Bush, a "biking maniac," loves leaving aides in dust

The Baltimore Sun , The Seattle Times ^ | Sunday, February 13, 2005 | By Julie Hirschfeld Davis

[gwb43_2004]

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

And his mountain bike.

Bush recently 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.

[gwb43_2004]

1000 calories ? woah !

[ScottFromSpokane]

Cyclists are real men (though road cyclists are far more macho than mountain bikers).

[traviskicks]

heh heh, notice that like most of us, he picks a sport he likes and sticks with it, he's not out doing something different every other weekend: skiing, snowboarding, windsurfing, biking, etc.. like Kerry did during the campaign :).

remember when he wrecked (Bush)?

[Piquaboy]

You should try RAGBRAI. It really takes a macho man to do Registers Annual Great Beer Ride Across Iowa.

[Vision]

I'm pretty familiar with Beltsville MD and can't imagine much of a "secluded spread" there. Maybe down by the marina

[Cyclopean Squid]

How long before "He's become a biking maniac" is transformed into "He's become a...maniac" in the MSM and leftist blogs?

[k2blader]

He should take up in-line skating. :-)

[Capriole]

I'm pretty familiar with Beltsville MD and can't imagine much of a "secluded spread" there.

Perhaps the University of Maryland agricultural research farm there?

[Vision]

Maybe you're right. Beltsville does go on for a long stretch.

[gridlock]

The Secret Service must love this. Can you imagine trying to provide protection for a determined athletic mountain biker? Maybe if they got 150cc enduros they could keep up...

[Vision]

Sounds tiring to me

[gridlock]

Slap a Secret Service logo on a few of these things, on the double!

[Aeronaut]

Pingaroo

[dufekin]

The Secret Service apparently also had problems with Reagan riding horseback across his California ranch. Ah, when Reagan could be Governor of California--those were the days--not that I remember them; he defeated Jimmy Carter in my infancy.

[Osage Orange]

(though road cyclists are far more macho than mountain bikers).

Yeah....Johnny Heinz Kerry pretty much proved that...

NOT!!

Hehehehe....

[Isara]

I think it's Secret Service headquarters in Beltsville.

[Tijeras_Slim]

No more need be said.

[ScottFromSpokane]

He's the exception that proves the rule.

[Nexus6]

heh heh, notice that like most of us, he picks a sport he likes and sticks with it, he's not out doing something different every other weekend: skiing, snowboarding, windsurfing, biking, etc.. like Kerry did during the campaign :).

Don't forget ice hockey...remember Kerry skating around the rink like a major league troll with some ex-Bruins...I kept wishing Ray Bourque would lay an open-ice concussion-maker on him.

[beaver fever]

Obviously you not heard of the North Shore and Wade Simmins.

http://www.bikemag.com/news/wade/

http://www.ridesaint.com/publish/content/saint/en/saint_home/the_riders/wade_simmons.html

Career Highlilghts:
2001 1st Place Red Bull Rampage Utah
2001 2nd Red Bull Rampage Australia

Watch any of these Videos and you will find that real men (and women) ride mountain bikes

Kranked I
Kranked II
Kranked III
Kranked IV
Ride to the Hills
Pedalfiles
North Shore Extreme I
North Shore Extreme II
North Shore Extreme III
North Shore Extreme IV