In addition to the news items we published yesterday, here are more notices from teams and companies assisting the Southeast Asia tsunami relief efforts.

Tsunami Appeal - Quick-Step

On 5th January Quick-Step decided to organize an auction for the benefit of the Tsunami victims of 26th December. The entire proceeds go to several relief organizations.

Quick-Step will auction 3 types of cycling material. The showpiece is the official Richard Virenque Quick-Step racing bike. On this bike Virenque won a race and the polka dot jersey in the 2004 Tour de France. Quick-Step will also auction the new 2005 cycling gear signed by all Quick-Step cyclists.

Last item for sale is a seat in the Quick-Step sports director’s support vehicle during “Dwars door Vlaanderen” on Wednesday 23rd March. This is your chance to experience a cycling race from a different point of view.

As of today everyone can make an offer on E-Bay for these exclusive collectors items. Quick-Step opened the bidding on the racing bike with an amount of 1000 Euro:

Outfit: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=5154700151 

Race "Dwars Door Vlaanderen": http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=5154701920 

Bike Richard Virenque: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=5154703111 

CSC Support the Tsunami Victims

As many other companies, organizations and individuals, Team CSC is trying to support the victims of the Tsunami disaster in Asia. We are donating a signed jersey and a 2004 Kurt-Asle Arvesen bike, which you now have the chance to purchase through these Danish websites. Please visit CSC.

2004 Jersey signed by Bjarne Riis and all 27 riders from this season (deadline January 15th)
2004 Kurt-Asle Arvesen Cervelo bike size 54, no pedals (deadline January 7th)

Unfortunately for our non-Scandinavian fans, the auction item websites are in Danish and the price in Danish Kroner (1 Euro = 7.44 Danish Kroner).

Fuji Bicycles Joins the Tsunami Relief Effort

Donates 50 Mountain Bikes to Health Care Workers

Philadelphia, PA (January 6, 2004) – Fuji Bicycles joins the worldwide tsunami relief efforts by donating mountain bikes to the emergency and disaster relief workers in Southeast Asia. Recognizing both the immediate and long-term requirements of this relief effort, Fuji will donate 50 bikes each year for the next three years. Fuji hopes these bikes will help nurses and health care service providers reach the more remote and disaster-ridden areas in Indonesia, Sri Lanka, and the other countries whose coastlines were devastated by the December 26th 9.0 earthquake.

In areas where roads and airstrips may have been destroyed, these utilitarian-style mountain bikes will assist relief workers who may not otherwise be able to reach some of the more remote victims of the tragedy. The bikes come fully equipped with rear carriers, fenders and light sets.

As with countless other people from all over the globe, the employees at Fuji responded to the urgent need for assistance after finding themselves feeling helpless, not knowing the best way to help the victims of the tragedy.

“This company has a great soul,” said Karen Bliss, Fuji Bicycles Marketing Communications Manager. “I am so proud to be working with such a compassionate group of people. It truly was amazing the way this initiative came together. The tragedy is so unfathomable. The images are so heart-wrenching. We just all felt that we needed to do something and instead of sitting around talking about it, we developed a plan.”

In a collaborative effort, Fuji Bicycles will join the Institute for Transportation and Development Policy in getting the bicycles to Asia through the proper channels. “Bicycles are extremely valuable in helping deliver health care, especially when medical staff has to reach many people in difficult conditions,” said Aimee Gauthier, African Program Manager at ITDP. “We are working with Fuji to help get the bicycles directly to the relief workers who need them most.”

ITDP is a non-profit organization that promotes sustainable and equitable transportation in developing countries, including providing health care workers with bicycles, improving conditions for cyclists, and improving access to better quality bicycles. More information is available at www.itdp.org.

Bicycles can also help those who are managing camps serving displaced people be more mobile around the area and respond more quickly to emergencies. In Indonesia, 11,000 people are living in six camps because their homes and villages have been destroyed.

About Fuji Bicycles--Since 1899, Fuji has been recognized as one of the best manufacturers of high-quality road bicycles. That superior quality and attention to detail is reflected today in the compete line of Fuji products including mountain, specialty, comfort, and kids’ models.

The Fuji brand is marketed worldwide by 36 global distributors. Domestically, Fuji is sold exclusively through specialty retailers. Fuji’s parent company, Advanced Sports, Inc., also manufactures SE Bikes, one of the original BMX brands. ASI’s worldwide headquarters are located in Philadelphia, PA, 19154. www.fujibikes.com.

From the Telekom Malaysia Le Tour de Langkawi

Dear friends,

I am sure most of you have watched with disbelief the terrible scenes of devastation as a result of last week’s tsunami in Asia. By the grace of God, Malaysia can consider itself fortunate in that the impact of the waves was limited to brief stretches of coastline with the resulting damage and loss of life relatively small.

In view of the forthcoming Le Tour de Langkawi (28th Jan – 6th Feb 2005), I wish to present clear information so that you may better understand the current situation in Malaysia.

• Based on the latest reports (28/12/04, pm), 66 persons are dead, 118 injured and 6 missing.

• Those who perished were either local picnickers or anglers who were on the beach or out the sea. About 700 homes were destroyed. They were mostly from the coastal villages of Penang and Kedah.

• In Malaysia, where such natural disasters and calamities have never occurred before, the situation is very much under control. The crisis management committees were activated on site immediately to monitor the situation and provide all necessary assistance to those affected by tidal wave.

• At Penang and Langkawi, hotel operations have returned back to normal. Only the beachfronts of three hotels were affected by the tidal wave. The cleaning up of the debris is now complete, all hotels and resorts in the affected areas are now operating as usual, while tourist attractions are unaffected.

• Meanwhile, all the gateways and airports are fully open and it is business as usual. The country remains a safe destination for visitors and tourists.

• Since peninsular Malaysia is sheltered by the island of Sumatra and not directly exposed to the Indian Ocean, it is relatively safe from the direct effects of the tsunami aftershocks.

• Neither the route, hotel resorts or facilities involves with the Le Tour de Langkawi 2005 have been affected by the tsunami. The organisers preparations for the event continue and remain unaffected.

• Plans are well underway for the event to be used as a fund raising platform for those affected by tsunami.

The Organiser, sponsors and Malaysia government believe the event will show the world that Malaysia is a safe destination and open for business.

The above is an accurate assessment and we shall be keeping you updated on a regular basis until the situation in the region stabilizes. Should you require any further information, please do not hesitate to contact us at info@tdl.com.my.

We appreciate your continued support and look forward to welcoming you to Malaysia for the 10th edition of Le Tour de Langkawi.

With kind regards,
Simon Donnellan
Managing Director
Telekom Malaysia Le Tour de Langkawi

Carnegie Caufield Cycling Club - Australia

Local racing raises money for Asian Tsumamis Appeal

January 2, 2005--Carnegie Caulfield Cycling Club's first race of 2005 saw racers compete for something more important than prize money!

In response to the tsumani tragedy in South East Asia, and at the suggestion of members, the entire entry pool from the day's racing was donated to the Red Cross Australia's "Asia Quake and Tsunamis Appeal".

148 riders raced, all donating their $5 entry to the appeal, with many choosing to contribute a little extra. Including contributions from spectators and officials, the final total raised was $900!

Despite the fact there were no prizes on offer, racing was thrilling to watch with every riders still desperate to record a win on this special day. Former Australian Champion Robert Tighello (Richmond Cyclery) came up trumps in the Elite Men's race, while Kirsty Bortolin (The Freedom Machine) sprinted to a win in the premier Women's event.

Late News: CCCC has now contributed $1000 to the Red Cross appeal, thanks to a generous donation from Olympian Robert Crowe, who was unable to race today but dug deep to show his support for the initiative. (Courtesy CCCC)

Bicycle Ministries - North Carolina

A North Carolina (USA) couple that has been distributing refurbished (by local prison inmates) used bikes for several years wants to donate 1000 bikes to Indonesia by June 1st. We first saw this story at BikeBiz.com, but there is an article with monetary donation information here.

The editors believe that local Daily Peloton readers might be interested in assisting with bike donations, but we are unable to find any contact info for the Ministry itself. If you have contact information, please email the Daily Peloton and we will pass it on to our readers.

Note: I would like to remind you that in spite of the enormous devastation and loss of life in Indonesia, the rescue workers, through their tireless efforts and the horrors they must face, often become every bit as traumatized as the disaster victims. Relief workers themselves are very deserving of our support, as they are the ones providing aid to survivors as well as dealing with enormous difficulty of restoring order. This was never more true than with the World Trade Center emergency crews, and it is also true in Asia at this time, so please be generous in your donations. And I would like to recommend that you read about an excellent volunteer organization I support, by reading about their Indonesian relief work here.