There is a new term popping into the lingo of driving in cities across America. It refers to a roadway signal that lets motorists know they are sharing the road with bicycles. You will see these little guys all over in Seattle and in Portland. They are cyclists painted on the road with little directional arrows marking the flow of traffic, and they are called “sharrows“.  It seems that bicycle friendly communities are becoming more popular everywhere.  The inevitable result is that there is a growing need for cars and bicycles to learn to share the road.  At least that is one of the opinions out there. Now, sharing is something that we were supposed to learn as children. I am still trying to figure out why it becomes “OK” to leave sharing curbside when we move into our cars. As traffic increases, the claims on asphalt real estate intensify, stress increases and tempers flare. In many cities across the country, the need to go out and take part in such “turf wars” involves a trip of a few miles or less. When gas prices went through the roof last year, many people found that there were alternatives to car travel that were actually quite pleasant. Imagine arriving at work after a walk or a bike ride, and avoiding the hassle of finding a parking place! The gas savings were very real for many people!

The automobile has dramatically improved our quality of life, but it also takes a toll, as we watch more and more of life become “sedentary”. It is not a risk free form of transportation. I would bet that almost all of us know someone who has been injured by the automobile. For many, there simply are no alternatives to climbing in a car to get around, but for a lot of us it it also a matter of convenience. The option of leaving the car parked may be a more realistic option than we have considered.

So, what are the “side-effects” of getting from point A to point B by walking or riding a bike? Lets see: less traffic, less money spent on fossil fuel (with less pollution), better health, and less stress. Not bad! You might even be able to ignore the new diets shouting from the checkout lane at the grocery store!

Maybe these are some of the reasons that so many communities are working to become “bicycle friendly”.  The challenge seems to be getting the drivers to mellow as they go out to fight the traffic battle everyday. I know from personal experience how awful a collision with a car can be for a cyclist. I also know it is foolish to think that the roads will become be safer in the short term. However, it still seems that starting the path toward “cycling friendly” makes sense on many levels. The Washington State laws already grant roadway rights to cyclists and pedestrians, and we all pay our share of taxes to support the roads! The designation of “bicycle friendly” enhances the value of the community, and the health of its members. So, where does one start?

The local cycling club has identified signage as a beginning. At least this will be a visual reminder to those of us in cars that there may be a cyclist sharing the road. We aren’t going to change the roads, and we obviously can’t add much to a distressed state/local budget. This is where “sharrows” come in. They are cheap and will hopefully be effective. The Wenatchee Valley Velo is hoping to work with the city and county officials to begin the project. We are hoping to join with the trail project linking Wenatchee and Leavenworth to place signage along the shared roads between these two communities as well. There are cycling groups across the state promoting similar projects and Seattle has had huge success. The flipside of this is a need for cyclists to improve their awareness and respect for traffic laws and signals. One important part of such a project is to educate the local cycling community about their responsibilities on shared roads. In this way, such a  project can be a “win-win” for the entire valley. If you have a chance to voice an opinion on this concept to our County Commissioners or City Council, I hope you will send your support!

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I have spent most of my life either living through injuries or repairing them. When the body starts to narrow the spectrum of “sporting activities” with that wonderful little process of “ageing”, you learn to fear chronic conditions seriously. For those of you who are addicted to cycling, all you have to do is imagine an injury that will keep you off the bike to start getting depressed.  For runners, all it takes is a problem in that wonderous piece of equipment that strikes the ground with each step to cause panic. Many of us have also heard that fearful phrase of “rotator cuff tear” when investigating some shoulder pain. When you go to the doctor for these, words like “tendonitis, ligament sprain, or overuse injury” are tossed about like appetizers on the orthopaedic menu. The hardest part of the cure for these conditions is often the lengthy healing time involved. It actually makes sense if you think about it. An injury that involves tissue with relatively poor blood supply is going to heal more slowly, and ligaments and tendons have sparse blood supply compared to the rest of the body.

So what’s the good news? Well, many of us watched the Super Bowl game this year and were treated to some pretty good football. I was particularly intrigued by the “comeback” of Troy Polamalu and Heinz Ward from injuries sustained only weeks before. They had been injected with PRP (platelet rich plasma).  This had been done in hopes of shortening their recovery, and their performance suggested great success. I found this interesting because we have been using PRP in orthopaedics for a long time to promote bone healing! This began several years ago as a way to help bone fusion occur, and only recently has spread to use in the area of soft tissue injury. The use of PRP in two of the Pittsburgh Steelers brought to light its possible use in the area of ligament and tendon healing, in a big way.

This may be of interest to those of us who are dealing with these injuries. A recent review in the New York Times outlined increasing reports of success from the injection of PRP, and it’s relative safety. The PRP is obtained by concentrating a patient’s own blood and then collecting the part that is centrifuged to be rich in the platelets. The theory is that in addition to the platelets, this blood fraction has a higher concentration of tissue “factors” that promote healing. Studies are underway to define exactly where this may work most effectively, but the early results are promising. It may provide an alternative to surgery in some cases.

Since I am a patient now, I could not help note the cost with new interest. The price tag of $2000 seems high to me, but maybe that is what the Steelers paid! For a  guy in a wheelchair with a partial tear of the rotator cuff in his shoulder, a couple of grand for an injection leads to a deep sigh. Nonetheless, you can bet I would opt for a trial of injection therapy with PRP before going through the hardship of shoulder surgery! Imagine trying to protect your shoulder from use if you have no function in your legs! I am thinking there are some others out there who might be dealing with tendon or ligament injuries who might be interested in such an option. Early reports are coming in for use of PRP in ligament strains, rotator cuff injuries, achilles tendon repairs, and chronic tendonitis conditions. It should be emphasized that these results are early and will need confirmation in larger studies. However, if you have such an injury, you should at least take comfort in the fact that this technology is not new. We have been generating PRP for orthopaedic uses here for years. This just might be a new twist on its use.

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This week, Spokes turns to matters of serious cycling with a look at the upcoming Tour of California,  February 14-22. Whether you are an avid fan of cycling, or one who only occasionally gives consideration to an exercise bicycle, this race is noteworthy. In four short years, the Amgen Tour of California (TOC) has grown into one of the most important bike races in the world. The fact that it takes place on American soil should make all of us who love cycling in this country proud.  This year’s race will cover almost 800 miles as it travels from Sacramento all the way to Escondido in the southern part of the state. Fifteen of the top teams in the world will contest the TOC this year. Last year, it is estimated that 1.6million fans attended the race! This kind of exposure and success draws the best cyclists in the world to California, in February.

Consider the competition for the 2009 TOC: 2 past winners of the Tour de France; 1 winner of the Giro de Italia; 11 World Champions; 17 Tour de France stage winners; and 25 current/former National Champs. That is quite a pedigree for your start line! The race is strongly supported by Govenor Schwarzenegger and the state of California. You can watch the race live on TV by going to the Versus sports channel. To get broadcast times, go to www.versus.com and follow the cycling links. Daily coverage will also be on www.cyclingnews.com.

One of the unique features of the TOC is the focus on a healthy lifestyle and pioneering treatment of cancer. Amgen www.amgen.com , the title sponsor of this race is an American company that produces vital medications for the treatment of many diseases. If you have had a serious illness, it is likely that Amgen has been a part of your treatment. We went to the race last year and were impressed by the “Lifestyle Festival” put on at the finish of each stage. This was a showcase of the Amgen science behind their treatment of disease. This year’s race will also feature the return of Lance Armstrong to the top levels of competitive cycling. One of the reasons that he is racing the Tour of California is to continue his campaign to raise awareness about cancer and its treatment. He is planning to line up for the Tour de France again too.

Although this year’s edition of the race is not favorable for sprinters, we may see some of these “fast finishers” get near the podium in the prologue. The prologue in Sacramento is short and flat. Last year in Palo Alto, our local boy Tyler Farrar ended up on the podium, so it could be interesting again. After the prologue, the race tackles climbs in each stage, so it will be uncertain whether the teams will work to force a sprint finish. Usually the climbers will “breakaway” on the hills, and lay down a challenge to the other teams… “catch me if you can!” If a team wants to position their sprinter, they will have to step up the pace heading into the finish and catch the breakaway guys before the final stretch. Since this race has the best sprinters in the world contending, we may see just that in the first few stages. Other teams going for the overall win of the 9 stage race will conserve their energy and work for their riders who can climb and time trial (the Lance Armstrong types). All in all, a great week of cycling, and with cold rain in the forecast it could make for some “epic” stages.

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When it comes to teaching, there is no substitute for experience. As I learn the ropes of a two-wheeled chair, I have learned  that people living with spinal cord injury have a lot to teach all of us. I was recently treated to the experience of Mike Brickert, and his incredibly ”can do” attitude toward disability. Mike and I have the same level of paraplegia (the fourth thoracic level). We both were injured in bicycle versus automobile accidents at the same age.  He ran into an ammo truck on an island in the Pacific, instead of a car in Wenatchee. This sounds more adventuresome, but I would take Wenatchee and a mile from the hospital any day.  He had a long road to travel to get home! After a prolonged transfer, he underwent treatment at Harborview. Mike has now been in a wheelchair since 2003. He shares the enthusiasm that Mike Utley and Glen Frese have demonstrated in returning to a life of activity, in spite of daunting limitations.

Mike was a high level athlete when injured, and regularly competed in biathalons throughout the Northwest. He stopped here in Wenatchee on his way back to his home in Montana, and dropped off many practical tips and pearls for paraplegics. However, his main gift was an attitude toward living that we all can learn from.

It is the nature of life to bring each of us challenges and problems we never planned on. Some of these will be life changing. Sudden trauma and spinal cord injury with paralysis are hard to swallow. I liken it to having your life put in a blender and then poured out on the counter. As things settle, we have to go back through the mess and put together the pieces that still work. Not all the challenges involve the trauma part, but all of us will have to deal with illness or injury that is going to be unpleasant and  “unscheduled”. When life hits us like this, it may be that the most important thing we have control over is our attitude. Mike Brikert brought a whole case of “attitude” to Wenatchee this week, and demonstrated that life is still good if you focus on what you can do, rather than the things you have lost. He shared a quote that others have mentioned: “If all you can see is the door that closed behind you, you will not appreciate the ones that open in front of you.” We also reflected on the power of prayer in these situations. Sudden loss will always test your spiritual life.  God is there to support all who seek with an open heart. I have learned many lessons over the past months, and a visit with someone like Mr. Brikert was just what the doctor ordered to put things into perspective. It is important to realize that our “attitude” will dramatically change the impact of any problem that comes down the pike. When it comes to your health, your attitude can even change your illness! The other interesting thing about human disability is that we are one of the only species on the planet blessed with the compassion to help others who become disabled. This is a gift that I now appreciate like never before, even though I have been a physician for 30 years. As I work with physical therapists to relearn how to function, I am full of gratitude. It has been said that grumbling and gratitude will not fit in the same package. A sense of gratitude to God, family, friends, and caregivers will minimize the grumbling we all are prone to as life opens up for us. We just have to see the things to be thankful for.

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Three months ago, I became a cycling statistic. I became the loser in a bicycle versus automobile argument, and the victim of traumatic injuries that would change my life forever. I presented to Central Washington Hospital with  an “injury severity score” (ISS), that predicted I would not survive. No one told them that I was a dead man, so the team went to work and I survived.  I’m here to tell you: it has been a rough three months! This blog has been silent. After some thought, and dialogue with the folks at the Wenatchee World, I decided to continue this blog. There have been big changes, and the blog will broaden to cover some issues of wheelchair cycling as well as the regular cycling scene. Since I have a new perspective on the health care industry, there may be some “patient-centered” news as well.

Many readers know the details of the story. Suffice it to say that fantastic health care and all the “unmeasurables” of friends and family combined to help me survive a terrible accident. Unfortunately, nothing could change the reality of a severe spinal cord injury.  I am now a paraplegic with no sensation or motor function from the upper chest down. I join some 250,000 people in the US living with spinal cord injury. Almost all of us are cyclists, but we travel in wheelchairs instead of the bicycles that I used to call “home”. Interestingly, I now have a titanium wheelchair with spinergy “SPOX” wheels. My ride is made by the same companies that make high end cycling equipment!  The Tilite company that makes these high performance wheelchair frames is actually in Kennewick, Washington. Turns out that they also make thousands of titanium bicycle frames for the US market. They get repainted and are then sold by bicycle companies! I guess that should make me feel at home, but somehow when I climb into the wheelchair it is just not the same feeling as getting on a regular bicycle…Duhh.

The first issue that has slapped me in the face as I return to “cycling” is the incredible mark-up for all things “medical”! It is very interesting to purchase wheels and tires from the same companies that used to outfit my bicycle, and feel the financial sting of this mark up with its different “price list”! As we buy all the supplies for this new life, I see first hand one of the big costs of American health care. Whenever someone is billing an anonymous “third  party”, the costs go up. There is no option of “face-to-face” to keep things honest. This creates a kind of gamemanship between insurance companies and suppliers that puts the patient out in the loser’s seat! The suppliers run up the costs like monoply money, and the insurance strategy is to figure out how to avoid payment. Anyone not willing to go the route of insurance company hurdles gets the monopoly price. I got so frustrated that I even called the insurance “help desk” for billing assistance determined to get a “real person”. When I was politely informed (by recording) that my call was 25th in line, I realized how difficult the rest of life is going to be! It is very instructive to be the patient now instead of the doctor! I’ve been telling folks that to understand life in a wheelchair you have to put yourself in one and not get out for a day or two. I now firmly believe that all physicians would be well served to become patients. Nothing really new about this. In fact, I remember a song about “walking a mile in my shoes”. It seems that empathy is a quality that is undervalued these days  in the medical marketplace. I don’t know how to bring it back, but I will be guilty of ranting a bit from my new “patient pulpit” in a hopeful sort of way.

Meanwhile, it the “real world” of actual cycling, folks should know that the racing season is officially underway. The “Tour Down Under” was just completed in the balmy Australian summer. An Australian, Allan Davis, won the overall which will give the Aussies something to brag about, along with their beer. The surprise for American fans was the presence of Lance Armstrong in the top third of the final results! How does a guy who is 37 take a couple of years off and come back to be right in the thick of it in the first pro race he enters? Answer: quit doing commercials a year ago and started training like crazy! He could provide cycling fans some entertainment this year!

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It’s that time of year. Somedays it is the darkness that saps you, and sometimes it is just the cold of it all. Regardless, most of us end up “riding inside” to get our cycling fix as winter approaches. Travel can also put you on those bicycles that go nowhere, usually in “fitness rooms”" in strange cities. I guess you just have to swallow it like an oversized vitamin pill. It’s one of those things that you know is good for you, even though it feels like punishment at times.

My intro this year was particularly interesting. It happened to be the Renaissance Hotel wrapped around the Roger’s Centre Stadium in Toronto. This place can provide you with hotel rooms that are part of the stadium. You walk into your room and realize that your window could be hit by a home run if they ever put steroids on the menu again! The hotel has an onsite “fitness centre” that is a major part of the complex.  The set up is impressive, especially if you are a Blue Jays fan. For a cyclist looking for a bike to ride, it was a bit more complicated.  After going down and down (4 flights) into the belly of the huge gym, I finally found the room with the “spinning cycles”.  The guy on the front desk warned me that there wouldn’t be many folks riding the bikes but he did not say why.  ”No worries”, (an i-pod and a couple of days of travel would be enough motivation to get me through).

The room was hugely empty of other people, had about 20 bikes, and lots of mirrors. I don’t know whether this is to give the impression that you are not alone, or just to let you get multiple perspectives of your sorry self as you ride off to nowhere. Time passed, the sweating started, and I was beginning to feel like poor “Dave”, the astronaut in the movie 2001, a Space Odyssey. I think he spent years alone in some alien lab made up to look like an apartment where humans lived on earth. He actually grew old and died in that room!

I was just beginning to reminise about the movie when she showed up! Solitude was gone! “Dave” was startled, caught unawares, and mumbled something.  She seemed used to this, and said she would go ahead and “set up“.  She was compact and full of business, remarking that the class had indeed grown smaller these days. Next, the lights are turned way down, and a small lamp on the music console is switched on.  Then Her i-pod goes into the mega sound system and giant speakers come alive! Suddenly the base blast is hitting me like a head wind!

OK… you can still do this…

Her bike moves in next to mine, and soon she is bouncing up and down to the beat. I begin to feel like a wuss. This girl is clearly sprinting up a hill, and I am falling behind! My earphones fall out, and after fiddling with the resistance knob, I am pumping away too. Standing up out of the saddle, I begin to wonder just how long this hill will be! It feels like we are racing! How could that be? Give me a break~ we are in a darkened room in the basement of a building in downtown Toronto! Where in the hell are we racing to? After several minutes of this effort, we get to back off and just spin, but only until the next soul thumping song comes on, and we are out of the saddle again!

An hour later, I have given up on her pace. I imagine that her bike is different, that the resistance knob is just for show, and other excuses. The reality is that I have just taken part in my first real “spinning class” ruled by an “exercise nazi“! I am humbled. Then I see another guy who snuck into the back of the room and just rode at his own pace for most of this. I guess I have some things to learn about this indoor cycling.  I certainly have more respect for the workout one can get in one of these classes!

There was one nagging bit of knowledge. I also had a pretty good hunch why Her classes had gotten so much smaller!

The travel tip is that if you are going to Toronto, The Renaissance is a great place to stay (just be careful of the spinning classes). There’s a new training goal for me~ travel time will mean a little extra preparation “just in case” I end up riding with the exercise nazi! Yep, I’ll be ready for her the next time!

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The “Cycling Classics” are those famous one-day races that stand on their own as monuments to the sport. Most of them have been running for about 100 years on nearly the same courses!  Any rider who wins a “classic” will immediately become a historical hero  in cycling.  The last “classic” of the season starts in Paris and runs for 252kms (154 miles) SSW, past Chartres to Tours, France. Since the course  is mostly flat through the fields of France, it is a race that favors the sprinters. The climber-types will have trouble powering through the miles, keeping the pace and chasing down the breakaways, so this is a race for the “big boys”.   Paris-Tours almost always comes down to a contest between a small late breakaway group and the teams trying to bring it back together so that the sprinters can unleash their stuff in the final few kms. This year was no exception, and it brings us to the “sprinter’s dilemma”.

As a sprinter, you have to power your way into position in the final few kilometers of a race, but hold  your final kick until you know it will pay off with a good chance of victory. Go too soon, and you risk blowing it, being caught by the charging peloton, and having to explain your gutsy move to your race director. Wait too long, or get boxed in, and you lose your chance. The dilemma comes when some racers decide to make a “suicide move” in the last 10 kms (6 miles) or so. These late breakaways are usually doomed to failure (hence the name “suicide”), but will occasionally pay off with a win. When the sprinters see this move, they must decide whether to chase it down, (wasting precious energy), or wait for their team to chase it, hence the dilemma. This is truly a high speed game of poker with the finish line fast approaching. Go to www.cyclingnews.com for the official report.

In Paris-Tours this year, four riders broke free with 12kms to go. They were almost caught by the peloton on the small climb 4km from the finish, but there was just a moment’s hesitation in the pack (that proved critical). A French guy named Phillip Gilbert saw his chance, and knew he had a teammate up ahead, so he attacked, bridging up to the four, and laying down his cards. His teammate, Mikael Delage, immediately decides to bury himself for Gilbert, and uses his time trialing skills to keep the group of five just ahead of the peloton. Delage “blows”  at 1km to go, but has beautifully positioned Gilbert ahead of the charging pack by a few seconds. The top sprinters in the world were in this race, and they now realize that they have waited too long! This year, the “suicide move” succeeds, and four riders cross the line 4 seconds ahead of the pack! Gilbert is the winner, and the sprinters are now racing for 5th place. Getting, a “top five” is still a great result in Paris-Tours, but it means they came up on the short end of this year’s “dilemma” for the win.  (see also www.slipstreamsports.com)

The “bunch” charges down the famous Avenue de Grammont in Tours.  The sprinters have been released by their leadout trains, and are going for it all out. The group includes Robbie McEwan, Erik Zabel, Daniele Bennati, and Tom Boonen. However, there is a Garmin jersey pulling ahead of all of these guys… and…Yep, the young American wins the bunch sprint to take 5th place! (as you might have guessed, his name is Tyler Farrar) This year, the late breakaway succeeded, but the Garmin boys managed a top five. They also had two guys in the early break, making for a very successful day of racing. Paris-Tours marks the end of a season that began in February, so the team will be celebrating the end of the season as well as their result. For a new team that just stepped up to the world’s top ranks of cycling, Garmin Chipotle has made quite a mark. In fact, they have been declared a Pro-Tour team for next year!

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Times are tough. We are all going to ask that awful question many times in the next year. “Is this something that I need, or is it something that I want?” 

Food falls into the “needs” category, but new clothes can find themselves under the”wants” list. This is particulary difficult for the cyclist as the temperature drops. Whether you are a die hard commuter, or a fair weather rider, the colder temps will have you looking longingly at those thicker clothes. So… do you buy the cool new stuff, or simply make do and suffer the cold body parts? How do you deal with the fall weather? At this time of year,  your ride may start off a lot  colder than it finishes. Sure, we have all learned to “layer up”, but when you “layer down” on a bicycle, you end up carrying all that stuff back with you! By the time you are headed home, you are looking like the poor schmuck who just got kicked out of the house and didn’t even get the keys to the car!

Well, there is hope for those who need some lightweight warmth to start the early ride, but don’t want to look like a homeless person riding back into town. The greatest thing about this “underground cycling wear” is that most of it can be picked up for free, or lifted from an underwear drawer in your house!

That’s right! I’m talking about plastic bags and pantyhose!

Instructions for plastic bags:

1)You walk into the store, and ask for a couple of plastic bags. 

(Since these are pretty much worthless, if the clerk refuses, you just have to accept that he/she has some real “issues” and move on)

You then cut or tear the corners out of one bag and place them over your toes so that your forefoot is covered as you slide it back into your shoe. The other bag is torn in half, and one part is placed in front of your “privates” while the other is placed between your layers to break the wind blowing through your jersey and chilling your chest.  The effect is one of the worlds’ lightest windblock liners! The price is unbeatable, and if you don’t want to crunch these down into a pocket, you just find a trash can to throw them away when the temperature rises.

Pantyhose:

1) Girls have this easy. But if you guys are not married, this may require a girlfriend who is willing to give your a pair of her pant(ies)! (This may not be a great line for the first date.) Once you score the pantyhose, you cut one leg at the knee and at the top of the thigh section, then tie a little knot at the knee end. You are now the proud owner of the world’s lightest, ”super-compact” sock hat! These things are incredibly warm under a helmet, and will add tremendous warmth to a standard liner as well. They weigh nothing, and are so compressible that they can get lost in a pocket! One little added feature: if you do something stupid like falling over in front of a bunch of cars at an intersection, you can immediately pull this cap over your face and ride away anonymous. Just like the bank robbers- you can see them, but they can’t see you! 

Gloves: Sorry~ there is no scrimping here. There is simply no substitute for a good  pair of gloves, so you will just have to spend the money for warmer paws. It’s worth it. If your fingers are still cold, there is a technique for a little extra warmth when descending.  You cup your hand behind a bent knee, and alternate them. This means steering with just one hand, so be careful on corners! Still, it is amazing how warm the back of your knee can be when cycling! Even a gloved hand will appreciate being sandwiched like this on a cold day.

There you have it~ the comfort tips for lightweight, lowcost clothing. Now get out and enjoy this incredible fall weather we are having!

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Must apologize for the delay this week.  You can thank Windows Vista for the late report on this year’s “Worlds”. Yep, Vistas is starting to smell like fish in my computer! I’ve decided that HP (”home premium”) is an inside joke at Microsoft- it really stands for Horrible Product! Anyway, on to the report:

It took a few days for the “inside interviews” from the winning Italian team to come out, but when they did, it was the story of a brilliant game plan for this year’s race on September 28th. The record books will show that Alessandro Ballan and his swanky compatriot Damiano Cunego delivered a 1-2 punch to put two Italians on the podium this year, with Davide Rebellin chomping at their heels in 4th place! How is it that one team puts three guys in the top five in a race that takes 6 hours to finish, and has over half of the field dropping out?

This is the deal: Whoever wins the World Championships in cycling gets to wear rainbow stripes on their jerseys for the next year whenever they race! Now most reasonable people would not pour their guts out for 6 hours to get a fancy piece of clothing. But Italians are not known as reasonable people. Everyone is a slave to something, and Italians grow weak when you wave the flag of fashion in their face! In the cycling world, those rainbow stripes are the pinnacle of fashion. The result is a National Team committed to keeping the colors in Italy. It is common for riders of other countries to beg out of the Worlds because they are simply worn out at this time of the year. Not so for the Italianos- many of their top racers will save themselves and train up for this race! This is impressive for a sporting season that starts in February and runs through October! That is a very long time for anyone to spend so many hours sitting on those stupid bicycle seats! This year, the Italians were able to orchestrate their victory with nine riders who were overflowing with talent. It also helped to have a “Director Sportif” named Ballerini. (you can’t make this stuff up!)

On to the race: Everyone was content to cruise along for the first 80 miles or so. Then, on lap seven, the Italian captain, Bettini, started tagging his riders on the butt. (I know, because I watched the race on www.universalsports.com ) Whoever got “tagged” acted like hot coals had been dropped inside his shorts! He would go to the front and “drill it” for a couple of laps of the 10.5 mile circuit. Once burned up, he would drop back(maybe out) and Bettini would “tag” another guy, letting him know it was his turn to go. The goal was to force the pace over the climbs in order to “soften the legs” of the sprinters in the race. They knew what they were doing! A rider named Bosisio was the first to be sacrificed. (He won a stage of the Giro this year). Next, Bruseghin (toasted appetizer?) took off. (another stage winner in the Giro de Italia, and winner of the Bronze medal in the Olympics) Neither one of these guys were planning to finish the race. A couple more of the Italians would sacrifice themselves before the final lap. Then, while everyone was watching Bettini (the favorite), Ballan and Cunego powered away with Rebellin on their heels. Bettini was in the following group, but he was seen cheering wildly when he heard that his teammates had won ahead of him. All in all, this year’s World Championship Race was a great example of teamwork. The “leader” did not win, but played a supporting role. The whole team will be national heros, and even the riders who dropped out will be remembered for the role they played to keep those rainbow stripes around Italian arms for another year. Interesting isn’t it? You could change the actors in this story, and the fact that it was played out on bicycles is rather coincidental, but the success of such teamwork is solid ground that all of us can stand on!

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This time of year brings an incredible group of athletes to North Central Washington, but it is not likely that you have ever heard of them by name. To get an idea of what they do, you would have to spend a day or two in a wheelchair. Seriously, you should try it some time, maybe for just a few hours.  Try to go without using your legs for an entire day if you really want to know what it takes to get from point A to point B by using your arms alone.  Then imagine powering yourself from Lincoln Rock Park to Rocky Reach Dam, across the river, up over Navarre Coulee, through Chelan, up to Wells Dam, and back to Lincoln Rock on a bicycle built for arms.  That is just what some of the wheelchair athletes riding the Dam2Dam www.Dam2Dam.org did this weekend!

Dam2Dam is a fundraising ride created by Mike Utley and his foundation for spinal cord research. www.mikeutley.org/foundation The event offers rides of 25, 50 and 100 miles for riders of all abilities, but it has special attraction for cyclists who have lost the use of their legs and use “handcycles” to power themselves along. Some traveled all the way from Colorado to do this ride! Instead of cranking it over with legs, these cyclists use arms and shoulders. It is amazing to watch them rip out the revolutions!

Consider this the next time you use those powerful buttock and leg muscles to power your bike. Imagine that shoulders and arms were all you had.  Then load the lower half of your body onto your bike like a suitcase, and strike out for 25 to 100 miles! Riding a regular bike along with these athletes this weekend was a humbling experience!

Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) is a devastating event that strikes 11,000 people per year. Most (47%) are caused by motor vehicle accidents, but 9% are now caused by sporting accidents. Each injury hits the victim like a tornado. Most victims are young, healthy and in the prime of life. For that family nothing will ever be the same. However, tornados pass and life goes on.  Families rebuild. This weekend we witnessed  how the sport of cycling can rebuild lives for people with SCI. Riding along beside these athletes, I was struck by the consistent presence of a friend or family member riding “support”, and I realized that together, they made a special kind of “cycling team”.

Most of us have friends who have sustained spinal injury. Just a month ago, another aquaintance of mine became paraplegic after a climbing accident.  She is now at the Craig Hospital in Denver, Colorado www.craighospital.org and glad to be there. Craig Hospital has been ranked in the top ten of Rehab Hospitals every year for the past 19 years.  One of the goals for patients at Craig is to get well enough to travel to Wenatchee and take part in Mike Utley’s ride!  When you can learn to ride a bike again after becoming paralyzed, you get to reclaim a large part of life. It may be a handcycle, but it gives you a sport, a way to “get out”. You can compete against others, or more importantly against yourself. It is a challenge you can meet, with achievable goals. There were staff and riders from the Craig Hospital www.craighospital.org who showed up here in Wenatchee as a team; complete with cycling jerseys and support! The connection? Mike Utley did his rehab at Craig Hospital.  He even  set up the “Mike Utley Terrain Park” to challenge patients in their recovery at the hospital.

Another rider doing Dam2Dam was our own Michael Hansen, just recently free of his Halo Brace. Michael was miraculously spared spinal cord damage, but had a serious spinal injury nonetheless. He borrowed a recumbent bike from Go Bent Bikes and rode for 25 miles for the first time in months! It was a different kind of bike for Michael, but he was out there just the same.  In fact, all of the riders out on Saturday were different. Many had challenges that most of us can only imagine. The remarkable thing they all had in common was riding a bike back into some kind of normalcy in life.  That is a good thing! 

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