Comments on: Circumnavigation on a Penny Farthing

By: Sofar

Sofar — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 10:22:40 +0000

I've got a regular bicycle with no suspension and it's not that bad, most the bicycles I see have no suspension to speak of.

By: avraamov

avraamov — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 00:23:40 +0000

why not try for yourself?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/PENNY-FARTHING-BIKE_W0QQitemZ160296464894QQcmdZV iewItem?hash=item160296464894&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1301 |66%3A2|65%3A12|39%3A1|240%3A1318

By: DuckFat

DuckFat — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 23:52:43 +0000

He kept an online journal on this popular bicycle touring site that has hundreds of trip logs:

http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/joff1

By: seekshelter

seekshelter — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 22:54:50 +0000

i had never thought of finding out what those were called. .. i usually just referred to them as 'one of those crazy old timey bikes with the big wheel'

By: Sid Morrison

Sid Morrison — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 21:20:34 +0000

I wonder if his prior injury-aborted runs stemmed from tosses over the handlebars.

Very cool. Very old school British adventurer too. Kudos.

By: renderanything

renderanything — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 20:30:17 +0000

They don't have any suspension, but the diameter of the wheel itself lend to its shock absorbing abilities, especially with those long wire spokes.
It looks like he also adapted modern cantilevered brakes in place of the old leather spoonbrake against the tire method.

By: Alli

Alli — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 19:40:09 +0000

Funny, saw a guy riding one of these Halloween eve in Croton on Hudson. Except he wasn't in costume (he was wearing shorts and a long sleeve shirt); looked as if this was his usual form of transportation.

By: stormie24

stormie24 — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 19:38:28 +0000

at first I read that he rode a penny around the world and my interest was piqued but a penny farthing is just as impressive.

By: Ali S.

Ali S. — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 19:16:53 +0000

Ouch. Those things do not have any suspension capability so I can't imagine how it must feel.

By: Rocky Rook

Rocky Rook — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 19:10:02 +0000

I hope he took some Anti Monkey Butt Powder with him.

By: avraamov

avraamov — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 18:59:36 +0000

near me is britain's oldest velodrome, where they race penny farthings once a year (including minature kids' ones.) they're surprisingly fast and efficient - there's no drive transmission to soak up energy. his one looks like it might even be carbon...i see the future and it's wearing a top hat.

By: silentwatcher24

silentwatcher24 — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 18:31:16 +0000

His butt still must to be sore. I don't think he'll ever be able sit, much less ride a bike ever again.

By: MENLOHEAVYWEIGHT

MENLOHEAVYWEIGHT — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 17:50:51 +0000

Legs, how about but those bikes have no supension, you are looking at the most sterile man on the planet.

By: SenorMysterioso

SenorMysterioso — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 17:37:44 +0000

my legs hurt just reading this

By: Sannhp

Sannhp — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 17:34:52 +0000

Maybe he had All-terrain penny farthing tires.

By: renderanything

renderanything — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 17:11:18 +0000

I wonder how many giant solid rubber tires he wore out during his journey. Incredible.

By: noahstrickland

noahstrickland — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 16:44:35 +0000

He then took in India and Nepal, where he crossed the Himalayas at 17,000ft (5,200m) and made it to Everest base camp.

wonder how that thing handled in the snow......