Originally Posted by
Milton Keynes
Why did they make those penny farthings so dang tall? I know it's a bit more efficient to have a larger wheel but in the interest of convenience & safety I think I'd rather ride one which isn't so dang tall.
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They didn't have gears (i.e. not even a single chainring and cog) so the virtual "gear ratio" was determined by the size of the wheel. Smaller wheel would give you a lower ratio, and a lower overall maximum speed. It really makes ya appreciate how much of a leap there was in the short space between the invention of the Farthing and the safety bicycle.