A Guide for Enterprising, Beginner Riders of Penny Farthing Bikes

Stopped in for a bike seatpost clamp for your unicycle and taken by the fact that we sell odd bikes and historical curiosities like penny farthing bikes?

Here because you’re thinking about getting one and learning how to ride?

You’re not alone. There are clubs around the world dedicated to preserving these historically significant odd bikes, as well as to racing them.

But learning to ride one is very different from learning how to ride a “regular” bike, or even a unicycle.

To be frank, it’s a totally different skill. There’s some crossover, but learning how to ride a penny farthing bike, and being safe on one, is something unique in and of itself.

With that said, we consulted some of our penny farthing bike experts and asked for tips for beginners. This is what we came up with.

Pointer Number One: It’s Dangerous

This is not, patently speaking, a tip. It’s just a fact. Anyone could have told you as much. The fact that learning to ride a penny farthing bike is dangerous should not discourage you, however. The reason we publish this statement is so that you know better.

First and most importantly, more important than anything else in this article, is that you understand the importance of safety gear while riding.

Truth be told, wearing appropriate safety gear when riding a penny farthing bike is more important, far more important, than it is when riding a bicycle or a unicycle. Granted, those two machines can be quite dangerous too, but there are things about pennies that make them uniquely dangerous.

One is that they’re very fast. It’s quite easy to go much faster on a penny than even skilled riders (as a general rule) could go on a unicycle.

The other is the nature of the beast. Since penny farthing bikes lack a chain drive, they rely pretty much entirely on the circumference of the front wheel (which is driven directly by the rider through the cranks) to produce speed.

Because of the size of the front tire, riders must sit fairly high above the ground. That also means that taking a spill out of the saddle means you’ll be falling from a much greater height. You’re higher and moving faster on a penny farthing bike - do the math.

At a bare minimum, you must always wear a helmet while riding. This is a must. Other than that, the most common injury when falling from a penny farthing is a skinned or bruised elbow or forearm. There’s no harm in riding with knee, elbow and wrist pads here, just as you would if you were riding a unicycle.

Other than that, be safe and take it slow. There’s no need to rush while you’re just learning.

Pointer Number Two: Size Appropriately

Just like unicycle riding, the way to determine what size penny farthing is best for you will require you to know your inseam measurement. There are pennies that are going to be uncomfortably small for you, and others will be too large.

For more information, please see our guide on sizing a penny farthing. Everything you need to know about how to size one is in that guide.

But there’s one more tip we have to leave you with, that we think is very important, especially for those that are just learning. This might not be apparent to you yet and you can learn from our experience.

If you live in a hilly area, buy a slightly smaller penny farthing. The reason for this is that you won’t have the advantage of being able to switch gears, like you would with a chain-driven bike. Climbing hills and controlling descents with a larger tire is going to tire you out much faster (excuse the pun).

A smaller size might also be better if you’re planning on commuting routinely with one, as it is less tiring riding a smaller penny - although you won’t be able to reach the same top speeds as you would with a larger one.

Which is our second suggestion. If you are planning on racing, and there are organizations dedicated to racing penny farthing bikes, go a size up.

Just make sure it isn’t too big for you. At any rate, going a size larger is better for racers because top speed is a product of the front wheel’s circumference. The larger the front wheel, the faster it will be.

Pointer Number Three: Allow Time for Braking

Lastly, it’s important to recognize that penny farthing bikes handle differently from regular bikes, and, for that matter, from other odd bikes. A clown circus bike with “regular” sized wheels is going to handle a bit more like a “real” bike than a penny farthing is.

Specifically, be aware of the fact that you’ll be sitting on top of the front wheel, and that this has a big impact on how the bike will handle because the center of mass will be high and far forward. If you try to stop a penny farthing abruptly, you’ll experience a very unpleasant (and very dangerous) occurrence known as “taking a header.”

Bluntly, “taking a header” means flying over the front of the handlebars, and if we might take this opportunity to be even more blunt, it is disturbingly easy to do.

There are a few things you must do in order to minimize the risk of taking a header on a penny farthing bike. One is to read the road. In general, avoid bumpy or rough roads with lots of impediments. If you run up against a log or a high curb, you’re likely to go over the front.

Another is to allow adequate time for braking. You simply cannot stop a penny farthing abruptly or you will take a header. Learning how to coast to a stop is a skill you simply have to learn.

Lastly, you need to learn how to brake. Because of the nature of a penny, the brakes usually communicate with the rear tire. It’s best to put your weight over the rear wheel if you can while braking, and don’t be aggressive. If you “slam” on the brakes, the rear tire is just going to skid, and wear out more quickly.

On top of that, you might take the dreaded header. So allow time to stop and learn how to brake under control.

For Bike Seatpost Clamps, Safety Gear and Other Odd Bike Parts

Hopefully you found this short guide helpful, but if you still have questions, we are here to help. Get in touch with us if you have any questions before buying.

And, if you’re here for a penny farthing bike, odd bike parts like a bike seatpost clamp, or are looking for safety gear, we have you covered. Shop our website and once again if you need help get in touch with us directly.