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Penny Farthing Bike Race (1928)

From British Pathé, a short film clip from 1928 of men racing on penny farthing bikes. See also clips from 1936 and 1937 races.

Most of the crowd seems to have come to see them fall off, but in the end it turns out to be such a great race that when they come round on the third lap, the excitement runs higher than the bicycle.

Oh and Penny Farthing Racing is Still a Thing.

Discussion  5 comments

sampotts

Very much still a thing in the USA!
instagram.com/the_wheelmen_official
You gotta love a club that's led by a commander and has a parlimentarian and a bugler.

Tra H

There's a guy in my neighborhood that rides a penny-farthing around the park occasionally. The dogs are not a fan. My dog freaks out every time we see him.

Tom Robertson

I can’t justify the cost but man I really want to get one of these and learn how to ride it. Same with a unicycle.

Laura Paye

Watching these guys is so much silliness and so much serious effort and impressive athleticism at the same time. Love it!

brian c.

Random tandem at 1:09??

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