I just wanted to say thank you to the Floyd Landis Foundation. I am also a cyclist with a hip condition. I have struggled with it for many years, and had just resigned myself to a life of chronic pain. I was still able to race professionally for 3 years but this past year, the pain became too great to continue on competing. I lost my drive to train and compete. I felt like I had emptied the tank mentally and physically on what I could handle and just needed to step away from it all. Then, Floyd came out with his hip condition, the foundation, etc. And he wasn’t going to let his condition stop him from being the best. I had new motivation and was once again excited about future possibilities. With all of the progress Floyd had made, I decided to have surgery. It has now been about four weeks and it was the best thing I could've done. I was back on the bike in a week, just on the trainer spinning the wheels but pretty amazing considering the surgery I had. I have even been riding outside on the cyclocross bike and just went on my first road ride today. I cannot believe how fast I am healing and getting around.For the first time in a really long time I am excited about training again. Especially since moving to the mountains here in Colorado! Thank you!
"I just wanted to thank everyone involved in the article for the New York Times featuring Floyd's condition. Today is my 25th birthday, and I was diagnosed with Avascular Necrosis a little over 3 months ago. It is very inspiring to see that as detrimental as this disease can be, Floyd has not let it get in his way. To say that I was scared when diagnosed, is an understatement. Obviously, the long term prognosis of someone with Avascular Necrosis is not comforting. The attitude that Floyd has shown in the face of adversity has given me hope that my life doesn't have to drastically change because of illness.
Not only has this story allowed me to better cope with my disease, but it has shown my friends and family what can still be accomplished. The biggest issue that someone with AVN has to realize, is that life goes on. Floyd's story inspires people with this disease to take life as it comes, one day at a time.
As a 3 sport athlete in high school, and a very active young adult, my diagnosis was devastating. I have had many sleepless nights thinking if I would ever ride a bike again, play in the company softball league, or even who I wanted pushing me in my wheelchair someday.
After reading about a man with the same disease, who will be riding a bike thousands of miles in the harshest of conditions, my outlook has dramatically changed. Whether Floyd wants to acknowledge this as truly inspiring, is not going to be up to him. He is already an inspiration in the eyes of every person in America who is suffering from the pains of Avascular Necrosis.
So please keep me informed when the foundation will be up and running. I think it is important to actively help the AVN community in whatever endeavors we can. This disease commonly affects young, active people who struggle to think past the negatives of their diagnosis. AVN affected men and women can all benefit from a role model who will hopefully be victorious in probably the most grueling physical journey by the end of this month. So thanks again, and God bless."
Dan S.
Indianapolis, IN
