Must Reads: Naked bike ride opposed, Trek steadfast behind Armstrong, Hesjedal’s hometown support & more

BBC: British residents oppose naked bike ride

The World Naked Bike Ride is set for Friday in 70 cities in 20 countries. Among the communities upset about the plans is Portsmouth, England, where residents are organizing a petition. “If you saw someone walking naked down the road you would call the police and they would be arrested,” said Sarah Carter, the petition organizer. An event proponent said the nudity will highlight cyclists’ vulnerability on the road. “There is a very common phrase in the cycling world known as the SMIDSY — sorry mate I didn’t see you — it usually happens when a car or lorry driver has knocked a cyclist off their bike, but they’ll certainly see us on Friday,” he added.

Milwaukee-Wisconsin Journal Sentinel: Trek CEO supports Armstrong

Trek Bicycle CEO John Burke says Lance Armstrong “will be part of the company into the future.” In an interview published in the business section of the paper’s website, Burke spoke about Trek’s culture of constant improvement and the changes in the bike market in recent years, noting the influx of ex-runners, ex-golfers and women. “I don’t know who sent the memo out. All of a sudden women are flocking to cycling,” he said. As for Armstrong, he said the retired racer’s effect on people, especially cancer survivors, remains remarkable. “You really have to understand him, and to see the power of him, you need to be around him. There’s something weird that happens when you are around him.”

The Chronicle Herald: Hesjedal thrives on Canadian support

Garmin-Cervelo’s Ryder Hesjedal says he felt the eyes of his countrymen on him as he rode in the Tour de France last year. After a strong opening week, Canadians started to pay attention. “Once the support started building, and every day it got closer and closer, I think that’s what captivated people back home, and I was also thriving off that and I was able to put together probably the best race I’ve ever done.” Hesjedal’s eventual seventh place finish was the best Canadian results since Steve Bauer’s fourth place in 1988.

Voxy.com.nz: PureBlack aggressive at Philly

The New Zealand team was on the hunt all day at the Philadelphia International Championships, with Glen Chadwick in an early break and three riders near the front of the pack with 1km to go, until a crash took two of them down. James Williamson continued on to finish sixth on the day. The team’s business director, Greg Cross, was impressed with the crowds. “The crowd was huge and spread out almost right around the whole course in the middle of a major American city. The Manayunk Wall and Lemon Hill crowds were ten deep by the end of the race and the support and encouragement for all teams and riders was huge.”

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