I found something I wouldn't want to do kilted

[Nick]

And that's riding a penny farthing bicycle.

I've always been rather interested in these early bikes, and a few days ago on a whim I did a google search. It turns out there's a fair few people who ride originals or replicas.

In order to get up on one, you must put your foot on a post above the small rear wheel, push off until you have enough speed for balance, then lift yourself into the saddle. Besides the fact that this motion makes it impossible to get the kilt underneath you, wearing anything loose or hanging creates a danger of something getting stuck on the fork. Taking a header is not something you want to do from eight feet in the air.

I wouldn't mind riding one of them. And I do need a new bike. My front gear shift is busted, the rear won't shift to 5, my front brake is dead and the rear is going. But it was still enough to get me around town so I didn't get a new one. With a penny farthing, no gears to worry about. No brakes on some models, either It would probably be difficult for an about town bike, since you can't put your foot down, but there are apparently people who do it.

I found this while looking them up:

http://www.pennyfarthingworldtour.com/

I have to say I'm impressed. He's made it quite a long way so far. He builds custom highwheelers, too, though obviously not at the moment.

[James MacMillan]

- - - -

Oh so right!!!

[Abax]

And that's riding a penny farthing bicycle.

When the penny farthing was common, the design of your current bike was introduced as the "safety bicycle." Hmmm . . .

Still, it's a pretty cool bit of machinery.

Abax

[string]

I can think of several things one wouldn't want to do kilted. Caving for example, hard on the knees and the person behind you gets such a lovely view.

[Graham]

A local town near us has a penny farthing race each year, it's a big event. Two pipe bands will also be there next month. I shall be there kilted, but not riding - in fact I wouldn't fancy riding anything with two wheels in a kilt.

[SFCRick]

I have seen one of these bikes years ago, it was cool

[Rex_Tremende]

The cyclist's photojournal is extensive, and I doubt I'll ever have time to look through them all, but the photos from the Tibetan Litang Horse Festival and burial practices are like something out of National Geographic. Amazing!

Regards,
Rex.

[Nick]

I've gone through most of them over the last several days. There are some truly amazing pictures there, and some very sad ones. He rode it over the bridge on the river Kwai.

Graham, Joff said on his website he'd be going to that race as part of his journey Something about 7,000 kilometers of training

[threebanger]

It would probably be difficult for an about town bike, since you can't put your foot down, but there are apparently people who do it.

I know a guy who rides a tallbike around Minneapolis. He's part of a club. He says that street signs are your friends when you have to stop at an intersection.