- News
- Reviews
- Bikes
- Accessories
- Accessories - misc
- Computer mounts
- Bags
- Bar ends
- Bike bags & cases
- Bottle cages
- Bottles
- Cameras
- Car racks
- Child seats
- Computers
- Glasses
- GPS units
- Helmets
- Lights - front
- Lights - rear
- Lights - sets
- Locks
- Mirrors
- Mudguards
- Racks
- Pumps & CO2 inflators
- Puncture kits
- Reflectives
- Smart watches
- Stands and racks
- Trailers
- Clothing
- Components
- Bar tape & grips
- Bottom brackets
- Brake & gear cables
- Brake & STI levers
- Brake pads & spares
- Brakes
- Cassettes & freewheels
- Chains
- Chainsets & chainrings
- Derailleurs - front
- Derailleurs - rear
- Forks
- Gear levers & shifters
- Groupsets
- Handlebars & extensions
- Headsets
- Hubs
- Inner tubes
- Pedals
- Quick releases & skewers
- Saddles
- Seatposts
- Stems
- Wheels
- Tyres
- Health, fitness and nutrition
- Tools and workshop
- Miscellaneous
- Tubeless valves
- Buyers Guides
- Features
- Forum
- Recommends
- Podcast
news
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
- JLasTSR 35 min 6 sec ago
Thermopylae is generally thought of as a Persian victory as they killed every Greek and those Greeks that were sent away when they found out Xerxes...
- markmulder 1 hour 37 min ago
The form over function customer base is growing in cycling, and company is apparently exploiting that to the fullest.
- David9694 1 hour 44 min ago
Hours of gridlock on A2 in Canterbury after men assaulted...
- Bungle_52 1 hour 47 min ago
Looks like you may get your wish. https://www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk/news/motoring/should-older-drivers...
- David9694 2 hours 1 min ago
Man charged after lorry crashes onto railway line...
- Quiddle 2 hours 34 min ago
The first part of this article scrapes the bottom of the barrel. Councillor Hunt makes a reasonable case with no evidence of any 'fuming'. Why go...
- lesterama 10 hours 57 min ago
They need to re-release a yellow turbo. That is their most iconic saddle of all time, as ridden by Fignon, Lemond, Hinault et al. on their...
- stonojnr 11 hours 4 min ago
it feels a conveniant donkey to put the tail on imo, and Im not saying some members didnt quit BC because of the Shell thing, but Im not entirely...
- chrisonabike 12 hours 4 min ago
Don't worry! They've got plenty of others they can use!...
- Rendel Harris 12 hours 21 min ago
Well what is that way? Are you suggesting that every bend on every descent can be barriered over a 180km mountain stage?
Add new comment
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!