Adam Wogksch

“By the pricking of my thumbs, something wicked this way comes.”

— William Shakespeare, Macbeth 4.1.44-45

Friends! The spooky season is upon us. It’s time to create the most epic bicycle-inspired Halloween costumes ever seen. Here at Schwinn, we’ve been busy developing some excellent options for your consideration. We even tested some on a few brave souls around the office. And so, without any further ado, may we present our goofy and ghoulish parade of bicycle Halloween costume concepts. Enjoy!

There’s no place like home! Perhaps no scene is more iconic than Almira Gulch – aka the Wicked Witch of the West – riding her bike in the tornado as Dorothy is blown away to Oz. All you need for this costume is a drab collared shirt, skirt, scowl, and… your little dog too! (Just kidding.)

Y’know what goes great with a clown costume? A tricycle. Sweet or scary, it always looks right. Plus, if you’re on one of our adult-sized Meridian tricycles, you could fill the rear basket with all kinds of additional clown gear – balloon animals, silly string, or even a tremendous amount of candy.

Here’s a fun yet simple group costume: The Goonies! You and your friends probably already have most of the items ready to go in your closets, and the rest would be easy to find at a thrift shop. Especially Chunk’s Hawaiian button up. So loud it’s practically screaming.

If you have a Sting-Ray or Krate handy, you’re halfway to a great biker costume (as in motorcyclist). The bikes themselves already resemble old school choppers. All you have to do is throw on your gnarliest denim vest, add a bandana, and pencil on an excellent mustache. Maybe apply some temporary tattoos for extra attitude. It’s a fun choice for kids and adults alike.

E.T. is the classic, heartwarming adventure of a boy and his alien friend trying to place a long-distance phone call (collect, obviously). It also makes a great Halloween costume. Red sweatshirt, basket, and E.T.-esque toy wrapped in a towel – that’s it. Pair with a Schwinn cruiser for next-level nostalgia.

If your child is young enough to ride in a passenger trailer, there are some fantastic costume opportunities at your disposal. With a little imagination you can turn the trailer into a carriage for, say, a child Cinderella pulled by a parent fairy godmother. Or, a tiny Roman emperor and their loyal centurion. You could even give it a spooky twist: a parent grim reaper and a child ghost. Bonus points if you string a couple tin cans on the back with a sign that says “Just Buried.”

This is another great group costume: characters from Mario Kart! Mario and Luigi just need the right color shirts and some overalls (or suspenders). Princess Peach requires a voluminous pink dress – but that should be easy to find at a thrift shop…or the closet of any relative who had the pleasure of being a bridesmaid in the 80’s. Once you’ve got your crew together, you can even stage little pretend races around the neighborhood. Just don’t go throwing shells or banana peels around. That’s littering.

Turn your bike into a magnificent steed! All you need is the plush topper of a hobby horse, or some cardboard if you’re feeling artistic. Once you’ve fashioned your horse’s head, just attach it to the handlebars and presto! You’ve got the perfect accoutrement to all manner of Halloween costumes: medieval knights, swashbuckling cavaliers, warrior princesses, rodeo champions, Don Quixote, and of course the Headless Horseman. No long capes though, you don’t want that getting caught in the wheels.

Who could forget when Napoleon took Pedro’s bike off that “sweet jump?” Napoleon’s wig might be hard to come by, but if you’re already rocking some fancy hair, it doesn’t take much to get full Napoleon-level glory. After that, all you need are some glasses and a “Vote for Pedro” t-shirt. Make sure to practice your dance moves too, y’know, for authenticity.

If 80’s sci-fi is your jam, this is the Halloween costume for you: Flynn from the original Tron movie. All you need is a grey onesie decked out with reflective tape and a couple glow sticks on the center of your chest. For extra light-cycle awesomeness, hop on one of our Coston or Marshall e-bikes which feature integrated lights! You’ll definitely stand out the neighborhood costume contest.

Now in its fourth season, the Netflix series Stranger Things has lots of cyclist-costume possibilities. Especially if you have a Sting-Ray or Krate. Then all you need to do is assemble the vintage clothing for your character of choice, grab a giant walkie-talkie or box of Eggo Waffles, and you’ll be ready for adventure. Just don’t get lost in the Upside-Down.

We hope you found some spooky inspiration from our collection of cyclist costume ideas! Remember: have fun, stay safe, and don’t eat the candy all at once. Happy Halloween!