President Bush gets a Cannondale

Alternate title: The big bike brand arms race

It would appear that George W. Bush is now the proud owner of a Cannondale Rush Carbon. So far as I can tell there are no photos of him with the bike just yet. Only this article from the Associated Press that I found via BikeBiz.

What's up with all the big bike companies hoisting special edition bikes on the prez? First the Trek Top Fuel and now the Cannondale Rush...what's next...a carbon Stumpy?

Maybe it's time the president get with the big wheel revolution? Chris Sugai, why don't you send over one of those beautiful Niner R.I.P. 9's and educate the man a bit? It seems no mountain bike gift will be returned. Actually, it would be pretty funny if all the manufacturer's started sending their bikes to the president as gifts all vying to become the official bike company of the United States. The president would be in a real conundrum then...how would he choose?

From everything I have read the president is no slouch when it comes to riding. When you look at the list of riding locations in Maryland one has to believe the trails are similar in scope to Greenbriar or Gambrill. I've not ridden the trail at Quantico, but from what I read of the trail in race reports last year, many have said it rides a lot like Fountainhead. Not bad, really.

Anyway, questions abound about the new presidential bike:

Will another shop have to maintain the new Cannondale (Revolution Cycles is a Trek dealer)? If so, who will get the honor? This would mean of course, that the Secret Service would have to secure yet another shop and clear all kinds of additional employees that touch the presidential bike. Unless Revolution Cycles continues to maintain the president's bikes...in which case there is the question of the Lefty? How will Revolution cope?