How I found the first wheelie
This detective story involves technology, penny farthings, and the United States Capitol. But I wheelie did it.
More info and sources at bottom.
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https://share.epidemicsound.com/olkrqv
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Check out the cool blog post I mention:
This one is pretty much just going through newspapers searching for my man DJ Canary. No real books needed.
Here’s some League of American Wheelmen stuff:
https://archive.org/search?query=league+of+american+wheelmen
Here’s that cool “bicycle song” with the Canary pic:
https://www.loc.gov/item/ihas.200196708
Cool pic of Dan Canary in a car in 1905. He became a Chicago livery owner and huge car guy (which is kinda sweet). I didn’t think it was worth buying because I didn’t know how to work the whole car angle into the story, but still cool.
https://www.gettyimages.co.uk/detail/news-photo/group-portrait-of-barney-oldfield-and-dan-canary-motorists-news-photo/87877913?adppopup=true
My original article with some sources (contact me for others – many are behind paywalls at Newspapers.com/Proquest/etc).
https://triviahappy.com/articles/meet-the-first-stunt-bicyclist-he-did-tricks-in-the-1880s-and-invented
My Penny Farthing explainer:
https://triviahappy.com/articles/the-eleven-most-common-questions-about-old-fashioned-bicycles-including
https://sketchfab.com/3d-models/pennyfarthest-bicycle-507a9cce128d4263adf3fbc2f134faf4#download
“Pennyfarthest Bicycle” (https://skfb.ly/6ABSB) by Parker (Kobi) Troiani is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
Comments
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@partybhoy1967
October 3, 2024 at 2:33 am
You can absolutely wheelie on a push bike
@aisi4130chromoly
October 3, 2024 at 2:33 am
I know this is a difficult ask, but was the first wheelie done on a fixed gear safety bike?
@sion8
October 3, 2024 at 2:33 am
You made this video so that Wikipedia would cite you, right?
@Fubeman
October 3, 2024 at 2:33 am
Phil, I just checked the Wikipedia page, and you now have full credit and are listed on footnote #3. Looks like you scared somebody over there. Ha!
@SolarasNaracott
October 3, 2024 at 2:33 am
Fat bottom girls will be riding today.
@GPDC100
October 3, 2024 at 2:33 am
Chin did wheels before western world…even toilet paper…mmm..wonder what white used?
@deatheternal720
October 3, 2024 at 2:33 am
Its called an Endo btw
@SaltyChickenDip
October 3, 2024 at 2:33 am
Reminds of legends like Alan Gelfand and Rodney Mullen inventing the ollie and kick flip. Such basic tricks now but revolutionary back then. Will in 100 years someone will make a video searhing for them.
@DrewRobertson1
October 3, 2024 at 2:33 am
Masterclass! Loved this episode.
@claudiakoning
October 3, 2024 at 2:33 am
No. You've got it wrong.
Listen: A real wheelie (also called a manual if you do it from a trick or to a trick) on a bmx for example is not when you pedal. The same principle applies to skateboards for example.
You don't need to propell yourself forward as long as you keep (!) forward momentum. A real wheelie is also way harder than one where you pedal, because you really need to balance.
@ellieechoes
October 3, 2024 at 2:33 am
Im kinda pissed that you have to be a person of note to get cited on Wikipedia. Thats improper source citation
@r3n5h0r3
October 3, 2024 at 2:33 am
I wonder how many people spammed Tony hawk with this. Or if you ever got confirmation that we went "huh"
@theupscriber65
October 3, 2024 at 2:33 am
Definition of wheelie is too general. A rider could still propel themself forward with a walking machine by their feet.
@Coastal_Cruzer
October 3, 2024 at 2:33 am
Bicycles are the most efficient form of manually powered transportation.
@falcolebt-feinstewienerstr8724
October 3, 2024 at 2:33 am
12 Dislikes so far – all of them(and the following ones) failed on doing the wheelie.
THANKS Phil for that story and for I discovered you today!
Greetings from Vienna/Austria!
@Jehayland
October 3, 2024 at 2:33 am
If you want a DJ Canary movie, you should totally write one and pitch it to folks!
@Alexandr_Silver
October 3, 2024 at 2:33 am
Now do the manual 😅
@BobDunlock
October 3, 2024 at 2:33 am
Learning all of this was wheelie cool!
@Blitz6804
October 3, 2024 at 2:33 am
And this video points out a major issue with Wikipedia… anyone can change it to their whim, such as deleting someone's hard detective work because they're not "credible."
@xliquidflames
October 3, 2024 at 2:33 am
I never made the connection between Birdhouse, Tony Hawk's company, and his name until the end of this video. "Oh, that's why it's called Birdhouse." I'm dense sometimes.
@ballacaust
October 3, 2024 at 2:33 am
Hard hitting, investigative, journalism. Take notes, mainstream media!
@michaelxcooney
October 3, 2024 at 2:33 am
6:45, first stoppie?
@dianapowe6183
October 3, 2024 at 2:33 am
I found you because a Facebook group I see was using your image of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer telling kids that radioactivity is nothing to be afraid of. I went searching for the source of that image as it uses old images and it lead me to FaceScience which led me to your video explaining your book deal. This is great stuff!
@javidaderson
October 3, 2024 at 2:33 am
First time I ever did a wheelie I was at 12 years old and I broke my arm trying. Then when I turn 23 I got a motorcycle and try to do a wheelie again and broke the same arm.
@Kae6502
October 3, 2024 at 2:33 am
The ball's in your court Tony…
@varimahenry
October 3, 2024 at 2:33 am
Umm you can do wheelie with forward propulsion from a downhill force … no pedals needed. 🤪
@diondouglas8318
October 3, 2024 at 2:33 am
That was wheelie good
@KyleKayMusic
October 3, 2024 at 2:33 am
Can someone please let me know when the official Tony Hawk channel replies "Oh, weird."?
It is inevitable.
Thanks!
@BILLY-px3hw
October 3, 2024 at 2:33 am
My great-great-great-grandfather was the first man to say "Pull my finger"
@wheeliebonus
October 3, 2024 at 2:33 am
Thanks
@Bflorio12
October 3, 2024 at 2:33 am
this is fantastic
@EtaiOren
October 3, 2024 at 2:33 am
I wonder if the wheelie was a natural progression of a manual (the difference being that a manual is done via balance alone, with no propulsion vis a vis pedaling)
@flora4026
October 3, 2024 at 2:33 am
been watching your videos for months and only just realized you work in the same building as me. hey neighbor
@hed1fsu
October 3, 2024 at 2:33 am
All that research and no mention of chase hawk? Haha. Dang 😉 good BMX rider tho.
@RoboticDragon
October 3, 2024 at 2:33 am
What made you want to search this up 10 years ago? You pick some very random, but interesting topics.
@Xsiondu
October 3, 2024 at 2:33 am
I know a guy that looks like Tony Hawk. I'll tell him.
@renaigh
October 3, 2024 at 2:33 am
the unicycle would be first instance of a wheelie, technically.