Wounded Warriors Ride to the White House

For the seventh year, the Wounded Warrior Project's Soldier Ride started from the South Lawn of the White House.  

The Wounded Warrior Soldier's ride is an annual, nationwide event which allows veterans and wounded servicemen to bond by cycling.  It was conceived in 2004 by Chris Carney, a Long Island bartender, in order to raise money and support our wounded warriors through a coast-to-coast bike ride.  Today the Wounded Warrior Project can claim 68,000 alumni who have found some solace from their injuries by cycling with their Warrior comrades.

For the White House stop, over 50 riders from all branches of the armed forces took the three day, 60 mile cycling challenge. Many of the participants rode adapted bicycles.  

h/t: White House

      USA Today

Bono's Cycling Spill--Bad

The legendary rock band U-2 was scheduled to take a week-long residency on the NBC Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon to promote their new album "Songs of Innocence"  (2014).   But  U-2 was a no show as frontman Bono Vox was in a "high energy" bicycling accident in Central Park on a Sunday Bloody Sunday.   

Fallon and the Roots tried to compensate for U-2's absence with a dead-on impersonation of their 1988 hit "Desire". 

Alas, Bono's injuries were more serious than initially thought.  Dr. Dean Lorich, an Orthopedic Trauma Surgeon at New York Presbyterian/Weill Cornell's Emergency Department, revealed that Bono broke his right arm in six places as well as injuring his left hand, fracturing an eye socket and a shoulder blade.  The spill was so bad that bone protruded through the skin on his arm. 

The arm fracture required a five hour operation and involved three metal plates and 18 screws. While Bono is expected to make a full recovery, it will take some intense and progressive therapy to do so.

It is believed that Bono's accident occurred as he swerved to avoid another cyclist and he fell over.  The NYPD has been cracking down on cyclists over the last couple of years for traffic violations in Central Park. Street cyclists have a reputation for running red lights and wearing headphones while on the roadways.  Bono's crash is a reminder why these rules matter, even in Central Park.

While cycling fans look to stars like Lance Armstrong or Jens Voigt for inspiration, many participate in the sport with their own "high-energy" rides.  Bono's Central Park "spill" is a reminder that the recreation is not without its risks as well as its rewards.

"Shut Up Legs!": Jens Voigt's Final Trek

Jens Voigt has been on the professional Cycling circuit for the past twenty years, racking up over thirty championships. As the 43 year old German Cycling star for Trek Performance Racing prepared to retire, he took on the Hour Record at the Velodrome Suisse in Gretchen, Switzerland. 

Using a specially designed bike, Voigt sought to break Ondrej Sosenka’s mark of 49.700 kilometeters in an hour from 2005.  On the even of his cycling swan song, Voigt voiced: "I'm planning on riding 50-something kilometers.

After a grueling 60 minute ride, Voigt achieved 51.115 kilometers or 31.761 mph. To make that mark, Voigt needed experience, training, determination and enduring quite a bit of pain.  This is why Voigt became renowned for the self chiding "Shut up legs!".

Voigt's drive, determination and character gives an excellent example outside of the velodrome or the peloton.

Lance Armstrong on Perseverance

 Lance Armstrong's life offers a poignant example for all.  Even after being diagnosed at age 25 with stage three testicular cancer in 1995, Armstrong persevered and won seven straight Tour de France races. Rather than being content for personal triumphs against disease, he formed the Lance Armstrong Foundation to support people affected with cancer.

The yellow Livestrong bracelets that people sported were more than just a fashion statement but a creed to how to live in the world--Unity is strength. Knowledge is power. Attitude is everything.


 Some may tut tut Armstrong's messy personal life or dismiss his cycling accomplishments amid the miasma of doping allegations. But Armstrong's commitment to Livestrong is undeniable.