Bicycle ridership increases in Tulsa thanks in part to the ' Lance factor'

This year's Tour De France marks the end of the road for the world's greatest cyclist. But what will happen to the sport when Lance Armstrong retires? <br/><br/>Cycling popularity is at an all-time

Tuesday, July 19th 2005, 6:19 am

By: News On 6

This year's Tour De France marks the end of the road for the world's greatest cyclist. But what will happen to the sport when Lance Armstrong retires?

Cycling popularity is at an all-time high. Around a hundred were out Monday in Tulsa for their regular Monday meeting, in spite of scorching temperatures. And there are other rides almost every night of the week.

Nobody likes it more than bicycle dealers, who say Armstrong saved the sport. Jeff Keith with Lee's Bicycles: "Road bike sales were just about kaput for a long time; there was a time that some shops even went strictly to mountain bikes."

Lee's Bicycle shop says road bikes are now 50 percent of sales and growing. They say the key to the future is finding another great US rider like Armstrong.