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Friday, May 4, 2012

The Legacy of the Big Wheel

If you’re a child of the 70s like me, you probably remember well the plastic tricycle known as the Big Wheel zooming around every corner of the neighborhood.  Big Wheels were a national phenomenon.  It seemed everyone had one, including my youngest brother Michael, who is a child of the 80s.

Big Wheels were fun and because they were so low to the ground, it was hard to fall off. Or if you did, you didn’t fall very far. I remember my brother used to delight in pedaling fast, then turning the steering wheel quickly to put the trike in a 360-spin.

My parents are not particularly sentimental people, but my brother loved his Big Wheel so much that they decided to save it.  They put it away in the attic and there it sat for a long time. Twenty years.  Then I had a little boy and my folks remembered the plastic tricycle hidden away, pulled it down, and dusted it off.

That afternoon, we were all gathered my parents’ house and Dad said he had a surprise. We went out front and there was the old Big Wheel.  Michael smiled in remembrance and Cory took it for a spin.  And we all felt a little sentimental after all.  The Big Wheel had made a comeback.  At least in my family.


I used Echo Park Paper on this layout, a few different collections, mostly Splash, Country Drive and Happy Days.  The wording on the page says -  Generation to generation: my Big Wheel keeps on rolling.


I wonder what the vintage toy of 2012 will be.  Any ideas?

26 comments:

  1. oh what a fun layout!!! everyone on our block growing up had a big wheel but my parents said no because they had bought a used tricycle and my dad had painted it purlple (i loved purple)- i loved that bike BUT i so wanted a big wheel! LOL!!

    have a great weekend!

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  2. Such a fun story and a fun layout!!!! Oh yes, I remember the big wheel, somehow I missed the memo that they were no longer around - LOL! I guess, now that I think about it, I haven't seen any and my kids don't have any....

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  3. I am an 80's child and remember having these. All my cousins and I had them!! Fun layout!

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  4. I loved my BIG WHEEL!!!! LOVED IT!!!! And I loveeeeeeeeeeee your lo!!!! Those photos are PRECIOUS and love love love the colors!! I got my package yesterday!!! Thanks so much love!!! I love love love G45 and this is just PERFECT!! You are the bestest!!!

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  5. I was born in the late 60's. All of us kids rode one. You know they have made a comeback, you can buy them now. :) Makes me want to get Ben one. Your page perfectly commemorates the memory and day. I love the colors and all the lines and circles gives it great movement.

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  6. Love the layout! My daycare provider has several big wheels, my always riding around on one when I pick him up on nice afternoons!

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  7. Do I remember the Big Wheel? I sure do! I just love your title work on here, Izzy, and the fact that you used photos of your brother and Cory to represent the passing down of the good ole trike. This is an awesome page and such a wonderful memory. I hope Cory passes this down to his children some day. :)

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  8. AWESOME!!!! Love the layout and especially the story!! Oh how I wanted a Big Wheel sooooo badly! My neighbor's granddaughter had one that she shared with me when she came to visit them. Oh, the memories! :)

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  9. This is so fun!!!
    I am definitely a child of the 70's and had a Big Wheel :)

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  10. So cute and fun!! Love those delightful pics!!

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  11. Awww!!! Adorable layout and that picture is amazing!

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  12. Thanks for the blast from the past! I loved my big wheels! I had a pink one....your layout is awesome! So fun~

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  13. Great photos and awesome layout! Oh big wheels!

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  14. I remember having Big Wheel races with my cousin! What a wonderful story to preserve :)

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  15. Aaawwww...great layout and pictures! Too funny you should post about the big wheel. My nephew is turning two and my mom wants to buy one for him. Apparently my brother had one and LOVED it too!

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  16. Great story and layout! I had a big wheel too!

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  17. I loved my big wheel! Such a great layout and memory!

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  18. I loved my Big Wheel! My parents kept just about everything from my childhood, but not the Big Wheel. Too bad- it's such a fun toy. I love what you did with the layout, especially listing the ages of Michael, Cory and the Big Wheel.

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  19. No Izzy, I'm FAR too young to remember anything 70's lol.... I wish!! Fab layout and fun to think about what 70's vintage thing it would be for me!! Thanks for the flashback.. I think ;o)

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  20. My kids LOVED their big wheels! We were wondering why they aren't all around these days! Cute layout.

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  21. Both my boys had a big wheel and loved it! Great layout!

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  22. Even I used to love my brother's big wheel - "stole" it from him every chance I got - it's wonderful to see another generation enjoying them (and I love your layout)!

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  23. I love that you wrote the age of the big wheel too! LOL Really cute Izzy. P.S. I had a Big Wheel until my hair got caught in one of the back wheels. (I wouldn't ride it after that.)

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  24. I really enjoyed reading about this special family "treasure" from the attic, Izzy...thank you for sharing this tender story. My parents kept all our baby things in their garage attic....so when our first was born they pulled out a stroller, high chair and wooden child's table/chairs set, which all 3 of our children used when visiting their grandparents! I made a layout of this years ago, but only for our eldest, and maybe I should make pages for the girls as well. (Let's hope the vintage toy of 2012 isn't the XBox! ha ha!)

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  25. This is such a fun layout, with the bright and happy colours! Lovely work!

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