Arnold Schwarzenegger has met up with 17-year-old Swedish environmental activist Greta Thunberg in Santa Monica, with Schwarzenegger describing Thunberg as "my friend and one of my heroes". While Greta opted for a regular hybrid for the ride, Arnie was snapped on a custom-painted gold e-bike!
e-mtb skills part 1: power delivery
It was fantastic to see my friend and one of my heroes @GretaThunberg last week and go on a bike ride around Santa Monica together and I was so pumped to introduce her to my daughter Christina. Keep inspiring, Greta! pic.twitter.com/3Q6ZuInJHY
— Arnold (@Schwarzenegger) November 4, 2019
Arnie is known to be quite the cycling fan, and has shown increasing interest in environmental issues in recent years. As Governor of California, Schwarzenegger signed the Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 to create the nation's first cap on greenhouse gas emissions, and founded the R20 Regions of Climate Action in 2011. He has also adapted his Hummer car to run off hydrogen and another off biofuels.
Meanwhile, with a climate summit she was set to attend in Chile being moved to Spain due to political unrest, Thunberg is now hoping for a lift across the Atlantic by boat so she can be in attendance some time between the 2nd-13th December in Madrid.
— Arnold (@Schwarzenegger) November 4, 2019
Of course, we couldn't help but notice Arnie's very snazzy custom ride (perhaps he was struggling to keep up with Greta?) and we've done a bit of digging yet are still not absolutely 100% sure of the origins of it. The editor Tony over at our sister site road.cc has spotted the back end makes it look like a GT Pantera, while there are suggestions on this Reddit thread that Schwarzenegger has been known to ride Felt and Haibikes - then Katy over on the road.cc Twitter page is convinced it's a Fantic, which we think is most likely the correct answer looking at the shapes and spec...
Yeeeeah it's that. pic.twitter.com/4P0vyxxqPm
— katy moon (@Oog) November 5, 2019
...Although Arnie has added a suspension fork and that gold paint with the unusual leather top tube wrap, some think it may have been totally custom-made. What do you reckon? Let us know your best guesses in the comments... we've also asked Fantic if it is indeed their creation!
*Update: eagled-eyed Pete Jennings has spotted that there is a logo from British motorbike manufacturer Matchless London on the battery... we'll be sending them a message shortly to find out more!
That’s a ‘Matchless’ badge on the battery. Matchless is an ex British motorcycle manufacturer. So maybe another new brand coming to the market?
— Pete Jennings (@petejenningsbhp) November 6, 2019
