For those of you that have been giving serious thought to the prospect of learning how to ride a penny farthing bike in the near future, let one thing be said candidly: not all penny farthings, or “pennies” as riders call them, are created equal.
Some are, shall we say, more up to the task of ridership than others, so buy smart. One place where you can get a “real deal” penny farthing bike is Unicycle.com
Specifically, their UDC penny farthing line offers great quality and durability, and these penny farthings will stand up to many, many hours of riding. They’re also great to learn on because they are extremely durable and built to last.
All the same, there are some things you should know before buying. Here are four of them.
One Size Does NOT Fit All
The most important thing you need to understand about a penny farthing bike – and this goes for all pennies, not just Unicycle.com’s UDC pennies – is that they are not like normal bikes in the sense that you need to get a penny that fits you, not the other way around.
Since these things lack a chain drive and speed and handling are determined entirely by the diameter of the front wheel, if you get a penny farthing bike that is too big, you will not be able to ride it.
Unicycle.com has helpful sizing resources on their website, but here’s a good place to start:
- 30” inseam: you need a 48” penny farthing
- 32” inseam: you need a 50” penny farthing
- 34” inseam: you need a 52” penny farthing
- 36” inseam: you need a 54” penny farthing
It Has a Movable Rear Fork
Unicycle.com’s UDC penny farthing bikes are made with movable rear forks. This enables you to change the front fork rake which will change how the penny handles and rides, enabling you to change riding preferences. This is one of the rare instances of true adjustability in penny farthing bikes.
It Has a Mount-Assist Step
One of the hardest things about learning to ride a penny farthing bike is simply learning how to get on the thing. Fortunately, the UDC penny farthing bikes in question are made with an additional lower step on the rear of the frame which makes it much easier to get in the saddle. It’s also useful for coasting, too.
You Need to Be Cautious About Braking
Here’s one more thing that isn’t specific to these penny farthings, but to pennies in general. You need to be cautious about braking hard, or stopping the forward progress of the front wheel abruptly. Doing so could cause you to “take a header” flipping you over the front of the handlebars. Brake deliberately and slowly, not aggressively.
Where to Learn More About These Penny Farthing Bikes
Interested in learning more about these penny farthing bikes before you buy one? Visit Unicycle.com. Their customer service is great and all the details you need are there anyway
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