Mar 28, 2024 - Things to Do
Throwback Thursday: San Francisco's first Big Wheel race
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Riders participate in the Bring Your Own Big Wheel race on Vermont Street in 2011. Photo: <br/>Tristan Savatier/Contributor via Getty Images
The Bring Your Own Big Wheel (BYOBW) race has become quite the spectacle over the years, but the first one in 2000 was small, and just had a single rider, as the story goes.
Driving the news: Ahead of the BYOBW race on Sunday, we thought we'd take y'all on a little trip down memory lane.
Flashback: Jon Brumit is credited with founding the race, when he "happened across a big wheel" in 2000, according to the BYOBW history.
- "He wondered what he should do with it and much like the apple that fell on Newton's head, Jon had the vision of riding his newly found plastic toy down Lombard Street."
- The first race took place on Lombard Street, but the event moved to Potrero Hill's Vermont Street in 2008 after residents of Lombard Street took issue with the growing size of the race, according to the event organizers.
What's next: This year's event takes place Sunday from 2pm to 5pm on Vermont and 20th streets.
- Kids 13 and under are up first from 2pm to 3pm, followed by "adult children" from 3pm to 5pm.
- Register here to participate. And be safe!