Happy National Bike Month! For the remaining days of May, consider using your bike more often. Riding your bike is a great way to exercise, have fun, and help the environment. Here are five ways to celebrate:
1. Brush up on some fun facts!
- Did you know that the longest tandem bike ever built was almost 67 feet long and could seat 35 people?
- The fastest speed ever recorded on a bicycle was 152.2 miles per hour, achieved by American Olympic Cyclist John Howard in 1985. That’s three times as fast as a speeding car!
- The slow cycling record was set by Japan’s Tsugunobu Mitsuishi in 1965 when he stayed stationary for 5 hours and 25 minutes. That’s quite the balancing act!
- By replacing car trips with bicycle trips, about 238 million gallons of gasoline are saved per year.
- Before bikes looked like they do today, “high-wheel” bikes were popular. Imagine riding this to school:
2. Decorate your helmet!
One of the most important things to remember when you ride your bike is to wear your helmet. Using some items from around the house, you can give your helmet a brand new look.
Draw it: With a few different colored markers, you can draw any designs or pictures onto your helmet. Make sure to use oil-based markers so that your art wont come off. The Sharpie brand carries oil-based paint markers.
Stick it: Cover your helmet with your favorite stickers! Your can add a couple of simple stickers in a polka-dot design, or make a collage with any stickers you may have around the house.
Glue it: Start with different colors of craft foam and some hot glue. Cut out bunny ears, cat ears, a shark fin, or a crown to hot glue onto your helmet. You can also glue gemstones, plastic flowers, and more onto your helmet!
3. Personalize your bike!
You will need a plastic plate, a hole puncher, two zip ties, craft foam, and hot glue. Start by cutting off the rim of the plate. Next, punch a pair of holes on each side of the plate. Cut your name out of the foam and hot glue it on. You can add ribbon or colored tape to make stripes, or any other decorations you can think of. Finally, fasten the zip ties through the holes and around the handle bars.
4. Make streamers for your handle bars!
All you need is ribbon, beads, and jingle bells. Cut the ribbon into foot long strips. String on the beads and tie the jingle bells to the ends. Tie your bundle of ribbon onto each handle bar, and you’re done!
5. Go for a bike ride!
After you’ve decorated your bike, go on a bike ride with your family. Remember to wear your helmet and share the fun facts you’ve learned about bikes.
Happy National Bike Month!
