Robbie-Lynn Mwangi

Robbie-Lynn Mwangi is an educator and a three-dimensional artist who re-imagines vintage bicycles.

Unable to travel due to the pandemic, I decided to take my two week vacation and use it to enter a virtual bicycle building event. Despite its grimy rusty condition, the elegant lines of the frame and the striking blue color scheme of this 1947 Dayton bike inspired me the moment I saw her on a local craigslist post. The name "The Bluebird Of Happiness" is a nod to the color of the frame and the folk tale that bluebirds represent happiness. The copper wire bird sculpture mounted on the front fender moves gently when the bike is in motion suggesting flight. All of the creative choices made for this build were about elegant lines, blending colors and creating movement. The time spent focused solely on completing this bike provided a much needed respite from the anxiety of the pandemic and did indeed bring me happiness and peace of mind.

You can learm more about this transformation and other bicycle projects on instagram @ChicCycles