Apr8

big wheels.

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Hundreds join SF Easter fun with annual Bring Your Own Big Wheel race
Hundreds of people lined Vermont Street in San Francisco on Sunday to celebrate the 24th annual Bring Your Own Big Wheels downhill race event.
At the top of Potrero Hill, people climbed into child-sized plastic tricycles and other small-wheeled vehicles to zoom down the curvy street at the annual San Francisco tradition.

Over 600 people registered online, according to Bring Your Own Big Wheels organizer Frog Gilmore, but many more signed up on the day of the race.

Gilmore said she started riding and volunteering at the event when it was originally held on the city’s twistiest tourist byway, Lombard Street, before neighbors started complaining. Ultimately the event was moved to its current location on Vermont Street, which is actually San Francisco’s most crooked street, with hairpin turns and steep drops.

“It started out as just a handful of people in 2000 and then it picked up gradually,” said Gilmore of the daring urban descent. “When it moved here, more and more people started hearing about it, and it spread like wildfire. More and more people really want to do the fun, cool San Francisco thing.”

The city is synonymous with hills. Locals have become all too familiar with long and exhausting uphill walks when traveling across the city. Easter Sunday’s event, however, showed a glimpse of when people decide to buy into their curiosity and ride down the iconic Potrero Hill. Adults and children alike donned colorful costumes and prepared their wheels by decorating them with balloons, bubble machines, and streamers.

Rider and local artist Misstencil wore a papier-mache horse head attached to a baseball hat on her head. She has lived in San Francisco for over 25 years and continues to find joy in the community that has helped her embrace her artistic side.

“I don’t think anybody in San Francisco has had a proper childhood until they come here,” said Misstencil. “It’s a very steep hill but it’s not as dangerous as it seems. Celebrating with so many people in costumes is really the San Francisco spirit.”

Brandon Dodge started attending the event in 2013 after a friend invited him to experience the city’s culture. He now brings his two sons to share in the tradition that has meant so much to him.

Audible “oohs” and cheers sounded as children and adults rode down the hill. The loudest applause echoed through the crowd of hundreds when people who got knocked over got back onto their wheels and continued riding.

“This is the San Francisco we know– where you get up and go,” said Gilmore.

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‘a grownup is a child with layers on.’

– emma ward, author

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source credits: abcnews, Bay City News

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69 responses »

  3. This joyful event reminds me of my one and only trip to SF as a young married girl-woman
    It’s the place where I got fascinated and fell in love with Jazz, coloured and colourful bands, the slightly crazed living style, and my legs took a very long time to get over the muscle ache, which made me love the city even more. We have, since, always lived in places where it was all uphill or downhill…. funny, now that I think of it.

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  9. That’s fabulous!
    A pub near me holds an annual downhill race, the competitors are encouraged to make their own ‘vehicles’, some are so funny!

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  13. Oh my stars…this made me LOL to the extreme. If my dad were still alive…his love of wild and crazy…including San Francisco and big wheels? He’d be in the mix, for sure. So good! 😊😜😊

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  29. Many years ago, our city had a giant pillow fight at the square in front of our City Hall. This post reminded me of that – adults tapping into their inner child and curiosity and having fun, while building community connections. I love it. It’s no surprise that San Francisco was the progressive background setting for this event. We need more of this! 💕

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