Before they haul me off to the nursing home, I'd like to buy and learn to ride a high-wheeler, aka ordinary or penny-farthing. I've collected a fair amount of information on who makes and sells them, but I'm looking for some buying- and maintenance tips from someone with first-hand knowledge of these fixies. I'm aware of the dangers riding them . . .:D

They're pretty easy to ride - I think my fixie experience helped a tad, since I'm used to not coasting. And it was fun for a short bit. That being said, I doubt I'd spend the considerable money to purchase one, because it's little more than a novelty. The ride quality is terrible and it's difficult to turn and brake. There's a reason the modern day bicycle replaced them.

Check around your LBSs to see if any have one that they'd let you play around with, so you can try before you buy.

Before they haul me off to the nursing home, I'd like to buy and learn to ride a high-wheeler, aka ordinary or penny-farthing. I've collected a fair amount of information on who makes and sells them, but I'm looking for some buying- and maintenance tips from someone with first-hand knowledge of these fixies. I'm aware of the dangers riding them . . .:D
well, looking at the picture Girchy posted, I'd recommend a serious helmet!...this guy looks like he already has a broken leg!

Girchy not only posted a great picture, but is also prescient. A few hours ago, I went to my LBS and asked the owner if he knew someone in the area who rides a high-wheeler. "Sure," he said. "Let me write down his name and phone number for you." Amazing, and thanks, Girchy.

As I said in one of my posts some time ago, I ride my fixed gear with platform pedals during the winter, and let the bike roll on downhills by taking my feet off the pedals, then grabbing them again while they're spinning at a reasonable cadence. On a highwheeler, you apparently dangle your legs over the handlebars if you want to go fast downhill. The video called "Jack's Footer" at the link shows you how this doesn't always work as advertised. After the fadeout at the end of the incident, there's a short slow motion version. Ten points for figuring out what happened—it took me a while :D

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

Re Girchy's picture: I'm guessing it was taken during a flying dismount (they all are on a high-wheeler), with one foot of the rider on the mounting peg and the other just about to hit the ground.

well, looking at the picture Girchy posted, I'd recommend a serious helmet!...this guy looks like he already has a broken leg!
LOL! That's me, and I definitely did not have a broken leg.

wim's right, that was taken during the dismount. Reach behind and feel for the peg with your left foot, then swing the right around and onto the ground. It's the hardest thing to learn riding one, but still not too bad. A couple of other people rode it and just kind of leapt off - it looked much scarier. One guy about toppled over.

You also need to know when to abort the landing, if you slow too much. Gotta keep momentum going.

Another pic...fun stuff!

LOL! That's me, and I definitely did not have a broken leg.

wim's right, that was taken during the dismount. Reach behind and feel for the peg with your left foot, then swing the right around and onto the ground. It's the hardest thing to learn riding one, but still not too bad. A couple of other people rode it and just kind of leapt off - it looked much scarier. One guy about toppled over.

You also need to know when to abort the landing, if you slow too much. Gotta keep momentum going.

Another pic...fun stuff!


sorry didn't mean to imply......LOL......didn't know it was you....Looking at the high wheel it has to be at least as stable as a kids trike...with the straight thru rear axle....lol...seen many a kid tip over on a turn with them....

Ten points for figuring out what happened—it took me a while :D



Tire came off?

Exactly. There's a sudden metallic sound before the crash, but it took me a while to realize that it was the sound of a bare metal rim rolling on pavement. In the slow-motion clip, you can see the tire, or a large piece of it, fly away from the bike. I don't know if these tires are solid rubber or hollow-cored. I also don't know how they're mounted and held on the rim. Got to do some more reading. :)

Exactly. There's a sudden metallic sound before the crash, but it took me a while to realize that it was the sound of a bare metal rim rolling on pavement. In the slow-motion clip, you can see the tire, or a large piece of it, fly away from the bike. I don't know if these tires are solid rubber or hollow-cored. I also don't know how they're mounted and held on the rim. Got to do some more reading. :)
Crazy - looks frightening!

The one I rode had a solid tire. You could feel everything you rode over. I'm not sure how it was held on.

The video called "Jack's Footer" at the link shows you how this doesn't always work as advertised. After the fadeout at the end of the incident, there's a short slow motion version.

Guy's lucky he didn't get flattened by an oncoming truck. Man, that bike never looked very stable to me, even before the tire came off!

If you watch the tire just in front of the contact patch, you can see it periodically separating from the rim long before it actually comes off. Scary.

Before they haul me off to the nursing home, I'd like to buy and learn to ride a high-wheeler, aka ordinary or penny-farthing.

ditto. After going through the progression of geared mtn & road bikes to singlespeed and fixed, it seems like the next logical(?) step! :rolleyes:

although I'd like it just for short, flat coffee/errand runs I think it would be a hoot.

Over The Edge bikes in Fruita, CO has one as their shop 'getter. Cool. Haven't had the b*lls to try one yet though.

video= insane.

ditto. After going through the progression of geared mtn & road bikes to singlespeed and fixed, it seems like the next logical(?) step! :rolleyes:




not much left... highwheeler, unicycle, then what??? ...levitation?

not much left... highwheeler, unicycle, then what??? ...levitation?


OR....back to the trike grocery getter



Sorry Wim.....Happy birthday......hehehehehhe

not much left... highwheeler, unicycle, then what??? ...levitation?
Magic carpet....

http://content9.flixster.com/question/36/58/97/3658971_std.jpg

Magic carpet....




WOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOOOOO...............YEAH!!!!!!
I rode a magic carpet in the 60's...
long live the mid 60's

hehehehe...oops....sorry Wim.....

happy birthday anyhow....

WOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOOOOO...............YEAH!!!!!!
I rode a magic carpet in the 60's...
long live the mid 60's

hehehehe...oops....sorry Wim.....

happy birthday anyhow....

Thanks, no oops needed. Big 65. Happy birthday to you too! Did you know we share our birthday with that Euro music dude that Chuck Berry told to roll over?

The fool I am, I once more rode my age in miles today. It occured to me that the age curve will intersect with the ability/desire curve pretty soon and I'll not be able/willing to do the age=miles birthday ride. The fix is to ride 100 miles minus my age, brilliant! :D

If you watch the tire just in front of the contact patch, you can see it periodically separating from the rim long before it actually comes off. Scary

Good point, I missed that. Perhaps from the wobble?

Thanks, no oops needed. Big 65. Happy birthday to you too! Did you know we share our birthday with that Euro music dude that Chuck Berry told to roll over?

The fool I am, I once more rode my age in miles today. It occured to me that the age curve will intersect with the ability/desire curve pretty soon and I'll not be able/willing to do the age=miles birthday ride. The fix is to ride 100 miles minus my age, brilliant! :D






I wanted to ride so badly, but everyone said NO....not with those tires (see post on http://forums.roadbikereview.com/showthread.php?p=1325621#poststop) , I am so jealous....I rode intervals on the stand...2 min as hard as I could, 2 minutes cool down.

i was looking up 27 inch studded tires...not available, 700's studded tires....ain't gonna happen, I can build a ss mountain bike with studded tires for almost the same price.

The "FIX" sounds like a good idea for you, you live somewhere you can ride in December. Last year I could have but not this year (and actually I did, 45 degrees, dry roads)....right now, all I want to do is ride....