Alt Bike Culture - seen on Ragbrai XXXIII

http://wydra.home.sprynet.com/highwheel.jpg

http://wydra.home.sprynet.com/unicycle.jpg

I respect these guys.

Damn, thats a long way to go on a pennyfarthing!

I met a guy a few years ago who rode across the entire US on his penny farthing. He had a tattoo on his leg commemorating his achievement. Hardcore!

They are really hard to ride, harder than my tall bikes! Of course, the one I've had the most opportunities to ride is too big for me, so my feet actually leave the pedal a bit during the bottom of the stroke, and it has no brake, so resisting is very hard to do. However, I've only crashed it once, so I figure I'm doing pretty well. ;)

peace,
sam

Damn, thats a long way to go on a pennyfarthing!...



It is even further on a unicycle. Here's another pix of these guys...

Did any of you see the pic of Gus posted at RAGBRAI.org? Here's the link:

http://desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/gallery?Site=D2&Date=20050722&Category=LIFE04&ArtNo=722003&Ref=PH&Params=Itemnr=20

View the picture at your own risk.....

I was in Vienna looking desperately for mutant bikes or jousting or something and all i could find was a page about a group of dudes who build their own penny farthings - hochraeder (high bikes).
http://www.wuk.at/hochrad/

Did any of you see the pic of Gus posted at RAGBRAI.org? Here's the link:

http://desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/gallery?Site=D2&Date=20050722&Category=LIFE04&ArtNo=722003&Ref=PH&Params=Itemnr=20

View the picture at your own risk.....

Nice catch TT. My riding partners decided to stop at the library and check their emails. I didn't have my reading glasses, so I couldn't see the screen even if I did want to look at the 'puter. Well as I waited for them to finish I discovered the most wonderful things anyone can imagine during RAGBRAI...AC (or in this case heat), and a RECLINER!!! I got caught sleeping!! It was truly wonderful.

Another member of our team (Afterburners) was in the paper the day before...

http://desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/gallery?Site=D2&Date=20050722&Category=LIFE04&ArtNo=722002&Ref=PH&Params=Itemnr=23

We identified him because of his Jersey, shoes and I was waiting for him to finish his impromptu shower so we could hit the next town for another "cool one"!

TT you missed out on our traditional smoothy this year... Strawberry smoothy with a spot (actually a bucket) of Capt Morgan...Lovely!

These little sleds were fast!! They stated there were only around 10 of them in the states. They cost around 6-7K! The riders told us that they averaged 19mph and that average included the slow pace through towns...wow!! I know they were fast, they passed us a couple of times in headwind conditions, looked like we were going backwards.

I know TT, I probably was going backwards!! :o

You know the scene in the Wizard of OZ where the old school marm is riding her bike inside the tornado?! I swear, I might have saw something like that on Sunday night in Sheldon!!

I know those guys on the unicycles. One of those guys is Kai, a regular customer in the shop I work at. The ISUUC (Iowa State University Unicycling Club) is very active with many members and some pretty serious riders. This is the second or third time they have had people on Ragbrai.

TT you missed out on our traditional smoothy this year... Strawberry smoothy with a spot (actually a bucket) of Capt Morgan...Lovely!

I must say you look like you are about ready to hurl. By the way, did anyone tell you that your tent is supposed to be set up on the ground? (or is that a sleeping bag behind you?)

These little sleds were fast!! They stated there were only around 10 of them in the states. They cost around 6-7K! The riders told us that they averaged 19mph and that average included the slow pace through towns...wow!! I know they were fast, they passed us a couple of times in headwind conditions, looked like we were going backwards.

I know TT, I probably was going backwards!! :o

I have seen those recumbents before. A guy was selling them at a ride I did this past May. He said they are very, very fast.

And yes, I have always thought you were riding backwards, Gus. :p

...By the way, did anyone tell you that your tent is supposed to be set up on the ground? (or is that a sleeping bag behind you?)

This was the smoothie vendor's accommodations along side the road. I realize these things can be confusing. :D

OMFg i want a penny farthing bike those things look awesome.

I was in Vienna looking desperately for mutant bikes or jousting or something and all i could find was a page about a group of dudes who build their own penny farthings - hochraeder (high bikes).
http://www.wuk.at/hochrad/

Thanks for the link, what a great site! Lots of good photos, some pages only available auf Deutsch though. The group runs Highwheeler building seminars.
My favorite pic is
http://www.wuk.at/hochrad/artistik/jonglieren.jpg
Are those some coordinated mofos or what?!

Damn, thats a long way to go on a pennyfarthing!



I was there... and I think he had a one day ride from Algona to Northwood- about 83 miles... still rather far- but not the whole enchillada.

This was the smoothie vendor's accommodations along side the road. I realize these things can be confusing. :D

LOL, well, you know, I have been on just a few RAGBRAIs (6). That has to account for a bit of brain malfunction :D

To actually contribute something halfway related to this thread, those guys are the most ambitious I have "seen" on RAGBRAI (I didn't ride this year). There always seems to be at least one person riding a pennyfarthing every year. One year, a guy rode his in full turn of the century garb, the entire route. It was fun to follow him into town as he was a very popular sight.