CHASING LANCE

Perhaps it’s just us, but the unusual number of bicyclists Sunday on the roads around Bangor seemed more than coincidental. Not just bicyclists, but fit-looking, swift enthusiasts wearing sleek outfits and determined mien. If they were, as we suspect, celebrating while being inspired by the record-setting performance of Lance Armstrong in the Tour de France, then we join them in somewhat more sedentary awe.

The anticipation of Mr. Armstrong’s feat of six tour victories required sports pages for the last month to ponder an astounding number of details of the athlete’s life and past performances, his training regimen, thoughts on racing, drugs, other riders and all the attention he was receiving. For several days during the tour, sports journalists covered how sports journalists were covering Mr. Armstrong’s reaction to some of the pushier journalists.

It was unclear for a while whether the athlete or the circular reporting would tire out first. Fortunately, it was the reporting, and yesterday the story was about the exhilaration of a decisive and gratifying victory in what must be among the few toughest physical contests in the world.

All those local riders, of course, didn’t start just because of Mr. Armstrong’s latest victory, but their noticeable presence may make the roads more inviting for the rest of us, who really should get out and move around a little. Their bright blue, red and, naturally, yellow jerseys flash by us like flags leading the march against flab and we would be remiss not to fall in behind in whatever manner possible. (A bicycling magazine has helpfully devised “The Lance Armstrong Package” to get you started: his biography, a training guide and, for a limited time, the “FREE GIFT” of “The Ultimate Fat Burning Guide.”)

Bicycling surged in popularity before Mr. Armstrong was leading the sport in part because of the admirable performances of another American, Greg LeMond, a three-time winner of the Tour de France. But like running in the 1970s, mass appeal sometimes takes awhile – then it was Frank Shorter winning in the 1972 Munich Olympics marathon followed by Bill Rogers winning the Boston Marathon four times. Running’s popularity had been growing for a decade, then suddenly it seemed that most of the neighbors were planning their weekend mornings around a local road race.

That’s faded considerably over the years, and bicycling will likely follow a similar pattern. But for now, for Mr. Armstrong’s unparalleled victory, for the many local riders who inspire us bystanders, this beautiful sport looks like a joy to pursue.