Comments on: BYOBW

BYOBW

scarabic — Tue, 30 Sep 2003 11:12:59 -0800

This new film [25MB, QuickTime] documents the 3rd annual Bring Your Own Big Wheel race, in which a bunch of crazed fools raced headlong down San Francisco's Lombard Street (aka: the crookedest street in the world) on Big Wheels. Good drunk fun! Here are some pics for the bandwidth-challenged.

By: scarabic

scarabic — Tue, 30 Sep 2003 11:14:22 -0800

The event itself was back on April 27th, but you know how long these spare-time video projects take to get edited together. Easter Sunday is the traditional date. Look for it next year!

By: Busithoth

Busithoth — Tue, 30 Sep 2003 11:24:46 -0800

Damnit. Another reason to move from NYC to SF... Thanks for the link!

By: squirrel

squirrel — Tue, 30 Sep 2003 11:33:31 -0800

Sadly, I missed that race. As you know, I have a pretty full roster of Big Wheel competitions, and sometimes the good ones fall through the cracks, often because of scheduling conflicts. This one was clearly rife with serious, dedicated professionals like myself. I think I could have learned a lot from them. Maybe next year.

By: fijiwriter

fijiwriter — Tue, 30 Sep 2003 11:34:18 -0800

I want to see them go UP Lombard St.

By: squirrel

squirrel — Tue, 30 Sep 2003 11:39:57 -0800

It's too quiet!

By: squirrel

squirrel — Tue, 30 Sep 2003 11:41:10 -0800

*turns up volume* ...oh, wait.

By: kirkaracha

kirkaracha — Tue, 30 Sep 2003 11:41:38 -0800

aka: the crookedest street in the world Lombard isn't even the crookedest street in San Francisco.

By: stbalbach

stbalbach — Tue, 30 Sep 2003 11:42:45 -0800

hah! mere childs play.

By: ROU_Xenophobe

ROU_Xenophobe — Tue, 30 Sep 2003 11:45:21 -0800

Big Wheel, schmig wheel. Real men -- dangerous men -- would have made that epic trek on their dual-stick-steering Green Machines. I had one of these in 1978, and I was far and away the baddest motherfucker at Hahn AFB.

By: scarabic

scarabic — Tue, 30 Sep 2003 11:58:55 -0800

I'm quite sure your Green Machine would qualify for the "plastic wheel" category, making you elligible for the grand prize. In other words (ahem) BRING IT, you BAD MOFO!!

By: squirrel

squirrel — Tue, 30 Sep 2003 12:21:26 -0800

Sorry, ROU, the Cheetah was badder by far. I can't find an image on the web, but they were designed like a three-wheeled chopper--extended front forks, low seat between the back wheels. The rider propelled himself by pushing pedals that pulled cables out of some sort of rotary turbine in the axle. It screamed. Although the Green Machine handled better, the Cheetah was faster. I think they stopped making them in the early 70s because too many kids were getting smeared.

By: 2sheets

2sheets — Tue, 30 Sep 2003 12:21:26 -0800

There is also a series of soapbox races down Bernal hill commencing on Easter Sunday that run through the summer. Good times.

By: monju_bosatsu

monju_bosatsu — Tue, 30 Sep 2003 13:09:36 -0800

Not to rain on the "SF is for the cool kids" parade, but I was expecting a street full of hundreds people on big wheels. Instead, I got eight hipsters and a guy in a santa suit. Sorry, not impressed.

By: scarabic

scarabic — Tue, 30 Sep 2003 13:19:12 -0800

I don't think anyone intended the race, the film, or this FPP to be any kind of "San Francisco is hipper than thou" statement. People seem to be picking up on that. I live in Berkeley. The filmmaker is from Concord. Where's the problem? monju - many humble apologies.

By: squirrel

squirrel — Tue, 30 Sep 2003 13:40:21 -0800

Was there a cool kids parade?! I know news travels slow to the south, but most of the hipsters left San Fancisco in 2000, heading for warmer climes, cheaper rents and, uh, JOBS elsewhere. Also, don't be sorry, monju: I wasn't impressed by Houston, but I'm sure they get their kicks anyhow. Your lack of being impressed won't stop us, either.

By: monju_bosatsu

monju_bosatsu — Tue, 30 Sep 2003 14:38:13 -0800

I apologize for being snide in my earlier comment. I didn't mean to imply that careening head first down Lombard on a Big Wheel didn't look fun, only that I was misled by the FPP into thinking that hundreds of people were doing this. It's my own fault really, and my only explanation is that Houston has made me bitter and jealous. Although the cost of living to salary ratio is quite nice.

By: scarabic

scarabic — Tue, 30 Sep 2003 14:48:47 -0800

Thanks, monju. All I promised was "a bunch of crazed fools," and I think I delivered ;)

By: planetkyoto

planetkyoto — Tue, 30 Sep 2003 16:37:40 -0800

A stirring display of derring-do with my morning coffee. I salute you, brave gladiators. Ave! Ave!! [I am not gay]

By: squirrel

squirrel — Tue, 30 Sep 2003 18:25:38 -0800

Well, then you're not welcome in GAY CITY, mister. Keep moving, nothing to see here, show's over.

By: mathowie

mathowie — Tue, 30 Sep 2003 18:35:23 -0800

That was the best thing ever. Like Pirate Day and the Lebowski Fest, I wish I was there participating.

By: Rattmouth

Rattmouth — Tue, 30 Sep 2003 21:31:21 -0800

The part with the Santa "spin-out" (at about 6:24 in) is pretty funny. You gotta wonder what was going through that guy's head as he almost wiped out after he had already crossed the finish line.

By: ctp

ctp — Thu, 16 Oct 2003 22:00:52 -0800

Having been almost crashed into while filming, I can tell you what was running thru his head, my friend...grain alcohol. But I don't think the event would work nearly as well if it weren't the case. :-)