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Mark Beaumont on a penny farthing (via Vimeo).jpgMark Beaumont sets sights on penny farthing hour record
Maybe that whole round the world inside 80 days thing was just a warm-up. Mark Beaumont’s next goal is to secure the prestigious penny farthing hour record.
The Scottish Sun reports that Frederick J Osmond’s record has stood since 1891. Beaumont will try and set a new mark at Herne Hill Velodrome in Surrey in June.
The Scot took delivery of a custom-made penny farthing on January 2 and appears to be taking his attempt at least semi-seriously.
He said: “I have been training hard around the parks of Edinburgh and you get some funny looks. The hour record is 23 and a half miles, which is pretty nuts on a penny farthing, but I have been quite enjoying not training ultra-endurance – this is just me and my mates wanting to do something eccentric and daft.”
Beaumont does have a bit of experience, having cycled the 100-mile Etape Royale route on a penny farthing in 2015. Speaking at the time, he said it was the first time since he was a kid that he’d had to walk up hills and that descending was “downright treacherous.”
Videos: Penny-farthing crashes compilation ... it's a long way down
Looking ahead to his hour record attempt, he said: “Everything I have ever done has felt like a natural stepping stone to the next expedition but the honest truth is that going round the world in 80 days doesn’t naturally lead to anything – that was my Everest. Last year was completely professional and I don’t want to take life quite so seriously this year.”
Alex has written for more cricket publications than the rest of the road.cc team combined. Despite the apparent evidence of this picture, he doesn't especially like cake.
Latest Comments
- Gbjbanjs 9 min 6 sec ago
As an Irish person, I am embarrassed for this guy and the judge. He is clearly a thug, so do not get where he takes pride in wearing the country...
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I don't think the fine toilet roll holder is made of an old chainset, looks more like the two biggest rings on a carrier from a cassette, my 9...
- Zazz53 46 min 45 sec ago
TBF there are plenty of mountain, gravel, Lime bikes and e-bikes using the Tamsin Trail. Have never seen a collision but have thought a number of...
- Rendel Harris 2 hours 20 min ago
Far be it from me to tell you your business, but if you want to promote your product sneakily on a website without paying for advertising then...
- JMcL_Ireland 4 hours 23 min ago
I absolutely stand by my criticism of Elite (note: I'm not criticising the volunteer marshals). They charge an arm and a leg for these events but...
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There's a lot of good stuff here, but shoe reviews are still lagging on average when comparing to for example bike or tire reviews. Specs relating...
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Loved the Bastion in the flesh but Lemond's bike has the soul. Nice event and met some friends and contacts but like the magazine, it does promote...
- Hirsute 7 hours 20 min ago
All in the article - road tax.
- chrisonabike 8 hours 34 min ago
Ah, but: in UK, if a motorist drives into you (or simply parks in a cycle lane, forcing you out into the path of another motorist) then the council...
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12 comments
I knew that money was raised to keep Herne Hill open, but it's a shame to see it's relocated from Herne Hill to Surrey....
Another loss of heritage in the sport
It probably was still in Surrey when penny farthings were popular!
Is the wheel size (and therefore gearing) limited by leg length or is it possible to fit some sort of gearing to a penny farthing? just thinking that a taller rider may naturally have an advantage (assuming they were able to turn the larger gear) when it comes to penny farthings.
I think that was the problem with penny farthings? The front wheel got bigger and bigger so that they could be ridden faster and faster, but they maxed out at the inside leg measurement of the tallest person who could ride one.
And at that point natural selection started to play its part as well I'd imagine!
you could use the penny farthing as a tent support (for the bike packing trip not the hour record)
Round the world on a Penny Farthing next year?!
https://calloftheroad.smugmug.com/
somebody should tell him about the safety bicycle. Or buy him a suit of armour.
Pffft! It'll never catch on!!
Why not Calshot?
I had a cycling holiday in the dolomites last summer, and encountered someone riding a penny farthing on the Passo Gardens. Absolutely nuts!