You don't see THAT everyday...

[NauticalGent]

Today's entry: @Galaxiom, were you in Virginia by chance?

 

[pbaldy]

LOL! I don't think that's Galaxiom's; it has 2 wheels.

 

[NauticalGent]

LOL! I don't think that's Galaxiom's; it has 2 wheels.

Ah...good point!

 

[pbaldy]

That said, it's probably as hard to ride as a unicycle. You'd need a ladder just to get on it.

 

[NauticalGent]

That said, it's probably as hard to ride as a unicycle. You'd need a ladder just to get on it.

It was even more impressive to see it up close and personal. I almost walked in to ask the owner (it was local mechanic's shop) what it was all about.

 

[Mike Krailo]

Is that a solid rubber tube on there for the wheels, or is there even a tire on there?

 

[CJ_London]

If it's an original penny farthing (what they are called in the UK) it would be a solid tyre. Pneumatic tyres hadn't been invented at that time

 

[NauticalGent]

There is, but I sure as hell wouldn't have rode it...

 

[The_Doc_Man]

I have actually seen videos of people "mounting" that particular type of bicycle. It is a matter of timing and balance that involves stepping onto a pedal as your "step up" point, similar to the way a cowboy puts a foot in one stirrup when mounting a horse. Since I am a card-carrying klutz AND a member of that group in good standing (or NOT so good standing, if you get my meaning), this is a vehicle I would never try to ride. I can virtually guarantee it would not go well for me.

 

[Mike Krailo]

I can virtually guarantee it would not go well for me.

I'll take your word for it Doc. I would be tempted to try it, but I would do it over a grassy area.

 

[NauticalGent]

Unless you have some CRAZY long legs, nobody is riding it...

 

[The_Doc_Man]

I've always wondered why the original inventor didn't go with a smaller front wheel or even the two equal wheels we have today?

Pat, it is a matter of ratios of implied radius. The driver working the pedals turns the implied pedal circle (the path that they take) at some rate, but the outer wheel is bigger and yet constrained to follow the pressure on the pedals. It is like a gear ratio but without gears. A person would get essentially a big mechanical advantage by pedaling that thing.

 

[AccessBlaster]

You can have the bike, I'll take the truck