PHOTO CREDIT: http://www.agoride.com/docs/img_contenu/000037/hang_five_Bmx_Tricks_003629_g.jpgWhether giving your homie a ride to his house, having your girlfriend ride with you, or hopping/rolling on them, everyone loves a set of pegs on their bike. Pegs have gone through an evolution from really small to large and then back down to a medium length and circumference. In the past you would screw them on like a nut and bolt but more modern pegs slide on the axle and get tightened with the nut of the rim hub's axle using a socket wrench.
According to the Joe Kid On A stingray documentary, which by the way, if you haven't seen it, I recommend that you do. Anyway, according to the video Pat Romano who ironically has an "Artistic Cycling" background and has been in many movies riding BMX was the first to put these on a bike. Soon after, it spread like wild fire and cats where doing all types of stunts on them. I remember my friend who just came from Mexico, called them "diablos" which means "devils". I guess it comes from the terms "Dare-Devil". In any event he had some really skinny pegs on his bike and I gave him an old set of "GT tube rides". I mean those pegs he had where so skinny, if we where doing tricks with those today, I could imagine how many times we would get stabbed with the bike. Still, it was hardcore knowing that he was riding with those things.
Anyway, after he got the bigger GT pegs he started grinding on benches and trying some flatland. He went back to Mexico and I think he still rides to this day. So, I guess a good set of pegs can literally get you where you want to go. They currently come in steal or aluminum. Steal are more for street and riding ramps and Aluminum is highly recommended for flatland only, unless your feeling suicidally brave which might not be a good thing. There are also some "park" pegs which seem like a good idea considering steal pegs can do some damage to the coping on ramps. Anyway, I listed sort of a chronological evolution of the peg. If you don't have any, get some and learn the many different ways you can wheelie, grind, or hop around with them. Of course, feel free to give your homie a ride to the store....if he is cool that is...
Peace and ride it out no matter what...
JB
Some of those skinny "pencil pegs"
Skyway Freestyle type pegs, many tricks where invented and done with these...
I think ACS, Raleigh , and Legal Action made pegs like these. You can still find them for sale as many "Old School" pegs are still being made.
These where hot for a while because of the look and feel... Smooth pegs from Tioga known as "roll-ons" for obvious reasons... It's hard to find a pair nowadays that aren't used...
These where the standard for a while. GT Steel tube rides where strong and large enough for sure footing. These where pretty much the last of the screw on pegs that where used.
Standard made pegs like these and they where really popular during the later 90's. They literally set a standard for thread less pegs.
Some newer, more modern, steel and aluminum pegs from Odyssey and Primo.
Some super light park pegs with an aluminum core.
Suelo/Fly Flatland Pegs with grip-tape. I personally have a couple of pairs of these and I love them... Perfect for flat, good size and light as F?ck...
