LeBron James #6 of the United States brings the ball up the court against Canada in the second half of their exhibition game ahead of the Paris Olympic Games at T-Mobile Arena on July 10, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada.Ethan Miller/Getty Images
LeBron James is known by many sports fans as a basketball star, currently playing for the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA alongside his son Bronny.
However, not many know that he also loves riding a bicycle.
Canyon Bicycles announced Monday (July 15) its collaboration with James and several other riders to promote its line of bicycles as well as to inspire the next generation of cyclists regardless of terrain and preferences.
According to Cycling Weekly, the NBA star has been collaborating with the German bike brand since 2022 not only as a brand ambassador but also as a minor shareholder.
James explained that riding a bike has always been "a big part" of his life, with his interest tracing back to his childhood days in Akron, Ohio.
He added that the bicycle not only allowed him to get around his neighborhood but also gave him the freedom to "access things that otherwise would have been out of reach," without elaborating further or explicitly linking it with his basketball journey.
James also told GQ in a recent interview that he used his bike as his vehicle, and has never left the hobby even when he reached basketball stardom.
The partnership also saw Canyon providing bikes to the LeBron James Family Foundation's "I PROMISE" program, which aimed at giving away bikes to each student involved in the initiative in exchange for their commitment to work hard, finish their studies, and live an active and healthy lifestyle.
Canyon, James Aim to Inspire Next Generation of Cyclists
It is understood that the collaboration campaign between Canyon and James under the name "Find Your Freedom," was to inspire "millions of potential cyclists across the globe" to understand how riding a bike could become "life changing."
For van der Poel, who is currently racing in the Tour de France, said that cycling ran deep in his family and he is seeking to promote what cycling could do for people as an ambassador and as a professional athlete.
Meanwhile, Canyon CEO Nicolas de Ros Wallace said that the firm believes in the "transformational power" of bicycles, with its collaboration with James being a celebration of the freedom that bikes offer, as well as being a way to inspire a new generation of riders.
James is not the only former or current NBA player looking into cycling as an alternative form of activity, as BikeMag revealed that Reggie Miller, Dwayne Wade, and Leandrinho Barbosa were also reported to be pedaling on two wheels.
James also told GQ that Klay Thompson, who recently transferred from the Golden State Warriors to the Dallas Mavericks, also rides a bike.
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