Wheel of Steel

Lions and tigers and bears. Oh my.

Picture this:

"At the beginning of the act two daredevils, Bello Nock and Nikolas Wallenda, balance catlike on a scary 39-foot structure that resembles an enormous bubble-blower — a stick with a hollow circle at each end, or if you will, two giant hamster wheels revolving on a central axle. This is the death wheel known to circus audiences for decades.

Suddenly a barrage of fireworks signals a surprise: The two seemingly solid wheels split apart like a Tinkertoy. The hamster wheels have doubled to four, and Mr. Nock and Mr. Wallenda begin whirling in opposite directions without safety nets or wires." Via NY Times

Tonight at Ringling Brothers Circus, Wallenda and Nock will unveil a contraption sometimes called The Wheel of Death - but properly referred to as the Wheel of Steel. NY Times has a multimedia presentation of how this device works.

For my friends interested in all kinds of wheels, engineering and mechanical devices, check this out. It's quite interesting. And to read what a lucky reporter who got to try it out and calls it a "wheely big circus roll", click here. To read about what the performers have to say , click here.