exchangeandmart said:
My friend did a sponsored cycle around her village on a penny farthing, I'm still in awe of anyone who can actually master it. I can see it being quite dangerous if you lost control of it, surely people tend to ride them for special occasions, not as an everyday bike?
Anything is dangerous, if you lose control of it. An eggwhisk, for example...
I gather (again, I've never done it, but know plenty who have) that the hardest bit is getting on and off, and that's just a knack to master. Once you are going, they are very stable. The worst peril is something jamming the front wheel, or losing your pedals on a downhill and having no way of stopping - just the normal issues with fixed wheel.
I knew (know? is he still with us? Lionel?) an old chap who used to bring his to roadshows for us, and if it was within London would ride to the show, or occasionally, take it on the tube. Once you have the knack, it's just a case of thinking ahead more. Remember, for a while, that was all there was and people used them just as we use safeties today...
Roger just makes it look easy...