Why are full-grown adults racing plastic trikes along the 'crookedest street'? RON HARRIS gets the answer: because it's there.
Otherwise sane adults line up to race plastic children's tricycles on San Francisco's most twisting thoroughfare. (AP Photo/Ron Harris)
There really isn't any good reason to do it, but perhaps that's reason enough.
The 6th annual "Bring Your Own Big Wheel" race down Lombard Street, San Francisco's "crookedest street" by most accounts, took place in rainy weather on Easter. (Not that a dry course of eight steep cobblestoned turns would have made it any safer.)
The race is simple. Line up about a dozen otherwise sane adults and have them race plastic children's tricycles downhill on San Francisco's most twisting thoroughfare.
Is it safe? Not really.
Is it sanctioned by the city, or anyone? Not even close.
Is it legal?
"Oh, it's not legal," said Jon Brumit, the closest thing to an organizer the event has. He hand-stitched together a few prizes for contestants and coordinated the gathering as much as he could. But this race is a free-for-all by any standard.
There is one rule: plastic-wheeled vehicles only.
"If you ever feel like just sliding on a piece of plastic down a cobblestone road, I suggest doing the race," said a racer who went only by "Allyson," as emblazoned in pen on her doctor's smock racing gear. She crossed the finish line in the third heat with one arm raised in the air, elbowing past a fellow racer in the last turn.
Those who made it to the bottom, with at least half of their bike intact, considered themselves winners.
___
asap contributor Ron Harris is an AP reporter in San Francisco.
___
Want to comment? Sound off at soundoffasap@ap.org .
©2006 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Learn more about our Privacy Policy.
