'Let's ride' - from tandems to the Alps - Jake Gyllenhaal and Lance Armstrong

Back in the summer of 2006, we were an anxious bunch. Jake Gyllenhaal was cycling around the busy roads of Hollywood and Malibu and one feared that Jake would constitute such a lethal distraction for drivers - most especially when he undid his spandex shirt and shifted on his saddle - that at any time he could come a cropper. But fortunately Jake survived the Cycling Summer of 2006, albeit it his legs were the sometime victim of merciless waxing, even managing to scale the Alpine heights of the Tour de France.



This week the rumour surfaced that Jake's cycling champion Lance Armstrong is to return to competitive cycling and this is indeed confirmed. Lance aims to use his 2009 return to highlight the never diminishing risk of cancer which claims 8 million lives every year. Wet Dark and Wild is a supporter of LiveStrong and, in particular, the incredible fundraising of one Jimmy Fowkes, who, also back in 2006, participated in the Texas Ride for Roses alongside Lance and Jake.



Back in September last year, we had a little fundraising mission of our own here and I'm proud to say some money was raised for Jimmy's charity fund. Unfortunately, since then Jimmy's cancer returned and again he has had to endure chemotherapy and all that that entails, but he has been determined to enjoy his summer with his friends (even going to see Jack Johnson in concert, but nobody's perfect!). So the fundraising continues and if you fancy helping Jimmy and his sister Molly, here is the link.


Jake had a whole succession of 'pinch me' moments during his time on the Tour de France with Lance. You can hear all about it, in Jake's words, in this podcast which you can download. And, even better, you can see Jake here discussing it.



I love that Jake's love of cycling began on the back of a tandem: 'My best friend is a cyclist and he had a tandem bike. One day he was like, "Let's ride." I got on the back of the bike and we were riding and we just started pushing so hard, working together on this tandem bike. It was so much fun. I just remember that one ride — from then on I started riding. Then I guess Lance Armstrong heard that I biked and so he called me one day: "You want to go for a ride".


When Jake was asked if he managed to make the Tour de France Alpine climb, he replied: 'Yes, I did (laughing). You don’t ride the Alps with Lance Armstrong and not make it. The movie’s not definite yet. Matt Damon is developing it, so it’s his movie at this point. But, I would love to play Lance and make a movie about cycling, because it’s my favorite sport.' I think it's time for Jake to dust off the spandex...


Includes pictures from Kreutz Photography.