Louis J. Helle, an international scholar, once said, “Bicycling is the nearest approximation I know to the flight of birds.” During last year’s London Olympics ceremony opening, there was a skit performed with dove bikes that was inspired by this quote.

The visionary founder of Apple, Steve Jobs, once compared the efficiency of locomotion between a man riding a bicycle and the flight of a condor. He determined that, “[sic] a man on a bicycle, a human on a bicycle, blew the condor away, completely off the top of the charts.”

So the idea that riding a bike is like flying like a bird must have truth to it.

Going downhill on many of San Francisco’s hills, I often wonder if this how it feels to fly like a bird. Is it the feeling of freedom, the ease of movement, the wind in your face, the speed, the glide…etc. that gives you this sensation?

The photos below capture some of that feeling. So carefree…

One…

Two…

Three…

Take off!