PennyFarthing

The penny-farthing, also known as the high wheeler or ordinary bicycle, is a type of bicycle that features a very large front wheel and a much smaller rear wheel. The rider sits high above the ground, with cranks directly attached to the hub of the front wheel. The design emerged in the 1870s and reached its peak in the early 1880s.

Design and operation: The penny-farthing's defining characteristic is the direct-drive crank connected to the center of the large front wheel, with no chain drive. Front wheel diameters commonly ranged from about 45 to 60 inches (115–150 cm), while rear wheels were typically 12–20 inches (30–50 cm). The large wheel allowed a greater distance traveled per pedal revolution, enabling higher potential speeds, but it also made mounting, dismounting, and balance difficult. Braking was typically accomplished by front-wheel rim brakes or by lifting the rider’s weight to slow the bicycle; some models used auxiliary braking systems as well.

Origins and name: The design is associated with James Starley and other Coventry-based bicycle makers in the 1870s. The term penny-farthing derives from the resemblance of its large front wheel and small rear wheel to the British coins of the era—the penny and the farthing.

Decline and legacy: By the mid-to-late 1880s, safety concerns and the advent of the chain-driven safety bicycle, which used a smaller front wheel and a rear chain drive, led to the penny-farthing’s decline. It remains a notable milestone in the history of bicycling and is often studied for its distinctive riding experience and engineering approach.