55y.o. Richard Thoday breaks LEJoG record - on penny farthing!
11-18-19, 08:05 AM
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55y.o. Richard Thoday breaks LEJoG record - on penny farthing!
Cyclists have raced from Lands End at the tip of Cornwall to John o'Groats at the tip of Scotland since 1885. This past summer 55 y.o. Richard Thoday broke C.P. Mills' 133-year-old record for riding the distance on a penny farthing. Tough climbs, bad weather, traffic...end to end smile!
There's no date on the calendar for when you have to quit dreaming big.
There's no date on the calendar for when you have to quit dreaming big.
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11-18-19, 08:19 AM
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Very cool. 
I noticed the part where his GPS nav got him lost. Perhaps a paper map and compass from the 19th century would have served him better?
I noticed the part where his GPS nav got him lost. Perhaps a paper map and compass from the 19th century would have served him better?
11-21-19, 07:26 PM
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I thought of this thread when I came across the "safety" penny farthing in the link below. Comes with a 19th century tech front lamp.
https://houston.craigslist.org/bik/d...023941636.html
https://houston.craigslist.org/bik/d...023941636.html
11-21-19, 08:45 PM
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I thought of this thread when I came across the "safety" penny farthing in the link below. Comes with a 19th century tech front lamp.
https://houston.craigslist.org/bik/d...023941636.html
https://houston.craigslist.org/bik/d...023941636.html
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11-21-19, 09:41 PM
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Yup -- it is anything but. However, you have to admit the post reports on an extraordinary feat.
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Capo: 1959 Modell Campagnolo, S/N 40324; 1960 Sieger (2), S/N 42624, 42597
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"Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing." --Theodore Roosevelt
Capo: 1959 Modell Campagnolo, S/N 40324; 1960 Sieger (2), S/N 42624, 42597
Carlton: 1962 Franco Suisse, S/N K7911
Peugeot: 1970 UO-8, S/N 0010468
Bianchi: 1982 Campione d'Italia, S/N 1.M9914
Schwinn: 1988 Project KOM-10, S/N F804069
11-22-19, 08:34 AM
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Riders of the 1870s and 1880s knew only too well the inherent dangers and challenges of the light, simple & efficient penny farthing. By the early 1880s there was a significant movement to invent a safer design, like the dwarf ordinary, the Kangaroo, the Eagle, the Star, the Facile, Crypto-Dynamic's geared ordinary, and the bike that got it right and was largely ignored, Lawson's Bicyclette.
In the transition period, roughly 1885~1893, the terminology was the ordinary (penny farthings), the safety (diamond frame bikes with equal-sized wheels, a chain driving the rear) and the ordinary safety (encompassing the designs in the first paragraph).
In the transition period, roughly 1885~1893, the terminology was the ordinary (penny farthings), the safety (diamond frame bikes with equal-sized wheels, a chain driving the rear) and the ordinary safety (encompassing the designs in the first paragraph).
11-22-19, 09:29 AM
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Theses days the ultra-marathon bike racers ride pretty much continuously, punctuated by the odd 20-minute nap. The great ultra-marathon bike racer Pete Penseyres once expressed wistfulness for the 'gentleman's days' of long-distance record setting, when one rode for 16~18 hours and then got a good night's sleep.
It appears from the video that Mr. Thoday is in the 'gentleman' class!
It appears from the video that Mr. Thoday is in the 'gentleman' class!
11-22-19, 12:11 PM
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Inspiring!
Nice use of helmet and bike blinkies, front and rear.
Nice use of helmet and bike blinkies, front and rear.
11-22-19, 12:21 PM
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Congrats Big Wheel record holder
Cyclists have raced from Lands End at the tip of Cornwall to John o'Groats at the tip of Scotland since 1885. This past summer 55 y.o. Richard Thoday broke C.P. Mills' 133-year-old record for riding the distance on a penny farthing. Tough climbs, bad weather, traffic...end to end smile!
https://youtu.be/qgQFufRS3bY
There's no date on the calendar for when you have to quit dreaming big.
https://youtu.be/qgQFufRS3bY
There's no date on the calendar for when you have to quit dreaming big.
Did he use a heavy iron penny farthing, like back in the day 130 years ago?
Nonetheless, it is quite an accomplishment and to be admired!
11-22-19, 12:43 PM
#12
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Inspiring feat!
Cyclists have raced from Lands End at the tip of Cornwall to John o'Groats at the tip of Scotland since 1885. This past summer 55 y.o. Richard Thoday broke C.P. Mills' 133-year-old record for riding the distance on a penny farthing. Tough climbs, bad weather, traffic...end to end smile!
https://youtu.be/qgQFufRS3bY
There's no date on the calendar for when you have to quit dreaming big.
https://youtu.be/qgQFufRS3bY
There's no date on the calendar for when you have to quit dreaming big.
11-22-19, 03:33 PM
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One can't ever make an exact comparison about such things. Thoday used the modern 'record' route with a bridge over the Firth of Forth - Mills had to take a ferry in 1886. OTOH, Mills used pacing riders to guide him while Thoday rode alone. I personally doubt Mills' top quality 1886 steel racer was in its day in any way measurably inferior to Thoday's modern, low cost Asian-built machine.
11-27-19, 07:14 AM
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That may be the most British thing I’ve ever seen lol. What a wonderful achievement and good to see that he raised money for a good cause.
I believe that this is the bike he used: https://www.unicycle.co.uk/52-udc-mk...ing-black.html
I believe that this is the bike he used: https://www.unicycle.co.uk/52-udc-mk...ing-black.html
11-27-19, 01:42 PM
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Have your own custom Penny Farthing.
NAHBS award - North American Handbuilt Bike Show
NAHBS award - North American Handbuilt Bike Show
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Vintage, modern, e-road. It is a big cycling universe.
Vintage, modern, e-road. It is a big cycling universe.
Last edited by Wildwood; 11-27-19 at 01:48 PM.
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11-27-19, 02:47 PM
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Something smoother for me please. Antique Replicas - Rideable Bicycle Replicas
11-27-19, 05:44 PM
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Serious modern reproduction come out of Bolwell's in Australia, Mesicek in the Czech Republic, RBR in California, Richards in England and Standard in Sweden. As mentioned UDC offers a relatively modest priced modern interpretation in their MK4.
11-27-19, 06:43 PM
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I know nothing of penny farthing design, tube selection, ... nothing. But looking at the RBR Superior, it looks beefy, like the Tallerico. Besides, who knows the weight of the owner of the custom. Maybe room for fatter tires for an off-road cross America expedition?!?
Antique Replicas: Superior - Rideable Bicycle Replicas
Antique Replicas: Superior - Rideable Bicycle Replicas
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11-27-19, 08:07 PM
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I'm sure they had fun making it and the "people" liked it, so they got an award. Kinda like winning an ugly dog contest, I suppose.
11-30-19, 02:31 PM
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The better 1880s original pennys and the best of the modern reproductions used tapering, ovalized tubular steel backbones with carefully engineered strength and flex. Hopefully, Tallerico was spoofing everybody because otherwise they merely illustrated their ignorance of bike design.
12-02-19, 07:29 PM
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