Bicycle Day ‘26
Today, Bicycle Day, is celebrated annually on April 19 to commemorate Dr. Albert Hofmann’s intentional discovery of the effects of LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide) in 1943.
While Hofmann had synthesized the compound five years earlier at Sandoz Laboratories in Basel, Switzerland, he didn't realize its potency until he accidentally absorbed a small amount through his fingertips on April 16. Three days later, he decided to conduct a self-experiment.
The Historic Ride
On April 19, Hofmann ingested what he thought was a cautious dose of 250 micrograms. The timeline of the afternoon became legendary:
*The Ingestion:** At 4:20 PM, Hofmann took the substance. Within 40 minutes, he began to feel dizzy and anxious.
*The Journey:** Because of wartime fuel restrictions, cars were prohibited. Hofmann’s assistant had to escort him home on a bicycle.
*The Experience:** During the ride, Hofmann experienced intense hallucinations. He later described seeing "fantastic pictures, extraordinary shapes with intense, kaleidoscopic play of colors."
*The Outcome:** After a period of initial panic and a visit from a doctor (who found nothing physically wrong except dilated pupils), Hofmann’s terror turned into a sense of "fortune and gratitude."
"I did not choose LSD; LSD found and called me."
-Dr. Albert Hofmann
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