No political jabs please…
Thought this was pretty cool. That’s quite the Pearl shirt the prez is wearing.
http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2005-08-13-bush-bike_x.htm
Seat’s too low.
yah that’s like seeing Bob Dole walking on a treadmill wearing a dress shirt with french cuffs minus a tie…
at least hook a brutha up with a drifit t-shirt or something!!!
" started out riding next to him at the beginning of the ride, but when we left the dirt trails and hit the rolling asphalt the pace accelerated to more than 20 mph, which is pretty good for road bikes but absolutely blazing for heavier, knobby-tired mountain bikes. And did I mention that the only factor mitigating the mid-80s temperatures was a very strong headwind?"
I call bullshit.
I also wonder how those journalists might’ve fared if they had a Camelbak like the President had, rather than a smallish water bottle. Not to mention losing the kickstands…
Hey, doesn’t he have one of Lance’s yellow jerseys?
"I call bullshit. "
Agreed - conservative media bias. Either that, or the reporter was hoping to get invited on another ride with the Prez. - maybe with LA next weekend…
BS about which part?
That the Prez can get over 20mph on pavement or that MPH is blazing?
I don’t find 20mph to be out of the ordinary. 25mph perhaps. Looks like his position is well dialed in!
BS about which part?
That the Prez can get over 20mph on pavement or that MPH is blazing?
I don’t find 20mph to be out of the ordinary. 25mph perhaps. Looks like his position is well dialed in!
Where does that 20mph figure come from? Did the journalist who wrote the article have a speedometer on the (most likely borrowed) mountain bike he rode (I don’t think I’ve ever ridden with someone who had a speedo on their MTB)? If so, do you think it was properly calibrated for knobby tires? Or did GWB call out the speed as they were rolling along?
I’ve no doubt that GWB can get to 20mph (even without crashing) on asphalt, but I doubt for any significant time. The whole article reeks of something, either naivete or lack of experience on a MTB by the journalist.
"The whole article reeks of something, either naivete or lack of experience on a MTB by the journalist. "
well, it’s neither of those.
“Sal Ruibal is a 51-year-old sportswriter for USA TODAY who has covered the Tour de France six times and ridden most of the Tour’s mountain passes. He is an experienced mountain bike racer who finished fifth in the Masters category at the 2002 World Championships of 24-Hour Solo Mountain Biking.”
I’d guess a guy like that might have a speedometer on his MTB…
I’d say Sal is a pretty good judge of speed…although I’d imagine he needed to put liberal-bias on hold during the ride…while fluffing up to the Prez during the write-up.
I’d say Sal is a pretty good judge of speed…although I’d imagine he needed to put liberal-bias on hold during the ride…while fluffing up to the Prez during the write-up.
I stand corrected on the author’s level of expertise. However, do you believe him when he says “No problem. Keeping up with Bush — whose fitness level was recently rated in his annual physical exam as being in the top 1% of men 55 to 59 — was as difficult as any race I’ve entered.” As hard as the Masters World Championships he placed in in 2002? I’d have guessed the author to be in the top .01% in his age group.
By the way, this has nothing to do with liberal or conservative, so give it a rest.
Sal’s liberal bias, not yours. Settle down.
Yes, I totally believe that. Dubya’s fitness is fairly well documented.
huh?
conservative bias - what a laugh. You have no idea who wrote that article I see (or the media in general).
" conservative bias - what a laugh."
exactly. glad you got it.
As Smitty said “Dubya’s fitness is fairly well documented” (the guy can/could run pretty fast) … so as far as I’m concerned it’s all good because it’s another public person advocating the benefits of riding a BIKE…
WTF! Why is it so unbelieveable to have a speedometer on a mountain bike? I don’t know anyone I rode with (when I rode MTB) who didn’t have one. Its nice to know how far you’ve gone–especially if you’re lost in the woods.
“it’s all good because it’s another public person advocating the benefits of riding a BIKE…”
My thoughts exactly!!!
Here in Mpls, we have a pretty active Mayor Ryback. He recently rode his MTB (not as fast as Dubya) to open the nation’s “First Metro MTB Trails”. It was nice to see that level of support. I hate to say this…but I don’t really care about his policies as he seems like a nice guy and I trust him even though (okay, I not going to type it and just leave it at that…)
This is a freaking genius commercial in a widely distributed paper. Mountain biking could use the boost.
I agree that this is pretty cool. Politics aside, it’s great to see someone with an active lifestyle in the White House.
It seems like everytime a politician is spotted on a bike, they are made fun of or put down in cycling forums. Seems strange to me, especially if it comes from people who also complain about a lack of bike lanes.