Bicycles Recycle

February 22 used to be the celebration of George Washington’s birthday.
It became a federal holiday in 1878.
Deep in the throes of the #bicycle craze, it soon became "Bicycle Day."
Retailers showed off latest models.

Theodore Roosevelt, in 1902, shown escorted by police riding chainless #bicycles.

Data from 52 studies shows cycling (commuting, leisure, or group rides) counts as regular recreational or total physical activity, showing consistent biking a practical and an enjoyable way to cut colon cancer risk by about 24%, especially as a sustainable, low-impact, daily habit for men and women.

Year of the Horse―Happy New Year
As in America in the late 1800's, China saw a huge societal shift with the Flying Pigeon #bicycle, offering new mobility for the masses.
500 million Flying Pigeon PA-02 bicycles have been made since 1950.
As of 2007, more've been made than any other model of vehicle.

A Tale of The Pirate and The Goose
There was once a young poor boy who wanted a #bicycle.
He loved a little beat-up #bike in particular, but it was in bad shape.
His friend, an artist, told him it could be painted.
The boy chose colors he liked best.
A bit of alchemy, turning lead into gold ― voilà!

Happy Valentine's Day to everyone riding solo this year.
No human partner?
No problem.

My #bicycle has really been my bestie - over every hill, through headwinds, and heartbreak.
We are celebrating with roses, candles, and a quiet cuppa — spending V-Day with my faithful, true love (sorry, humans).

It is likely a political statement of sorts, a rebellion of the societal attitude that women were somehow to be relegated to a back seat.
The woman is leading, in a new found freedom, illustrated wearing modern fashion that the bicycle had led to.
It is something people of the time would understand.

A. Gilbert was a specialized commercial illustrator active in the 1890s.
Clément & Cie was one of the most prestigious French #bicycle manufacturers of the Belle Époque.
Designed to promote Société des Vélocipèdes Clément, A. Gilbert truly captured the energy, elegance, and modern spirit of the era.

Love
PAL (Jean de Paléologue), a Romanian-born painter and illustrator, of Byzantine royal descent, trained in England, was renowned for elegant Art Nouveau-style pieces.
PAL created posters for Clément Cycles in the 1890s, capturing the era's modernity and sense of freedom associated with #cycling.

Valentine's Day:
Artist, Alméry Lobel-Riche depicted a fashionable, happy, Belle Époque couple speeding along on Peugeot #bicycles at dusk or twilight in elegant attire.
Her flowing clothing animates a dramatic sense of motion, with glowing red and yellow lamps on the #bikes adding a vibrant energy.

Valentine's Day:
Ferdinand Mifliez (Misti) created #bicycle posters that were lively and narrative-driven, vibrant, dynamic French advertising art, featuring bold colors, elegant figures, humorous or adventurous scenes, with Art Nouveau-inspired elements like flowing lines and dramatic compositions.

Designed by Benjamin Bowden for “Britain Can Make It Better” exhibition of 1946 and simply known as the Classic (later, the Spacelander), it was to show how the bicycle of 20 years hence would look.
The initial design for the bike had wheel dynamos that gave riders extra power when traveling uphill.

In 2022, there were 7,522 pedestrians and 1,105 bicyclists killed by motor vehicles in America.
In 2023, 937 cyclists were killed by motor vehicles.
In 2024 and 1st half of 2025: 61,820 Americans died from car crashes.
Imagine the outrage/uproar if those deaths were from mass shooters or terrorists?

In this poster for Plasson cycles, award-winning Parisian artist, Manuel Robbe, had created a lovely Belle Epoque illustration of himself and his wife (depicted as the "modern woman," her costume, and a revolutionary activity) in a splendid visual advocacy of that brand, and of the art of bicycling.

The Bowden Spacelander #bicycle was based on a 1948 English aluminum prototype that was handmade by the MG Auto Company but was too expensive to produce.
An ingenious dynamo stored the bicycle’s downhill energy and released it on uphill climbs.
Plans to mass-produce the #bike were abandoned in 1949.

British industrial designer, Benjamin G. Bowden, designed the Spacelander, one of the most iconic and quirky #bicycles in design history.
Priced at about $89.50 (roughly $940–$950 in today's dollars), it was expensive compared to standard bikes.
Only around 522 #bikes were ever produced and shipped.

Georges Alfred Bottini: a French artist of the Belle Époque period from humble origins as the son of an Italian-born hairdresser (barber) and a laundress.
Despite his talent and presence in the Parisian art scene, he lived in poverty much of his adult life, struggling with depression and alcoholism.

Better Biking
Numerous mainstream medical studies have investigated the health effects of turmeric (Curcuma longa) and its primary active compound, Curcumin.
Curcumin reduces pain, enhances joint mobility and improves physical function.

Piperine (in black pepper) amplifies turmeric's core benefits.

Tumbler Ridge B.C. school shooting: 10 dead including shooter, 27 injured | Globalnews.ca RCMP said there were "multiple victims" from a shooting at the Tumbler Ridge Secondary School, where students attend Grades 7 through 12.

If #bicycles, and cycling, are great for mental health and an affordable form of lasting beneficial intervention, proven by numerous medical studies, then why is this being ignored?

How many tragedies will be required before society wises up and decides effective and inexpensive solutions are best?

The photo may be faded
but memories remain vivid
those days of growing freedom
a world at hand ready
adventures to be had
places seemingly closer
than precious shoe leather
could hope to provide
these many years later
her #bicycle will always be
a best friend of times past
that live within her heart

The UK is suffering a decline in children and young people’s wellbeing: statistics show that almost a third of 16–24 year-olds reported evidence of anxiety or depression, with children aged 5 to 16 years experiencing mental health problems.
A recent study: #cycling is shown to be a viable treatment.

How much pollution is being generated by all the cars, stacked up, idling?
How much in increased insurance costs are being generated by weather-related crashes? Loss of lives?
How many dollars in post-snow season road repairs are to be needed?
How much of that is being created by this bold #cyclist?

As masters of 300 characters, it would be splendid if the ability to have more would make #Bluesky ever more useful. The limit makes creating content a challenge to impart important information.
x?
reddit?
#BSKY moves ahead into new territory increased content capacity redefining its own usefulness!

As masters of 300 characters, it would be splendid if the ability to have more would make #Bluesky ever more useful. The limit makes creating content a challenge to impart important information.
x?
reddit?
#BSKY moves ahead into new territory increased content capacity redefining its own usefulness.

Founded in 1921 by David Sebel (with the "Mobo" toy brand launching in 1947) this British company specialized in metal toys, including children's bikes.
In 1930s–50s, MOBO produced small-wheel kids' bikes like the Tot Cycle or Minabike, often with 16–20 inch wheels with low frames for easy mounting.

Not many examples to be found now but 20" bicycles made a widening presence in the 1950s.
Not until the introduction of the wildly popular Schwinn Stingray in 1963, and other brands' similarly styled bicycles, did the 20" become a mainstay for American children, followed by bikes in other countries.

Velocipedes Sanitas
"To address the drawbacks of cycling as it is currently practiced," by improving the machine's efficiency through the combined action of hands and feet being the goal, a prescient design concept and system that foretold the architecture and usage of the modern stationary bicycle.

Clever
A 1890s Belle Époque poster advertising a shop in Paris and a factory in Les Lilas features one of the era's favorite themes: a #bicycle floating in the air in the hand of some charming woman, flowers in her swirling hair, clothing flowing.
The Art of Bike. The romance and allure of #cycling.

Researchers have confirmed one of the best longevity-promoting, immune-building, fat-burning treatments is not only affordable, but has long-lasting benefits, physically and financially.

Users reported enhanced, positive biological and psychological results.

What is this miracle? Simple.
Cycling.

While many organizations chase media coverage, we don't.
It makes us a target for criminals. Repeatedly. Often.
We don't get tax dollars or fat grants.
We fund efforts out-of-pocket.
So we do more in cycling advocacy than exposing day-to-day mechanics.
But, we resonate. We influence, and we succeed.