Cameron Highlands Tea Plantation, Malaysia

Monday, August 8, 2011

My World - Penny Farthing

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A high wheeler spotted in front of a hotel in Salzburg. It seems like the front wheel is roughly 4 times bigger than the rear. Fancy riding on it, anyone? It looks cool but dangerous to ride. I can't imagine how anyone could ever ride this contraption without falling off!

Although now commonly known as a Penny farthing, the bike was generally known as a high wheeler in the 1880s when it was made. After the introduction of the safety bicycle with two equal size wheels and a rear chain drive, it was known as the ordinary and later the penny farthing. It was named that because the two wheels resembled large and small British coins.

Each year there is the National Penny Farthing Bicycle Championship ride in Evandale, Tasmania. It is the largest Penny Farthing event in the world.

That's My World

27 comments:

  1. You wouldn't get me on it. I suspect there is a knack to riding it :-).

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  2. I cannot image riding this! Thanks for the background information on the name.

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  3. I saw somebody riding such a high wheeler in Stratford-upon-Avon, UK, I must have a photo somewhere.

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  4. I think it's very difficult to ride.

    We have children in the neighbourhood they ride sometimes with a One Wheel Bicycle.

    Greetings
    Angela

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  5. So did you take a ride on this bike? I've always wondered how the rider actually got on the thing with that big front wheel.

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  6. Wow! I have never such bicycles in real life before! Oh it's called Penny farthing? Didn't know that! : )

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  7. I didn't know the name of this bicycle, now I do. Thanks for sharing this information.

    http://ewok1993.wordpress.com

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  8. What an amazing bike!! I'm quite sure I could never ride it without falling off either!! Fun capture for the day! Have a wonderful week!


    Sylvia

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  9. I wonder if it is as hard to ride as it looks? It makes a wonderful lawn ornament. I'm saying hello form My World Tuesday:)

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  10. This is a neat bike. Funnily enough, there were two brothers who rode into town a week ago riding one of these for MS. I missed seeing them, though.

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  11. years ago I had seen these odd looking bicycles ridden in a Mother Goose Parade by Clowns. They made it look really easy to ride and I remember back then I wanted to try to ride one.

    And now these days? I wouldn't dare get on one.

    Interesting little history on these bikes though.

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  12. I wouldn't like to use it but as decoration in my garden it would be nice !

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  13. Brilliant photo of the Penny Farthing.

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  14. Hi George,

    I'd be too scared to ride one, I've a terrible fear of heights. like you, i'm totally clueless on how the rider get on that thing. but on second thought,maybe he has to climb on the bicycle with a ladder.

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  15. It is a cool looking bike, but I wouldn't want to ride it. It doe make a pretty decoration. Great photo.

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  16. It's cute and unique.
    The event also is interesting and my family and I want to see it.:)

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  17. Wow that's classic big small bicycle haha. Think not easy to handle this kind of bike.

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  18. A quite difficult feat to mount one of these contraptions. One either had help or had to seek the aid of a mounting block.

    Well spotted!

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  19. I don't know how you'd learn to ride that bike...The thought of it is painful!

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  20. What a lovely antique! I would love to try ride a penny farthing one day but am also worried I'd fall off! They look very tall - are they taller than people?

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  21. I never knew the name of them until now. They look dangerous and uncomfortable to ride. Strange invention.

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  22. Hi Emm,

    This looks like it would be fun riding around the neighborhood. I imagine you will attract a lot of attention! as far as i can tell, the front wheel could be 5 feet in height while the back wheel is around 1 foot tall.

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  23. I'm into bicycles these days. I wanna try it. :)

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  24. Wooo, so about shoulder height to me. Interesting.

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