Pennyfarthing wanted!

[andygates]

If you know of one, or someone selling one, I'm in the market.  Ratty old restoration projects ideal (for I am Mr Cheap).  It needs to be a good big wheel as the plan is to take it on some decent distance rides - 48"-52" (not the cool but toy-sized modern Coker, alas).

Also wanted: common sense, gum shields.

Comments

[simoneck.livejournal.com]

I don't have a penny farthing, but I will send grapes to the hospital.

You could start the 'ANDY GATES TRIATHALON'
Swimming - with those wide gloves you mentioned once. and flippers.
Cycling - with a penny farthing
Running - with those stilt things I watched you cluthing to a van with on youtube.

[simoneck.livejournal.com]

Wanted - a dictionary
triathlon and clutching being the most obvious examples of my need for a permanent automated spellchecker.

[arabis.livejournal.com]

Yes! I'd watch that.

[flitljm.livejournal.com]

Swimming is boring. Phase I should be jousting.

[andygates.livejournal.com]

You're all cynics!

[xeeny.livejournal.com]

At London tri last year there was a guy who did the swim in a diving suit, bike on a penny farthing, and "run" in full plate.

You could do that..

[andygates.livejournal.com]

One day, one day...

[thudthwacker.livejournal.com]

I confess to some practical curiosity, not so much as regards the construction of the beast, but as regards its use:

- I imagine you need to mount the thing with the assistance of a stool or handy wall. If you need to stop when one isn't around, what, exactly, do you do?

- Is it even theoretically possible to ride one of these things up a hill? Or, if coming down a hill, to stop it? Or are you just going to pack a drag chute?

[andygates.livejournal.com]

There's a peg on the frame. You put one foot on that, scoot forward, and then swing up onto it as it's moving. A tall bike is a long pendulum, so it takes surprisingly long to fall over!

Dismounting is off the back at a stop, just arrest the bike and kick your ass back. Or off the front if you're being circus-boy.

A 50" wheel has a 50" gear so moderate hills are very doable. Descents are more perilous - but seasoned pennyfarthing riders just take their feet off the pedals and hook 'em over the handlebars letting the thing run away. Modern ones have a V-brake (like a mountain bike brake) on the rear wheel and you can apply retarding force to the pedals just as you do with a fixie.

[andygates.livejournal.com]

Here's mounting: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f5NhlqN2Xr8

[andygates.livejournal.com]

...and getting it wrong: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pQH4spi878U&NR=1