Happy Bicycle Day!

By : Lowrah · April 19, 2011

April 19th is Bicycle Day!

The legend goes that Albert Hoffman first sythesized and accidentally absorbed LSD through his skin on April 19th, 1943. While he was experiencing the world's first LSD trip, he decided his lab was a little claustrophobic and took off... on his bicycle.

Whether or not you're into the drug culture behind Bicycle Day, it is a great excuse to get on your bike and ride! I will be out there today- Hollah if you see me!

In celebration of Bicycle Day I wanted to share a few short videos that I've enjoyed lately. Do you have any to add?

This is a great 90 second video of a "cyclotrope" made from a bicycle wheel. Tim Wheatley's version of the zoetrope.

The Cyclotrope

tim Wheatley

Music- Jherek Bischofff Song- Kule Kule (Orchestra Version) from "Tradi-Mods Vs. Rockers" Alternative takes on Congotronics (Crammed Discs) http://jherekbischoff.bandcamp.com/ The Cyclotrope Created and animated by tim wheatley The cyclotrope is a cycle of 18 images that is spun at a certan speed so that the frame rate of the camera filming it gives the illusion of animation.

This one is from Science Friday: Have you ever wondered why bicycles want to balance themselves, even when there is no rider? I

"I could talk about bikes.. all decade! I'm the one that can't stop thinking about bikes. Period." -Physicist George Papadopoulos

http://www.sciencefriday.com/videos/watch/10376

And finally, a story of bikes, love, and competition. The film is so endearing and the end is perfect. (Made by local artists!)

Bike Race

tom schroeder

An animated documentary film in which two friends decide to stage a bicycle race to determine who is the best racer of all time, Eddy Merckx or Lance Armstrong. A love triangle develops during the race and the stakes of winning grow in importance.