Beastie Boys rapper Mike D, whose recent bicycle injury sidelined the group's tour with political rockers Rage Against the Machine, will undergo surgery Monday.

In a statement released Thursday (July 27) through the Beasties' publicists Nasty Little Man, the 34-year-old rapper (born Michael Diamond) wrote, "On the real, things like these serve as our greatest teachings. The incident happened so fast and so close to my NYC home, yet it has affected so many people's plans for the future.

"So just when we think we are in control, we are awakened to realize that it is just an illusion of control that we live with," he continued. "I'm just thankful that all my body parts will soon be functioning normally once again ... relatively speaking, of course."

Mike D was riding home from tour rehearsals Sunday morning — not Saturday as earlier reported — when his bike hit a pothole, triggering a spill that injured the rapper's clavicle, damaging several muscles, tendons and ligaments as well. He was treated at Manhattan's St. Vincent's Hospital, where he was diagnosed with a fifth-degree acromioclavicular joint dislocation, the statement said.

The surgery will repair ligaments that separated from his collarbone and right shoulder. Following the operation, the rapper faces a minimum six-week rest period, followed by an intensive physical rehabilitation regimen of undetermined length.

All of this means Mike D likely will be sidelined from performing until at least October, a month after the Rhyme & Reason 2000 tour with Rage Against the Machine was expected to conclude. The Beasties spokespeople said they are trying to reschedule the tour, which was to have begun Aug. 2 in Toronto. Information on rescheduled dates, ticket exchanges and refunds has not been announced.

The Beastie Boys' most recent release, the 1999 anthology The Sounds of Science, featured such hits as "Fight for Your Right" (RealAudio excerpt) and "Sure Shot" (RealAudio excerpt).