. Picture of the Red Eagle Fire from the Northern Rockies National Incident Management Team.

 

Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2006/08/08/fire-sweeps-across-montana-road/

Do you still believe Floyd Landis?

If you still want to believe in Floyd Landis, then you'll want to read his interview in USA Today.

Landis, who's holed up at his home in Murrieta, California, blamed the leaks from Union Cycliste Internationale for his having to scramble to try and come up with an explanation for the out-of-whack testosterone-epitestosterone ratio. …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2006/08/07/do-you-still-believe-floyd-landis/

“Keep Idaho green; don't drag your bike on the road”

A bicycle scorched 250 acres of grassland along an Idaho highway on Friday.

The six grass fires along a two-mile stretch of Highway 52 near Payette were ignited by a bicycle that had come loose from an RV. It apparently was dragged along the pavement, showering sparks into the dry brush at the side of …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2006/08/07/keep-idaho-green-dont-drag-your-bike-on-the-road/

Levi Leipheimer wins Tour of Germany stage

Looking for a new American cycling hero after Floyd Landis has crashed and burned in his Tour de France doping scandal? Try Levi Leipheimer.

The native Montanan who currently lives in Santa Rosa, California, won Stage 5 of the Tour of Germany on Sunday, moving up to 4th place and getting a chance to duplicate last year's Deutschland overall victory. …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2006/08/07/levi-leipheimer-wins-tour-of-germany-stage/

Floyd Landis sample positive; Phonak fires him

It's a black day in cycling. As most everyone expected, even Floyd Landis, the much-anticipated “B” sample came back positive.

The 30-year-old Tour de France winner was immediately fired by the Phonak team. He'll probably lose his Tour de France championship as well, depending on the action of the US Anti-Doping Agency. …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2006/08/05/floyd-landis-sample-positive-phonak-fires-him/

LeMond rides in Pan-Mass Challenge bike ride

Greg LeMond is getting out on the road to participate with thousands of recreational cyclists in the Pan-Mass Challenge bicycle tour this weekend.

As Lance Armstrong joined RAGBRAI last week, and George Hincapie is scheduled to ride in the Oregon Wine Country MS150 ride this weekend, LeMond will join 4,000 other cyclists on the nation's biggest fund-raising bike ride. …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2006/08/04/lemond-rides-in-pan-mass-challenge-bike-ride/

Record rides for human-powered vehicles

The next time you're driving down the freeway, set your cruise control at 54 mph. Glance out the side window at the scenery zipping by. Now imagine doing this under your own power.

Amazing? Now imagine yourself doing this under your own power for an hour. That's what Fred Markham did on an outdoor track in the Arizona desert the day before July Fourth.

Now slow down to 26 mph on a residential street. That's still pretty fast for self propulsion. Could you do that for 24 hours? Greg Kolodziejzyk did, on July 20. …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2006/08/04/record-rides-for-human-powered-vehicles/

Fast Freddy Markham

One-hour world record holder for human-powered vehicle is Fred Markham, riding in the Varna Mephisto. Photo at the Easy Racers website.

Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2006/08/03/fast-freddy-markham/