Livestrong

[Adventure Girl]

Is anybody else wearing a LIVESTRONG band?

[maryellen]

yep, I got one as a prize in a spinning class last week!

[letty]

A friend gave me one as a gift. That was nice! :)

[Veronica]

Yep, I got mine volunteering at the Lance Armstrong Foundation booth at our local Corn Fest two weekends ago.

My stoker for the Cinderella ride raised 10 K last year and did the Ride for the Roses. This year she's doing more community outreach stuff.

http://www.tandemhearts.com/bike/cinderella-04/slides/07.jpg


It's pretty cool to help out. We got $500 in donations over the weekend. And I rode a trainer in a cow costume.

V.

[snapdragen]

Just ordered another batch for people at work too.

[Adventure Girl]

Originally posted by Veronica
And I rode a trainer in a cow costume.
:) :eek: :p :cool: :D :) :eek: :p :D

[massbikebabe]

Both my son and I are wearing them...and he gave 2 that he won away! Our LBS did not have them until my son gave one to one of the mechanic's for helping him...now they are selling them! It's a GREAT thing...

karen:D

[yogabear]

I just received mine in the mail today. I bought a ten pack. They sold out at a recent bike race...so I missed out, but I went on the web and ordered 'em. How fitting I say since it would have been my grandma's birthday (77) this Sunday...she passed away from cancer in 2001. I think I will give one to my mom too and give some to others as well.

[caligurl]

i ordered a 10-pack the first day they were available to order.. have been wearing one since they came in the mail!

[Steph_in_TX]

Yep, my family sports them. FYI if you've got skinny wrists the youth size fits well! We also do the Ride for the Roses. It's a great event.

Steph

[fultzie]

I bought one a few weeks ago at my LBS, but made the mistake of not getting one for the rest of my family (!).

I'm home in Chicago now, and went to FIVE places yesterday trying to find them-- they were all sold out!!

my mom and i drove down to the Nike outlet store today, where they just ordered 8,000 more (they've sold 15,000 so far!)

I have seen so many people wearing them! it's so cool!! a friend of mine went to a "plain-clothes" play at UM, and all of the actors were wearing them. the salesguy at Eddie Bauer yesterday told me his mom wears one too :)

[longnblond]

You bet....see my poem dedicated to Lance on this site.

Livestrong, love strong, ride strong!

[Pedal Wench]

I just ordered 10 online, but they're backordered until Mid-August.

How is the Ride? I just was reading about it, and it seems great. I wonder if they ever have them regionally. I would rather donate more money to the cause and ride locally, rather than paying for flying (me and bike...) and hotels, etc.

[betagirl]

I don't have one (yet) but am really happy about the whole foundation, and the number of peeps I do see wearing them. I think it's great.

I've been doing a fundraiser for the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America, using RAGBRAI as my basis and have gotten about $5,000 together. What better (and more fun) way to raise money for charities than on our bikes :D

[snapdragen]

Who did you order them from? I ordered a bunch Monday night, they just arrived today. I went through the LAF store.



Originally posted by Audio-A
I just ordered 10 online, but they're backordered until Mid-August.

[massbikebabe]

I ordered some on Wednesday because I needed to get some of the youth sized braclets for my kids and my order is also backed up till early August. I went through the LAF, which is where I got my orginal bag of ten months ago.

karen

[Pedal Wench]

I ordered from the online LAF store - and made a donation too! I wear my pink ribbon socks, so this will round out my ensemble, once they show up!

[MightyMitre]

Not sure what they're all about. Saw a lot of the Tour riders are wearing then ( not Ullich I noitced...:D )

Are they for a cancer charity or something. Haven't really heard much about it over here. How does it work? Does the money go towards research or to help make life more comfortable for those suffering?

[caligurl]

http://www.wearyellow.com

yes.. nike is raising money for LAF

(and your post answered my other post/question!)

i'd sure like to be able to afford a replica of the bike lance rode yesterday with the livestrong on it! what a beauty!

[MightyMitre]

Ah - thanks for the link.

[massbikebabe]

Cali:

Is Trek selling the bike, and/or replica?? My husband figured it would end up in a fund raiser for the LAF. We have been looking for information but haven't found anything.

karen

[Deanna]

I read in a news story that Trek will be selling a replica of Lance's bike--gold leaf and everything for $10,000. It won't be available for a few months so there's time to save up!

[spazzdog]

I bought 5... a friend of a friend is battling breast cancer, so I got one for me, my roomate, the friend, the friend with cancer and her son.

I love them! The whole rubber idea is great. I wish the AIDS bracelets had been designed the same way. I still have mine but can't wear it cause the metal is irritating.

[Adventure Girl]

In the Lance Interview tonight, Lance mentioned that 8,000,000 people were wearing these bands. I wonder if that's accurate. I mean, I know it was Lance who said it, but perhaps it was just an off-the-cuff remark like "100,000,000 people are wearing them".

[Roadrunner]

Yes I'm wearing one. Not to brag but I bought it on the Champs-Elysees last Sunday. Boy do these guys move fast. It was great to actually be there on such a historic day.
Margaret:D

[skibum]

Originally posted by Adventure Girl:
Lance mentioned that 8,000,000 people were wearing these bands. I wonder if that's accurate.

I heard their goal was to raise $5 million and that they had already raised $8 million. At $1 a piece, that's a pretty close estimate of the number of people wearing the bands.

[snapdragen]

Pbbbbbbbbbt! :p

Oh! sorry, just my jelousy rearing it's ugly little head........:D



Originally posted by Margaret
Yes I'm wearing one. Not to brag but I bought it on the Champs-Elysees last Sunday. Boy do these guys move fast. It was great to actually be there on such a historic day.
Margaret:D

[jobob]

Oh! sorry, just my jelousy rearing it's ugly little head........:D Heh, she gets that way Margaret, pay her no mind.

Just the other day when she was 'coaching' me in the tire-changing drill for the bike academy, as I was laying Pokey down she blurted out "hey, don't scratch MY bike" :rolleyes:

But she's an OK person otherwise ;)

[Adventure Girl]

So who are the people wearing these bands? I wonder if there are more "cyclists" or "civilians" wearing them. I realize the 8,000,000 figure is a world-wide count. But I haven't seen very many people wearing them. And I have been on the look-out for them. A few people have asked me about mine. The "civilians" (non-cyclists) don't even know what it is. Before the Tour, hardly anyone knew what it was. Since the Tour, cyclists know, but civilians still don't.

[skibum]

My guess would be that many more "cyclists" than "civilians" are wearing them. Most of my cycling buddies have one. I did a century ride over the weekend and I saw quite a few riders wearing one. I've been trying to keep an eye out for them and I don't think I've seen a single "civilian" with one on.

It seems to me that since most people hear about it in a word-of-mouth kind of way and since the main way to get one is through the internet, from an LBS or from Niketown, you're not going to see a broad segment of the population wearing one or even knowing about it.

[Deanna]

I have really only seen cyclists or Lance fans wearing them. My husband has noticed that the winners of the local races he's been in have been wearing them. I guess he's more superstitious than he likes to admit as he's now wearing his to those races.

[Adventure Girl]

Originally posted by skibum
I've been trying to keep an eye out for them and I don't think I've seen a single "civilian" with one on.How can you tell who's a "civilian" when you're out with the general public. A cyclist in street clothes usually kind of blends in...:D

[Deanna]

This just came across the Yahoo news--now we know who else is wearing them:

''Live Strong'' wristbands a hit among politicians, movie stars


http://sports.yahoo.com/sc/news?slug=ap-armstrongswristbands&prov=ap&type=lgns

[ACG]

A friend sent me this, I thought it was interesting....

Culture Wars, on Two Wheels
By CHARLES McGRATH

Published: August 1, 2004



NE of the many differences separating John Kerry and George W. Bush is their choice of
bicycle - not an especially presidential mode of transport, one might think, except that
these are not ordinary bikes.

Mr. Kerry reportedly pedals an $8,000 Serotta Ottrott, as high-tech and skittish as a
sports car. It is made of space-age carbon tubing and comes equipped with the patented
ST rear triangle, whatever that is


Mr. Bush pumps away (often emitting low "hrrr, hrrr, hrrr" grunts, according to an
Associated Press article last week) on a $3,000 Trek Fuel 98. It, too, is made of carbon
tubing, but unlike the Kerry machine, it has shock absorbers fore and aft. That's because
it's meant to go off-road. If Mr. Kerry's bike is a Ferrari, Mr. Bush's is a Land Rover. Mr.
Kerry rides on the flat, more or less, and usually on paved surfaces.

Mr. Bush likes to ride up into the hills of his Texas ranch and then come flying down. To
put it another way, Mr. Kerry is more nearly like Greg LeMond, Mr. Bush more like Evel
Knievel.

What this says about their political philosophies is best left to the analysts and the
pundits. But a study posted recently on a New Zealand biking Web site suggests that
downhill mountain-bike riders, like Mr. Bush, score considerably higher than cross-
country riders on something called the Sensation Seeking Scale. (Road riders, like Mr.
Kerry, are comparative wussies when it comes to sensation seeking.) Downhill riders are
also more likely to drive a car too fast, and to have had a brush with the law.

Of course they also get hurt more often. According to Tim Blumenthal, the executive
director of the International Mountain Bicycling Association, "minor cuts and scratches are
pretty common in our sport."

As far as we know, Mr. Kerry has fallen only once recently, after skidding on a patch of
sand last May. On the other hand, Mr. Bush has tumbled twice in the last two months -
and that's not counting the time in June of last year he fell over the handlebars of his
father's Segway scooter, because he had forgotten to turn it on.

Mr. Blumenthal said that some of the worst mountain bike spills happen at slow speeds
and are not necessarily the result of reckless driving. "I believe the president could benefit
from an hour or two with a top mountain biker who could give him a few tips," Mr.
Blumenthal added. "They say that once you learn how to ride a bike you never forget, but
there are a few little technical things the president could probably learn."

On his most recent crash, last week, Mr. Bush executed what is known as an "endo" in
mountain bike parlance - a sort of reverse wheelie, in which the rear tire lifts in the air and
the rider sails over the front. Mr. Bush landed with the bike on top of him but was unhurt
except for a cut on his knee. The last time, in May, he scraped his face, hand and both
knees.

At least he didn't hurt his liver, a particularly vulnerable area for mountain bikers,
according to The Lancet, the medical journal, which has discovered that during a fall, the
handlebars frequently slam into the rider's right side, causing internal bleeding.

The origins of mountain biking are unrecorded. The sport probably began the first time
some nut case took a two-wheeler off the road and went careering down a too-steep hill.

The advent of the balloon tire in the 1930's made the experience less bone-shaking, but
the finer points of mountain bikes and mountain biking were not developed until the mid
-1970's, when cyclists in Marin County, Calif., began racing down Mount Tamalpais.

From the beginning the sport has manifested a certain daredevil quality, and in some
circles, it is fashionable for mountain bikers to brag about their mishaps. Many of them
are recorded on the Crash 'N' Burn message board at the mountain bike Web site
www.dirtworld.com - a remarkably upbeat catalog of road rash, concussions, and broken
legs, collarbones and teeth.

The more interesting recent posts include ones from a guy who made a wide turn onto a
highway and was smacked by a dump truck; from someone whose brakes melted during a
100K race; and from a rider who wiped out while attempting a wheelie drop off of a
loading dock.

The palm, however, goes to a fellow who slid off a curve, deposited a lot of skin on some
sharp golf ball-sized rocks and then dropped 40 feet into a river, where he found himself
in Class IV whitewater rapids. Final E.R. total: broken ankle (requiring two steel screws),
broken ribs, cracked skull, fractured wrist and missing fingernail.

Mr. Blumenthal said the crash-and-burn aspect of mountain biking is frequently
overemphasized, but admitted that a certain element of surprise is part of the sport's
appeal.

"It clears your head," he said. "In modern society, there are few opportunities to be
spontaneous or adventurous. It's not like we're going to be running from a wild boar or
anything. But in mountain biking, there's always the chance to have something go wrong.
It's fun."

[bounceswoosh]

I don't know that I like that article's characterization of mountain biking. I mean, sheesh, they choose a famous road racer to describe road biking, and they use a pretend villain to describe mtbing?

Bleh!

The article could be summarized as, "Mountain bikers are risk-seeking lunatics."

I'd say that roadies are prone to less frequent, but more severe, injuries than mountain bikers. If only because roadies go fast and have to deal with vehicles that go even faster.

Anyway ... wanna see my scars? *grin*

[emily_in_nc]

I've been wearing my wristband to work every day (I have a casual job), but I have yet to see anyone else wearing one, nor has anyone asked me about it yet. I went on a club ride this weekend but forgot to notice if anyone else was wearing one - I am sure some must have been. But yes, I'd say they are much more popular among cyclists than the general population. I love mine!

By the way, if you're thinking about getting one, go for the youth size if you have smaller wrists. It's still BIG. I can only imagine how big the adult size is!

Emily

[Pedal Wench]

It's so frustrating. Lots of non-cycling people that I work with are wearing them, and I'm still waiting for mine to come in from LAF. I know it shouldn't matter what anyone thinks, but I'm a rider! And they're not. Do they even know who Lance is and what he's accomplished - as a rider and a survivor? (My sister and mom are survivors, and I'm pretty passionate about it!)

I have the same problem with the red thread bracelets that some of Hollywood is wearing. My sister, mother, aunt and I were in Jerusalem in 2000 and a woman outside of the Wailing Wall gave us each a red thread, tied them around our wrists, said a blessing wishing us good health and strength and power, and told us to wear the threads until they came of naturally. Of course, we all wore them until they fell off. I've kept the thread and carry it with me when I travel. A few months ago, my sister found a store selling bracelets with the thread intwined in the silver. She bought them for all of us in the family, and we're all wearing them. Now I hear that Madonna, Demi, Britney and more are wearing them, suddenly followers of Kabballah. People are scuffing them, and I'm wearing one for all the right reasons.

Oh gosh - sorry. Long rant! Ooops.

[jobob]

um, are you saying that they don't deserve to be wearing one because they don't ride a bike?? :confused:

- Jo.

[snapdragen]

I've seen all kinds of people wearing them - riders, non-riders, survivors, loved ones of surviors, and people like me; I wear one in honor of my best friend who did not survive. I'm willing to bet, that every person that has a band, has a story - be it themselves or someone else.

In the case of the yellow band, it is most definately not about the bike. It's about cancer - survivorship, research, outreach, and someday soon I hope, a cure.

[jobob]

Gotta love those celebrities sporting the yellow bracelet!

http://www.cyclingnews.com/photos.php?id=photos/2004/jul04/lukchallenge04/image16

:D

[Roadrunner]

I know of two bike shops here one in Fife and one in Edinburgh who are selling them singly(youth and adult). Since I got home from Paris (there were hundreds there)(sorrry!! Snapdragon) I haven't seen any. It seems to be cyclists and Tour/Lance fans that are wearing them.

[spazzdog]

Check the local bike shops...

The bike shops around here (MA & NH) are carrying them ... sold individually vs the online pkg of 10 or 100; plus online has shown 'backordered' since the Tour.

And remember, in the case of the bracelet "it's not about the bike". So by all means, buy 'em for everybody, couch potato and hard-driving jocklette alike! Cancer is an equal opportunity disease.

[Pedal Wench]

Originally posted by jobob
um, are you saying that they don't deserve to be wearing one because they don't ride a bike?? :confused:

- Jo.

Oh NO!!! Not at all! I'm just saying that I'm frustrated because I believe SO strongly in the cause, and the founder, and I'm not wearing one yet! No - the more people who purchase them, support them (I added a donation to my order cause I just couldn't imagine what I would do with a hundred of the bracelets!) the better it is for the cause. Although this is a general cancer charity, you have to admit that it started and gained popularity in cycling circles first. I like to think that I'm part of that group, and I'm just frustrated that I'm still waiting for mine (which should have shipped yesterday)

[Veronica]

Rode up Diablo today with a guy from my club. On the way down I stopped because there was a rider on the side of the road. He had broken his chain. He was quite surprised that I had a chain tool and relieved because it would have been a long walk. :D

Anyway... he was wearing three bracelets, one for each person in his family who had cancer.

V.

[skibum]

originally posted by Veronica
Anyway... he was wearing three bracelets, one for each person in his family who had cancer.

I wear mine in honor of my three family members who had cancer, thankfully all survivors. I had thought about buying one bracelet per survivor but it seemed like overkill to wear three bracelets. But now that you mention seeing someone doing that, it doesn't sound like overkill at all... just a very symbolic tribute to those who have battled cancer.

[IronHorse213]

Hi! I wore one, but it broke! got pulled to hard and snapped apart on the "s" - I guess it's the weakest letter.


I have seen several "civilians" wearing them around the city, so I guess the word is out there...

[IronHorse213]

Oh, by the way, e-bay has tons of them up for auction.

[caligurl]

Originally posted by IronHorse213
Oh, by the way, e-bay has tons of them up for auction.

do NOT buy from ebay.. or at least not from most of the sellers.. they are taking this great cause and turning it into profit for them!

try to find a store (i've seen them at a couple of stores in my area) or wait til the backlog is done at wearyellow.com!

don't put money into the ebayer's pockets! even nike says to please wait!

[Adventure Girl]

Originally posted by caligurl
do NOT buy from ebay.. or at least not from most of the sellers.. they are taking this great cause and turning it into profit for them!I agree with caligurl! If you are willing to spend $10.00 on one, then just wait for a few days for them to replenish the stock and give the extra money as a donation! They are just backordered, not discontinued. People who profit on charity items pi$$ me off!:mad:

[massbikebabe]

I have a few extra of the adult size and the youth size. If anyone would like one e-mail me at krichard2@juno.com I would be glad to mail one of to you for the cost of $1.00. I am also sickened by the people selling them on e-bay!

karen

[Deanna]

I agree with caligurl! If you are willing to spend $10.00 on one, then just wait for a few days for them to replenish the stock and give the extra money as a donation! They are just backordered, not discontinued. People who profit on charity items pi$$ me off!

They piss me off too. I'm starting a campaign to fill up these ebayers email boxes with the question -

"Are you donating all profits from this auction or are you just making money off of the livestrong fundraiser?"

I know it won't stop them, but maybe they'll feel a twinge of guilt about their opportunism.

[Pedal Wench]

Hi Everyone,

I just checked my credit card, and my order and donation were billed to my account on July 29th, so I think that they might be shipping soon.

If anyone needs one, I can mail some out as soon as they get here. I'll handle shipping. Email me offline

[spazzdog]

Don't know if it'll do any good, but I sent an email to the Live Strong contact address at the LAF site with a reference to the EBay situation. Maybe there's something they can do legally...

[Deanna]

I have received a few response to questions I sent to the ebay auctioners. Believe what you want:


I do appreciate the email and your concern. Yes indeed I will be making a significant contribution to his foundation once the auctions have been completed. I have been a fan and a supporter of his even before his cancer diagnosis, and his survival is an inspiration not only to myself but everyone else as well. I'm very happy that I'm in a position to donate such an amount, because without these auctions I wouldn't be.


I donated A large sum of money to the LAF over 6 thousand dollars, these bracelets were given to me in return, So I am selling them and donating half of whatI get back


Only the first dollar is going directly to the foundation but all of the sales are benefiting those of us who are unable to work in normal job settings. For instance, I am typing this email while lying in bed. My computer is set up on the other half of my bed due to my disabilities.

And my favorite:


?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????

I guess they had no idea what the LAF is!

[ACG]

I just came from my lbs and they have no livestrong, but have ordered more. They said don't buy them off anyone but an authorized 'dealer', Bike shop, sporting goods store, retail store, etc.

[Pedal Wench]

The ones I ordered directly from LAF have arrived! It only took about three weeks!

[caligurl]

Originally posted by ACG
I just came from my lbs and they have no livestrong, but have ordered more. They said don't buy them off anyone but an authorized 'dealer', Bike shop, sporting goods store, retail store, etc.

i wouldn't have a problem paying someone 1.00 for them... authorized or not... but i would definitely NOT pay more to the unscrupulous ebayers!

[Pedal Wench]

Hi Ladies,

Now that mine are here, I have some extras. If anyone wants one, PM me offline.