Friday the 13th

In Europe, America, and some countries in Asia (such as India), 13 is considered an unlucky number. This is thought to be because it is 1 + 12. Twelve is regarded as the number of ‘perfection’; for example, in the New Testament, there are 12 apostles. By reasoning, anything beyond perfect must therefore bring bad luck. At the Last Supper, Judas was the thirteenth person present and later betrayed Jesus. Mathematically, however, 12 is not a perfect number, while 6 is (6 = 1 + 2 + 3, and also 1 × 2 × 3) (12 is an abundant number).

Due to the superstition surrounding the number 13, some hotels in the United States have no room 13, and some buildings have no 13th floor (above the 12th floor is then the 14th). In Paris, there is a street where house number 13 is skipped. On almost every airplane, there is no row 13; row 14 follows row 12. In motorsports, the number 13 is traditionally not assigned as a starting number.

Friday the 13th is considered an unlucky day. In Spain and Latin American countries, Tuesday the 13th is the unlucky day and offcourse you have the Horror film Friday the 13th, which became legendary and even a computer game.

There is also a theory that goes back to the ancient Egyptian calendar. It counted 12 months of 30 days and therefore needed 5 extra days. These fell into an extra 13th month of 5 days, with each day marking the birthday of an important god. During this thirteenth month, people were expected to behave very restrainedly and not undertake anything special to avoid provoking the wrath of the respective god.

In China, also the numbers 0, 4 and 14 bring bad luck, so there are even buildings without these floornumber 😉

Why Do Cyclists Wear Number 13 Upside Down? 🚴‍♂️🔢

And dit you know that in the world of cycling, superstition pedals alongside power meters and fancy gear. One of the quirkiest traditions? Cyclists flipping their number 13 bib upside down. Why? Because 13 is the ultimate party pooper of numbers — the notorious “unlucky” digit.

Legend has it that 13 brings bad luck, and no cyclist wants a flat tire, a crash, or a sudden headwind thanks to a number. So, flipping the 13 is like giving bad luck the finger (well, upside down). It’s a cheeky way to say, “Not today, superstition!”

This little upside-down trick has become a badge of honor, a wink to the old beliefs, and a way for riders to take control of their fate — or at least their race number. Plus, it makes spotting the unlucky rider in the peloton a bit easier for fans.

So next time you see a rider sporting a topsy-turvy 13, know they’re not just defying superstition — they’re racing with a sense of humor and a dash of rebellious spirit. Because in cycling, every pedal stroke counts, but a little fun never hurts!

However we wish you a nice day today with lots of luck!!!