We were lucky to catch up with Chip Haynes recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Chip thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’d love to hear about the things you feel your parents did right and how those things have impacted your career and life.

I grew up as an Army brat in the 1950’s and 60’s, so I got to travel a bit as a kid and see some pretty cool places. (Lived in Germany for a few years!) The only downside was having to make all new friends every couple of years, but man, that tank in the front yard that day totally made up for it! (Thanks, Dad!)

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

Oh, but which industry? Everyone knows me as someone different. (That’s been a long-running joke with me: Which me do you know?) I was originally all set to join the Army right out of high school, but I couldn’t pass the physical, as I had had heart surgery at age 6. So I went with Plan B: I became a successful commercial artist for some 40 years, and that went well. Then, somewhere in there, I taught myself to juggle, and that went EVEN BETTER! After that, after all of that settled down, I wrote 90 books. Lemme check that… yep, 90 books. I still need an aggressive literary agent for all of those books, but there are a few out there, all published and everything. Of course most people know me as The Bicycle Guy, Go figure.

What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?

Hahahahaha… It’s too late. As I type this and the very end of 2025, It looks like AI is taking over in the field of commercial art in one very big hurry. Me, I got started in commercial art long before computers got there at all, and boy, am I glad I’m retired now! For the new kids, it’s all about computer programing and knowing which button to push next. As for me, I think I’ll just go ride my bicycle…

Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?

Okay, I’m on Facebook. That’s it for me and social media. Oh, and I’ll answer my email most of the time. Other than that, I’m just busy being old. (I’m 74 these days.) However: In this modern, mixed-up world, I do try very hard to offer a happy post on my Facebook page every morning after my bicycle ride, offering a quiet view of a calm life as an alternative to the madness and mayhem that seems to have consumed us all. We do seem to be moving too fast, and I do prefer that easy pace on two-wheels.

Contact Info:

• Facebook: Yep, I’m on this one: https://www.facebook.com/chip.haynes.96
• Other: And that’s about it…

Image Credits

No need- all my photos from all of my years.