Cycling Maniac

[pk]

Published: Sunday, February 13, 2005

Bush becomes extreme cyclist

The Baltimore Sun


WASHINGTON - Cancel the cozy days at Camp David, Md. Put away the underused running shoes. When it comes to weekend enjoyment, all George Bush seems to need is some winding trails and a helmet.

And his mountain bike.

Lately, Bush has been logging scores of miles on a secluded spread in Beltsville, Md., and the rolling hills of Quantico, Va., far from the White House.

"He's become a biking maniac," said Mark McKinnon, his media adviser and frequent cycling companion.

What began as a way for the president to stay fit, after three decades of running ruined his knees, is now his passion.

Besides burning calories at a 1,000 per hour clip, cycling gives Bush an emotional rush that sometimes surpasses the one he got from running.

"He's obsessed with it," said McKinnon. "He now likes to do nothing but work out on his bike, and he does it with a frenzy that is reserved for people like Lance Armstrong."

Bush's face lights up at the mention of biking, a heart-thumping release from the stress of his job.

"Prayer and exercise are what keeps me going," he told a Great Falls, Mont., man who asked what brand of bicycle he rides.

His penchant for the messy, sometimes dangerous, sport captured media attention when he took a face-battering spill from his Trek bicycle - reportedly a $3,100 carbon-frame model - while riding it through the hills of his Crawford, Texas, ranch last year.

"We got thrills, spills - you name it," Bush quipped to a reporter who accompanied him on a ride that saw the president sail over his handlebars, crash to the ground, and then promptly hop back on his bike.

For Secret Service agents and others who have ridden with Bush, it can be a perilous experience. At least one agent has broken several bones trailing the president.

It can also be demoralizing - he is famous for leaving stragglers behind - but seldom boring.

Bush isn't the first to slip a workout into a demanding presidential schedule.

Harry Truman favored brisk early-morning walks. Herbert Hoover tossed a 10-pound medicine ball with Cabinet members. Jimmy Carter and most of his successors were avid joggers - as was Bush, until doctors advised him last year to quit.

But perhaps no president since Teddy Roosevelt, who combined harrowing horseback rides in Rock Creek Park with sub-zero skinny-dips, has relished so risky a hobby.

That may be why Bush likes it.

Mountain-biking is an integral part of Bush's fitness regime, which includes riding a racing bike on rollers at the White House and working out on an elliptical trainer and treadmill.

The combination puts his fitness level in the top 5 percent of men in his age group, said Dr. Kenneth Cooper of Dallas, one of Bush's physicians and a prominent fitness advocate.

"If a person starts having musculoskeletal problems and has to stop running, they can transition to another type of activity and get the same cardiovascular benefits. I put cycling way up there. It's strongly recommended," said Cooper, who pioneered the aerobics movement in the 1960s.

Source: http://www.heraldnet.com/stories/05/02/13/100wir_bush001.cfm

[AA]

Like him or not (and I dont like him) it's great that the president is a cyclist.

[Superb Man]

so seriously...shouldn't NEMBA and IMBA lobby this mountain-bike enthusiast more than ever for new trail construction on federal land, changing present restrictions and promoting our sport??? The Green Mountains NF would be a great place to start.

Pitch mountain biking as part of a national campaign against obesity (something else this president seems keen on) and we'll access as well as funds.

IMBA/NEMBA should invite him on a ride.

[MTBME]

"so seriously...shouldn't NEMBA and IMBA lobby this mountain-bike enthusiast more than ever for new trail construction on federal land, changing present restrictions and promoting our sport??? The Green Mountains NF would be a great place to start. "

Why not make him an honory member. Print up a special award of some sort. Maybe get some press out of it. Then when land issues come up, we might, and I stress might, have an ear in the White House. Or am I just full of crap.

quietly praying this thread does not go the way i think it will

why PK?

why :'(

[AA]

How about we all agree to keep the focus of this thread on mountain biking and not let it degrade from there. If it does turn into another political pissing match I will be dissapointed. I think that there is great opportunity for positive things from a president that mountain bikes. At a minimum IMBA should be trying to get the presidents attention regarding access in the national forests.

I like the honarary member idea.

[kernel crash]

"I like the honarary member idea."

Ya. Send PK to the White House with the award. What a photo op. Who knows you might bump into Lance over there ;)

[TrailBate]

You would think he'd be more than happy to meet with IMBA or NEMBA, or any other similar org.

[Superb Man]

Lobbying is all about not playing favorites and finding political allies where you can. A President's personal passions can be harnessed for some really great things-It was Teddy Roosevelt's love of the out doors that gave us the National Parks system in the first place. At any rate, does stressing the president's love of fitness and mountain biking get us anywhere with our state Republicans...especially the one in the Governor's mansion? Any access routes thru our state political system to the President?

Oh Yeah, What bike (bikes) does the president ride?

[ArmOnFire]

He is going to be in Portsmouth the end of this week, by then Fort Rock might be rideable.

Set it up PK and I'll give him a tour.

-Dan

[bdee]

I am curious as to what IMBA has been planning/trying to do to establish a relationship with Bush. You'd think they have been trying to leverage this for all it's worth. Of course one of the filp sides to this is that it could further alienate us from the hardcore anti mtb/eco nazi groups that hate Bush (not that we were ever going to win them over anyway, and it's nothing like getting into bed with MX lobbying groups).

Is it incredibly naive to think this presents a great oppurtunity to facilitate some change from within the gov't with regard to Wilderness regulation? Maybe, but it would be errant to overlook it and not at least try to leverage the guy's passion for riding.

[pk]

IMBA is in the process of filling out lots of paperwork to allow George to become an honorary IMBA member. I guess you can't just bestow this kind of thing.

They are also trying to make contact with Bush himself but as you can imagine it's pretty difficult.

I sent off a suggestion this morning that instead of making direct contact with the president, that they try to get in contact with Mark McKinnon, Bush's media advisor (and riding buddy). Mark appears to be an open, friendly and witty individual. He's also a board member of the Lance Armstrong Foundation. The folks at IMBA thought this might be good idea.

Personally, I don't think that NEMBA would get very far on this on our own.

pk

[MMcG]

what would be really cool would be to find out that G. W. joined IMBA all on his own and didn't have to receive any type of honorary degree.

I believe he rides a Trek does he not?

[Big Game]

I tried contacted Bush to ride through RNC...maybe if I actually donated some money to the cause, I would have gotten a little further. Maybe we go to try that Shawshank redemptin approach & send a letter everyday until Bush caves. But using all that paper doesn't sound so good. How many trees will we have to cut down to save the trees?

[Mt.A TODD]

Personally, I don't think that NEMBA would get very far on this on our own.
Now, now…let’s not be so quick to dismiss this thought. Sure at face value W may not be interested in our Blue State club, but he DOES vacation in Kennebunk…and I DO know of some planning for miles and miles of sweet singletrack construction near his home.

Dear Mr. President,
We are building 40 miles sweet secluded single track very near your summer home in Maine. Give us money and we will tell where the trails are.

p.s. Yo on the Federal tip, give bikes a green light in Wilderness areas so we can ride in there!...duh

Sincerely yours,
fellow bike maniac

gee wiz, mmCg’s avatar freaks me out! I hate freaky pigs!

[ArmOnFire]

Posted by: Toddski Posted on: Today at 07:06:38pm

gee wiz, mmCg’s avatar freaks me out! I hate freaky pigs!

I find Big Games more disturbing.

[gnurider1080]

i cant tell what big games avatar is of, so i have to agree with todd.

[Mt.A TODD]

Posted by: Toddski ***Posted on: Today at 07:06:38pm

gee wiz, mmCg’s avatar freaks me out! I hate freaky pigs!

I find Big Games more disturbing.

Your right about Big Games avatar! I got a freaky story about that one! In BG’s posting glory days his avatar was this big fat cheesy guy..Mr. Belvedere! So one day I needed to print out a forum page for directions, but in replace of that big cheesy grin on paper, I was shocked to find the image of BG’s current avatar! Computer screen shows, Mr. Belvedere…hardcopy was those scary guys! So I called him on it when I met him one day, and he changed it. It makes me wonder what I’ll find if I print that one out! This is some freaky serial killer shitte man! :o :o :o

[pk]

quietly praying this thread does not go the way i think it will

why PK?

why :'(


I guess Todd is now validating Justbill's concerns? ;D

pk

[sizlinseagulsoup]

In defense of Bush not being eager to meet with the cycling lobby...

Do you know many special interest groups bug politicians daily? There's a reason why people say that politician's jobs have turned into dealing with special interest groups, which they admittingly don't want to do. If Bush likes cycling, good for him! I don't blame him one bit from wanting to keep his pasions and business seperate. If anything, we should be grateful that he rides and assume that he'll keep our interests in mind for that very reason and not bug him (and no, I'm not just saying that because I don't think we should have anything to do with that man :P )

[gnurider1080]

(and no, I'm not just saying that because I don't think we should have anything to do with that man :P )


hah. i got a kick out of that part.

[Slider]

OK, time for the downturn, Slider's here...

BG's avatar is Bush, in the suit, about to thank Karl Rove for past services. ;D Sorry, couldn't resist.

Actually, it's a scene from The Shining, from Jack's perspective, during one if his trips through a past party at the hotel. That was a great, underrated movie!

So Bush gets mountain biking. About time he got something right. The man's complete disconnection from reality pretty much rules out his helping advance any of our causes. He's riding exclusively on his own property, don't forget. He'll never have to worry about trail closings.

Slider

[ArmOnFire]

Posted by: Toddski Posted on: Today at 07:06:38pm

gee wiz, mmCg’s avatar freaks me out! I hate freaky pigs!

I find Big Games more disturbing.

Your right about Big Games avatar! I got a freaky story about that one! In BG’s posting glory days his avatar was this big fat cheesy guy..Mr. Belvedere! So one day I needed to print out a forum page for directions, but in replace of that big cheesy grin on paper, I was shocked to find the image of BG’s current avatar! Computer screen shows, Mr. Belvedere…hardcopy was those scary guys! So I called him on it when I met him one day, and he changed it. It makes me wonder what I’ll find if I print that one out! This is some freaky serial killer shitte man! :o :o :o


It looks like your opinion changed MMcG avatar.

The power......

[Superb Man]

Slider,

I'm not sure you can call "the shining" under-rated. It's an oft noted Stanley Kubrick gem and psychological Horror Classic (Ebert considers it one of the best of the genre). I think most people of reasonable cinematic critical acumen regard "The Shining" with the appropiate esteem...

I think it would be impossible for a sitting President to advance legislation in support of his own personal passion.
Most Presidents will save that political calateral for their post presidency support. It is great that our sport gains legitimacy through participation by the leader of the most powerfull nation on earth. I think we will need to be patient and reap the benifits when joined on the trail by the former President, George W Bush.

[MMcG]

Posted by: Toddski Posted on: Today at 07:06:38pm

gee wiz, mmCg’s avatar freaks me out! I hate freaky pigs!

I find Big Games more disturbing.

Your right about Big Games avatar! I got a freaky story about that one! In BG’s posting glory days his avatar was this big fat cheesy guy..Mr. Belvedere! So one day I needed to print out a forum page for directions, but in replace of that big cheesy grin on paper, I was shocked to find the image of BG’s current avatar! Computer screen shows, Mr. Belvedere…hardcopy was those scary guys! So I called him on it when I met him one day, and he changed it. It makes me wonder what I’ll find if I print that one out! This is some freaky serial killer shitte man! :o :o :o


It looks like your opinion changed MMcG avatar.

The power......


Nope - the Pig still lives on the NEMBA forum - changed it everywhere else thoug, but left it hear just to freak out Toddski some more. ;) ;D

[pk]

I think it would be impossible for a sitting President to advance legislation in support of his own personal passion.



Actually, for bikes to be allowed in Wilderness, there is no need to change the legislation or the Wilderness Act itself. It would necessitate that the 4 main agencies responsible for Wilderness lands change their regulations (interpretations) of the Act (USFS, BLM, Fish & Wildlife and NPS).

http://www.dirtragmag.com/print/article.php?ID=673&category=departments

That said, changing the regs will be no easy task and becomes very complicated very quickly.

pk

[Slider]

Slider,
I'm not sure you can call "the shining" under-rated. It's an oft noted Stanley Kubrick gem and psychological Horror Classic (Ebert considers it one of the best of the genre). I think most people of reasonable cinematic critical acumen regard "The Shining" with the appropiate esteem...


Seems you're right. Did a few checks - Netflix is where I get my DVD rentals - and the ratings are pretty good. Seems to me that they were less so at the time the movie came out.

Sorry for the brief hijack....

Slider

[Superb Man]

I think it would be impossible for a sitting President to advance legislation in support of his own personal passion.
Most Presidents will save that political calateral for their post presidency support. It is great that our sport gains legitimacy through participation by the leader of the most powerfull nation on earth. I think we will need to be patient and reap the benifits when joined on the trail by the former President, George W Bush.


I'm not so sure that an executive is as handcuffed as you suggest-Again I point to the creation of our National Parks under (and after, of course) Teddy Roosevelt. Gov. Pataki in NY, an avid skier, has pumped a ton of money into the development of the state owned ski areas (Gore, Whiteface, and Bellyeare) is another recent example. Also, I doubt those who would strenuously oppose redefining public space for recreational use are usual Bush supporters with whom he'd have to parcel out political collateral. Finally, setting the regulations of public space is one area where a president has an incredible amount of influence as the management of these areas is, for the most part, under appointed heads (not the least of which is the Secretary of The Interior).

Why wait, or speculate on why any lobby efforts might fail-the President (along with Oprah I suppose) is the one person whose personal passions can quickly change public policy.