Let Me Cross

You know when we have high school visitors that come to campus? They all look so young and naive. So innocent, pure and willing to learn new things in the shrine we call college. I was driving by and they looked at me as if I was a species from another galaxy. My bike just polished and looking supreme. It was as if they hadn't seen a fixie before, I felt like they were Neanderthals and I had just brought them fire. It was a great feeling actually, it was almost like I introduced them to biking all over again since they were children. This is what is exciting; not everyone is as bike savvy as us CU bikers, and we should take pride in that. Now it's time to turn them to 2-wheeled side, not the 4-wheeled side.

Flying Wright

Last week, I was reminded how grateful the world should be for bicycle mechanics; not because they grease our chains, or help us fix our flats, but because they gave us flight. Remember the grade school lesson on the Wright Brothers? Well, I bet your teacher didn’t mention where they learned mechanics. Like most good things, they started with a bicycle and a pipe dream. Orville and Wilbur Wright jumped on the late 19^th century bike fad, and began producing their own bicycle line. After releasing a self oiling hub system and reinventing the pedals, they started looking towards the sky. Their first flight studies involved crudely modified bicycles to measure wind resistance and balance. After many tests and trails, Wilbur accidentally stumbled upon greatness. While changing a flat, he squeezed a tube box, stopping half way to realize his future glider design. In 1903 Wilbur and Orville realized their dreams with a twelve second flight. We remember the Wright Brothers for inventing the airplane, but without the bicycle, the sky may have been the limit.