Big Wheels party

The annual SF Big Wheels party’s been going downhill for years

By Carolyne Zinko

Growing up is overrated in San Francisco, where adults act like kids whenever they get the chance. Not just on Halloween, or at Burning Man, the Edwardian Ball or the Pride Parade, but on Easter, too.

As religious celebrations of the Resurrection wound down Sunday afternoon, revelers on Potrero Hill geared up for a different annual fete — the 16th annual Bring Your Own Big Wheel race. Hundreds of otherwise sensible and mature people dressed up like bananas, gorillas, jellyfish, David Bowie, Santa Claus, King Tut and the Easter Bunny to careen on souped-up tricycles down the hairpin curves of Vermont Street between 20th and 22nd streets.

It was actually a ride, not a literal race, so there were no winners or prizes. The fun was in the doing.

“It’s one of the only events I’ve been to that is built around and embodies the spirit of fun and play,” said Glenn Black, 27, an electrical engineer wearing a unicorn costume who was in his sixth year at the race. “Many things have that as an idea, but then it’s about something else — it’s about laughing at people, it’s about getting drunk like Bay to Breakers. Here, we’re just here having fun. People aren’t getting smashed. People aren’t on drugs, to my knowledge. We’re just here to do goofy stuff and have a good time.”

The event was created in 2001 by Jon Brumit on Lombard Street. As the event grew, and neighbors protested, it moved to Potrero Hill. Participation is free, but riders must sign a code of conduct. A race organizer dressed as Princess Leia from “Star Wars,” who identified herself as Frog, the Big Wheel Jedi, said $5 donations were being accepted to help pay for $10,000 in grown-up necessities such as park and street permits, portable toilets, hay bales to line the route and protect participants and fans from crashes, and San Francisco police and Recreation and Park staff on overtime duty.

Jayson McDaniel, 41, a Lyft driver, showed up for his third race in a King Tut headdress, after coming as Mr. T from the 1980s TV show “The A-Team” for the past two.

“I love dressing up,” he said. “Going down hills is fun, too.” He reported no extra advantage in skill in being a professional on the road. “I’ve always been a good driver, and I’m not picking anyone up. I’m avoiding that today.”

Actual children were allowed in the race, too. They had their own separate heats, so as not to be run over and injured by more mature drivers. Wipe-outs are common, owing to the steep angle, accumulated downhill speed and lack of brakes.

Gavin Forral, 9, in a T-shirt and jeans, accompanied by his father, Gino, dressed as a satyr, reported that the race was “a whole lot of fun — it’s better than playing on the iPad.”

“Why not take a couple of hours out of your day to feel like a child again?” said Reese Dimagiba, 35, a back-to-school nursing student who rode with four friends, all in matching banana costumes. “It’s really fun and exhilarating. I haven’t felt that kind of rush since I was a child.”