Posted on 02/13/2005 11:35:39 AM PST by 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.
(Excerpt) Read more at seattletimes.nwsource.com ...
Hi Scott,
Being face-to-face has tremendous advantages in that department, as the listener gets to read the speaker's expression, observe movement and gesture, and hear the tone of voice.
He looks so much like his dad in these pics.
It's easy to understand when you can hear one's voice. It's is not possible when just reading the comment unless you know the poster.
It's easy to understand when you can hear one's voice. It's is not possible when just reading the comment unless you know the poster.
Looking good! Mi maximum lider
:o) Ride, lider, ride!
ROFL!!
GW was in "Runner's World" magazine 3 years ago when he was still running. It was a fine article.
Today was my first day this year bicycle commuting - 24 mile round trip. It is a rush, to say the least.
It is also like taking smart pills.
Thanks for posting the pic.. You brought a huge smile onto my face after looking at the pic to see if I could find myself. Then I realized I must have been further back then that because most of us were walking through that section because it was so packed.
SERIOUS fun!!!!!
>> I love biking too, but I only do that during warm weather.
I like to go ice skating in warm weather. And in cold weather (now that I think about it). Indoor rinks rock--except when it rains, then the humidity makes the ice almost like a slushie.
But I keep meaning to take up biking since the weather is (normally) so nice here and ice time can get expensive. Blading is another option I guess, but some cross-training is always good too.
Hi snugs. Maybe this is why the President and First Lady have been spending their weekends at the White House lately. They used to go to Camp David most weekends. Maybe there's no relatively safe biking path there, whereas at the Secret Service facility in Maryland, it may be safer.
I agree, it was a fine article. I really liked the analysis of his running style and the real respect the other runners had for him.
You can tell he ran hard...... :o)
Have you ever been ice skating? Do you know which blade would be best for an ice skater to adjust to for inline skating?
I have some cheapo ones, but that was from before I started ice skating a lot, so I'm not sure they will suffice. I've considered getting the roller hockey kind, but I don't want to play roller hockey and I still want to be able to stop without dragging my foot.
Thanks for taking the time and effort. This is the tail of a thread so they will not be seen enough. You must post them on some more threads so they can proliferate across the internet
Our maximum lider!!
Well, let's BUMP the thread, then. :o)
Hi Betis, I've been ice skating before (just for recreational purposes--nothing fancy!), but I'm not sure if there are any particular inline skates that are best for an ice skater to adjust to.
I guess you could call me a recreational skater. If you're interested in extreme/street/vert/aggressive skating, sorry, I can't help you there *LOL* (they require different wheels, not to mention attitudes :-). But here's my general opinion on rec skating if that'd help:
I think the K2 and Rollerblade brands are good ones (I haven't tried any others). A decent pair will cost you at least $150 to $250 since they usually have faster bearings, more shock absorption, etc. compared to cheapo skates. It's standard for recreational skates to come with rubber heel stops--my guess is this is perhaps the hardest thing to get used to for ice skaters besides the friction factor--but you can also do T-stops if you don't like that (tho' this may be the foot-dragging you're talking about).
There are also speed skates which are fitted with 5 wheels instead of the usual 4. I've also heard there are really high-end skates that can cost you a bunch if you want a custom-made boot and design. I've never tried either.
I've found the hardest thing about this sport is finding good, unobstructed roads, sidewalks, uncrowded asphalt/concrete expanses to skate. No doubt conditions and opportunities vary based on locale.
Cool thanks. I'll check out that level of blade. I'm looking at it as exercise rather than any extreme stuff. I've had enough broken bones without anymore. I live right near paved foot/blade/bike path which leads to a series of paved trails near the SF Bay, so I have plenty of areas to go w/o worrying about crazy car drivers.
Yes the foot-dragging I guess would be called T-stops for bladers, but T-stops on ice involve a very different technique, so I wasn't sure if the term was used the same way. The back skate is snug up against the forward skate in a 'T', and you lean backwards slightly to get the *outside* edge of the back skate to dig into the ice. It's unnerving till you get the hang of it. :D
I'm used to doing hockey stops, but have bladed before, so I think the regular brakes will work just fine.
Hey...I have friends who've done THAT bike "ride."
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