Back in the Day, to make Bike Riding Fun, we made them into Spoke Card Motorcycles! You Too Can Do It!

 October 6, 2025

#524

Gentle reader,

Okay, we didn't actually attach an engine to our bicycles back then, but we sure thought they sounded like motorcycles! I'm 69, so "back then" was way back then!

What you are looking at is my 1987 Italian Univega Metro Prix 12-speed road bike outfitted with what young me thought was the "coolest thing!" Those are Joker cards from an ordinary deck of playing cards. They are held on the rear wheel frame rails with ordinary wooden spring clothes pins.

I found this image on line. Some used sports cards instead.

The youngest grandkids came over on Sunday. We store their bikes here because where they live, the streets are busy. Plus, their friend, Isabelle, lives two doors from our house. And, we live on a cul-de-sac, so there is little vehicular traffic. I made the above video of Isabelle and my son-in-law (on my bike) "motoring" by. Here is a link to a Wikipedia page about the history of this fun thing to do: Spoke card - Wikipedia 

Another view of the cards on my vintage bicycle. 

So, what are you going to hold the cards on today's bicycles thick tubing? Inexpensive metal "C" clamps do the trick just fine. This is my youngest grandson's BMX-type bike. Front fork is above. Rear frame is below:

Thanks to Nancy, who often mentally stores away things which I've said and then surprises me with what I mentioned. In this case two boxes of generic playing cards and 100 wooden spring-type clothes pins.

Most of the images I found were families with NO helmets on!

Just in case you have wondered what I look like. I prefer to be behind the camera. This is one of the few images of me with a suit on. Nancy has since lost almost forty pounds since then. 

Thank you for taking the time to read my article. I had so much fun with the kids and wanted to share it with you. If your kids already have bikes, you can make them more fun with a few minutes and a couple of cards and clothespins. 

I write two other blogs, but have not updated them in a while: Pictures of Nancy. The Love of My Life. and: People Say I'm Special. But I Don't Know Why The first one will clearly show you why I felt drawn to Nancy. We were meant to be together and it's been more than 30 years of bliss.

Scott Robb

#524

October 6, 2025