Lance Armstrong on his bike ride to Nike Sportswear at the Montalban

Many people know that riding a bike in Los Angeles is a downright death threat. If cars don’t run you over, newbie learners on the beach bike paths will. As an avid bi-pedaler and bike advocate, I’ve been struggling with this dilemma for the past few weeks when my kids have had near-misses with cars whose drivers were busy texting instead of watching the roads. So much so that I was actually wishful thinking for a critical mass of cyclists to take over the road. Well lo and behold, and somewhat coincidentally, Nike and Lance Armstrong must have read my mind, because last night my wish came true.

Critical Mass Los Angeles. Can you spot your favorite people?

Nike and LiveStrong hosted “Hope Rides Again”, a celebration of Lance Amstrong’s return to professional cycling, featuring a two mile critical mass bike ride around Hollywood led by Armstrong with a few hundred of Los Angeles’s avid cyclists. The event also launched “Stages”, a global art project that addresses LiveStong’s battle against cancer. Mural artist Shepard Fairey unveiled his latest masterpiece–a series of LiveStrong images featuring Armstrong in all his cycling glory–on the side of the Montalbán building.

It was a fun filled night peppered with a multitude of treats. From the comedic stylings of Ben Stiller to the enviable art bikes featuring work of artists Barry McGee and KAWS to a special surprise performance from Ben Harper, it was clear that hope rang true and inspiration was definitely in the air.

Lance Armstrong, Nike CEO Mark Parker and mural artist Shepard Fairey