Definition
Playing cards clothespinned or inserted into the spokes of a bicycle wheel to create a machine-gun-like sound as the wheel rotates. A simple noise-making modification that was nearly universal among children with bikes.
Example Usage
He stuck baseball cards in his bike spokes so he could sound like a motorcycle zooming down the street.
Origin
Folk DIY tradition dating to at least the 1950s, repurposing common materials (playing cards or trading cards) to modify bikes; the practice persists informally today.
Fun Fact
This simple modification cost nothing and gave kids a sense of customization and ownership over their bikes; it remains one of the most recognizable sounds of 1970s-1980s suburban childhood.
Related Terms
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See “cards in the spokes” in Corporate Speak, Gen-Z Slang, Pirate Speak, and more.
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