If you research the history of bicycles, you will see an iteration by the end of the 1800s known as a penny farthing bike. They may look like clown bikes to you, but that’s just a result of the intervening years. There is no joke about these things.
In fact, in their day, these bikes, with the large front wheels and smaller rear wheels, were a prized possession and the fastest things out there, faster than trains and faster than horses.
You can still buy these bikes, too, but if you’re going to learn to ride one, remember the following.
They Can Be Dangerous (Wear the Right Safety Gear)
Not to discourage you, but they’re pretty tall, quite fast, and your center of mass will be high, which means if you don’t handle skilfully you can easily get pitched forward over the handlebars. This is called “taking a header” and it can be quite serious.
It also makes it imperative that you wear the appropriate safety gear, which consists, at minimum, of a helmet. You might also want to wear elbow and knee pads – the second most likely place you’ll be injured is at the elbow or on the forearm.
Be Aware of Road Conditions
Penny farthing bikes lack suspension systems and rely solely on the virtue of their large front wheel to absorb some of the shocks of the road. It also means that bumpy conditions and obstacles are a unique challenge.
The term we used above – taking a header – is more likely to occur with abrupt braking, when encountering an obstacle, or when navigating unfamiliar conditions. If possible, ride only on smooth, paved surfaces, especially if you’re learning.
Size Wisely
Since these bikes lack chain drives, they rely on the circumference of the wheel to generate speed. As a result, your inseam measurement is the primary determinant of what size penny you should get.
There is some wiggle room, though, and here’s the best advice. If you’re planning on racing and speed is your only objective, get the largest size you can comfortably ride.
If you plan on commuting or live in a hilly area, get a size on the smaller end of the acceptable spectrum. Smaller bikes will be slower, but you won’t tire out as easily, especially riding up hills.
Brake Smart
Simply put, penny farthings are not good at braking. There’s no other way to say it. The good ones that have brakes have brakes at the rear tire.
Guess what happens when you brake hard, and the brake communicates with the rear tire? You’re sitting over the front wheel, all your mass is there. So what happens is the rear tire skids.
Rather than braking aggressively, which can wear out your rear tire or even throw you over the handlebars, brake smart, which means no more than this – allow room to stop.
You can’t bring a penny to a hard stop or you’re taking a header. So read the road and learn to slow down very carefully when you’re riding one.
Where to Get a Penny Farthing Bike?
Looking for one of these unique bikes, or actually a clown bike like a minibike? You can get them online at a somewhat likely place: Unicycle.com.
They carry a wide range of penny farthing bikes in varying sizes, along with other odd bikes, and naturally this comes as a complement to their extensive line of unicycles. They also carry parts, tools, and the safety gear you need to ride responsibly.
For more information on penny farthing bikes (and how to ride) visit their website or get in touch with them directly.
