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What Is Bicycle Day?
Bicycle Day is a day on which psychedelic users celebrate one of the first recorded and intentional uses of LSD, just days after it was synthesized. It occurs on April 19th of every year.
Why Is It Called Bicycle Day?
Interestingly, Bicycle Day is named because of driving restrictions imposed in Switzerland during the second world war.
Albert Hofmann, the scientist who created LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide), took the first significant dose of the new psychedelic while at work. Because of the driving restrictions, he rode his bike home that day right as the effects of the substance started kicking in.
The resulting bike ride was just as bizarre and magical as you might expect from someone who just took 250 micrograms of LSD.
This famous bike ride marks the first intentional LSD trip ever documented.
The Onset of LSD Effects
After ingesting 250 micrograms of LSD, Hofmann began to feel its effects within just 40 minutes. He later described experiencing intense visual distortions, vivid colors, and an overwhelming feeling of anxiety. Recognizing that he needed to return home, Hofmann decided to ride his bicycle, accompanied by his lab assistant. And thus, Bicycle Day began!
A Surreal Ride Home
As Hofmann and his assistant began their ride home, the chemist’s perceptions of the world around him were dramatically altered. He reported feeling as if his consciousness had separated from his physical body, leaving him with a sensation of floating above the ground. The environment appeared to be in constant flux, with shapes and colors morphing and dissolving before his eyes.
Despite the overwhelming nature of his experience, Hofmann was able to navigate his way home, propelled by the familiar sensation of pedaling his bicycle. The journey, which took approximately two hours, would later be remembered as the first-ever “trip” on LSD.
The Aftermath and Insights
Upon arriving home, Hofmann sought medical assistance, as he was unsure whether the effects of LSD were the result of a drug-induced hallucination or an actual poisoning. After being reassured that he was not in any immediate danger, Hofmann began to relax and explore the more positive aspects of the experience.
In the following hours, Hofmann reported experiencing a deep sense of interconnectedness with the world around him, as well as a newfound appreciation for the beauty and wonder of existence. These revelations would go on to shape his understanding of LSD’s potential as a tool for exploring human consciousness and catalyzing personal growth.
The Lasting Impact of Hofmann’s Bicycle Ride
The events of Bicycle Day continue to hold a special place in the history of psychedelic research and culture. Hofmann’s courageous journey into the unknown laid the groundwork for a new era of exploration, ultimately inspiring generations of scientists, artists, and spiritual seekers to investigate the mysteries of human consciousness.
Bicycle Day serves as a reminder of the importance of curiosity, open-mindedness, and the pursuit of knowledge, as well as the potential benefits and risks associated with psychedelic substances. The famous bicycle ride continues to be celebrated and honored, both as a symbol of the psychedelic movement and as a testament to the pioneering spirit of Albert Hofmann.
What Exactly Happened On Bicycle Day?
LSD’s beginnings date back to 1938 when Albert Hofman was developing what he believed to be an analeptic, a stimulant for treating various ailments of the lungs and circulatory system. When the drug didn’t perform as intended (on animals), Hofmann and his team shifted focus and all but forgot about the first synthesized version of LSD for years.
Five years later, in 1943, Albert Hofmann again gained interest in the LSD he had synthesized and decided to create a new batch. During the process, it’s believed that he accidentally absorbed some of the compound through his fingers and was exposed to what is considered a microdose by today’s standards.
He wrote in his journal at the time that he felt slight intoxication, an altered perception of time, feelings of euphoria, and somewhat unusual introspection.
This first recorded dose was three days later when Hofmann decided to experiment with the substance on purpose. He recorded in his journal that he took a 250 microgram dose of LSD on April 19th at approximately 4:20 pm — yes, really.
When the psychedelic substance started to take effect, he decided to leave his lab and ride his bike home. He continued to trip on the somewhat large dose of LSD while he biked home and continued his psychedelic experience at his house.
Hofmann would go on to record his entire experience, noting in what would eventually be his memoir, LSD — My Problem Child:
“I perceived an uninterrupted stream of fantastic pictures, extraordinary shapes with intense, kaleidoscopic play of colors.”
He wrote the next day that he still felt euphoric and optimistic about his experience, and he noted that the LSD “spoke to him.” The substance reportedly told him that he had discovered something extraordinary, something that would open people’s minds and make them introspective and at one with the world. However, the drug also noted that it could be dangerous in the wrong hands and that it would be largely misunderstood by many.
What’s the Significance of Bicycle Day?
Psychedelics allow users to glimpse within themselves and address underlying psychological or emotional disorders.
A single psychedelic experience is regularly compared to years of therapy that can bring immense understanding to the user’s life and self.
Those who celebrate Bicycle Day commemorate LSD for its mind-opening capabilities, not the euphoria or the “high” it creates.
For many people, tripping is a profoundly personal and grounding experience, allowing them to confront trauma in their past and things about themselves with which they need to cope and offering a deeper understanding of existence.
Bicycle Day is a celebration of substance on the surface, but for psychedelic users, it’s a means of celebrating the compound that helps them cope with and understand life on a deeper level.
How Do People Celebrate Bicycle Day?
Like tripping on LSD, celebrating Bicycle Day is a personal experience for most people. While 4/20 is often celebrated by consuming cannabis with friends and fellow marijuana users, Bicycle Day is often spent tripping in privacy or experiencing psychedelic-related art, music, or movies.
Some of the ways people celebrate Bicycle Day include:
- Take a psychedelic trip (responsibly)
- Take time to learn about psychedelics, philosophy, and spirituality
- Watch psychedelic-inspired movies
- Read psychedelic-inspired books
- Explore psychedelic-inspired artwork by the likes of Alex Grey, Pablo Amaringo, or Lee Conklin
- Go hiking or camping
- Meditate or practice other mindfulness practices
