All About the Highwheel Penny Farthing! The Bicycle that Changed the World!

[@JimLangley1]

★ WATCH this short video next to see me riding this historic highwheel bike kzbin.info/www/bejne/gnLchZqmjZqNn8k

[@readysetdrone]

Great video. I really want to try riding one of these someday.

[@JimLangley1]

Thanks for watching and commenting! I hope you get a chance to ride one, they're a lot of fun!

[@worldtraveler930]

I would love to own one!!! 🤠👍

[@JimLangley1]

Thanks for watching and commenting. FYI: you can buy highwheel bikes from other bike collectors by joining an antique bicycle club like thewheelmen.org/redesign/ and they're available from companies that make reproductions such as www.hiwheel.com/ Thanks again.

[@JimLangley1]

Several youtubers asked a great question, which is how much does the Victor highwheel bike weigh? The answer is 58 pounds (26Kg). Another interesting fact about this historic bike is the famous person who first discovered and purchased it in the 1970's at a fleamarket in Moss Landing, California - Tom Cuthbertson, author of Anybody's Bike Book. Tom and his book helped fuel the 10-speed craze of the 70's which directly led to all the wonderful types of bikes and cycling we enjoy today.

[@craigdavidson4845]

I still call all race bikes 10-speeds! Its an iconography!

[@neballc]

Thank you sir ☺️ I can't wait to try & ride my barn find. JK

[@JimLangley1]

@@neballc I don't show very much information on the safest way (for you and the bike) to get on a highwheel. You can't get on them the way you probably get on a regular bike. If you try it that way the highwheel will usually fall over which can hurt you and the bike. Here's a video on highwheels showing how to get on. This link is to the spot in the video where he shows how to get on: kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z520ZHd5frChmKc

[@eegaugh]

Very interesting and informative - thank you. I liked the "social history" point about the height of the saddle; horses can be difficult to mount, too! In the UK, contemporary illustrations suggest that the pill box hat was more common than the wide-brimmed type. The makers of the Victor were clearly artist/craftsmen. I don't think you mentioned the adjustable crank length, a useful feature on an ordinary. The elegant saddle suspended fore and aft is reminiscent of that on the Dursley Pedersen.

[@JimLangley1]

I'm happy to hear you enjoyed the show! Yes, adjustable cranks were a key innovation, thanks for pointing that out. The styrofoam hat I'm wearing is what is shown in old photos of riders in the San Francisco Bay are where I'm from. That's why I'm wearing it. Other places wore different types of caps and hats for sure. The Victor was definitely a high quality machine. When I asked a machinist to help with some replacement parts he marveled at how the backbone tapers from end to end and told me that it would be impossible for him to make anything like that. I've ridden a Dursley Pedersen, an original and a reproduction. They are quite nice and the saddle on my Victor is nice too - much more comfortable than the seats on my other bikes actually.

[@latetotheparty3070]

Great summary at 13:00 at how amazing an invention it was and how important.

[@JimLangley1]

Thanks very much for watching and the kind words, Late to the party, I appreciate it!

[@bochain45]

This is so informative, thank you!

[@JimLangley1]

Thanks for watching, bochain45! I'm happy you enjoyed my video.

[@QuixoteX]

This is the best video I've seen that describes the actual hardware and construction of these bikes.

[@JimLangley1]

I'm happy you enjoyed the video, thank you a lot for watching and commenting 🙏❤

[@adamguthrie7991]

This is a super video. I learned quite a bit! Thanks kind sir

[@JimLangley1]

Really glad you liked the video, Adam. I love sharing this beautiful highwheeler and appreciate you watching and commenting.

[@adamguthrie7991]

No, thank you. I've seen these here and there through out my life. Yet nobody would take the time to explain things to the lay man like myself! So thanks sir have a good en😜

[@finncarlbomholtsrensen1188]

In Denmark, we have a yearly and popular Bike Run, named "Sjælland Rundt" for nearly 300km. At least years ago a man participated using a Penny Farthing, among all the modern bikes! Finn. Denmark

[@JimLangley1]

Thanks a lot for watching and telling me about this ride and someone doing it on a highwheel - that's very cool. Thanks Finn!

[@finncarlbomholtsrensen1188]

@@JimLangley1 Of course it mostly isn't a traditional Race but for people liking a challenge riding long distance for long time, in groups. Finn. Denmark

[@Rearmostbean]

Thank you for such an informative post, i've been looking for a post like this for years to explain Penny Farthing design. What is interesting is that such great craftsmanship was done to get around not using a chain. Looks terrific and terrifying at the same time.

[@JimLangley1]

You're welcome, Mitch and thanks for the kind words. To explain a little more, highwheel bicycles were actually king of the road before bicycle chains became available - that was a little later. Bikes before the birth of the highwheel were direct drive so they didn't use chains either. And, the reason for the great craftsmanship was because these were the first bicycles that allowed riding as far as you wanted to ride and anywhere, too. Their popularity created a demand for the highest quality bicycles and they were quite expensive as a result, too. If you ever get to see a few in a museum side by side you'll enjoy the engineering and machining. Thanks! Jim

[@LocksRocks]

this is super cool! I can't imagine spoking up a wheel that big hahah looks wild!

[@JimLangley1]

Thanks, Locks, glad you enjoyed the video. The front wheel was very tricky to rebuild. I had to because the hub is also the drive mechanism for the bike and the hub needed to come out to be re-machined. And yeah, the wheel is so big that I made a giant truing stand out of wood for it!

[@LocksRocks]

@@JimLangley1 Dang. Tha'ts pretty cool! Must've been one huge truing stand hahah. Awesome.

[@BN-xj8wr]

BEAUTIFUL BIKE AND AS ALWAYS GREAT INFORMATION ATTACHED! YOURE THE MAN JIM!

[@JimLangley1]

Thanks a lot BN, glad you enjoyed the video and appreciate the great comment 🙏

[@IS-xk3iq]

Appreciate your thorough description.

[@JimLangley1]

Thanks a lot for watching, I S. I'm happy you enjoyed the video!

[@adiladil78]

Great video, Jim. Thanks for the upload.

[@JimLangley1]

You're very welcome, adiladil78! Thanks for watching and commenting, glad you enjoyed the video!

[@rachelknowlton8012]

This video is amazing! Everyone needs to watch it!

[@JimLangley1]

Thanks for watching and great comment, Rachel! I appreciate it. Please feel free to share my video. Here's another video I think you'll enjoy about highwheels: kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z520ZHd5frChmKc

[@dmalzahn]

Perfectly done video Jim. So informative. Didn't know about the spokes, or headers, or how to mount correctly. Thanks for all the historical information, like why sitting high was viewed as normal, or that you could travel far distances on a high wheeler, or the different names for the bike and headers in different countries.

[@JimLangley1]

Thanks very much for watching and commenting, Don. I'm really pleased you enjoyed the video. These old bikes are truly special and if you ever get a chance to ride one you should take it because it's a unique and wonderful experience. Thanks again.

[@IS-xk3iq]

Didn't you appear with Hugh Howser episode at the Pasendena Museum?

[@JimLangley1]

That would have been wonderful, but it wasn't me, unfortunately. Here's the episode of the TV show you're referencing in case you'd like to see it again: kzbin.info/www/bejne/aKGZZJWid86arrs

[@Yonok2009]

That’s absolutely AWESOME ❤️ thanks for sharing Jim 👍

[@JimLangley1]

I'm happy you enjoyed it, Mike! Thanks for watching and the great comment!

[@benc8386]

Great video! That "v-spoke" design is a great idea, I wonder why we don't still do that.

[@JimLangley1]

Thanks, Ben! It is a cool design. I think bike companies probably found it easier to deal with straight, short spokes - easier to carry with you for repairs on rides, too. But it is ingenious how for each hole in the hub there's not just one but two spokes. Thanks for the comment! Jim

[@ScrubsIsee]

I guess they’re simple cheaper, easier to manufacture, to store, to ship and replace?

[@eedwart]

Many thanks for the very extensive information regarding HighWheel. In fact, I’ve been riding a HighWheel for about 10 years. I have had a great experience after showing it in different places. Twice I have flown over the handlebar to the road. It has been painful but the bones have not broken. Now I haven’t ridden much with this widow maker anymore. Thank you for your good channel.

[@JimLangley1]

You're very welcome, eedwart! Thank you for watching and the great comment! I'm happy to hear none of your over-the-bars trips has caused serious injury! Thanks again and stay safe when you ride your highwheel again!

[@manresarods4947]

Hello Jim, I appreciate your dedication to educating us about the world of bicycling. I'll remember to wear a pith hat, nickers, button down shirt and necktie if I ever try to ride a high wheel!

[@JimLangley1]

Hey, Greg, great to see you here! Thanks for watching and the nice words. Yes, absolutely, you must dress the part in order to ride the highwheel with proper decorum ;-)

[@percivalhowell7516]

And a tweed sport coat.

[@kathyoneill4011]

Really interesting and clearly explained

[@JimLangley1]

Glad you enjoyed it Kathy! Appreciate you watching and the nice comment, thank you!

[@boowiebear]

Finally I understand why this design came about. The mental paradigm was horses so ride height was not alien like it is to us. Wonderful video. I also thought of the 1000's that didn't die but were severely injured. Crazy decade that was.

[@JimLangley1]

Appreciate you watching and commenting, Tyler. It was a type of crazy - like a fad - suddenly this incredible spindly new contraption appeared on the roads allowing anyone brave enough to climb on top and hang on to sail along seemingly effortlessly at breakneck speeds. Everyone fit enough to give it a go wanted to and the bikes took off in popularity. Even today when you ride one they draw a crowd. Back then, it must have been like seeing a flying saucer to people when they saw their first one ;-)

[@Jawnderlust]

There’s one or two gentlemen in Philadelphia that ride their Penny’s weekly around Fairmount park. Always a pleasure to see.

[@JimLangley1]

Thanks for watching and telling me you've got some highwheelers in your neighborhood. I looked Fairmount Park up on google and it looks like a beautiful place for riding. I can see how they'd enjoy it. Thanks for sharing!

[@manowode6286]

Wow..so intresting. Good work. And thanks!

[@JimLangley1]

You're welcome, Manwode. Glad you enjoyed my video! Thanks for the comment.

[@sgit1]

Nicely done! Thank you.

[@JimLangley1]

Thanks a lot for watching and commenting, Scott, I'm happy you enjoyed the video!

[@Neeko_Z]

Súper vid!🙌🏼🙌🏼

[@JimLangley1]

Thanks a lot Neeko, glad you enjoyed it! Appreciate you watching and commenting!!

[@Sman-eg1zs]

Really interesting, thank you.

[@JimLangley1]

You're welcome, S 1000man. Thank you for watching and commenting!

[@Flederratte]

Great video! Good information and great stories! Very nice KZbinr! Subscribed!

[@JimLangley1]

Thanks a lot for watching and the nice comment, Flederratte - and many thanks for subscribing, too!

[@Flederratte]

@@JimLangley1 thanks for the reply :) Have a nice weekend!

[@TanvirAhmed-xr8il]

great video

[@JimLangley1]

Thanks for the kind words, Tanvir, appreciate you watching and commenting.

[@stasysba1]

Thanks for very informative video!

[@JimLangley1]

You're most welcome, Stasys.. thanks for watching and the nice comment.

[@VITAKENNY]

Beautiful antique Bike. I guess after riding this bike for a while. You will automatically know how to ride unicycle.

[@JimLangley1]

Thanks, Gui Yan! You make a great point about the unicycle. When you get going fast on a highwheel on a bumpy roads, the small rear wheel can be bouncing off the ground so that you are actually only riding on the front wheel. However, I have tried to learn how to ride unicycles and I have never been able to do it, so that little wheel in back on the highwheel really helps. But, I bet if you already can ride a unicycle, it would be super easy for you to ride a highwheel ;-)

[@boneshakermontreal9434]

Hey Jim, thanks for all the great informations there i relished in your presentation. I own 3 of them and ride them around in my city. People say its a circus bike, but like you said, its the first bike. Great work anyway im glad i seen it. No brakes, no problem.

[@JimLangley1]

Thanks a lot for watching and the great comment, boneshaker! It must be exciting riding high around Montreal - hats off to you!!

[@R1V00]

My new favorite bike is the Penny Farthing! It’s so interesting 😍✨

[@JimLangley1]

Thanks for watching and the great comment!

[@HasBeensNAddicts]

I hope you can come out with more videos like this

[@JimLangley1]

Thanks for watching and the nice comment!

[@AntoJreng]

salam Penny Farthing dari pangkalan bun, kalimantan tengah, indonesia.

[@JimLangley1]

Thanks for watching and commenting, Anto!

[@craigdavidson4845]

Wow! Such a great video. I wonder how feasible it would be to put on annual Penny Farthing Games.

[@JimLangley1]

Thanks for the comment, Craig. Glad you like the video. There are actually highwheel championships in various places around the world, such as England and Australia. And here in the US there’s a national Wheelmen meet that has lots of events for highwheelers. To learn more you could visit thewheelmen.org Thanks again!

[@craigdavidson4845]

Jim Langley oh cool! Thanks for the link!!!

[@mybikes1970]

Very cool indeed 😁👍🏾

[@JimLangley1]

Thanks a lot for watching and commenting mybikes! Appreciate it🙏

[@neballc]

Thank you for great info. I've already checked your team / club out. Lots of History & how to do.... This will be a very fun project. JK Michigan

[@JimLangley1]

You're very welcome, neballc! Thanks for watching!

[@jokeweston]

I’m in awe hearing that you rebuilt the wheel! Surely you had to have the spokes made specifically? How did you determine the needed tension? Most enjoyable video. Thanks for the history lesson. Subscribed!

[@JimLangley1]

Thanks for the comment, question and for subscribing, Jake. It's a long story about the wheel. Maybe some others will ask about it, too, so I'll explain more. The thing that made that wheel so challenging to rebuild was that it was the original wheel from 1886 and all the steel spoke nipples had rusted to the steel spokes. I had to keep applying penetrating oil and heating the nipple/spoke connections, and slowly, one by one, the nipples started turning and I managed to take all the spokes out of the wheel only stripping the threads on a handful of spokes. Most of the old spokes were reusable. I had the late Jim Spillane, an antique bicycle machinist make me a few replacement spokes for the bike. But, when it came to putting the spokes back in the wheel I ran into another puzzle - the only way the spokes would fit is if they went into the right spot - back where they were before. Unfortunately, I had not thought to mark and label their position before taking the wheel apart. The reason they didn't go in in random positions is because they had been cut to size originally, after the wheel was laced and tensioned. To deal with getting each spoke into the right place was all trial and error. I probably laced the wheel 4 times before I managed to get all the spokes to reach and thread into the 80 spoke nipples. To True the wheel, I made an oversize wood truing jig. And as far as tensioning the spokes, they are not very tight at all. With the stiff steel rim and so many spokes, all super long, I just got them as tight as seemed reasonable for their condition. Overtightening risked stripping more threads and I didn't want that because I wanted to keep using as many original spokes and nipples as possible. Luckily the wheel works fine even in its nowhere near perfect condition. Hope this long explanation is of interest. Thanks again, Jake! Jim

[@ScrubsIsee]

@@JimLangley1 thank you for this in depth explanation. From a historical point: Do you know HOW these spokes where made back then? Did they cut a wire and bent it BEFORE putting it in the hub? Or did they bent it while IN the hub? As I‘m into lacing and trueing and liked your in-depth video about it, I’m really curious about how they made spokes a hundred years ago ...

[@JimLangley1]

@@ScrubsIsee Thanks for watching and the great question. When I rebuilt this wheel there were a few spokes that got ruined due to corrosion. I reached out to famous highwheel replica maker and amazing fabricator Jim Spillane Sr. for help. He was back in Connecticut. He made me a small batch of spokes and when they arrived they had been pre bent in the middle. And also threaded on both ends. That's the tricky part: getting the threading in the right place for the size of the wheel you're building. I would think part of the reason they would bend the spoke is to make sure that the threads are at exactly the right distance on both sides. Then they could cut the spoke after that and be sure it's right. I'm thinking it would be harder to know if you left the spoke straight and bent it during wheel building. The bend is interesting. It looks like the spoke bend happens across the hub but then one leg of the spoke is pulled one way and the other the other way. This must've had the effect of twisting the center of the original bend. Kind of a double or triple bend. Interesting. In any case, my best guess is that the spokes were bent and inserted into the hub that way, rather than inserted and then bent. Hope this is helpful. Thanks again!

[@stevek8829]

One hundred miles in seven hours on an 'ordinary' is quite an achievement. That's about seventeen mph most of the time to average that 14-15 with quick stops and pauses. I'd like to try one. The metal work around the handlebars was gorgeous and so new looking.

[@JimLangley1]

Appreciate you watching my video, Steve and thanks for the great comments. Yes, that century was a hard effort for me - I was exhausted afterwards. My wife wanted to pile in the car and drive home and I just wanted to lie down and go to sleep on the lawn ;-) The parts on my bike that look like chrome are actually nickel plated because chrome wasn't invented yet when the bike as built. The nickel makes everything look really nice and those parts were re-plated in 1989 when I restored the bike. When this bike was made it was basically a Rolls Royce of technology - the very best of the best that could be built and very expensive, which accounts for the quality of craftsmanship and materials. If you want to ride one you could check out the club The Wheelmen. I've been a member since the 1970s and it's a great bunch of bike lovers. thewheelmen.org To ride a bike you would look at the events and go to one and once there you could strike up a conversation with one of the riders. Most of us will let people try out our bikes so long as it's safe for the person and the bike, of course. That's a good way to get to try one to see how they ride. Hope this is helpful and thanks again for watching!

[@ninakim7282]

GREAT

[@JimLangley1]

@@ninakim7282 thanks for watching and the great comment Nina🙏

[@patthecat6491]

What a fun an informative video! I throughly enjoyed it and commend you on your patience rebuilding the wheel. How were you able to source the tires for it?

[@JimLangley1]

Thanks for the nice comment and the great question about the tires, Pat. I should have explained that in the video. The tires we use for highwheels is actually sold as a long piece of rubber that's the right diameter to fit the specific rim on your particular make/model of bike. The front and rear rim take different diameter rubber. The rubber is round and almost solid rubber except right down the middle there is about a 1/4 inch diameter hole running the length of the rubber material. This hole is for a steel wire that goes inside to hold the tire on the rim. A special tool is used to put the tire on tight enough so that it can't come off when riding. Here's a video showing a guy putting one on with the tool. I used a different type of tool, but the process of winding the wire to tighten the rubber onto the wheel is similar. The best thing about these tires is that they last for thousands of miles and never need air and never go flat. kzbin.info/www/bejne/p2HGfX5uebyimck To buy the rubber to make the tires, what I do is get it from The Wheelmen club members who source and sell it. The club website (anyone can join) is www.thewheelmen.com/index.php I hope this answers your question. Thanks again! Jim

[@patthecat6491]

Thanks a lot for the considered reply Jim.

[@larsthorwald3338]

Pretty cool. I log about a hundred miles a week on my 36" unicycle, and I'm kind of interested in trying a highwheel. I'm guessing the unicycle is maybe a little more comfortable than the PF, just because I can pedal out of the saddle whenever I want, and I might be wrong, but that doesn't seem to be possible on the highwheel. Anyway, it looks like a blast, and that's certainly a beautiful example you have there. Thanks.

[@JimLangley1]

Thanks for watching and the great comment Lars. You’ve got my respect for being able to ride a unicycle. There’s a group of off road 36” unicyclers that ride by my house once in a while on their way to the trails- and they’re pretty technical trails! The thing about antique highwheels like my Victor is that the wheel is HUGE. This means it rolls right over even pretty big potholes etc in the road. It makes for super smooth riding and even with almost solid rubber tires the long long spokes and somewhat flexible steel rim flex for a bit of cushioning. In 1990 I road 120 mile one day on it in Scotland 5 am to 10 pm at night. It was an exhausting challenging ride with hills, wind and some rain but the whole time on the bike I was comfortable. The suspended leather saddle is like a hammock and that helps too. You’re right that you can’t really stand up. You can put your weight on your legs to take pressure off your seat but you don’t really need to. I would let you try my bike if you were here. To try one look and see if there are any “Wheelmen” club events in your area like parades. Usually if you ask members of the Wheelmen (like me) at an event like this they will let you try riding. Thanks again and enjoy your unicycling!!

[@larsthorwald3338]

@@JimLangley1 Great details...I'm sold. I think my fears about comfort are unfounded. I put myself on the notification list at UDC so I can snag one when they finally have some more available. It looks like they offer a solid, traditional option with a couple of sensible updates. Thanks!

[@streamlinemoderne]

Thanks for posting this. I've wondered for years about these big wheels. Maybe you've answered this already in the comments but did short adults have a chance riding these? I'm 5'4" on a good day. Did they just get small front wheels?

[@JimLangley1]

Thanks for watching and commenting, streamlinemoderne! Yes, back then you bought the wheel size that was right for your height. So, my bike is a 56 inch (56 inch diameter front wheel). I am about 5' 11" tall. At 5' 4" you would buy a highwheel with a smaller front wheel, probably a 50 inch or 52 inch. It has to do with leg length, too. And, some highwheels have crankarms with slots on them so that you can move the pedals to fine tune the fit a little. If you were to attend a Wheelmen meet (a group that celebrates the history of bicycles and especially highwheels, that would be an opportunity to see and try some different size bikes to find the perfect size for you. thewheelmen.org/redesign/ There are also highwheel replica makers that would be happy to size you to a bike, such as www.hiwheel.com/ I hope this is helpful and thanks again!

[@djsalyers]

blud rode a bike from Oakland to Japan. I'm shook

[@JimLangley1]

Thanks for watching and the great comment. Yes, Thomas Stevens was the first to ride around the world and he did it on a Columbia highwheel bicycle pretty similar to my Victor in the video here. He wrote a 2-volume book about his adventure and it's actually on google books so anyone can read it if they want or scroll through it. There are some nice illustration on him, his bike and the events that took place pedaling around the globe. Here's a link: www.google.com/books/edition/Around_the_World_on_a_Bicycle/o5-Jo1Q-oksC?hl=en&gbpv=1&pg=PR3&printsec=frontcover Thanks again 🙏

[@rondvivre3636]

Jim, Jack London wrote a fair amount about his various adventures and experiences around and on both sides of the San Francisco Bay. I don't recall which book and Google is giving me no help, but in one story he tells of riding “A Wheel” from the East bay, Oakland I think, down through San Jose and back up the Peninsula to somewhere, Palo Alto, San Francisco, I don't recall. He might have been commuting to his laundry job in Belmont. FOUND IT!! This from his fictionalized, autobiographical “Martin Eden” in Chapter 16; “And Martin did no reading that night. He had seen no daily paper all week, and, strangely to him, felt no desire to see one. He was not interested in the news. He was too tired and jaded to be interested in anything, though he planned to leave Saturday afternoon, if they finished at three, and ride on his wheel to Oakland. It was seventy miles, and the same distance back on Sunday afternoon would leave him anything but rested for the second week’s work. It would have been easier to go on the train, but the round trip was two dollars and a half, and he was intent on saving money. “ London/Eden's introduction to The Wheel in Chapter 10, a budding romance was involved; “He stopped to dinner that evening, and, much to Ruth’s satisfaction, made a favorable impression on her father. They talked about the sea as a career, a subject which Martin had at his finger-ends, and Mr. Morse remarked afterward that he seemed a very clear-headed young man. In his avoidance of slang and his search after right words, Martin was compelled to talk slowly, which enabled him to find the best thoughts that were in him. He was more at ease than that first night at dinner, nearly a year before, and his shyness and modesty even commended him to Mrs. Morse, who was pleased at his manifest improvement. “He is the first man that ever drew passing notice from Ruth,” she told her husband. “She has been so singularly backward where men are concerned that I have been worried greatly.” Mr. Morse looked at his wife curiously. “You mean to use this young sailor to wake her up?” he questioned. “I mean that she is not to die an old maid if I can help it,” was the answer. “If this young Eden can arouse her interest in mankind in general, it will be a good thing.” “A very good thing,” he commented. “But suppose,-and we must suppose, sometimes, my dear,-suppose he arouses her interest too particularly in him?” “Impossible,” Mrs. Morse laughed. “She is three years older than he, and, besides, it is impossible. Nothing will ever come of it. Trust that to me.” And so Martin’s rôle was arranged for him, while he, led on by Arthur and Norman, was meditating an extravagance. They were going out for a ride into the hills Sunday morning on their wheels, which did not interest Martin until he learned that Ruth, too, rode a wheel and was going along. He did not ride, nor own a wheel, but if Ruth rode, it was up to him to begin, was his decision; and when he said good night, he stopped in at a cyclery on his way home and spent forty dollars for a wheel. It was more than a month’s hard-earned wages, and it reduced his stock of money amazingly; but when he added the hundred dollars he was to receive from the Examiner to the four hundred and twenty dollars that was the least The Youth’s Companion could pay him, he felt that he had reduced the perplexity the unwonted amount of money had caused him. Nor did he mind, in the course of learning to ride the wheel home, the fact that he ruined his suit of clothes. He caught the tailor by telephone that night from Mr. Higginbotham’s store and ordered another suit. Then he carried the wheel up the narrow stairway that clung like a fire-escape to the rear wall of the building, and when he had moved his bed out from the wall, found there was just space enough in the small room for himself and the wheel.” - - - From London's non-fiction autobiography “John Barleycorn”, Chapter 27, is this account of his physical activities as a young man, his 'wheel' just one part. He must have been hard as nails; “As I succeeded with my writing, my standard of living rose and my horizon broadened. I confined myself to writing and typing a thousand words a day, including Sundays and holidays; and I still studied hard, but not so hard as formerly. I allowed myself five and one-half hours of actual sleep. I added this half-hour because I was compelled. Financial success permitted me more time for exercise. I rode my wheel more, chiefly because it was permanently out of pawn; and I boxed and fenced, walked on my hands, jumped high and broad, put the shot and tossed the caber, and went swimming. And I learned that more sleep is required for physical exercise than for mental exercise. There were tired nights, bodily, when I slept six hours; and on occasion of very severe exercise I actually slept seven hours. But such sleep orgies were not frequent. There was so much to learn, so much to be done, that I felt wicked when I slept seven hours. And I blessed the man who invented alarm clocks. “ - - - So Jim, this “Wheel” video of yours has finally given me the impetus to chase this vaguely remembered Jack London trivia down. Thank You. I hope reading these excerpts gives you some enjoyment. ;) -- D'vivre

[@JimLangley1]

Wow, thanks so much for taking the time to find and share these passages by Jack London. I knew Mark Twain wrote about cycling, (I have his humorous essay Taming the Bicycle on my website here: jimlangley.net/spin/spin.html ). I didn't know Jack London was a cyclist, but it certainly makes sense. I enjoyed reading this very much! Thanks again; you made my day!

[@rondvivre3636]

@@JimLangley1 Thanks right back to you for your fine 'Spin' page and “Taming The Bicycle”. As if I didn't already have enough to read, currently queued and started are Carl Sagan, Thomas Paine and another by Twain. I would have linked the Gutenberg dot org pages for the Jack London works, but it seems (almost) every time I include links in a KZbin reply/comment, something inexplicable (to me, at least) happens to my reply, my replies tend to disappear. I've just downloaded Twain's “What Is Man” ePub file from Gutenberg dot org onto my phone which includes “Taming The Bicycle”. Finding those Jack London passages was pretty easy once I remembered enough clues to search. On Gutenberg dot org download links pages are links to html formatted versions that open the complete work of interest in a single browser page, from there it's a simple search/find in page for whatever keyword you like. For out of copyright works such as those on Gutenberg dot org I use FBReader on Android.

[@JimLangley1]

@@rondvivre3636 thanks so much for these tips, Ron. It sounds like a treasure trove and one I didn't know about until you told me. Thank you for the tip and instructions. Very nice of you.

[@gotsm9959]

Torque conversion was known about during the Penny farthing era but roller chains could not be made on the compact scale for a human to power unless weaker metal was used. Nothing had ball bearings until ww2 . High wheel bicycle were greased with whatever people had because people did not know what bearing grease was unless they worked on machinery.

[@JimLangley1]

Thanks for watching and sharing these technical notes, Damien. Appreciate it, however, maybe I misunderstood but ball bearings were invented before 1800 and were on bikes well before WW2. Please see: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bearing_(mechanical)#:~:text=The%20first%20modern%20recorded%20patent,groove%20in%20the%20axle%20assembly.

[@gotsm9959]

@@JimLangley1 Wow this is a Mandela effect! I remember watching a documentary about WW2 which ball bearings where newly introduced into Jeeps.

[@ScrubsIsee]

Thank you for this super interesting video. Just my questions: How do you replace the tire, when it’s worn off? And: Where do you get these tires today? Who makes these? And finally: How much is such a „Rolls Royce“ today?

[@JimLangley1]

Hi Christian. The tire for highwheels is sort of like a long piece of round rubber. It's almost solid but not quite. There is about a 6mm diameter hole down the center of the long "hose." That hole is for a piece of wire and that piece of wire is what holds the tire on. First you put the piece of wire into the rubber hose (the tire). Then you put the tire onto the wheel. The tire will be much much bigger than the wheel and the ends of the wire will be sticking out. Now, to tighten the tire onto the rim, you use a special tool. On the tool there's a way to wind the wire onto spools pulling the ends out of the tire and tightening the tire in the process. As you wind in the wire the tire gets compressed and eventually the two ends of the tire come together. At that point you clamp the wire together and then braze them together. Then you cut the wires ends right up close to the joint you brazed. Then you pull out the tool and the tire ends will come together tight against each other. You can buy the tire rubber from members of the antique bicycle club The Wheelmen thewheelmen.org/ And, for the value of my Victor Light Roadster, of course it's priceless to me. But, I have seen Victors in nice condition going for $7,500 - $10K. If they're missing parts and beat-up, I would say $3,000 and up, around there. Okay, hope this helps! Thanks again.

[@Whitehorseandryder]

@@JimLangley1 wow that's so much less than I expected for an antique "rolls royce" bike like this! very surprising!

[@JimLangley1]

@@Whitehorseandryder yes, the values haven’t changed very much in my 40 years in the hobby. It’s a good thing for those who want to buy an original bike to restore and ride 😀

[@neballc]

Jim very interesting video, where would I find the rubber tires for this monster. James in Michigan

[@JimLangley1]

Thanks for watching and the comment, James. Try Josh Rittenhouse who is a member of the same antique bicycle club I am, The Wheelmen. He sells tire rubber for highwheels. You will also need a special tool to install the tires. I can explain more if you need me to. To reach Josh, use historybuff2006 @ gmail. That email is from 2019. If it doesn't work, let me know and I'll reach out to other club members and track down other contact info. Hope this gets you rolling!

[@Makingnewnamesisdumb]

Wouldn't it be pretty easy to mitigate headers by making the wheel a little smaller and mounting the seat farther back? Then your knees wouldn't be so tight under the handle bars too.

[@JimLangley1]

Yes, absolutely. And that's exactly what they did as the end of the highwheel bicycle came around in the 1880s. The next bicycle was called the Kangaroo. Here's an example of one on my bicycle website: jimlangley.net/ride/kangaroo.htm Thanks for asking a great question!

[@Makingnewnamesisdumb]

Damn, that guy that rode a bike from california to japan is a real G. Imagine peddling that thing over an ocean.

[@JimLangley1]

Thanks for watching and the interesting comment. Thomas Stevens was the first to pedal around the world and as far as I know everyone since who did it also crossed oceans by air or sea. Pontoon bicycles have been around going back to the turn of the century, but I can't see anyone making it very far in the open ocean on one of those.

[@donspeden9636]

Hi Jim , Wheelmen member Don Speden here from New Zealand. Can you please tell me where I could buy a navy Indian pith helmet like yours from as I haven't found anyone that sells that colour. Great video !

[@JimLangley1]

Thanks for watching and the nice comment, Don! Nice to emeet you too. I will try to find a source for the helmet. Mine was a gift and it’s from a long time ago. But I’ll see if I can find a source.

[@JimLangley1]

Hi again, Don. So I did a quick search on Amazon.com and there is quite a supply: amzn.to/3AI4brq Hope you can find one you like.

[@donspeden9636]

@@JimLangley1 Thanks for the link re the Pith Helmets but didn't see any navy blue indian pith helmets but will keep searching. Cheers Don

[@JimLangley1]

@@donspeden9636 hi Don - sorry, meant to tell you to just paint it if you can’t find the right color.

[@punkrock1989]

It took them ten years to realise these bikes were too dangerous? The header picture was hilarious 🤣🤣

[@JimLangley1]

Thanks for watching and commenting, Punk Rock, appreciate it! I’m sure lots of folks realized they were dangerous but sort of like how skateboards are dangerous - the highwheels were the fastest, easiest riding bikes yet so most riders only saw the benefits rather than the risks- or they figured they could avoid the risks. Even today there are people who ride these bikes on the open roads. Just not very many😀

[@punkrock1989]

@@JimLangley1 😂 Yeah, thanks for the vid man, it was interesting.

[@titaniumfeather5000]

I always wonder how people back then think that this is safe

[@JimLangley1]

Back then, riding horses was how lots of folks got around. So the highwheel probably seemed safer at first. And remember that the huge wheel meant real speed - the first bike you could really travel on, easily out riding a horse. But plenty of people wrote about the risks like Mark Twain who said “Get a bicycle. You will not regret it if you live. “🙂 Thanks for commenting!

[@miktub1555]

Very cool. But where does your date sit? And where does your beer go?

[@JimLangley1]

Ha, ha, very funny. Thanks for watching, Miktub. Come to think of it, your date could sit on the handlebars and she could hold the drinks! ;-)

[@jasonpoole6768]

Couldn't the seat have been placed lower on the frame, sort of like the kid's "Big Wheel" toy? That would've made them much safer. Of course, the point is now moot. Thanks for the video!

[@JimLangley1]

Jason Poole It’s a good question. There were bikes with “normal” (almost like current bikes) rider positioning before the highwheel. The problem was the small wheels without any gearing didn’t allow riders to cover distance as far or fast as they wanted. The huge wheel meant a bigger gear and they basically kept the same relationship of crank to seat. If the seat was lower they would have lost the pedaling efficiency without changing the crank position i.e. it would hove necessitated a major change. Just like today, they wanted a light efficient and simple machine.

[@DreamCapturing]

In india a boy made it himself Am going to create a video on that

[@JimLangley1]

That’s impressive, Dream. That boy has some skills. Look forward to your video. Thanks for watching mine and telling me about this. Appreciate it.

[@DreamCapturing]

@@JimLangley1 am Zachariah Stephen Call me Zac I will definitely mention this video in my video

[@JimLangley1]

@@DreamCapturing I would appreciate that and it's nice to e-meet you Zac. Have fun making your movie!

[@ScrubsIsee]

Please share it! It sounds really worth watching.

[@DreamCapturing]

@@ScrubsIsee kzbin.info/www/bejne/q5Ouq5ebrLWCorM please watch and comment

[@ben2808]

Dang bro. Jesus loves you btw

[@JimLangley1]

Thanks for watching, Doggo - appreciate it!

[@erictaylor5462]

3:15 "All kinds of nasty stuff." I'm calling horse shit on this claim.

[@JimLangley1]

Ha, ha, thanks for watching and the laugh, Eric. That's exactly the nasty stuff I was talking about.

[@erictaylor5462]

@@JimLangley1 I saw two pictures taken of the same street in New York City taken 10 years apart. In the earlier picture there is one motor car and many many horse powered vehicles. In the picture taken 10 years later, there is one horse drawn wagon and many many motor vehicles. The change from horses to engines was very very fast for a reason.

[@JimLangley1]

@@erictaylor5462 yes it was and cyclists literally paved the way for motor vehicles with the Good Roads Movement of the 1880s - which led to paved roads for cycling which as we know were taken over by cars

[@mavallarino]

1000 died!?! That means at least 10,000 suffered life altering injuries

[@JimLangley1]

Thanks for watching and the comment, mavallarino. There’s a reason inventors we’re frantically trying to come up with a safer bike while the highwheel was king of the road. They knew full well how dangerous it was. But it took awhile to figure it out.

[@loki1066]

Jim, this is a great video, but the word 'solder' has an 'L' in it. Please try and pronounce it correctly .

[@JimLangley1]

Thanks for watching and the interesting comment on the pronunciation of the word “solder,” as in to tie and solder bicycle wheel spokes - what I mention in the video. I’m from Boston and lots of people make fun of the Boston “accent.” Still, I have used the word “solder” my whole mechanical life all over the USA and no one has ever mentioned I’m pronouncing it wrong - until now. So I looked it up and it turns out -according to google- that in Britain it’s pronounced soLder - with the L sound pronounced. Here in America I have only ever heard it with a silent L. And that’s how I’ve always pronounced it - so it sounds like “sodder” or “sawder.” I appreciate learning there are different pronunciations, loki. Thank you! Next time I use the word in a video, I will pronounce it both ways to clear up any confusion.

[@loki1066]

@@JimLangley1 well just because you've been pronouncing it wrong for so long doesn't mean you can't start pronouncing it correctly from now on. We'll agree to disagree shall we. You know some think a penny farthing looks ridiculous but, as YOU would say, - 'beauty is in the eye of the 'BEHODDER'.😂🤣😂🤣😂

[@JimLangley1]

@@loki1066 I and 300 million other Americans can’t all be “wrong” 😂

[@loki1066]

@@JimLangley1 I'm afraid you can... you can elect a president who thinks intravenous disinfectant is a good idea. Are you still saying you can't see the letter 'L' in 'solder'? Saying it's OK to pronounce a word incorrectly because there are millions like you isn't something you ought to be admitting to 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@ulhassawant7700]

why its calling Penny farthing?

[@JimLangley1]

Thanks for watching and the great question, Ulhas! Because the British penny and farthing coins placed side to side look like the bike’s wheels.

[@ulhassawant7700]

Thanks sir 😊