Every kid growing up in the 80s owned a Big Wheel. It didn’t matter what region or country you resided in, you had to have one. They were the quinessential toy for any growing child to show off to his neighborhood pals and mutter under his or her breath, “Yeah, I’m big and here’s proof.”
I think I was the owner of a Transformers Big Wheel and a Knight Rider KITT version. Although, much to my disappointment, it never talked back in that spiffy English accent sadly.
The best part of the Big Wheel was — hands down — the plastic tires. You could run over anything in the road or sidewalk and wouldn’t have to worry about getting a flat. I used to turn it upside down and pretend it was a missing piece of some gigantic NASA engine. I’d spin the peddles as fast as they could go and “revv” up the “engine” part.
Sure, Big Wheels exist today — but nothing like those of yesteryear.
Speaking of toys gone by, I defy you to purchase a non-battery operated Hot Wheels track set, with just a straight track and the screw-clamp. I double dare you.
The Big Wheel was great. I remember taping my toy guns to the handlebars and zipping down the road with my friends playing Star Wars.
Do remember the Pogo Ball?
Oh yeah! How about the Green Machine?? I had one of these, and wore holes in the wheels from doing donuts. But man, these have gotten expensive!
And then there’s the off-road trike.…our 2-year has one of these that’s a hand-me-down, probably has 100,000 miles on it already, and it’s ready for 100,000 more as soon as he can reach those damn pedals!
Man, I want a new Big Wheel. Can I have one Mom, can I? Huh? Huh?
Off-road trike? Wow. If only they had those when I was a kid. Of course, most kids these days are more concerned with chatting on AOLIM or playing online video games (MMPORPGs, etc.).
What happened to the ‘Cowboy and Indian’ days? Long gone, I fear.
The off-road trike is sweet, highly recommended. Speaking of cowboys and indians…I can’t wait to buy our kid a Red Ryder BB gun.…his mother of course says “NO!”, but we all know I’m buying him one, right? Just like “The Old Man” on the movie “A Christmas Story”, buying one for his son against the Mothers wish.…“you’ll shoot your eye out, you’ll shoot your eye out”.…now those musta been the days.….
No, no, no. It’s not AOLIM, it’s the MSN Messenger.
I’m almost sure you had a ‘CHIPS’ big wheel, the Erik Estrada model…yeah, I’m sure of it.…NOT. You had a big wheel and the lady next store stole it (her name was Karen) and your mother and I always thought she sold it to buy drugs.…bummer.
I think your favorite toys were:
– Alf doll
– ET doll
– Crayons
– Speak’n’Spell (or say)
– Anything that you could draw with
Keep up the good work…I’m proud of you!
Dad
That’s sad…getting your big wheel stolen by a lady in order to buy drugs. But also a little funny. What kind of crack was she smoking in order to think that she could get good money for a big wheel?
That would make a great SNL sketch!
I was just thinking the same thing. Maybe I should sell my life story to SNL?
I smell a sitcom.…!!!!!
Well, if you sell a sitcom with the ‘Karen the crack whore who stole my bike’.…I want 10% of the sale for ‘creative consulting / story idea’. As for your brother…don’t give him a damn thing, with exception to the other sitcom story line “I almost let my brother cut off his dinkie” story.…but that’s another day for storytime children.
Nice to see your brother is reading your site / blog…or is he running secret security checks via the Navy Warfare Dept…????
Love,
Dad (the keeper of the family stories)
::cough:: Hey dad.. Lets not talk anymore about past stories. Thats NTK G14 Classified. Their EVIL.
Wow, this article rocks. It had me remembering the big wheel all over again. I still think the best 80’s toy/momento is the rubiz cube.
The Cube was a favorite pastime, although solving it proved to be difficult. To this day I have never solved a Rubix Cube, and most likely never will. It’s just too fun removing the stickers and putting them all in place.
I’ve often thought about splurging for the keychain version, however. Then, if I’m ever caught in a blizzard, I’ll have something to occupy my time. That or I’m thinking a few Madlibs.
Seems little brother doesn’t want to remember the GOD (Good old Days) of his childhood. Well, as long as your alive and doing the Blog Erik it is for ‘sure’ Matt’s adventures will live on.…and on.
Hey, remember the time you did the magic trick for Uncle Richie and almost made Matt’s thumb disappear, by cutting it off with a pair of sissors???
Sad, but it sort was pretty funny too!
proof that i am indeed turning into my mother — i feel compelled to say: they don’t make ‘em like they used to.
I had both the Dukes of Hazard “general Lee” Big Wheel and the Knight Rider “K.I.T.T.” big wheel between 1982–1984. I tore the heck out the General Lee version going “off-road” with it alot, so It was trashed, & some one stole the K.I.T.T. big wheel. If I could ever get “K.I.T.T.” back I’d save it as a collectable until I ever have a son
Hey everyone…
Did anyone else ever flip their big wheel upside down and spin the pedals while saying, “ice cream, ice cream!” ???
hugs & kisses,
– Josh
I’m looking to buy a Knight Rider or Transformer big wheel. If anyone has one they would like to sell, please e-mail me.
My e-mail is runnergirl57@yahoo.com
Thank you.
Melissa
I too turned the Big Wheel upside down and made ice cream. I wrote an essay on the subject, but still haven’t come up with a satisfactory reason as to why! You can read it at http://www.conversari.com/conversations_5-06.htm