In case you didn't know, Bill Ritter really loves to ride his bike

Just in case you haven't heard lately how much Gov. Bill Ritter likes to ride his bicycle, his office sent out a Friday press release detailing his recent visit with local cyclist Ryan Van Duzer, who is embarking on a cross-country ride.

Ritter takes advantage of any opportunity to remind everyone how much he loves bicycles, from his recent bill signing on a bike-safety bill, to his 62 mile bike ride across Colorado promoting the law and most recently a press release about his visit with Van Duzer.

"Ryan's mission to help members of our communities become more active by instituting cycling into their everyday lives is a testimony to his bike-riding obsession," said Gov. Ritter. "As a fellow cyclist who spends hours on the roads and scenic routes of Colorado, I find it encouraging to see Ryan take his passion and use it to help others realize the benefits of cycling."

Ritter also gave Van Duzer the Governor's Award of Excellence and a Colorado lapel pin to wear on his journey from San Diego to Washington, D.C.

It's not just Ritter's love of cycling that warrants a press release. Since June 1, the governor's office has sent out 28 releases, 2 of which were about cycling and 11 that are almost completely unrelated to substantive policy, including, "Gov. Ritter receives Diabetes Association's 2009 Father of the Year" and "Gov. Ritter Thanks Filipino-Americans for Contributions." A slew of this month's press releases just included self-congratulatory praise for signing legislative bills and Ritter's work to "lead Colorado forward."

Recently, Ritter has come under fire for his lack of leadership on critical issues, like the state budget, and his appointment of a state Chief Operating Officer to supervise the spending of federal stimulus dollars in Colorado. We know it's summer and the weather is getting awfully nice, but perhaps it would be wise for Ritter to spend a little more time governing and a little less time sending out press releases and talking about his love affair with bicycles.