Newly inaugurated President Joe Biden joins a long list of past U.S. presidents and other world leaders who have enjoyed riding a bicycle for fitness and fun. He’s often seen riding solo or with his wife, Dr. Jill Biden. These days, of course, even a “solo” ride means he’s accompanied by U.S. Secret Service agents on bikes.
Cycling is part of the secret to how Biden, who at 78 is the oldest U.S. president ever, maintains a high energy level and slim profile. According to a medical assessment from late 2019, Biden at that time was 5 feet, 11 inches tall, weighed only 178 pounds, and had a low blood pressure of 128/84. He does not drink alcoholic beverages or smoke, and exercises five days a week, including cardio and weight-lifting routines. He is known to enjoy a healthy diet, including fresh fruit, salads, Greek yogurt, and fish. He does, however, occasionally indulge a fondness for ice cream.
Other Presidents Who Enjoyed Cycling
Biden joins a long list of U.S. presidents who have enjoyed bicycling for fitness and fun. One of the first was President Woodrow Wilson. While serving as president of Princeton University, before becoming the nation’s leader, Wilson on three occasions took lengthy summer holidays to bicycle across Scotland. He did this for both his physical and mental health, after suffering strokes and for relief from the pressures of his career. Wilson freely toured the backroads of Scotland, staying at inns along the way. In one of these summer holidays, Wilson rode his bike from Glasgow to London, a distance of more than 350 miles. Back at Princeton, Wilson was well known for commuting around campus on his bike.
Presidents Richard Nixon, John F. Kennedy, George H.W. Bush Sr., Jimmy Carter, and Barack Obama all enjoyed at least an occasional bike ride, but perhaps the U.S. president best known as a cycling enthusiast, prior to our current new president, was George W. Bush. Like many leaders who need to stay in top physical and mental condition, Bush took his workouts seriously. One of his favorite fitness regimens was mountain biking on his Texas ranch or in the hills at Quantico, Virginia, closer to the White House. Secret Service agents, often decades younger than Bush, had trouble keeping pace with President Bush. One agent took a nasty spill and broke several bones while trying to follow the president.
“Prayer and exercise are what keep me going,” Bush once said.
Even after leaving office, Bush’s love affair with mountain biking has continued. Every year since 2011, he has sponsored a ride for injured veterans at his Texas ranch. The two-day Warrior 100k bike ride has grown over the years and offered encouragement and comraderie for wounded veterans.
Outgoing President Donald Trump is one of the few U.S. presidents to not ride a bike. President Trump is a regular golfer, but does not otherwise follow any specific fitness regimen. In a 2015 interview, Trump explained why he doesn’t exercise more: “All my friends who work out all the time, they’re going for knee replacements, hip replacements—they’re a disaster.”
Other World Leaders Enjoy Cycling
Bicycles have appealed to many world leaders over the years. UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson is a known cycling enthusiast, as were his predecessors, David Cameron and Tony Blair. Prince Charles has been photographed on his bike. Russia’s Vladimir Putin has been seen cycling, as have the Dutch monarch Queen Maxima and King Willem Alexander. It’s a recreational pursuit that transcends national borders, continents, and ideology.
Biden’s Impact on U.S. Cycling Policy, Infrastructure
President Biden’s fondness for bicycling and his familiarity with dedicated bike trails, which he sometimes rides in his home state of Delaware, may result in increased funding and focus on U.S. bicycling policy, which has lagged behind much of Europe and other more bike-focused cultures. While specifics remain to be seen, the Biden administration may support the funding of more miles of bike trails, better access to walking and biking paths in low-income neighborhoods, incentives to move commuters from cars to bikes to improve the environment and public health, and initiatives to improve bicycle safety.
Lessons for the Rest of Us
Regardless of whether you cycle or not, as we age it is important to stay active and follow a fitness regime that includes regular exercise and proper diet. A common trait of leaders in government and business is their emphasis on personal fitness, which is necessary to continue to function at a high level. For the rest of us, that may mean focusing more on our health so we can continue with our careers, participate actively in ministries or charity work, stay engaged in our grandchildren’s lives, or pursue dreams like travel.
The old saying that “a body in motion tends to stay in motion” is certainly appropriate to us aging senior adults.
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