How hard is it to ride a penny farthing?

So far, the other answers lack first hand knowledge. I'm about to rectify this. I ride penny farthings. I own two penny farthings. Hell, I race penny farthings. Getting started requires a certain amount of daring. read more

Cheap penny farthings are impossible to ride no-hands. But the most obvious difference is the fact that most of your weight is on the front wheel, and almost none on the rear. Thus, every bump goes straight up from the front wheel to the saddle, then the rear bumps up and just drifts back down. read more

The penny race wasn't be a tweedy parade. Most of the riders were in Lycra – those who wear trad gear are not racing for glory – and the riding was fast and furious. When high-wheel bicycles are seen at fetes or in the media, it's 10 to a penny (farthing) that the gents riding them will be prim, proper and of relatively advanced age. Top hat. read more

Today, enthusiasts ride restored penny-farthings, and a few manufacturers build new ones. Characteristics. The penny-farthing is a direct-drive bicycle, meaning the cranks and pedals are fixed directly to the hub. read more