2009 archive

Armstrong time trial bike recovered

Photo of Sacramento police officer with recovered Armstrong time trial bicycle. Picture from twitpic

Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2009/02/18/armstrong-time-trial-bike-recovered/

Do not put this bumper sticker on your bicycle

There's a Florida band named “This Bike is a Pipe Bomb.” If you want to keep life simple, do not attach their bumper stickers to your bicycle. Otherwise your ride could be considered a terrorist threat.

That happened Monday in Memphis where an airport terminal was shut down when such a bicycle was spotted near a passenger ramp.

A pilot saw the bike with the sticker and notified police, who evacuated the terminal. Bomb-sniffing dogs were called in, but did not detect any explosives.

Airport police took the bike owner into custody …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2009/02/18/do-not-put-this-bumper-sticker-on-your-bicycle/

This Bike is a Pipe Bomb

The stricker for the folk-punk band “this bike is a pipe bomb” has cleared an airport in Memphis and a university in Ohio.

Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2009/02/18/this-bike-is-a-pipe-bomb/

What makes Lance Armstrong ride?

Lance Armstrong and the Amgen Tour of California are reported to be drawing huge crowds along the route, in spite of heavy rain and cold temperatures.

More than 100 people crowded around the Astana trailer in San Jose to see Armstrong preparing for Stage 3 on Tuesday. Thousands gathered along the route.

Ann Killion, sports columnist for the San Jose Mercury News, asked former coach Jim Ochowicz what makes Armstrong ride? …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2009/02/18/what-makes-lance-armstrong-ride/

Hushovd wins Stage 3; Leipheimer retains overall lead in Tour of California

The impact of two major climbs and an all-day breakaway didn't factor at all into Thor Hushovd's Stage 3 victory on the wet streets of Modesto on Tuesday at the Amgen Tour of California.

The Norwegian sprinter for Cervélo TestTeam followed a perfectly executed leadout by his teammates at the end of the 101-mile race from San Jose to Modesto. He was followed across the line by Oscar Freire (Rabobank) and Mark Renshaw (Columbia).

Levi Leipheimer retained the yellow jersey, in spite of a going down between the two climbs after reportedly touching wheels with Astana teammate, Lance Armstrong. The Texan remains in 4th place; David Zabriskie in 3rd and Michael Rogers in 2nd ….

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2009/02/18/hushovd-wins-stage-3-leipheimer-retains-overall-lead-in-tour-of-california/

6 states, including Washington, seeking 3-foot clearance for bicyclists

The legislatures in six states — Colorado, Iowa, Maryland, Rhode Island, Texas and Washington — are considering bills in 2009 that require motorists leave at least 3 feet of clearance when passing a person riding a bicycle.

Twelve states presently require the 3-foot margin. They are Arizona, Arkansas, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Maine, Minnesota, New Hampshire, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Utah, and Wisconsin. (Connecticut and New Hampshire enacted laws last year; South Carolina enacted “safe operating distance”.)

A lawmaker, Jamie Pedersen, who represents Seattle submitted the bill in Washington state, entitled House Bill 1491. Pedersen commutes to work by bicycle when he's not in the state capitol in Olympia …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2009/02/17/6-states-including-washington-seeking-3-foot-clearance-for-bicyclists/

Levi Leipheimer in yellow; Thomas Peterson wins Stage 2 at Tour of California

Levi Leipheimer single-handedly closed a 3-minute gap on the final climb to take the yellow jersey on the Amgen Tour of California's Stage 2 on Monday.

Taking Leipheimer's slipstream on the descent was Garmin's Thomas Peterson, a native of North Bend, Washington. He passed Leipheimer in the uncontested sprint to win the 116-mile stage from Sausalito to Santa Cruz.

As it turned out, Rock Racing could not defend the yellow jersey earned Monday by Francisco Mancebo. He finished in the third bunch about 1:40 behind Leipheimer.

Astana teammate Lance Armstrong, in spite of his second crash in as many days, was in a group of about 10 that finished 23 seconds behind the winners and dis 4th overall. Armstrong T-boned a motorbike that went down in front; says he's OK. …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2009/02/16/levi-leipheimer-in-yellow-thomas-peterson-wins-stage-2-at-tour-of-california/

Rock Racing's Francisco Mancebo wins stage and yellow jersey at Tour of California

Heavy rains doused a lot of dreams at the Amgen Tour of California on Sunday as Rock Racing's Francisco Mancebo spent the entire day in front of the peloton to win in Santa Rosa.

The 32-year-old Spanish cyclist appeared to thrive on the wet and windy conditions as he outgunned two challengers at the finish line and finished about 2 minutes on Levi Leipheimer, who's making a bid to win a 3rd straight Tour of California.

Because of changes in the finish line, however, Leipheimer is only 1:02 behind Mancebo in the overall standings. Following is David Zabriskie in 3rd, Michael Rogers in 4th and Lance Armstrong in 5th.

Armstrong suffered a flat and a fall during the 106.7-mile stage from Davis to Sacramento, but was right there with teammate Leipheimer in a chase group of about 17 that finished about 1:40 minutes behind. …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2009/02/16/rock-racings-francisco-mancebo-wins-stage-and-yellow-jersey-at-tour-of-california/

Francisco Mancebo

Francisco Mancebo, 32, is currently on the Rock Racing team.

Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2009/02/16/francisco-mancebo/

Armstrong's custom Trek time trial bike

The Trek time trial bike used by Lance Armstrong was stolen from the Astana team trailer before Stage 1 of the Amgen Tour of California was scheduled to start in Davis. More at TwitPic.

 

Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2009/02/15/armstrongs-custom-trek-time-trial-bike/