I'm Too Short For My Dream Bike — I Bought It Anyway!

Quick Overview

The presenter, who is too tall for a typical Penny Farthing bicycle, bought a custom 52-inch wheel version for $3,000 and found that while it is surprisingly smooth on paved roads, the large front wheel makes stopping and tight turning extremely dangerous, resulting in a crash when attempting to ride off-road.

Key Points: The presenter purchased a custom Penny Farthing bicycle with a 52-inch front wheel for close to $3,000. The bike features modern updates like a BMX stem and threadless headset, but retains vintage styling cues like a leather saddle. Riding the bike is surprisingly smooth on pavement, even with solid rubber tires, but the high center of gravity makes leaning into turns difficult. Stopping is inherently risky; applying the front brake causes an immediate 'header' (somersault), necessitating controlled rearward weight shifting or dismounting. The presenter demonstrated the danger by crashing off-road, where the large front wheel hit an obstacle, causing him to pitch forward with his legs stuck under the handlebars. Due to the design, the rider must place their foot on the small rear peg and then step onto the large pedal blocks, which are positioned 120mm from the center of the wheel. The presenter notes that historical Penny Farthings included spoon brakes applied to the front wheel, which were largely ineffective, reinforcing the danger of stopping.

Context: The video features a cycling enthusiast who acquired a custom-built modern Penny Farthing bicycle with a massive 52-inch front wheel, costing nearly $3,000. The presenter, who is too tall for the bike, details the experience of riding this high-risk antique design, comparing it to riding a horse without dealing with the animal's independent movement, while also demonstrating the inherent dangers of its geometry, particularly during braking and maneuvering.

Detailed Analysis

The video documents the presenter's experience riding a custom-built Penny Farthing bicycle, which features a 52-inch front wheel and cost approximately $3,000. The presenter, being too tall for the bike, explains the difficulty in mounting and dismounting, which requires stepping onto a small peg on the frame first, then stepping onto the large, block-like pedals attached directly to the front axle. He notes that while the ride on smooth pavement is surprisingly comfortable due to the large wheel and solid rubber tires, the design is inherently dangerous. The primary danger is stopping; applying the front wheel brake results in an immediate 'header' where the rider is thrown over the handlebars, as evidenced by historical footage of a rider crashing this way. The presenter explains that maneuvering is also tricky because the rider's weight is biased forward, requiring constant counter-pulling on the handlebars to maintain balance, especially when turning. He also points out that early safety bicycles evolved specifically to solve the inherent dangers of the Penny Farthing, such as the risk of head-first crashes and having legs tangled in the handlebars during a sudden stop. Despite the risks, the presenter found the ride exciting, though he concluded that mounting/dismounting and stopping require significant planning and skill.