Putting baseball cards in bicycle spokes as a kid seems to be a right of passage for many who grew up in the 1970s and 80s. It was a novelty stunt that kids would dare each other to try due to the loud noise and vibration it created. Upon closer examination, wedging baseball cards into moving bicycle spokes was actually a lot harder to do than it appeared and wasn’t without risks.
The first challenge was finding the right type of baseball card to use. Ideally it needed to be thin and somewhat flexible to allow it to be squeezed into the small gap between the spokes as the wheel spun. Thicker cardboard cards from newer sets weren’t the best choice as they were more likely to jam and cause the bike to wobble. Vintage cards from the 50s and 60s tended to work better as they had a thinner card stock that could bend without cracking. Actually locating older worn cards was difficult for many kids, so newer cards often had to do.
Next was the tricky task of timing the insertion of the card. Most bikes spun their wheels at a fairly high RPM, so the window to slip a card in was small. You had to wait for just the right moment when three spokes were spread slightly apart before the next one was approaching. Requiring good hand-eye coordination and steady nerves, it took practice to gauge that split second timing. Oftentimes kids would botch it and end up pinching their fingers instead of sliding the card smoothly between the spokes. More than one kid can attest to yelping in pain after a mishap.
Assuming you navigated the insertion without hurting yourself, the real test was if the card could stay wedged in place as the wheel continued spinning. Centrifugal force and vibration worked against keeping it lodged without immediately being flung out. Cards needed to be positioned just right, parallel to the spokes, to ride the “spoke surfer” wave. Even a slight angle could cause it to be ejected within seconds. When a card did manage to stay for more than a few rotations, it was quite an achievement.
Of course, the reward for a job well done was the incredible racket produced. A single card rattling around the circumference created an impressive buzz and rattle that could be heard from a block away. Adding a second or third card amplified the noise to a glorious crescendo that was sure to draw attention. The vibrating handlebars also provided an extra tactile sensation that completed the experience. It was definitely a thrill to achieve such a loud commotion from such a simple stunt.
There were some very real risks to putting baseball cards in bicycle spokes that kids didn’t always consider. For one, it significantly affected the rideability of the bike. All that vibration and noise meant the rider had little control over steering or braking. Even at relatively slow speeds, it only took a small bump or wobble to potentially cause a crash. With impaired control and reduced reaction time, injuries were far more likely.
Over time the constant friction could damage both the card and the bicycle. The thin cardboard risked tearing or shredding, leaving pieces embedded that were difficult to remove. Grit and debris trapped between card and spoke acted like sandpaper, wearing down the surfaces. Prematurely worn wheel bearings and brake pads were another expense parents had to deal with. Bikes were not meant to function with foreign materials jammed into such a critical moving part.
Perhaps the biggest danger was how the makeshift noisemaker could distract other riders, drivers, and pedestrians. The screeching and clattering drew attention away from watching the road or path. This was a major safety issue, as it could cause collisions. With impaired hearing while also focusing on the source of the racket, it was all too easy to overlook oncoming traffic until it was too late. Considering the noise carried for blocks, the risk wasn’t just to the card-wielding rider. Anyone in the area was potentially put in harm’s way.
So while wedging baseball cards into bicycle spokes provided a thrill for kids and a good scare for others, the activity was actually quite difficult and risky when examined more closely. It’s easy to understand the appeal as a young daredevil, but the potential consequences of impaired control, equipment damage, and distracted transportation far outweighed any momentary excitement. It’s no wonder parents and community leaders discouraged the practice. In retrospect, kids were taking a bigger chance than they realized at the time for just a brief burst of noise and vibration. Perhaps it’s best their stunts remain a nostalgic memory rather than a continued real-world endeavor.
