Unfortunately due to the ridiculous nature in which our planet has decided to rotate through space and influence time and seasons, I missed last week’s #bikeschool session (9pm EST if you hadn’t got the hang of it yet). This was unfortunate for 2 reasons; the obvious being I didn’t get to have my hour or so of cycling banter while getting progressively more drunk but the more subtle one was that I missed The Boss, @LovingTheBike, throwing down the questions. And there were some real stonkers!

Darryl and I rarely get to go face to face (screen to screen really) during class anymore as #bikeschool has snowballed and the Professor role gets shared around with a guest Professor every so often. Thankfully there is lots of background stuff that goes on to bring you #bikeschool and LovingTheBike.com which allows us and the other two noggin-box geniuses, @egggman and @bikerly to get together online over the week. And so when I came to do my homework and read the questions and answers from the last class session (as every good student should do!) I was very happy to see the old dawg hasn’t lost his spark! We often get asked how we come up with so many questions which rarely duplicate previous class questions… and in all honesty I don’t really know. But what I will say is that when it comes to cycle bloggery and #bikeschool, Darryl is still the king.

So my favourite question from last week that got me pinging all over the web was…:

…and there were some great answers. So below is a run down of the causes, websites and groups that the class suggested were worthy advocates of our beautiful sport. Please check them out and give them all the support you can. They uphold, stimulate and progress the sport and past-time of cycling and we should all be thankful for their existence.

Bike Pittsburgh – @bikepgh

Mission Statement

“Bike Pittsburgh is a member-based organization that works to protect cyclist’s rights and promote the vision of making Pittsburgh a safer and more enjoyable place to live and to ride.

The work we do is at the heart of urban environmentalism – raising awareness about oil dependency, pollution, congestion, safe streets, good urban design, and public health. We are partnering with local stakeholders to improve our streets, bridges, and trails in order to make riding to work, shopping, and exercising by bicycle safe and fun for everyone in Pittsburgh.”

A great local group that are not just promoting cycling, but a way of life. An influential group that is powered by the people who run and support it.

People For Bikes – @peopleforbikes

Mission Statement

“Whether you’re a bike commuter, a roadie, a mountain biker or just a casual rider, by uniting your voice with a million others, we can build a national movement to improve bicycling in our country. We can make a statement through our sheer numbers by raising public awareness and demonstrating our passion to our leaders in Congress and in cities and states throughout the country.

Every six years, the federal government allocates billions of dollars to expand and improve our country’s transportation infrastructure. Peopleforbikes.org will use our powerful, united voice to urge U.S Senators and Congressmen to make new, cost-effective investments in bicycling facilities and programs that will benefit us now and well into the future.”

A cause that LovingTheBike.com has supported for a long time and we whole heartedly agree with their assertion that ‘bikes make life better’. You can sign their pledge for a better world for cyclists here.

Bike Federation of Wisconsin – @BikeFed

Mission Statement

“The Bicycle Federation of Wisconsin is a statewide, nonprofit organization.  We work with people from all around the state to make bicycling convenient, safe, accessible and fun.

The Bike Fed has a vision of Wisconsin as one of the world’s best places to ride a bike where millions of residents and visitors of all backgrounds who choose bicycling as an integral and convenient part of their daily life. Our mission is to inspire, motivate and unite a strong community of civic, business and political leaders, motorists and bicyclists to move bicycling forward.”

Another local project, this time a state-wide group who are prevalent in many aspects of cycling from winter safety and beginner bike camps to hard-hitting commuter issues.

  IMBA – @imbaaustralia

Mission Statement

“IMBA Australia creates, enhances and protects great trail experiences for Australian mountain bike riders. IMBA Australia’s objectives are to advocate for access, to gain recognition as the authority on all aspects of MTB trail management and to become the pre-eminent source of professional advice.

IMBA Australia aims to:

• Bring MTB advocates under one group;

• Attract membership from around Australia;

• Educate about MTB trail management, trail design and construction techniques, advocacy techniques;

• Attract professional consultancy projects; and

• Form partnerships to progress objectives.”

The International Mountain Bicycling Association of Australia is an absolute gold mine. Serving as a national hub for other mountain bike advocacy sits across Australia with a mantra of SPEAK, BUILD, RESPECT & RIDE.

Consider Biking – @consider_biking

Mission Statement

“World class communities have world-class accommodations for moving people by means other than a car. The central Ohio community needs the efforts of an organization like Consider Biking at this time. Given our citizen’s concern for health and sustainability, and the rising cost of operating a motor vehicle, the environment for our growth and success is ripe. In fact, there are over 130 bicycle advocacy organizations across the U.S. that Consider Biking can use as models. The momentum we’ve generated as a trusted resource for objective information, has drawn many to our cause of making Central Ohio more friendly for bicyclists. Our overarching goal is to increase the number of cyclists on the road. We strive to increase the mode share for bicycles by increasing the number of trips made by bicycle to workplace, shopping, errands, and for recreation. We are especially keen to increase the number of children that ride a bicycle to school and other activities. Of course we seek to increase the safety of bicyclists via developing comprehensive bicycling networks and complimentary education and encouragement programs. We seek to implement unified policies across all jurisdictions in the region and increase partnerships and stakeholders to develop and leverage the resources necessary to effectively carry out our mission. Lastly, we seek to increase the sustainability of the organization via sound management practices and development of volunteer leadership, membership, and funding sources.”

They say and do it all! From enhancing physical and mental health, protecting the environment and encouraging energy efficiency, to supporting economic development,creating safer communities and contributing to a culture of inclusiveness, empowerment and fun.

Los Angeles County Bicycling Coalition – @lacbc

Mission Statement

Our mission is to build a better, bike-able Los Angeles by improving the bicycle environment and quality of life in Los Angeles County through the following strategic goals:

Increase bikes as a mode of transportation in Los Angeles County by working with Metro on better bicycle and transit integration, to increase the amount of cities applying for and receiving funding for bicycle infrastructure from the Metro Call for Projects, set regional goals and better policies in the Southern California Association of Governments Regional Transportation Plan, and conduct bicycle and pedestrian counts in collaboration with cities and local advocacy chapters.

Advocate for improved bicycle infrastructure and supporting laws through Complete Street policies, better bicycle master plans, and increased municipal funding, such as Measure R, for bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure.

Serve as an umbrella organization for all bicyclists in LA County by fostering local chapters and regionally coordinated campaigns and planning through the 88 cities of LA County, and by reaching out to and raising the concerns of low-income, marginalized cyclists of color, through programs like City of Lights, Living Streets, and our Transit Hub Report.

Provide better education to both motorists and cyclists through our Give Me 3 bus shelter ad partnership, our Spanish bike resource guides and safety workshops, and our Sharrows pamphlets for drivers and cyclists.

In a large urban area cycle safety is a major consideration every time you pedal away from home. Despite Los Angeles’ reputation as a car-centric region, LACBC has emerged as one of the most innovative and wide-reaching bicycle advocacy non-profit groups in the US. They have played a major role in the growing cycling movement in LA and have a vision to improve the built environment in Los Angeles, so that all cyclists–low-income, commuter, recreational, families, and women–can safely navigate LA County streets.

BikePure – @BikePure

Mission Statement

“Bike Pure is not for profit organisation registered in Australia. We are also independent organisation for fans, riders and the cycle trade to promote honest, ethical sport and are opposed to doping. We stand together in a united stance to begin a new era for cyclesport. Bike Pure will spearhead constructive, structured reform, to restore the integrity of cycle sport and create a nurturing environment for future champions to succeed.

Bike Pure is committed to redirecting trust to Professional cycle sport.  For decades cycling has had a problem with endemic drug use. The cheats have destroyed the public image of cycling. Although the sport is cleaning up, there were over 60 riders caught cheating in 2009 using artificial, performance enhancing methods. Cycling fans worldwide deserve heroes they can believe in: Clean up or clear out. We desire real rider’s that the fans, sponsors and media can have faith in.”

BIKE PURE BASIC PRINCIPLES:

- Preserve the honesty and honour of the cyclist.

- Respect for fellow competitors and the appreciation of all endeavor

- To protect the mental and physical health of current and future champions.

- Upholding the ethics and essence cycle sport.

- To create a positive environment where an athlete achieve one’s natural, maximum potential.

My personal favourite of all advocacy groups. BikePure are quite literally moving mountains in the world of cycling and I DEMAND you go and buy a wristband to show your support. These guys are bomb sauce!

There are many more great advocacy groups out there, this is by no means an exhaustive list, just the ones submitted by class members. Be sure to let the class know about other groups using the #bikeschool hashtag and support your local groups… they deserve it.

Stevie

Recent years have seen the sport of cycle racing careering from pillar to post on the subject of doping which have thrown our sport into the mainstream media in all the wrong ways. We have  seen some of the most ‘original’ and ridiculous excuses ever spouted by enhanced humans, ranging from Björn Leukemans’ over-active libido to Floyd Landis’ binge drinking and my personal favourite, Tyler Hamilton claiming his unborn twin made him do it!

Thankfully there are many riders and fans out there who are not only riding clean, but also openly preaching the benefits of clean racing. One of the major contributors to this fight to protect the integrity of cycling and promote clean cyclesport is Bike Pure. Many of you will have heard about Bike Pure already and seen their wristbands on TV and being a big fan of their work, I caught up with one of the founders, Andy Layhe.

Phoenix Rising

StevieDexter: Welcome to #bikeschool, Andy. So who makes up the Bike Pure team?

Andy Layhe: Bike Pure is basically myself and best mate Myles McCorry. Myles came up with the idea and we worked hard together, [we] still do. Myles lives in Ireland and I moved over to Australia from Ireland last November with my wife and kids. We have ambassadors in many countries who help us voluntarily and we wish to thank everyone for their support towards Bike Pure.

SD: I’ve been a big fan of Bike Pure for a while now and regularly have on-the-bike conversations with people fueled by the stickers and spacers I have on my bike. What are the origins of Bike Pure?

AL: Back in 2008 and 2009 we were frustrated at the large amount of positives, especial at the Tour de France. The sports reputation was taking a battering, especially at the Tour de France and we though we would try and inject some much needed integrity into it by forming Bike Pure. We always felt that the voice of the non-dopers was drowned out by the dopers and we wanted to give not only those riders, but normal cycling fans who had been let down, a platform to say they were against it. We’ve moved on a long way from our inception and our growth is testament to the strong feelings out there. Since our inception we have pushed for longer sanctions because it’s clear the current two year ban isn’t working. There need to be deterrents in place that really make riders think twice before doping. We also wish to see the Doctors and team staff punished and banned from the sport for administering illegal substances to young riders.

We’re non-profit and sales from items on our store go back into promotion and the everyday running costs of the organisation. The wristband is fast becoming THE symbol for honesty and integrity.

SD: You mission statement says Bike Pure is ‘for the fans, riders and the trade opposed to doping’. Which of those categories do you fall in to and how does that affect the way you run the organisation?

AL: We fall into all those categories we hope. We see ourselves as part of the Bike Pure family – it is a collection of many people, fans, ambassadors, role models, companies and coaches who support us. We collectively are making change. It’s important that the industry gets behind us because they too have suffered the financial implications of sponsors dropping out of the sport due simply to the negative publicity. We are positive and a forward thinking group – at the end of the day cycle sport is a wonderful thing and we need to promote it as a healthy sport, not one where riders take transfusions and inject themselves with harmful substances.

SD: You have an extensive list of amateur and professional teams who support the cause, how much dialogue do you have between these teams in relation to new testing procedures and methods the teams themselves can use to remove the ugly head of this beast?

AL: We are in contact with the riders who form part of the organisation. The riders alignment is not only with Bike Pure, but also a commitment to their fans, coaches, family and team mates that they ride with integrity and honesty. It is difficult to engage with management of major teams as they have a job to do but we have input. It’s about education and if young riders are aware not only of the illegal implications of doping, but the ethical standards of sport then that will go a long way in the thinking of the new generation of riders coming through. Take the Australian mens team pursuit squad and even Cameron Meyer – they all form part of Bike Pure and their average age is only 19 years of age. We are looking to this generation to make change and be sincere role models in the years to come.

SD: Bike Pure also has an impressive list of professionals who show their support and act as role models including; Team Sky riders Steve Cummings and Russ Downing, Garmin-Cervelo’s Dan Martin and Australian National Road Race Champion Jack Bobridge, who regularly show their support at races all over the world. Have you had to chase and pester these riders for their support or have they approached you as the organisation has grown in size?

AL: In our early days we did contact riders whom we either knew or had heard good things about. We have since stopped approaching riders unless they come on recommendation from a third party. We receive emails from young riders and coaches who really believe in what we’re achieving and its rewarding. I even received an email from a young Australian junior rider recently. She had seen Cameron and others wearing the band and its very rewarding when we have young kids wanting to ‘say no to drugs’ and look to role models they can believe in.

A brave new world

SD: The Cycle Sport 2.0 campaign, which is at the heart of Bike Pure, is described as ‘a blueprint for a new start to cycle racing’. What kind of feedback have you had relating the Cycle Sport 2.0 proposals from the fans, and from the professional organisations which the 12 point program is targeting?

AL: We have a large volume of feedback on the proposals. It was nice to see the recent UCI comments regarding longer bans and they seem to be willing to implement many of the proposals we have been shouting about for the last few years. Of course the UCI won’t credit us but I hope that due to our large following and the structures we have in place that they can see the fans want change.

SD: Who was involved in the evolution of Cycle Sport 2.0? I’m guessing it wasn’t a random wish-list devised over a coffee break!

AL: Haha! Many of the ideas we have are born over a nice coffee! Myles was the instigator behind it and it’s a great idea. Many ideas we have evolve into larger things and it’s testament to our growth and development. We feel that education is the key though, we work with many coaches across many countries who talk to their riders about Bike Pure and if we can get this message across then all well and good. A lot of work we do isn’t always seen at the forefront though, we work with many charities and other groups, teams and organisations to spread our message and help others in any way we can.

SD: If Bike Pure could have the perfect 2011, what would the world of cycle racing look like as we enter 2012?

AL: We really think that the governing bodies need to listen to the fans more. The fans are the backbone of the sport. It’s an overused word but we need more transparency and more vocal noises from riders who are opposed to doping. Fans desire honest champions and I hope that Bike Pure are part of this new change we are seeing. Certainly many performances in the big tours are more believable than recent years but there’s still a mountain to climb. Cycling is a fantastic sport and we’ve seen a resurgence in all ages and abilities getting out on their bikes. It’s important that these people can have a sport to be proud.

SD: And finally, the question on everyone’s mind… why are YOU Loving The Bike?

AL: I’m loving the bike but not able to get out as much as I used to. I raced for 20 years and now it’s time to put something back into the sport that has given me so much. I call my bike rides ‘looking over the hedges’ as my now unfortunate lack of speed allows me to do this, taking in the wonderful Australian scenery that surrounds me! Funnily enough I’m enjoying carrying my additional body weight up steep hills and sampling good coffee.

Thanks to Andy for answering my questions with the detail and accuracy of a real pro!

Visit the Bike Pure store for a vast array of products to help support clean cyclesport and follow them on Twitter and Facebook.

Until next time, keep Loving The Bike…

Stevie