Bicycle racing and bicycle advocacy don’t often cross paths. But whether you ride with a pant leg strap or not, you were welcome at the third annual National Bike Summit, hosted by the League of American Bicyclists in Washington D.C., March 5-7. The summit gives state, local and national advocates, as well as industry leaders, the opportunity to discuss pertinent cycling issues with government officials, and to lobby members of Congress.

While the majority of attendees had no interest in strapping a number to their backs, the organizers clearly know the value of having a proven winner on site, as Greg LeMond stepped in to rally the crowd at Thursday evening’s congressional reception.

Asked what the racing community could do to help in the advocacy realm, LeMond replied, “The racing community is obviously supported by the bike shops, and the bike shops are already there with Bikes Belong [an industry-funded advocacy group] and they’re already contributing funds to help in lobbying, and that’s a good start.”

LeMond also recommended a more everyday approach to improving cycling in the eyes of the public, stating, “I think one thing bike riders could do is respect traffic. A lot of racers still think they own the road, and I have a hard time watching people ride out in the middle of the road and then get pissed at someone getting really close.”

The three-time Tour de France winner attended the conference at the invitation of Trek president John Burke, who threw his company’s considerable weight into the advocacy game several years ago and started a pattern of awareness.

“I think I read an article, and it really dawned on me that the biggest issue in cycling is ‘are there safe places to ride your bike?’” said Burke, “That sold me. I really think it’s such an interesting situation. Really, developing bike trails is good for cycling, it’s good for the health of the country, it’s great for transportation to get people on trails, and its good for the environment. There are so many positive things, and rarely do you see something that’s good for everybody. I saw that and I thought, you know what, we need to get in the game.”

This year’s conference has focused on ensuring the upcoming reauthorization of the TEA-21 bill, which has greatly increased spending of federal transportation funds for bike-friendly causes since its initial passage in 1991. Breakout sessions focused on topics surrounding the creation of bicycle-friendly communities, mountain-bike access, and how to become a more effective advocate.

The conference concludes Friday with the Congressional Bike Caucus Ride, which will give conference attendees the chance to pedal the mean streets of Washington, D.C. with members of Congress and their staffs.