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Updated: 05:12 PM EDT
Armstrong, Bush Ride 'Tour de Crawford'
Says the President of the Cycling Legend, 'He's a Good Rider'
By NEDRA PICKLER, AP
WACO, Texas (Aug. 20) - 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."
Paul Morse, The White House / AP
The White House wouldn't say if Bush and Armstrong discussed politics
during their 17-mile ride. Armstrong has spoken against the Iraq War.
Talk About It: Post Thoughts
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 recently said he might consider running for Bush's old job as
Texas governor. But, he coyly told the interviewer, "It's more or less
a joke.''
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.
08-20-05 16:59 EDT
Copyright 2005 The Associated Press. The information contained in the
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