The Evolution of the Big Wheel
If you love cycling, driving, or simply riding a bicycle Why not take your next ride one of a leisurely trip on a Big Wheel? A Big Wheel Burger is a fast food chain with a conscience that has made a name for itself in all over the United States. Two brilliant minds came up with this innovative food franchise that combines the advantages of taking a ride on the Big Wheel with modern dining. The owner Frank Fernandez and his partner Jay Taylor wanted to create a place that was convenient for people who don't have cars and want to enjoy their food in style.
The concept was born out of an idea that was simple; build a burger kiosk on a waterbed , and it worked great! It was initially intended to make the experience more interactive for customers by creating an enormous steering wheel that was placed on an extremely low-waterbed. Customers could choose the menu they preferred, and then take their order while riding the large helmet-sized steering wheel. Customers could order Big Wheel Burgers, Big Wheel Fries or Big Wheel Tacos. When the customer got their order on the enormous wheel, it rotated 180 degrees, allowing the customer to view all their food items.
In the beginning, when the idea was first introduced to this unique idea, a lot of these ideas were deemed far too "hip" for a mainstream customer. Many customers thought that it was ridiculous to place something as functional and attractive on water as it was on land. One prototype featured two sails attached to its massive steering wheel. Many people were just as dissatisfied with the idea of two massive steering wheels on an unflat surface. Mr. Fernandez & Mr. Taylor decided to include a rudder in their design, instead of two large steering wheel.
The wheels were initially designed to be powered with normal bicycles, but they soon discovered that they could also be powered by regular bicycle chains. This allowed them to create smaller Big Wheel bicycles with the possibility of being ridden by people who were not experienced enough in riding motorcycles. The Big Wheel concept soon mt-die.com/ evolved into the creation of bikes that included sailing boats and steering. These bikes were later known as "Quadbike" models. After a few years, companies began to build full suspension bikes with real rudders and a real wheel that could be lifted up.
A real wheel was affixed to the rear of the bicycle during the early days of the Big Wheel concept. The designers later realized that this gadget could also be an excellent addition to a racing yacht. The idea of having a "wheel on an inflatable boat", was quickly further developed by Mr. Taylor and Mr. Fernandez who decided to build a functioning Big Wheel. Using a heavy copper wire for the edge of the "wheel" and an assortment of servo motor wires, the designers were able to create a working Big Wheel Bike. The wind-up mechanism gave the rider to steer the bike through water.
The first Big Wheel bikes that were ever manufactured were extremely primitive in design. They had huge, round wheels that riders had a hard time pushing in tandem with their weight. After some adjustments engineers were able to make improvements that allowed these units to provide the same sort of steering as offered by the popular racing yacht rowing machines. The trike was named "Quatra" in recognition of the improvement. The upgraded version was dubbed the "Gyro-Quatra" which meant that there would be two real rudders on either side of the cockpit instead of just one.
These improved models of the Big Wheel were then mounted on a standard bicycle frame, and equipped with an front derailleur. This resulted in a total switch over from a sailing vehicle to a full-scale road bike. The Big Wheel was eventually adopted by companies such as Honda, Boulle and Fox and became known as the Honda Cart and "BSC Touring Bike". These bikes were later used by large race teams and entered in a few Tours de France. The Big Wheel's popularity has not diminished. Professional cyclists continue to utilize them, though they are frequently replaced with more agile tour bikes.
These days the Big Wheel is best enjoyed outdoors and indoors. Many companies now provide a variety of Big Wheel bikes suitable for mountain and road riding and in various sizes for those who require some extra space or prefer a smaller bike. For many riders however, the Big Wheel remains a favorite because of its simple construction with a rugged, durable design and excellent riding and coasting performance. You can get the same level of performance from your Big Wheel bike as you would on a high-performance yacht. Buy one today to find out what you've been missing.