04/19/2026
Happy Bicycle Day!
This is an interesting and often overlooked angle on Albert Hofmann’s famous Bicycle Day. The presence of someone like Susi Ramstein (his lab assistant) likely played a far bigger role than most realize.
On April 19, 1943, Hofmann intentionally ingested L*D and, as the effects intensified, had to leave the lab and bicycle home. By his own account, the experience quickly became overwhelming.... distortions, anxiety, and moments of fear that he might be losing his mind or even dying. In that context, having a calm, grounded person accompany him wasn’t just helpful, it may have changed everything.
Hofmann had serious panic and distress and could have thought he was experiencing a psychotic episode. That could have spiraled out badly.
He was disoriented and impaired while navigating a bike in a public space. Without assistance, there’s a real possibility of getting lost, ending up in the wrong "setting", or getting injured.
Susi helped him call the doctor to make sure that he wasn't poisoned, sick or dying.
This really has historical ripple effects: If the experience had been overwhelmingly negative or dangerous, Hofmann’s subsequent report, and perhaps the scientific reception of L*D could have been more cautious, delayed, or even discouraged. Other people would not have likely wanted to try L*D and the 60's and our psychonaut lives would be sooo very different.
In many ways, Ramstein’s quiet role foreshadows what modern psychedelic community harm reduction strategies now formalizes: the importance of a trusted person to "sit" with you.
