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Mike’s Bikes 2009 Africa Bike Drive is on now! (and your donation is now tax-deductible!)
A huge thank you to all of our customers for making our Africa Bike Drive a stunning 406-bike success in 2008. The bikes are in Botswana and changing the lives of their owners as you read this, and we couldn’t be happier.
We’ve decided to build on this success and double our goal for our 2009 Africa Bike Drive—over 800 bikes! We have a great new partner and a new beneficiary for our cause. For every bicycle donated, Varsity Painting will contribute $30 to Children’s Hospital of Oakland on behalf of the bike donor. What’s more, the Mike’s Bikes Foundation has just been approved for 501(c)(3) tax-exempt non-profit status, so your bike donation is tax-deductible!
A remote village in Namibia will be the location of our new Sister Shop, a place where there is little access to telephones, much less bicycles. Erasmus and Ludwig are our point-men on the ground along with Peace Corps Volunteer Kami (at right, top to bottom). They are thrilled to have an opportunity to bring a better life to their community through the power of the bicycle, which is our philosophy exactly. With your help and generosity, it’s going to be a beautiful partnership.
How it works
Simply bring in your donation bicycle to any Mike’s Bikes store. We will take down your contact information and do two things with it:
1. Provide it to Varsity Painting so that they can make a $30 Children’s Hospital of Oakland donation in your name.
2. Email you a 501(c)(3) receipt that you may use to deduct your bike donation on your taxes.
By bringing your unwanted bike to Mike’s for donation, you’ll not only be helping … Details & Pictures
Riders in the Giro d’Italia will be tested for the advanced blood-boosting drug CERA.
Several cyclists have tested positive for the substance since last year’s Tour de France.
All 198 riders entered in the Giro underwent routine pre-race tests by the International Cycling Union (UCI) on Thursday, and there will be 481 more controls—plus surprise tests—during the three-week race that begins Saturday.
Giro director Angelo Zomegnan announced plans for …Â Details
Lance Armstrong has no illusions about winning the Giro d’Italia.
Armstrong doesn’t expect to duplicate Astana teammate Alberto Contador’s feat of winning the Giro after taking time off the bike.
Contador returned from vacation last year and competed in the Giro, regaining his form as the race went on and finishing with the pink jersey…Â Details
Lance Armstrong has received “high interest†from sponsors willing to back his cycling team if he takes over control of financially strapped Astana.
Astana receives most of its financial support from Kazakh state holding company Samruk-Kazyna, but the Central Asian nation’s economy has been badly hit by the global financial crisis. The team has not paid its employees lately.
“Considering the economy and considering global sports sponsorships … it’s a tough climate for all that stuff. We’ve had high interest,†Armstrong told The Associated Press on Thursday as he prepared for the start of his first Giro d’Italia—which he says has no illusions about winning… Details