The beautiful thing about cycling is its ubiquity. It can be found around the world and crosses every social strata. Bicycles offer promise to poverty stricken societies and relaxation to 1st world leaders. The history of bicycle design and technology dates back almost 50 years before the 1st reported pedal powered two wheeler. So here’s the problem… I can’t find a single reference to a swashbuckling pirate riding, stealing, plundering, or otherwise having anything to do with the bicycle to support a post about International Talk-Like-A-Pirate Day, ITLAPD. The end of piracy in the early 1800’s narrowly missed the first incarnation of bicycle technology.
Before any astute readers write me questioning ITLAPD’s cycling relativity, I offer you these:
- Marco “The Pirate” Pantani: 1998 winner of the Tour de France and Giro d’Italia
- Team Pirate from Hamburg, Germany
- Team Pirate Swag “booty” (including the head badge above)
- Jolly Roger Cycling Jersey
- Pirate Socks
- Ocracoke Island: Death place of Edward “Black Beard” Teach/Drummond (it’s a stretch, but it works)
