Barack Obama: 'I want to ride my bicycle'

October 9, 5:21 PMCycling ExaminerJames Raia

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It’s been four months, but one image of Barack Obama has likely received more attention than any other — and for all the wrong reasons.

There’s Obama on a perfectly fine June day, riding his bicycle along a Chicago street. He was wearing a pair of faded jeans, a golf shirt, a pair of tennis shoes, black & white socks and a tightly strapped bicycle helmet.

The fashion police, snobbish gossip columnists and political know-it-alls all took the Democratic presidential candidate to task. His attire, particularly his helmet, was described as geeky.

But what was really wrong with the picture? Nothing. Hey, the guy was out for a bike ride. Was it a set-up shot? Who cares?

Obama was riding his bicycle and he was wearing jeans and helmet? It was all good. He’s a regular person, get it? What was he supposed to be wearing, Armani?

Not too long ago, President Bush had lots of photo ops while he  was running a few miles with Secret Service agents at his side. It scored Bush “props” with runners and fitness councils.

And so why not Obama? His decision to periodically ride a bike certainly scored points in the cycling community. He’s gotten “thumbs-up” from various national cycling advocacy groups, and Obama has expressed his desire for a more active population.

Does someone want to complain about that, too?

Obama, by the way, isn't the first politician to go for a ride. A few years ago, while attending the Tour de France, there was a “buzz” in the media, cyclists’ and sponsors’ village at the start of one of the stages. The reason:

Sen. John Kerry had just pedaled over from his nearby hotel room to say hello to everyone en route to having an audience with Lance Armstrong in his team's motor home.