http://www.bigandsharp.com/blog/?p=389

Like a live mannequin display worthy of a Macy’s window during the Christmas season, a few multisport atheltes in need of a new bike are (still) standing with one of their hands touching a bike frame in midtown Manhattan in chance to win one. They haven’t slept in 72 hours. And neither one is giving up so easily.

Why are they doing this? Putting themselves in sleep-deprived state for all to see? It’s all part of midtown Manhattan triathlon shop SBR Multisport’s way of including a community into the the growing sport of triathlon.

For the second year in a row owner Christophe Vandaele has sponsored his weekend-long “Hands on a Frame” contest, where competitors vie for thier chance to out-endurance each other in the display window of the multisport and triathlon shop on 58th between Seventh and Broadway, a block from the south entrance to Central Park. Only problem: two guys lasted more than the weekend. Now going on 74 hours, the two competitors, Kyung Yu (33) and Howard Levine (45), are still at it. (Live web cam).

Simply put, the one left standing (with his hand still on a frame) is the winner, and goes home with a new bike frame, and 15 minutes over 70 hours worth of fame. Reportedly NYC news groups are stopping in today.

"SBR is always looking for opportunities to promote the sport of triathlon and give our athletes a competitive edge with the gear they train and compete with, explains SBR owner Christophe Vandaele, who is no stranger to endurance events. Just last week Vandeale set a World Record in his shop by performing the Most Performed Continuous Bicycle Fits, something that took up his entire weekend, almost 60-hours and a mess-load of bikes. The reason? To give back. All of his events encourage community participation, donate money to charities and help those in need.

The Belgian-born Vandaele is an example of service, committment and compassion. He once served his country as a member of its special forces, and guarded secured sites in Rwanda, Africa, where his entire unit was slaughtered before his eyes by local rebels. Since then, he’s worked to overcome his post-traumatic stress syndrome and to better other people’s lives, not just his own. All of this since moving to States with no money less than 10 years ago.

You’re going to have to saw my hand off that bike frame before I let anyone else go home with it

Vandaele and SBR are also in the middle of sponsoring a “Big Loser”-type contest, where one severely overwight individual will be turned into an Ironman. But Vandaele found — and ended-up taking — two athletes worthy: a man and a woman. Collectively they’ve already lost over 150 pounds in a few months.

But back to the window display, where these two competitors are standing together, like puppies for sale, hoping the otherone will crack.

"No one wants this bike more than I do,” said Yu. “You’re going to have to saw my hand off that bike frame before I let anyone else go home with it. It seems he has more driving him that Levine, though the latter has been involved in triathlon for 17 years.

"I have had the Scott frame on my wish list since I saw it [in a magazine]. When I saw the contest’s ad it seemed like the right thing to do.

11 competitors started the contest on Friday night.

John Rossiello, of New York City, went the longest outside of these two, with his hand stuck firmly to his frame for 42 hours, 42 minutes. A feat in and of itself. But then there were two.

If you’re in the city today, run by SBR (203 West 58th New York NY, 10019 // 888-794-6245). As of now, these two guys are left like the Zax in their tracks. And with media coming? The stand-off will continue. A map to SBR can be found here.

Photos by Sari Goodfriend (sarigoodfriend.com)