Why was the "Penny Farthing" Bicycle a Successful Failure?

A Discussion around the Legendary Penny-Farthing Bicycle, its origins in the late Victorian period and why it ultimately was a successful failure. Even to this day these bikes capture our imaginations and their iconic presence continues to be special.
#bicycle #bike #pennyfarthing
Intro 0:00
Penny Farthing History 1:14
1870's Cycling 2:17
Penny Farthing Design 2:56
Riding and Crashing 4:45
Future Innovations 6:22
Conclusion 7:07

[@idea2753]

Ah, the good old days. Thank you all for your continued support on this page and keep those suggestions for future videos coming!🥃

[@jamescgarrett6356]

Something I heard a while back (but can’t confirm) is that the phrase, “break-neck speed” came from racing these bicycles. To go faster for a given pedal rpm you needed a bigger front wheel circumference, and therefore the rider ended up being seated higher and higher off the ground. In the end, the front wheels became so huge that falling from on top of them risked a significant chance of breaking one’s neck. Thanks for the interesting video and keep well.

[@idea2753]

This is so gnarly I'd believe it 100% James! The origins of phrases sometimes have the weirdest histories (hell, maybe I could do a video series on them?) Have a great end to your weekend sir and thank you for sharing! 🥃

[@monster762]

Surely the maximum radius of the front wheel can only be the length of your toes to your crotch, minus room for the seat and the length of the crank.

[@fxsaddles7985]

@@monster762You are correct. The longer the rider’s inseam, the larger the front wheel can be. Larger wheels equal more speed but also more difficulty pedaling uphill.

[@Hope4MeAndYou]

@@monster762 Some riders would alternate having one foot on a pedal and then the other, because both feet couldn't reach the pedals at the same time. So while pushing a pedal down with one foot, the other foot was in the air, waiting for it's pedal to come up to meet it.

[@RafaelBenedicto]

​@@monster762Perhaps you didn't watch the video entirely before posting your comment. In the later part of the video, you can clearly see how they manage to make a huge wheel with a radius larger than the rider's inseam.

[@larrydonovan1293]

Great topic! Here in Alameda, California, I will occasionally see a man on a penny-farthing…a local company makes them. It’s really something to behold coming down the street!

[@idea2753]

Brave souls who manage to rock these 😆And thank you for sharing Larry! Imagine seeing these everywhere you went back in the day? Imagine the hospital bills? Have a great end to your weekend sir! 🥃

[@stevefox8605]

As a kid I have as in the Veteran and Vintage Cycle Club, my Dad had an 1886 Penny Farthing ( properly called a "high Ordinary" ) , it had a 52" front wheel. Remember him going over the bars when he was learning to ride it. I rode it a couple of times (with help to get going) - very easy to get going too fast and hard to slow - "spoon" brakes that acted directly on the front tyre. Great episode, keep 'em coming!! 👍🏻👍🏻🥃

[@idea2753]

High Ordinary. It sounds so sick... and 52"... just madness. Thank you so much for sharing this Steve! I can imagine it must be very easy to move once you get past that inertia and get the balancing right. Must say though... I freaked out riding a fully restored MK1 Raleigh Chopper down hill (side project of mine) ... so one of these Ordinaries would probably do way worse 🥃

[@zHumanfactor]

Here is some history for you, British cyclist Thomas Stevens took his Penny Farthing and rode around the world from 1884 to 1886. He wrote a book on his adventure which is astonishing to read. Upon his return to London he became the manager of the Garrick theatre. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Stevens_(cyclist)

[@PRH123]

Great book. It inspired me to start riding a single speed bicycle. What’s funny is that I downloaded the book from Gutenberg with no images, so I didn’t understand initially what kind of bicycle he was riding. Halfway through the book I just couldn’t understand why he was “taking a header” and falling off his bike at least once a day. Only then did I look him up on Wikipedia and realize he was riding a penny farthing.

[@anthonysmith2982]

Such a fun subject. Such cool machines. I had no idea that they were so short lived. Is it just me, or is the first iteration of a new idea ᴀʟᴡᴀʏs a frickin' death trap? There's a guy who rides one out near where I live; not a dreaded 'hipster', just a guy - oddly dressed in his anachronistic bright cycling lycra! - riding the country roads 'cause he can. I love seeing him, makes my day and not a car goes by that doesn't acknowledge him.

[@billy.g3597]

Definitely a bizarre looking step in the evolution of the bicycle. The introduction of pneumatic tyres, chain and sprockets was the end of the Penny Farthing. I wonder what the next evolutionary step of the bicycle is going to look like.

[@idea2753]

The future of bike tech is looking very interesting! I've been studying the work that's going into gearbox and belt driven bicycles (same as motorbikes) - imagine no derailleurs and chains anymore? 🔥 It's a very exciting field to say the least!

[@reedgrabowski8314]

Motorized, or the Segway.

[@lauriedale6104]

Brilliant topic. The rise and fall of railways or canals could be similar topics to explore that are vaguely related to this.

[@idea2753]

Great suggestion Laurie! Canals would be excellent to cover and trains and railways will definitely be added to the list ;)

[@ThD040]

So happy that i never had to use one. Happy to have had my grandfather’s bike to go to school, a long time ago. The current bikes make life even easier.

[@idea2753]

Imagine that these things used to be the norm? With all the severe sickness, infections etc. at the time and you still have to risk your life riding a bicycle? Unreal.

[@ThD040]

@@idea2753 could also solve the CO2 and N issues in the world. We would not have that many people making middle age.

[@dayoki8091]

just a thousand subs? underrated man

[@Thomas_Burnett]

A fascinating history of this bicycle. Loved the footage. Thank heavens for John Dunlop and his inventions. A much smoother ride that we are used to today. Loving the content of this new channel Boet. Keep it coming please. ✊

[@markcopeman3552]

I smiled from start to finish. Just looking at one how could you not? They're elegant, eccentric and scary all at the same time. Hats off to those that did and do ride them! Informative as ever .

[@watchsixto]

Thanks for making this video I always wanted to know what happened with the first bicycle to get us going

[@idea2753]

It's mad... Maybe in future I'll look to the next generations that came after these. Thanks a millions as always brother!

[@jameshoward9700]

Excellent stuff! Much like a Rangie, rolling on 24"s, the logic of the day was always for bigger wheels! That crash at ~5.20 was brutal! But the real genius lies in the Safety Bicycle, an extraordinary invention that is so similar to modern iterations 130 years later...

[@tubefriki76]

I haven't seen these in ages! Outside of classic illustrations or old period films, I've never seen this much video footage of the Penny Farthing till now (heck, I didn't even know it was called that). Obviously, by today's standards, this bike is comical to behold; just getting on-and-off it had to be quite a sight 😅. All kidding aside, it's amazing to see the progression of design and ingenuity on something (the modern-day bicycle) the average Joe might otherwise take for granted. My final thoughts on the Penny Farthing: Look, Ma...no brakes! 😁 Cheers 🍺

[@idea2753]

Crazy that these used to be the norm... with all the health hazards people were exposed to, simply riding a bike to the shops could've ended up so, so badly 😆 Ah, how you're well Fresh and have a great end to your weekend 🥃

[@dee-ker5867]

excellent vid

[@idea2753]

Thank you brother! 🥃

[@worldtraveler930]

I'd love to own one!!! 🤠👍

[@flippinzippo9670]

Guaranteed I’d break my back trying to mount that thing

[@idea2753]

And my old man would break himself just by looking at one 😆 (he managed to break his femur coming off a MTB earlier this year) Hope you've had another superb week brother 🥃

[@juniorjohnson5961]

👊

[@michaelfierman3256]

I had no idea of what those things were called or any of that history. What a name. Great episode.

[@reedgrabowski8314]

I am duly impressed with this video. An interesting topic to explore. Had no clue that the rationale for the design was to be at an equal height with the horse-drawn carriage. And, it adds new context regarding a face plant. You keep hitting these topics and research out of the park!

[@idea2753]

Thank you as always Reed! You learn oddities when going through these subjects (partly why I enjoy doing it so much is that my understanding grows while presenting) Ah, it's good fun! I hope you had a stellar weekend sir! 🥃

[@robertlock6041]

Thanks for this, riding one of these would terrify me, frankly Mr Guy. They are still for sale in the UK, from Unicycle. Penny farthings must be almost unique in being, in equal measure, ingenious, simple, lethal and utterly bonkers. I don't fancy their chances on hills either! 😀

[@olsurferguy1]

Yikes! If I had crossed those trolley tracks on my highwheel, I would have gone ass over tea kettle for sure.

[@georgehave]

Very informative.

[@idea2753]

Thanks a ton George! Really had a good time studying up on these oddities 😉

[@alvinmick218]

I enjoy topics like this! 🥃

[@idea2753]

I definitely want to focus on the odd, quirky stuff in future videos Alvin. It's too much fun stepping back in time 😉

[@chrisgrieves1468]

A lovely exploration of this device. Enjoying where you are going with this channel. I'm thinking radiogram and the first common form of home entertainment?

[@jiajianhou426]

First mullet setup lol.

[@robertblake9892]

It was a First Generation design, like so many First Generation designs it was a Great Idea at the time.

[@enriquesb1528]

You're the watches ID guy! Didn't know this channel existed ver nice

[@ericb8888]

Did you do your dissertation on this subject? …….;)

[@idea2753]

You'd think, right? Mine was on "Design Thinking" Quite a boring subject compared to this ;)

[@ericb8888]

@@idea2753 It must have been a riot ;) Great vid on a very under appreciated invention .

[@Neeko_Z]

Great vid!

[@PHS.44]

Brilliant video 👍🏼

[@rickfowler3710]

Surely Concorde is a must do

[@danfuerthgillis4483]

These bikes had their usage as they came before the chain driven bicycle, but their main disadvantage came due to the bigger wheel for more speed thus putting the rider in a more dangerous position.

[@eternaloptimist2840]

The video didn't mention that these bikes didn't happen all at once, but started with same sized wheels and grew progressively larger as people became accustomed to riding them. The larger the wheel the higher the gear, and the better at smoothing road irregularity. The eventual limitation on wheel size was rider leg length, I think the evolution of chain drive was as much about choice of gearing as it was about safety, and of course pneumatic tyres meant you didn't need a large wheel to iron out the bumps.

[@danfuerthgillis4483]

@@eternaloptimist2840 Well at one time these bikes had their case but with the advent of gearing, chains, brakes the safety bike took off. I think in my opinion women actually had more of the safety bike pushed forward since it provided a safe ride and back then since almost all women wore dresses they needed a bike they could ride even with a dress on. For the youth this was also much safer as parents did not have to worry much.

[@juniorjohnson5961]

Thank you 🙏 I would be scared to death to ride one .

[@user-jj8kg5ef2t]

Is it possible for a low (smaller) front wheel, and a big hind wheel?

[@TorBoy9]

These penny farthing bicycles are captivating, but are death traps! Hats off to those that wish to ride these for fun!

[@gbarron64]

Pretty nicely done though there are a few factual errors. I did appreciate you commenting on the coinage though, and when the name actually was first used.

[@flhxri]

I always put Dunlop tires on my Harley, every other tire I have tried sucks!

[@Allan-mf1he]

Lekker man.

[@idea2753]

Thanks boet 😉

[@swampgumpharpy7977]

Wait... top hats are out now???

[@richlander5874]

👍

[@MasterChief37]

Are we going to get any new content?

[@ericb8888]

1

[@idea2753]

Quicker than me this time 😉

[@youtuuba]

This video perpetuates a lot of flagrant misinformation about highwheel bike history and characteristics. My guess is that IDEA+ was careless in which sources of information were used. Just some corrections to the many errors: - The term "pennyfarthing" was a pre-existing English term for for anything made obsolete or devalued over time, and it was based on the low value of penny and farthing coins, NOT their size. The term was only applied to highwheel bikes once they had become obsolete, and thus lost most of their value. The name was NOT applied to these bikes because of the sizes of the wheels and the coins. Adequate historical research has been done to verify this. - The bikes that Eugene Meyer invented are not what is considered to be a highwheel bike. He actually made a further development of the Velocipede, a type of bicycle the preceded the highwheel. There is some similarity in the appearance of the two types, but people who know their bike history realize that Meyer can't be considered be the true inventor of the highwheel bike design. And James Starley barely invented it, although his contributions were more significant and pivotal that Meyer's. - The reason highwheel bikes were invented was NOT primarily for the elevation. It was to finally allow people to get around under their own power at a much faster rate than walking, pure and simple, no doubt about it. They had the big wheel because, without the hassle of heavy and greasy gears and chains (metallury at the time did not allow for light weight, reliable, gears and chains like the ones we know these days), a decent amount of ground could be covered for every rotation of the pedals, at a reasonable cadence. Unlike what the narration states, it was NOT about having higher RPM, just the opposite! - Highwheels were never "extremely fast", what nonsense and what lazy word choice. - Few highwheel bikes were made using cast iron anywhere on their structure. They were made from steel. There were some fringe companies that tried to make cheap highwheels using cast iron, or cast steel, but these were not successful.

[@nevco8774]

So stupid but fascinating to watch...

[@chrisstevenson2622]

I would love to watch Joe Biden ride one without a helmet.

[@idea2753]

Imagine how much you'd make pay-per-view? 🥃

[@chrisstevenson2622]

@@idea2753 no kidding. I love watching Australian news roasting “sleepy” Joe.

[@juniorjohnson5961]

I prefer president's who don't get raided by the FBI

[@chrisstevenson2622]

@@juniorjohnson5961 the raid was politically motivated in an attempt to scare Trump. It didn’t work.

[@dougvinkle6795]

Is that what happened to you?