You’re walking from class and from around the corner comes the sound of bumpin’ bass from what you think is a car. You look again, and to your surprise it’s Christopher Daniels, a sophomore electrical engineering major, riding his technologically-enhanced bicycle.

Daniels, who built the bicycle at his home in Chicago, spent time carefully planning and designing the look for his bike.

“I used to have these loud headphones that I could sit on my neck, and I used to have an amplifier on them that made them real loud,” Daniels said. “I decided to take it a step further so I made these amps, a pre-amp and an amp for the bike, and I found a way to mount all of it on there, so that pretty much gave me the idea of how to do it.”

A known campus celebrity by many students, Daniels enjoys the attention and seeing the reaction on people’s faces when he rides by or performs various stunts.

“At first, I felt strange about doing it because I figured, like man, everybody’s going to think I’m crazy,” Daniels said. “If I was worrying about what somebody thinks, then I’ll never get anywhere, so I went on ahead and did it with no problem.”

Chandra Williams, a freshman business administration major who has a class with Daniels, said he likes positive attention.

“I think he’s a pretty nice guy,” Williams said. “I think it’s pretty nifty he’s got a radio on his bike & it sounds like a car.”

The bicycle is fitted with several amps connected to a portable Walkman. The amps can be powered either by a motorcycle battery or through a back-up generator hooked up to the bicycle. By connecting the Walkman to the amps, Daniels said that he is able to provide clear sounds to all he passes. The speakers on the bicycle are strategically placed to provide listeners with a kind of surround-sound. The bicycle also features a clear light in the front and a red light in the back, making it look more like a car.

Candies Mitchell, a friend of Daniels, said that he will succeed because of his knowledge in electrical engineering.

“I think the bike is unique,” Mitchell said. “His major is electrical engineering, and I think he’s going to be very successful in the field due to him already having talent and the skills the engineering department will provide for him.”

“I think his ride is pretty pimped out,” said Antonio Gracia, a freshman computer science major. “It’s a unique way of riding around school, and he’s in a class of his own.”

Daniels’ bicycle is not only insured in case of damage or theft, it’s also a major attraction among police officers. Daniels said that he has received over seven tickets because of his bicycle, three of them during last month’s homecoming festivities. Daniels said that a police officer wrote him tickets for riding on the wrong side of the street, not using proper headlights and for noise violations. Overall, Daniels has paid over $500 in fines.

“I’m not a criminal, I’m just enjoying myself with my hobby,” Daniels said. “I be asking them, like don’t they got something better to do besides messing with somebody on a bike.”

Kristen Belford, a freshman liberal arts and sciences major, said that Daniels cheers her up sometimes.

“I think that he’s always kind of a welcome thing. It always puts you in a good mood,” Belford said. “He plays music, and if you’re having a bad day, it kind of picks you up.”

While Daniels is trying to get a patent for his bicycle design, he encourages people to build bicycles just like his in the effort to begin a club on campus. Over the winter, Daniels plans to attach a small television to his bicycle, a DVD player and a basket with a subwoofer inside it.

“I think it’s something different, it’s something I’ve never seen before,” said Marc Davis, a freshman liberal arts and sciences major. “What he does to his wheels, how he’s got his radio attached to his bike & it’s creative.”

Freshman psychology major Jamie Stephens said that Daniels’ unique way of riding around campus makes her happy.

“I love music, and that is why when I see him it makes me happy,” Stephens said. “I think it’s unique, and I like those rims.”

Daniels said that he enjoys it that people are cheered up by his actions.

“I love music, and besides, it makes people smile when I ride by,” Daniels said. “It feels good to be known for something good and not something bad.”