The Penny Farthing

[Chillum]

How did the ridder on the Penny Farthing get onto the bike?

[Whickerman]

Carefully...

Actually, it needed a second person to help

[sddsddean]

No you don't need a second person. There is a little step just above the rear wheel. Basically you push the bike along and jump up via the step to the saddle. I have tried looking for a photo and the best I can do is this site http://www.wuk.at/hochrad/wer_eng.php If you scroll down to the 5th picture you can see Walter mounting (no rude comments please!) his bike.

[Chillum]

Either I'm asking questions in my sleep, or a certain, clever little boy has worked out how to come on here on his own.....JFW!!

[jno]

ah, son of Chillum strikes again. He asks more sensible questions than a lot of people. How was the birthday?

[Octavius]

The penny farthing was was popular between 1873 and 1885. It was designed for speed and could reach (staggering) speeds of 20mph. The problem was getting on and off. You could leap onto the bike as it moved or use a mounting block, find a handy wall to use as a prop or just fall off. The Qu-Ax penny-farthing had a little step on the back of the frame to help mounting. It was not a very safe bicycle but it triggered the invention of safer bicycles. From 1879 onwards the first "safety" bicycles appeared. These incorporated a chain and by 1885 bicycles began to look and operate more like they do today!

This page (unfortunately in German) shows images of ways you can mount the bike. Getting off was as easy as falling off a bike.

http://www.wuk.at/hochrad/fahrtechnik/aufstieg.php

[brionon]

He bought it before inflation.

[Chillum]

his birthday was great thanks, jno, but I'm sure he can tell you himself.

[copippin]

Probably with difficulty.My great grandfather ---it is reputed---rode from up North ( cumberland as it was then down to London on a Penny-Farthing,a most uncomfortable experience I should think, I can only assume that there were people to help him on and of the contrivance whenever he found it necessary to take a break..Sooner him than me,but a splendid effort if it is true!

[Chillum]

The birthday was more then words can be said Jno.

[Kingaroo]

Just this afternoon, I was stopped at a red light, and what should I see crossing the other way but a young lady on a penny farthing! She had been stopped waiting for her light, so I was treated to a mounting demonstration. As described earlier, she put her hands on the handlebars and one foot on a little step above the back wheel. She scootered a bit with the other foot to get up speed, then alley-ooped up onto the seat. I was very impressed with her finesse, and couldn't wait to get back to AB to tell you all about it.