Bike Hugger 

SI.com | LeBron James buys stake in cycling company

LeBron James has acquired minority ownership of Cannondale, giving the US manufacturer a tremendous shot in the arm.

James is one of the NBA’s most visible players, with a $90 million Nike sponsorship contract. He co-captains the US Olympic team, and has been an NBA All-Star every season since joining the Cleveland Cavaliers direct from high school as the league’s overall No. 1 pick.

Said James:

“Biking is an extremely important part of my training routine, and I like to invest in what I know.”

Cannondale’s CEO:

“LeBron is an astute entrepreneur and investor who recognizes the quality of our products and value of our business, and he will certainly extend the awareness of the benefits of cycling to more people.”

Cannondale went through a Chapter 11 reorganization in 2003, when it was purchased by Pegasus Partners. They’re sponsoring Liquigas this year, after years sponsoring Saeco during the Mario Cipollini years.

Love to see LeBron’s frame. Back around 1990, I was in a local shop that carried Serrotta, and noticed a bizarre frame: It looked like about a 68 cm seat tube with a 60 cm or so top tube. I asked one of the employees what it was doing on the floor, since I was sure it couldn’t be a stock frame. He said it had just been built up, and was waiting on its owner, Kevin Willis of the Atlanta Hawks. And, of course, Bill Walton rode throughout his career, and still does today.

Also:

Cannondale Community | LeBron James buys a stake in Cannondale