Stop riding him

Re “Some saw him as a nerd of the people,” June 11

As a longtime biking enthusiast, I take exception to The Times’ cavalier description of Barack Obama on his bike.

His jeans look all right to me -- with his long, skinny legs, what do you expect? What is wrong with tucking in your shirt or black-and-white socks? The helmet is a tested and approved safety device. If all bikers used them, head injuries would be greatly reduced -- nothing laughable there. But with his lanky frame, Obama needs a taller bike. Also, an experienced biker pushes the pedals with the balls of his feet, not with his insteps.

As they say, he lacks experience, but he will learn if he stays with it.

Max Slegers

Lakewood