So 48 hours before the actual ride the rumors where making their rounds that Lance Armstrong was in town and he was going to invite Los Angeles to come out and join him on a ride.

Just 24 hours later the “Super Tweeting” Armstrong sent out the following Tweet, “Hey LA – get out of your cars and get on your bikes. Time to ride. 7:30 tomorrow am. Griffith Park, LA Zoo parking lot. See you there.. And it certainly made quite the stir. At least 500 cycling locals made their way to Griffith Park for a once in a life time chance to ride with a sporting great.

Being one who never misses a chance to witness the craziness that Los Angeles is able to create, I decided to make sure that I was there to witness the LA version of a cycling pick up game.

I decided that I would ride the 15 some odd miles from my home to Griffith Park with a couple of my buddies, Larry and Brian. We headed out at about 6:15am and made our way through the pure chaos of Los Angeles rush hour traffic. It was not long before we had either caught, or got caught by other riders creating a little peloton negotiating semi awake, barely caffeinated, and cell phone blabbing commuters. As always, we move in survivor mode and plow ahead never letting the 3000 pound enemy to get in our way.

As we roll into the Griffith Park zoo parking lot there are already at least 300 riders kitted up and ready to roll. After taking a few minutes to scope the scene, snap a few photos of the crowd, say hi to the other riders I know, I decide to take up a position next to the police thinking that is where Lance is going to stop and chat. Good decision made.

LANCE LOOKING AS HAPPY AS THE CROWD WAS

Lance rides into the parking lot and heads straight to the police officers (thanks guys for helping make this happen) to have a little chat about his plans. I now have a front row seat to the man himself, and was able to get some great profile photos as well as a few words with Lance.

As he rolls out, the crowd cheers and every racer want-to-be, weekend warrior, and leg carpet tries desperately to get to the front to ride with Lance. It looks like a scene from the worst crit race I have ever been in. Mostly guys (like 95%) are trying with a reckless enthusiasm to get next to Lance or ride his wheel. Guys are bumping shoulders, over lapping wheels, and just pushing their carbon rides into just about any open space of asphalt. I was sure that some bozo was going to take Lance down. But somehow they never did take him down.

The pace started out moderate but really picked up on the first time up Garbage Hill climb which dropped most, and left pretty much the more competent riders. And it was at this point that the ride actually felt safe. The ride made two more laps around and by the 3rd one the lead group with Lance had pretty much came down to about 40 riders.

A FEW OF THE BETTER CYCLISTS KEEPING UP WITH ARMSTRONG

But as cool as it is to get the chance to ride with Armstrong, I think that there is a greater benefit. Are ready for this one? The biggest benefit is that brings the community of cycling to the lead story on the news. In Los Angeles the cyclist is just an annoying road hazard that has to be tolerated so says the stupid laws protecting them. The car culture in Los Angeles has no room for a slow moving two wheeled vehicle that should be either on the sidewalk or the bike path at the beach.

GARBAGE HILL STRINGING OUT THE RIDE

But not on this day! On this day cycling was in the forefront. One of sport”s greatest athletes of all time, if for only an hour, took cycling from the back pages, to the front page. Just look at the Los Angeles Times. Front page baby. Big, bold, and in full color! It was on ABC, NBC, CBS, KTLA, and FOX news. Every local news source showed up helping to bring just a little credibility to our cycling community.

It was a great event. It was so very new media. It was a chance for every person with a bike to say that they went on a bike ride with Lance Armstrong.

HEY, IT IS BRAD ROE, I KNOW THAT DUDE

Thanks Lance!!! And hey, send me a Tweet anytime and we can do it again.

And in Lance fashion he sent everyone there another Tweet that read “Great ride in Griffith Park. Thanks, LA! And thanks to the LAPD for the help. Off to Montreal. . .”.

Enjoy the ride Montreal! And say hi to Lance for me.

THE MAN AND HIS LIVESTRONG MACHINE