Cheetah (riding toy)
Encyclopedia
A Cheetah is a type of tricycle
produced by Lakeside Toys of Minneapolis Minnesota during the early 1970s. It was similar to the Big Wheel and the Green Machine. The Cheetah was, however, capable of much higher speeds than either of those tricycle riding toys.
The Cheetah styling was similar to that of early 1970s chopper motorcycles, with slightly rear-sloped seat and swept handlebars. It was powered by cable and pulley that transferred power from front pedals to the rear wheels via a one way drive. The pedals were pumped in and out instead of around (as with a standard tricycle).
The higher speeds of the Cheetah were achieved by converting the power of the rider into speed rather than relying on the speed of the rider. The rider could also apply power with both legs at the same time as opposed to one leg at a time as with crank pedals.
A Cheetah could accelerate faster than a bicycle from the stopped position. From the stopped position a bicyclist places his weight on the pedal and is at the mercy of the maximum speed of gravity. Whereas a Cheetah rider may exert the full speed and power of both legs simultaneously. Which results in the plastic wheeles spinning like mad while the Cheetah goes nowhere. But time it right and you were at the end of the street before your friends who were not on Cheetahs left the house.
Tricycle
A tricycle is a three-wheeled vehicle. While tricycles are often associated with the small three-wheeled vehicles used by pre-school-age children, they are also used by adults for a variety of purposes. In the United States and Canada, adult-sized tricycles are used primarily by older persons for...
produced by Lakeside Toys of Minneapolis Minnesota during the early 1970s. It was similar to the Big Wheel and the Green Machine. The Cheetah was, however, capable of much higher speeds than either of those tricycle riding toys.
The Cheetah styling was similar to that of early 1970s chopper motorcycles, with slightly rear-sloped seat and swept handlebars. It was powered by cable and pulley that transferred power from front pedals to the rear wheels via a one way drive. The pedals were pumped in and out instead of around (as with a standard tricycle).
The higher speeds of the Cheetah were achieved by converting the power of the rider into speed rather than relying on the speed of the rider. The rider could also apply power with both legs at the same time as opposed to one leg at a time as with crank pedals.
A Cheetah could accelerate faster than a bicycle from the stopped position. From the stopped position a bicyclist places his weight on the pedal and is at the mercy of the maximum speed of gravity. Whereas a Cheetah rider may exert the full speed and power of both legs simultaneously. Which results in the plastic wheeles spinning like mad while the Cheetah goes nowhere. But time it right and you were at the end of the street before your friends who were not on Cheetahs left the house.