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Bush transforms into avid mountain biker
JOHN HEILPRIN
Associated Press
WASHINGTON - Swapping his running shoes for bicycle pedals, President Bush
bid adieu to painful runner's knees and transformed himself into a devoted
mountain biker - and high-tech gearhead.
Even with elections looming, the cyclist-in-chief made time earlier this
month for his ritual mountain biking on weekends. He changed into biking
clothes and muddied up his newest ultra-pricey mountain bike given him by a
manufacturer, a $5,000 Cannondale with a custom red, white and blue paint
job. The 2007 model was put in his hands even before it had been shipped to
stores.
Such a passion it is: he also went biking Thursday while spending the
Thanksgiving holiday at his mountaintop retreat in Camp David, Md.
"He's an avid rider, a fanatic," said Matt Mannelly, president of Bethel,
Conn.-based Cannondale, who hadn't publicized but confirmed what he called
an unsolicited gift to Bush a month ago. "We also made it very clear we
wouldn't do anything to market this. To give it to someone like the
president, who's actually going to use it a lot, means a lot to us."
Bush already has two Trek mountain bikes, one worth $5,500, the other
$2,700.
The president likes super lightweight carbon frames, trail-absorbing shocks
front and back, a light but supportive seat, top Japanese components and
special paint jobs. But they are essentially stock bikes, similar to what
ordinary buyers can get.
The president's thoughts drifted to his newest bike on the campaign trail.
Maybe it was a calorie-conscious moment at a local farmer's ice cream store
in Pennsylvania, or the anticipation of busting his lungs on an expensive
new machine over rocky ruts. Whatever the impulse, Bush said he'd gotten a
new bike and was looking forward to riding it.
Rolling around the dirt track at a Secret Service facility in suburban
Beltsville, Md., Bush tried out the Cannondale but also brought along one of
his "old" mountain bikes - a 2006 Trek painted up like Air Force One.
The Trek has "United States of America" painted in white letters across the
blue top tube, and a 2-inch presidential seal affixed to both sides of the
head tube. Revolution Cycles, a local chain of stores, maintains the bike
and owns an identical backup that it keeps ready for Bush.
"It's kind of like the backup space shuttle," said Darrin Misiera, a manager
of the stores.
None of Bush's mountain bikes, in fact, is very old. His other Trek is a
2005 model.
The stores' president, Mike Hamannwright, fitted Bush with his Trek bikes
and has ridden with him. Co-owner Santiago "Pinkey" Gonzalez doubles as the
president's bike mechanic.
The Trek bikes came courtesy of John Burke, president of Waterloo,
Wis.-based Trek Bicycle Corp., who also chairs the President's Council on
Physical Fitness and Sports.
Bush reported the bikes on his financial disclosure forms the past two
years. He also got a $1,700 indoor cycling trainer from Saris Cycling Group
president Chris Fortune, two pairs of cycling shoes from Rob Teskey of Trek
Nike Cycling Division, and three helmets, at least four pairs of riding
gloves and other cycling equipment worth $532 from Burke.
White House spokeswoman Emily Lawrimore said the president "is in full
compliance with federal laws governing the acceptance of gifts." Those laws
say presidents and their spouses must list on financial disclosure forms any
gifts from constituents worth $305 or more. Often the gifts wind up in
presidential libraries.
It was only three years ago that Bush took up cycling after a painful knee
forced him to cut back on jogging. At 60, he is an exceptionally fit rider
who likes to go hard, always at the head of a small pack of other riders.
Most of his cycling is at Beltsville. But he also bikes occasionally at the
Marine base at Quantico, Va., Camp David at Catoctin Mountain Park and at
his ranch at Crawford, Texas. He also sneaks in rides during presidential
trips.
Misiera said he has turned down offers from collectors of up to $21,000 for
his store's spare presidential bike.
"We could probably get $25,000 for it on eBay," he said. "But of course we
can't sell it. It has the seal of the President of the United States."
JOHN HEILPRIN
Associated Press
WASHINGTON - Swapping his running shoes for bicycle pedals, President Bush
bid adieu to painful runner's knees and transformed himself into a devoted
mountain biker - and high-tech gearhead.
Even with elections looming, the cyclist-in-chief made time earlier this
month for his ritual mountain biking on weekends. He changed into biking
clothes and muddied up his newest ultra-pricey mountain bike given him by a
manufacturer, a $5,000 Cannondale with a custom red, white and blue paint
job. The 2007 model was put in his hands even before it had been shipped to
stores.
Such a passion it is: he also went biking Thursday while spending the
Thanksgiving holiday at his mountaintop retreat in Camp David, Md.
"He's an avid rider, a fanatic," said Matt Mannelly, president of Bethel,
Conn.-based Cannondale, who hadn't publicized but confirmed what he called
an unsolicited gift to Bush a month ago. "We also made it very clear we
wouldn't do anything to market this. To give it to someone like the
president, who's actually going to use it a lot, means a lot to us."
Bush already has two Trek mountain bikes, one worth $5,500, the other
$2,700.
The president likes super lightweight carbon frames, trail-absorbing shocks
front and back, a light but supportive seat, top Japanese components and
special paint jobs. But they are essentially stock bikes, similar to what
ordinary buyers can get.
The president's thoughts drifted to his newest bike on the campaign trail.
Maybe it was a calorie-conscious moment at a local farmer's ice cream store
in Pennsylvania, or the anticipation of busting his lungs on an expensive
new machine over rocky ruts. Whatever the impulse, Bush said he'd gotten a
new bike and was looking forward to riding it.
Rolling around the dirt track at a Secret Service facility in suburban
Beltsville, Md., Bush tried out the Cannondale but also brought along one of
his "old" mountain bikes - a 2006 Trek painted up like Air Force One.
The Trek has "United States of America" painted in white letters across the
blue top tube, and a 2-inch presidential seal affixed to both sides of the
head tube. Revolution Cycles, a local chain of stores, maintains the bike
and owns an identical backup that it keeps ready for Bush.
"It's kind of like the backup space shuttle," said Darrin Misiera, a manager
of the stores.
None of Bush's mountain bikes, in fact, is very old. His other Trek is a
2005 model.
The stores' president, Mike Hamannwright, fitted Bush with his Trek bikes
and has ridden with him. Co-owner Santiago "Pinkey" Gonzalez doubles as the
president's bike mechanic.
The Trek bikes came courtesy of John Burke, president of Waterloo,
Wis.-based Trek Bicycle Corp., who also chairs the President's Council on
Physical Fitness and Sports.
Bush reported the bikes on his financial disclosure forms the past two
years. He also got a $1,700 indoor cycling trainer from Saris Cycling Group
president Chris Fortune, two pairs of cycling shoes from Rob Teskey of Trek
Nike Cycling Division, and three helmets, at least four pairs of riding
gloves and other cycling equipment worth $532 from Burke.
White House spokeswoman Emily Lawrimore said the president "is in full
compliance with federal laws governing the acceptance of gifts." Those laws
say presidents and their spouses must list on financial disclosure forms any
gifts from constituents worth $305 or more. Often the gifts wind up in
presidential libraries.
It was only three years ago that Bush took up cycling after a painful knee
forced him to cut back on jogging. At 60, he is an exceptionally fit rider
who likes to go hard, always at the head of a small pack of other riders.
Most of his cycling is at Beltsville. But he also bikes occasionally at the
Marine base at Quantico, Va., Camp David at Catoctin Mountain Park and at
his ranch at Crawford, Texas. He also sneaks in rides during presidential
trips.
Misiera said he has turned down offers from collectors of up to $21,000 for
his store's spare presidential bike.
"We could probably get $25,000 for it on eBay," he said. "But of course we
can't sell it. It has the seal of the President of the United States."
