When I was a kid, you rode a bicycle because you weren't old enough to drive a car--or a motorcycle.
Back then, it seemed that every bike maker (at least here in the US) was trying to appeal to pre-teen boys' visions of themselves astride a "Hog" or "Busa". That is why bikes came with "ape hangers", "sissy" bars, "banana" seats and stick-shifters located on the exact spot of the bike where it was most likely to impede said boys' future chances of creating a future market for Schwinn Sting-Rays and Raliegh Choppers.
But, boys being boys (I know; I was one once!), they not only wanted their bikes to look like junior motorcycles; they wanted their low-slung wheels to sound like what the "big boys" were riding.
So they'd clip a playing card onto a seat stay or chain stay so that it would catch in the spokes. Actually, they wouldn't clip a card: They'd usually attach two or three, though I saw kids who'd clip as many as they could fit on the bike. The louder the better, right?
Well, one can only attach so many cards to a bike. Apparently, some would-be inventor noticed as much and came up with the idea of amplifying the sound with a "Turbospoke":
If I had a child, I'd rather give him or her a Turbospoke rather than an electronic gadget. For one thing, it might get him or her to ride more. And it's way less expensive!
Back then, it seemed that every bike maker (at least here in the US) was trying to appeal to pre-teen boys' visions of themselves astride a "Hog" or "Busa". That is why bikes came with "ape hangers", "sissy" bars, "banana" seats and stick-shifters located on the exact spot of the bike where it was most likely to impede said boys' future chances of creating a future market for Schwinn Sting-Rays and Raliegh Choppers.
But, boys being boys (I know; I was one once!), they not only wanted their bikes to look like junior motorcycles; they wanted their low-slung wheels to sound like what the "big boys" were riding.
So they'd clip a playing card onto a seat stay or chain stay so that it would catch in the spokes. Actually, they wouldn't clip a card: They'd usually attach two or three, though I saw kids who'd clip as many as they could fit on the bike. The louder the better, right?
Well, one can only attach so many cards to a bike. Apparently, some would-be inventor noticed as much and came up with the idea of amplifying the sound with a "Turbospoke":
If I had a child, I'd rather give him or her a Turbospoke rather than an electronic gadget. For one thing, it might get him or her to ride more. And it's way less expensive!
In Seattle, in addition to cards, we'd attach painted models of hydroplanes to the back with string. The local favorite boat was "Miss Bardahl,"
ReplyDeleteSteve--That sounds really cool. How aas the sound different from that of cards?
ReplyDeleteWell, actually the sound was about what you'd expect from a 2X4 skittering across concrete.
ReplyDeleteSteve--Sounds like a real earsore--at least to our middle-aged ears. But, of course, to kids, such a sound is probably music.
ReplyDelete