Posted on 08/20/2005 12:50:39 PM PDT by Cougar66
WACO, Texas (AP) - It's no yellow jersey, but President Bush on Saturday presented Lance Armstrong with another shirt to show off his biking experiences - a red, white and blue T-shirt emblazoned "Tour de Crawford." The leader of the free world and the world's biking master rode for 17 miles on Bush's ranch for about two hours at midmorning. Bush showed Armstrong the sites of the ranch that he calls "a little slice of heaven," including a stop at a waterfall midway through the ride.
They were accompanied by a small group of staff and Secret Service agents and a film crew from the Discovery Channel, Armstrong's Tour de France sponsor, which had exclusive media access for the ride. Footage was shot for a program on Armstrong to air next week.
Neither Bush nor Armstrong spoke to reporters, although White House spokesman Trent Duffy said the president was impressed with the seven-time champ's skills.
"Recognizing what the world has known for years, the president said, 'He's a good rider,'" Duffy said.
The president has taken up biking with a fervor since a bad knee forced him to give up his running routine a few years ago. He's been spending a lot of time riding while staying in Texas this month. It was Armstrong's first ride at the presidential ranch, which is about 100 miles north of Armstrong's adopted hometown of Austin.
Duffy wouldn't say whether they talked politics, a topic that Armstrong has said he is getting more interested in now that he's retiring from biking at age 34. Armstrong calls Bush a friend, but he has spoken out against the war in Iraq and has said he wants the government to spend more money on cancer research.
At the end of the ride, Bush gave Armstrong and the rest of the riders the T-shirts, which said "Tour de Crawford" on the front in Western-style rope script and "Peleton One" - a reference to the densely packed group of riders in a race - on the back. Bush also gave them red, white and blue riding socks with the presidential seal on the inner ankle.
After the presentation, Duffy said, they posed for pictures and the president announced, "OK, let's go swimming." Armstrong and the rest of the group were invited to stay for lunch.
no pics about the tour?????
I never realized how big that ranch is, good for him.
I can't imagine that kind of biking in the summer Texas heat, but it sounds like they both enjoyed it.
It appears the Discovery Channel had exclusive media access to the event.
Eat your heart out Kerry.
Nedra Pickler just had to add this cheap-shot into the article. Why can't she just report on the bike ride and let it be? Frickin' liberals.
They are already condeming him with a hearty "FU Lance"!
Such a polite group over at the DUmp!
I don't know about the moonbats, but I don't find it amusing.
The Iraq situation is boiling, Sharia law is apparently going to be imposed, Iran is enriching uranium, the President has been giving attention to a dingbat outside his ranch, and thousands of illegals are pouring over the border every day in what amounts to an invasion.
There are more important uses of his time. If I were the President, I would not be doing this publicity stunt. I would be in the White House.
And I make no apologies for feeling this way.
And no mention of Cindy and her anti-American dingbats in this story, too. I bet the AP will send out another version of this that will say that the Presdient still refuses to meet with Cindy even tought she's not there.
Politicians are all alike, use their office to rub elbows with anyone that will get them a media blurb.
They'll complain that he didn't invite Cindy to ride along with him and Lance.
From what I can tell only Discovery Channel was along for the ride.
Noted. I'll reemphasize my use of UPS and Fedex.
I haven't found any pics of the ride on yahoo or google yet. Fox has a pic they are showing but not on the website .
I don't care about that at all.
But how was your tour of the USA?
You're right. Until your pet issues are resolved, the President must not take a couple hours off during the weekend to exercise.
You don't have to, I agree.
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