1000 mile on penny farthing.

[wheresthetorch]

Fantastic. It's people like that who make the world an interesting place to be.

 

[ColinJ]

Fantastic. It's people like that who make the world an interesting place to be.

And who help keep the trauma surgeons busy!

 

[classic33]

@fossyant wonder if they are as fun to ride as they look?

Provided you don't keep on having to stop, in traffic, at the lights.

Had a trial ride when Ellis Briggs were on the main Otley road.

 

[nickyboy]

As they're ungeared, what sort of gradient could a reasonably fit cyclist get up with one?

I can't imagine the Cornwall/Devon stretch of LEJOG would be much fun

 

[raleighnut]

As they're ungeared, what sort of gradient could a reasonably fit cyclist get up with one?

I can't imagine the Cornwall/Devon stretch of LEJOG would be much fun

Isn't that the point, if it was easy everybody and his dog would be doing it.

 

[ianrauk]

There's a chap who rides one on the London to Brighton Veteran Car Rally every year. It's a fair old slog climbing Clayton Hill.

And of course, there's the FNR's Charlotte (usually found over at the other place) who has ridden hers on a night right, she also won a medal in Australia at a Penny Farthing World Championships.

 

[nickyboy]

Isn't that the point, if it was easy everybody and his dog would be doing it.

But there's "difficult" and "having to get off and push up the hills". I'm just interested to know what sort of hill a reasonably fit cyclist could manage on one of those

I'm guessing those tough 10% climbs out of Cornish valleys would be too hard but I've never seen anyone ride one on anything but flat

 

[rikki]

Is he wearing sandals?

And no gloves either.

 

[Electric_Andy]

20 hours a day for 5 days. He’s going to need a comfortable riding position.

20 hours a day for 5 days. He’s going to need a new bum

 

[Ming the Merciless]

20 hours a day for 5 days. He’s going to need a new bum

Gives you a clue that he is expecting to average about 10 mph. I suspect however that includes food stops etc. So not all time spent on the saddle pedalling. A target of four hours sleep a night would be the better figure to think of.

 

[Lozz360]

On a serious note, it was an amazing effort for the 18-year old, 132-years ago. No tarmac in those days and the tyres would have been solid.

 

[classic33]

And who help keep the trauma surgeons busy!

Is he still riding up to Slack Top, the long way round, from Hebden Bridge?

Not down there as much now, so it's a good few years since last seen.

 

[Brains]

Joff Summerfield rode his home built Penny Farthing around the world 2006-08
https://www.pennyfarthingworldtour.com/
He also did LEJoG back in 2000 (although not in 5 days!)

And still tours on it today

I've followed him trough heavy London traffic several times, he is faster than I am!

 

[ColinJ]

But there's "difficult" and "having to get off and push up the hills". I'm just interested to know what sort of hill a reasonably fit cyclist could manage on one of those

I'm guessing those tough 10% climbs out of Cornish valleys would be too hard but I've never seen anyone ride one on anything but flat

The maximum size of the front wheel is limited by how long the rider's legs are. I think the biggest ones tend to be about 5 feet, or what we call a 60 inch gear.

My singlespeed bike has a 72 inch gear and I can (just about!) get up 8-9% on it but I am not that fit. I reckon a fit rider could get up hills steeper than 10% on a 60 inch gear, no problem. Mind you, some of those hills in Cornwall and Devon are a lot steeper than 10% ...

Is he still riding up to Slack Top, the long way round, from Hebden Bridge?

Not down there as much now, so it's a good few years since last seen.

I have never seen anybody riding one round here, or anywhere else in real life (as opposed to on TV).

 

[Beebo]

The maximum size of the front wheel is limited by how long the rider's legs are. I think the biggest ones tend to be about 5 feet, or what we call a 60 inch gear).

You forgot to times by Pi.