Northern California - Penny farthing spotted in Palo Alto

Parked outside the Whole Foods. As I was trying to get a picture, the owner came out and rode it away.

It's hard to see as I only had my phone camera (hence the crappy pics), but he had a little basket to the right of the rear wheel, and had decorated it with all sorts of lights.

He even was carrying a drink in one hand as he got on and rode away. :eek: Very impressive!

http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/normal_pennyfarthing1.jpg

http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/normal_pennyfarthing2.jpg

Too cool!

That must be quite a sight. Heh.

I saw one in Golden Gate Park 2 weeks ago. I wonder if Trek has something up their sleeve?

I saw that bike and rider on Stanford campus a month ago during the weekend. I recall he had Hokey Spokes on his front wheel (like there's room to put anything on that rear wheel), and something referencing a bike or touring company printed on the bike. Instead of a Penny Farthing, I told the kids he was riding a Boneshaker.

I think the mystery rider may be this guy:

http://www.bikeroute.com/MartinKrieg.php

http://www.bikeroute.com/HiWheelers/

http://www.bikeroute.com/HiWheelers/


Ouch. Watch the descending video *crash*

wow never seen one of those before.

I did a century in River Bank and saw this guy on the course. At least I think it was this guy.
Pretty weird to ride by something tat far up in the air.

Ouch. Watch the descending video *crash*That's a loooong way to fall.

Looks like the tire just split and fell off the rim. Not fun.

Yeah, I see this guy from time to time on my daily bike commute. He was written up in the Palo Alto weekly paper as he falls between the vehicle code cracks:

Here's the article. (http://www.paloaltoonline.com/news/show_story.php?id=6559)

And another... (http://www.paloaltodailynews.com/article/2007-12-6-12-06-07-pa-high-wheel)

How to Mount a High-Wheel (Penny Farthing) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W7VG1eErzT4)

Has anyone ever seen a woman riding a penny farthing?

Nicole Kidman in a black catsuit riding a penny farthing.

I wonder how that would affect the traffic in Palo Alto.

I saw that guy the other night in Mountain View. Must be a pretty interesting way to commute.

I wonder where you would get something like that. I'd sure like to try riding one.

There's a guy in my neighborhood (palo alto) who I see out on that thing a lot.. probably the same person

that is martin in Palo alto, all the time.


whenever i see him, i yell "original fixed gear"!!! LOLOLOL

he's so cool

What is really cool is seeing him commute on El Camino -- that takes skills.

that is martin in Palo alto, all the time.

Yeah, Martin's a class act.

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/215/502922159_5451f4cef6_m.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/bike/502922159/)

He also captains the Bus Cycle...

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1065/576387247_af9995da20.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/bike/576387247/)


I think there's somebody else in Mountain View with an Ordinary bicycle.

There was a guy on one today at Marin Century (not in in the race though), just before the last rest stop. He wore what looked like a british tropical helmet. Pretty funny.

I just saw two guys here in Alameda riding Penny-farthings together. Watching one of them get up on it was amusing/amazing. I am old enough and foreign enough to have spent pennies and farthings to by sweets, so I can tell you the bike is aptly named! I suspect the Boneshaker name is also appropriate.

I believe the term "boneshaker" refers to a different type of bicycle than "penny farthing" (also called an ordinary, or high-wheel). Both may shake one's bones considerably more than modern bikes, but a true boneshaker ("velocipede") would have done so especially, owing to its wrought-iron frame, wooden wheels and iron "tires".

See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boneshaker
Also http://www.metzbicyclemuseum.com/Bike16a.html


I had occasion to see several old bicycles (one I thought was a boneshaker but may have actually been a "dandy horse" which is the same idea, but without pedals) yesterday in Kelley Park (History Park) at the Antique Automobiles in the Park show. That was pretty cool.

The shop I used to work at had one of those. It was a trip to ride, and you must be very aware of hitting even small bumps- your CG is so far forward that it doesn't take much to put you flat on your face. Seven feet is a LONG way to fall face-first...

I can't imagine commuting on one!