Penny Farthings!

Bhima

I just overtook a guy riding one on the road - at about 20mph!

It looked really dangerous, there were potholes everywhere, he had a disc wheel on the back (in serious wind!) and the guy didn't have a helmet! :? :roll: I thought he was going to fall off at one point!

Anyway, anyone know why they are designed with such a crazy difference in wheel sizes?

stickman

As far as I know it's so they can get a high speed, before gears were available, although later ones had gears.