'Yellow Fever' Hits

Bracelets, not bicycles, are selling like hot cakes this summer in Colorado Springs and across the nation, thanks to the sixth Tour de France victory by cancer survivor Lance Armstrong.

The Lance Armstrong Foundation, which raises money for cancer education, advocacy, public health and research, collaborated with Nike this year on a yellow rubber bracelet imprinted with "LIVESTRONG." The goal was to raise $5 million for the foundation and promote the new livestrong.org Web site, which offers resources for cancer survivors. The canary-col- ored accessories debuted May 17, selling for $1 each.

"We have certainly had a high demand for the yellow wrist bracelets," said Reed, associate manager of Criterium Bicycles, off Woodmen Road just west of Interstate 25. "We have young kids, teenagers and adults coming in asking for the bands. We sold out of the two batches we had in just a few days."

Sales of the bracelet have surpassed the foundation's expectations, with about 7 million sold, many of which were sold during the Tour de France, said Michelle, public relations manager of the foundation.

"We have been both surprised and gratified with the public response to the bracelets," Milford said.

In addition to being popular with Colorado Springs residents, celebrities have been seen sporting the LIVESTRONG bands. Public figures such as Matt Damon, Bruce Willis and Democratic presidential nominee John have worn the bracelets.

Kay, owner of Criterium Bicycles, doesn't wear her bracelet to work anymore because she would feel obligated to give it to a customer.

"I don't want to be mean, but I worked hard for it," He said with a chuckle. "The only reason I have one was because it was given to me from a friend who works at the Lance Armstrong Foundation, because I made and donated a quilt. I'm not going to give up mine because of a Lance Armstrong frenzy."

The bracelets are in such high demand that other bicycle shops in the area weren't able to place orders.

"We tried to order them, but by the time we got around to it they were gone," said John, manager of Old Town Bike Shop downtown. "Some people are buying them for a dollar and then selling them on eBay for three or four dollars. Kind of defeats the whole purpose, doesn't it?"

With such high demand for the bracelets, it's hard to believe a bike shop would give them away, but that is what ProCycling will do. Once a shipment of 100 bracelets arrives at the Briargate Boulevard shop, ProCycling will give them to its customers and donate the money to the foundation, manager Reese said.

Crandall said Armstrong's victories at the Tour have influenced the development of other bicycling apparel since 1998.

"Now there is a Tour de France-specific clothing line where they sell jerseys, water bottles and things of that sort. We have definitely sold some, and I am certain there is some relation to the Lance winning," Crandall said. "There are more things like that available now than there were six years ago."

ProCycling has had similar results in its merchandise sales.

"People are looking for anything related to Lance Armstrong. Anything related to the Tour de France is hot right now," Houghton said. "Everyone wants to be like Lance."

Several bicycle shops say Armstrong's popularity has not been able to compete with this summer's wet weather when it comes to sales of road bikes.

"I don't know if we have felt a direct impact this year on road- bike sales because of the weather, but over the last several years the interest in road bikes has grown significantly, in part because of Lance Armstrong," Criterium's Pike said. "We call it the Lance effect. I wouldn't say that he is the exclusive reason, but he has definitely played a role."