Bicycle content

Ten days in a row with a high temperature lower than the average low for the day.

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Over the years I have copied to my hard drive photos of some famous people riding bicycles.  So here's a review of some photos of famous people on bicycles more or less in what I consider to be most serious bicyclist to just someone riding a bike order.

Conan looks an awful lot like a guy who actually rides.  He's got what looks like an elongated head tube (which means probably custom built) titanium frame Serotta.  He's a tall guy, he needs a tall bicycle.  Looks like Ksyrium wheelset, carbon fork, can't tell for sure but looks like Shimano, with the rest of the set up it must be DuraAce.  Nice bike.

Former member of Congress from Minnesota's 8th district James Oberstar.  Oberstar was a long time chairman of the House Transportation Committee.  That committee has oversight of transportation spending including spending on non-highway transportation.  Because he was a bicyclist Oberstar made certain that his district and his state received funding for bicycle transportation.  Next time you are on a bicycle trail anywhere in Minnesota, but particularly in the 8th district, thank Jim Oberstar.

That's an older Lemond he's riding here, looks to me like the steel frame version.  The later Lemonds were mostly aluminum frames.  That's a Shimano set up he's got on this bicycle.  Looks like he is palping SPD pedals with a mountain bike shoe, what is euphemistically referred to as "walkable" shoes.  Interestingly enough he apparently had a separate bicycle for every place he might spend time. Nice bicycle in Washington, another nice bicycle in Chisholm.  Note for contrast that the white bar tape looks fairly clean but not quite pristine.  Oberstar, a bicyclist.

Bush is widely reported to be fairly serious about his mountain biking.  Here he is palping American with the flag but also with the Trek bike.  Trek of course manufactures mountain bikes but Trek has never been one of the really trendy, really hip frames for MBers.  I like the toe clips, front suspension, that looks like a triple front chain ring (partly I base this assumption on the really long rear derailer pulley arm, suitable for a triple).  I don't downgrade him for that, a triple is a good choice for serious off road riding.  Even in slight profile those calves look like he might be a guy who rides.  I would say though, that if he ever falls off that thing he is going to wish he had been wearing gloves.

And then this guy.  I respect that there is at least a slight amount of muscle definition in the thighs but what serious bicyclist who is not a politician wears a t-shirt on a road bike? Someone who has lived there might want to weigh in, but I think for this picture he is riding in Boston.  Nice Serotta, but old, definitely old.  Steel frame, steel fork, Shimano components, Sidi road shoes, probably palping Looks, nice clean yellow bar tape.  He looks like a guy who has always been able to afford a nice bicycle and bought one once a long time ago.  He has never upgraded.

Lou Reed on a Jamis.  Nice urban bicycle, including a rack.  Take a ride on the wild side.

Out for a ride with his dork helmet and mom jeans.  Bush does it better.  This one too, is a Trek, a nice American brand.  The main thing the current POTUS has going for him in this photo is that fly away towing bar extending off the seat post.  He is pulling a trailer which if it is not a secret service agent must most probably be one of his daughters.  This makes this an old photo as by now both of the girls are obviously able to ride their own bicycles, thank you, but also thanks Dad for taking the girls out for a ride.

The Shadow knows.

Even the picture of the shadow clearly provides enough visual evidence to indicate Campagnolo.

The Shadow KNOWS.