October 5, 2005 — After gathering more than 300 nominees from members and cyclists across the country, the League of American Bicyclists (LAB) announced at the Interbike trade show a list of “25 people who indelibly changed the face of cycling in America.” The list includes bicycle designers, manufacturers, racers, promoters and advocates from the 19th century through today. Joe Breeze, designer-builder of Breezer bicycles, was among the 25.

Featured in the fall issue of American Bicyclist, the list is part of the LAB’s celebration of its own 125th anniversary. The LAB enlisted the help of a panel of twelve industry leaders, advocates, and historians to put the most frequently mentioned nominees in order from 1 to 25. The panel placed as number 1 on the list Lance Armstrong, whose record seven Tour de France wins, following a battle with cancer, have generated great interest in cycling in America.

Breeze, number 14 on the list, was chosen for his pivotal role in the development of mountain bikes and transportation bikes. A charter member of the Mountain Bike Hall of Fame, Breeze designed and built the first ten modern mountain bikes in 1977 and 1978, and remained an influential designer-builder of mountain and road bikes for two decades. He has been cited recently as a visionary bicycle advocate and a pioneer in the field of American transportation bikes. In 2002 he founded the first American company devoted 100% to bicycles designed and equipped for transportation.

Like some others on the list of 25, Breeze was among the twelve panelists invited to rank the final entries. He said, “As a lifelong cycling enthusiast and student of bicycle history, I found it really tough to put in order the list of top nominees that the LAB had gathered. I had tremendous admiration for these people and their contributions.”

Based in Washington, D.C., the League of American Bicyclists promotes bicycling for fun, fitness and transportation, and works through advocacy and education for a bicycle-friendly America. The League represents the interests of America’s 57 million bicyclists, including its 300,000 members and affiliates.

League of American Bicyclists, (202) 822-1333 bikeleague@bikeleague.org www.bikeleague.org