A short video of London mayor Boris Johnson and BBC newsman Jeremy Paxman illustrates certain enduring truths about the British, or at least Johnson and Paxman. Their short bicycle ride through London to mark Paxman’s retirement as host of Newsnight shows that:
- The British have a penchant for turning the mundane – cycling – into something hilarious and vaguely life-threatening
- A suit-and-tie is acceptable dress for any occasion
- That public battles (Johnson and Paxman had many) can be set aside for the enjoyment of a common pleasure
- That road hazards, exhaust, and shouting passersby are no impediment to lively verbal repartee at twenty mph
- That in a small country people are bound to each other as if on a tandem bicycle and find a way to work together
This sort of thing really is unique to Britain. Can you imagine, say, Michael Bloomberg and Charlie Rose doing this? Didn’t think so.