I am imagining many shins getting thwacked by madly spinning pedals as it barrels down a steep hill. No ability to coast (right?) So if it goes too fast on a steep hill, you'd have to remove your feet from the pedals and try not to get beat up by it.
We used to play stuntman on our big wheels. We had a hill with grass on it. We'd watch Evil Kneival specials, The 6 Million Dollar Man, and then we'd go launch ourselves off our big wheels into the bushes, inadvertantly finding rocks with our kneecaps and the like. I still have the scars to prove it.
These Green Machines were for the fancy kids. I still don't understand them. you're using the sticks to turn? What? Why did they make it more complicated than a tractor? There's no brake. You have your pedals. That's it. Big Wheels had a big ol brake you could slam onto one rear tire, force a drifting effect or even spin completely 180 degrees around. I'm surely distorting the facts with my version of memories here.
For comparison, big wheels were advertised 4 - 9, so quite a bit younger range. But there was also a little wheel for 2 1/2 - 4, and a mini wheel for tots 1 1/2 - 3.
For bikes, pediatric groups have fuzzy ranges and say most children learn some time between 3-9. Random web site claims ahead -> The fraction of children who learn to ride a bike is 75% (UK numbers) where their parents were at 95%. The US was on a similar trend, but since 2018 it has reversed, and there is a surge of children (and adults!) riding bikes.
I tried and tried to get my kid to ride bikes without training wheels and he refused, always preferred his scooter. Then his friends got annoyed that he couldn't keep up and BOOM. He knows.
Edit: I worded that poorly. His friends taught him in like 2 days to ride without at age 10, when I'd been trying for like 5 years.
It did survive in a way: Huffy apparently owns the rights to it now and makes a modernized version with a hand brake. It looks like this.
By the comments further in the thread, everybody is going, "Had one, suffered lots of injuries, totally worth it though!" So probably a safe bet that many injuries were sustained from these. On the plus side, it doesn't look very easy to flip when you skid it out.
Jackass I think. It was on MTV 20 years ago, a show about idiots doing dumb things (not being judgmental; I think the people in the show would describe it that way too). I never watched it but I remember some quotes.
Because that shit was cool as hell. I had one as a kid (not the original, but a 2000s variant). Unwieldy as hell but man was it fun as a kid to make turns that sharp while sitting that low to the ground.
46 Comments
kersploosh@sh.itjust.works · 79 pts · 29d
Seize the means of propulsion!
I'll let myself outEnmebaraGuesser@piefed.ca · 35 pts · 29d
From each, according to his ability to pedal!
And if I may...
To each, according to his need for speed!
wizardbeard@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 12 pts · 29d
Dammit, now I want a silly historical figure kart racing game filled with wonderfully terrible lines like this.
SleepingInTraffic@feddit.uk · 11 pts · 29d
The wheels of production
JoMiran@lemmy.ml · 39 pts · 29d
One of the greatest toys ever. So many injuries. No regrets.
We could not afford it, but my cousin had one and we would take turns flinging ourselves down their ridiculously steep and long driveway.
EnmebaraGuesser@piefed.ca · 7 pts · 29d
I am imagining many shins getting thwacked by madly spinning pedals as it barrels down a steep hill. No ability to coast (right?) So if it goes too fast on a steep hill, you'd have to remove your feet from the pedals and try not to get beat up by it.
JoMiran@lemmy.ml · 4 pts · 29d
Like I said, many injuries. Plus, your feet were the brakes/stabilizers, so they were too busy keeping you alive to pedal.
Bonus@sh.itjust.works · 19 pts · 29d
We used to play stuntman on our big wheels. We had a hill with grass on it. We'd watch Evil Kneival specials, The 6 Million Dollar Man, and then we'd go launch ourselves off our big wheels into the bushes, inadvertantly finding rocks with our kneecaps and the like. I still have the scars to prove it.
These Green Machines were for the fancy kids. I still don't understand them. you're using the sticks to turn? What? Why did they make it more complicated than a tractor? There's no brake. You have your pedals. That's it. Big Wheels had a big ol brake you could slam onto one rear tire, force a drifting effect or even spin completely 180 degrees around. I'm surely distorting the facts with my version of memories here.
TIEPilot@lemmy.world · 4 pts · 29d
Don't leave out "The Fall Guy" my brother and I hurt ourselves recreating those stunts.
Oh and the skid out lever on big wheels were the best! I destroyed more big wheels, skinned knees, mild concussions from that damn bar!
schipelblorp@sh.itjust.works · 4 pts · 29d
It's just like racing pods back home on Tatooine.
grue@lemmy.world · 15 pts · 29d
I'm a little surprised it was marketed to "8, 9, 10 years old". I'm pretty sure I'd graduated from a big wheeler to an actual bicycle by that age.
EnmebaraGuesser@piefed.ca · 8 pts · 29d
For comparison, big wheels were advertised 4 - 9, so quite a bit younger range. But there was also a little wheel for 2 1/2 - 4, and a mini wheel for tots 1 1/2 - 3.
For bikes, pediatric groups have fuzzy ranges and say most children learn some time between 3-9. Random web site claims ahead -> The fraction of children who learn to ride a bike is 75% (UK numbers) where their parents were at 95%. The US was on a similar trend, but since 2018 it has reversed, and there is a surge of children (and adults!) riding bikes.
P00ptart@lemmy.world · 6 pts · 29d
I tried and tried to get my kid to ride bikes without training wheels and he refused, always preferred his scooter. Then his friends got annoyed that he couldn't keep up and BOOM. He knows.
Edit: I worded that poorly. His friends taught him in like 2 days to ride without at age 10, when I'd been trying for like 5 years.
mycodesucks@lemmy.world · 8 pts · 29d
"Wild Wacky Action Bike is almost impossible to steer, and it glows in the dark!"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oc4bvrH6blM
Crozekiel@lemmy.zip · 2 pts · 29d
I couldn't remember what it was from, but I 100% pictures this entire fake commercial in my head when I saw this thing. lol
Crashumbc@lemmy.world · 6 pts · 29d
Had one, yes I'm that old :/
Kolanaki@pawb.social · 5 pts · 29d
Especially if you left it outside in the hot Arizona sun.
TIEPilot@lemmy.world · 4 pts · 29d
I so wanted one of these as a kid! I wonder if they make an adult version?
EnmebaraGuesser@piefed.ca · 13 pts · 29d
As it turns out...
KingPorkChop@lemmy.ca · 2 pts · 29d
That looks hard to pedal.
TIEPilot@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 29d
I need to make more money asafp!
merc@sh.itjust.works · 2 pts · 28d
A version of them actually had a resurgence lately:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drift_trike
You can also find fun looking videos on YouTube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8u9aHWDpJxU
TIEPilot@lemmy.world · 0 pts · 27d
Those look like a blast! Also I could prolly kill myself on one of those but it would be fun!
nullspace@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 28d
Did this toy injure a bunch of kids or something? It didn't survive the natural selection process of toy brands.
EnmebaraGuesser@piefed.ca · 2 pts · 27d
It did survive in a way: Huffy apparently owns the rights to it now and makes a modernized version with a hand brake. It looks like this.
By the comments further in the thread, everybody is going, "Had one, suffered lots of injuries, totally worth it though!" So probably a safe bet that many injuries were sustained from these. On the plus side, it doesn't look very easy to flip when you skid it out.
altkey@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 3 pts · 29d
This and that song by Кyuss: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tx_OYqsUzk8
Lucidlethargy@sh.itjust.works · 3 pts · 29d
I HAD ONE. IT WAS LEGENDARY.
Well, my family had one... That counts. Had to share it.
SatansMaggotyCumFart@piefed.world · 2 pts · 29d
Did this just brake the rear wheels individually to steer?
Bob_Robertson_IX@discuss.tchncs.de · 10 pts · 29d
No, the rear axle was on a swivel and the levers would cause the rear wheels to pivot. The front wheel has no steering at all.
MnemonicBump@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 5 pts · 29d
Nah, the whole back axel would shift side to side
expect_nothing@leminal.space · 2 pts · 28d
I really, really wanted one of these. But it wasn't to be.
peteypete420@sh.itjust.works · 2 pts · 28d
Looks cooler than the recliner bikes they make these days. Does it come in adult size?
merc@sh.itjust.works · 2 pts · 28d
A version of them actually had a resurgence lately:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drift_trike
You can also find fun looking videos on YouTube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8u9aHWDpJxU
h3ll3rsh4nks@ani.social · 2 pts · 29d
I had a hand me down one, most uncomfortable backbreaking seat ever but good lord was it worth it.
NigelFrobisher@aussie.zone · 1 pts · 29d
Is this how Hexbear got started?
MutantTailThing@lemmy.world · -9 pts · 29d
Why would anyone ride that shit? Like what’s the reasoning?
Texas_Hangover@lemmy.radio · 29 pts · 29d
Back in the day, kids used to go outside and do fun things.
MutantTailThing@lemmy.world · -7 pts · 29d
Back in the day people used to pick up on obvious references
Texas_Hangover@lemmy.radio · 14 pts · 29d
I admit, I have no idea what you're talking about.
0ops@piefed.zip · 7 pts · 29d
I need a hint
Octavio@piefed.social · 2 pts · 28d
Jackass I think. It was on MTV 20 years ago, a show about idiots doing dumb things (not being judgmental; I think the people in the show would describe it that way too). I never watched it but I remember some quotes.
0ops@piefed.zip · 1 pts · 27d
Gotcha thanks! I never watched it either. I think I've seen clips?
KingPorkChop@lemmy.ca · -1 pts · 29d
Rhymes with sassafras.
kaklerbitmap@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 27d
Clearly not that obvious, as no one seems to know what you're referencing.
paris@lemmy.blahaj.zone · 8 pts · 29d
Because that shit was cool as hell. I had one as a kid (not the original, but a 2000s variant). Unwieldy as hell but man was it fun as a kid to make turns that sharp while sitting that low to the ground.
Valmond@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 3 pts · 29d
Feeling alive!
By feeling pain.