Ordinary bicycles - anyone with any experience ?

TheEnglishman

I'm wondering if and one on here has any experience of Ordinary cycles - that's a Penny Farthing to us non riders I hear
I'm wondering if you go from a small one to a big one in steps (parson the pun) or whether it's a case of gett one and getting on with it.

Anyone ride one who can advise ?

I see there's a few manufacturers about too.

I love cunning plans ;-)

Monkeypump

I'm not an expert (never ridden one), but I've seen 'modern' penny farthings for sale with much smaller front wheels than the original/stereotypical model.

Perhaps that's an easier way to start?

A friend (odd-ball bike collector) had a penny farthing (old style) and said it was the single most ridiculous thing he'd ever ridden.

simona75

This wont help you but I was in a pub a couple of years ago and someone cycled in and right up to the bar on a Penny Farthing. It was a Wetherspoons though so maybe its par for the course

Hoopdriver

I believe there is, or at least was, somebody with a workshop near London that makes them. I read a story about ut within the last year...

TheEnglishman

Hoopdriver wrote:

I believe there is, or at least was, somebody with a workshop near London that makes them. I read a story about ut within the last year...

There is - he rode a long way on one

http://www.pennyfarthingworldtour.com/Mk5.htm

I'm going to give him a ring tomorrow. And yes - I saw the smaller wheel ones too - interesting

paultheparaglider

Monkeypump wrote:

I'm not an expert (never ridden one), but I've seen 'modern' penny farthings for sale with much smaller front wheels than the original/stereotypical model.

I blame decimalisation. Before then, a penny was real proper money. That piddling little joke of a coin that replaced it was a travesty. ;-)