BeSeenOnABike Patron

Dr. Adam Hart-Davis

"I bought my first mountain bike in 1990 choosing a pink helmet and a pink and yellow jacket, in order to be visible and so stay alive."

Adam Hart-Davis has honoured BeSeenOnABike by agreeing to be our Patron

Adam Hart-Davis has agreed to be BeSeenOnABike Patron.

On 27th May 2005 Adam said "Dear Chris, BeSeenOnABike sounds like a splendid organization and I should be glad to be Patron"

For eight years Adam was the TV presenter for 'Local Heroes'. He was dressed in fluorescent pink and yellow and rode around on a mountain bike talking about dead scientists, engineers, and inventors, doing curious demonstrations.

Adam said "I bought my first mountain bike in 1990 choosing a pink helmet and a pink and yellow jacket, in order to be visible and so stay alive."

In the summer of 1990 Adam was a producer at Yorkshire Television. Adam said 'He was getting too old and fat to play squash. In an effort to get fit and thin he bought himself a mountain bike and started riding from his home in Heckmondwike to the office in Leeds.' His goal was to change shape; instead he changed direction, and became a TV presenter.

Q. Who picked your fetching pink outfit in Local Heroes, and are you still on speaking terms?!
A. Adam Hart-Davis: I did! I bought my first mountain bike on 7th August 1990, and chose pink and yellow, with a pink helmet and a pink and yellow jacket, in order to be visible and so stay alive. I'm still wearing it - I've been out shopping on my bike this afternoon in the rain - and I'm still alive!

Dr. Adam Hart-Davis is a photographer, writer, broadcaster, science populariser and he has a DPhil in organometallic chemistry. Adam is well known for his TV shows and over 20 books.

"I have no car. I love bikes. I have seven bikes, one for each day of the week. Everyone should ride bikes more often. Get out of your cars everyone!"

Adam has written many books:-

• Science eg "Talking Science" - interviews with Richard Dawkins, John Maynard Smith, Sir Martin Rees, Lewis Wolpert et al.
• Technology
• Inventors "Local Heroes"
• History eg "Taking the Piss" - a potted history of urine

Since the early 1990s Adam has become the face of the BBC's output on science and the history of science (Wikopedia). At the same time he is heavily critical of the standard of science output on British television (including, to a certain extent, his own programmes), which he sees as dumbed-down.

"Adam Hart Davis is becoming a truly cult figure on television. He is one of the last remaining true British eccentrics!"

Dead clever people, especially ones who’ve been to Eton and know all about Physics and Chemistry and History are usually a bit weird and hard to understand to mere mortals like us aren’t they? That’s why I have a great deal of respect and admiration for Adam Hart Davis and his wonderful programmes. When he’s not showing us how to walk on water he’s recreating Roman catapults whilst simultaneously and rather sneakily teaching us all about history and science. Basically he’s the mad and enthusiastic Teacher(s) our school science block never had. He literally recreates history for us and often achieves the impossible. He’s my favourite TV boffin/expert/officianado and all round good egg. He also drinks Ethanol, he has seven bikes and no car, he’s filled in his Tax form. He’s Adam Hart Davis and he’s ace. I decided to ask him a few questions in the vain hope that some of his jovial genius would rub off on me….. (propertop.com)

ProperTop: You’re something of an expert on gadgets, do you have a favourite one?
AHD: My Trice Explorer - a recumbent tricycle.

Press Release 28th July 2005 pdf file

Adam will be a splendid BeSeenOnABike Patron!