Perhaps the only time anyone has seen a penny farthing ridden at speed was at the movies watching 'The Princess Diaries 2' but each year in Tasmania you can actually see them live at the national penny farthing championships.
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This year Singleton’s Nic McLaughlin made his debut at the championships and it was an impressive start to his penny farthing racing career as he won both the sprint and the novice race as well as gaining places in various other categories.
For Nic the highlight was seeing live penny farthings in action as 55 riders aged from six years to over 80 years from across Australia and one competitor from both the Czech Republic and Japan took to the streets of the historic town of Evandale.
Nic lives at Reedy Creek so training for the championships posed some problems as he needed to practice on streets with corners.
“I came into town and rode around a bit much to the amusement of some local children,” he said.
Asked how he became interested in these bikes, which first came into production in 1870s, Nic said as a youngster he used to race BMX bikes.
“I am also a bit of a history buff so I always wanted to own a penny farthing but given their age they don’t come cheap. Original bikes can cost anywhere between $5000-$20,000,” he said.
He was on the verge of buying one of these bikes when he saw he could attend a TAFE course in Queensland and make his own model.
That course cost him $2500 and he had his own penny farthing. The hardest part of the production was the making of the front wheel.
Because they have solid rubber tyres they aren’t overly comfortable and the direct drive means they can also be a handful to steer especially around corners and obstacles.
Australia is the only place in the world where these type of championships are held according to Nic because most owners don’t want to damage their bikes in a race.
“But Aussies don’t seem to worry so much and it was a great atmosphere at the championships I am hooked and keen to compete again,” he said.
In the meantime he is looking to clock up some more kilometres on the penny farthing as he has registered to ride the 20km loop of the Mailrun Charity Ride.
“ I’d like to ask for kind and generous people and businesses to search for me on the official Mailrun website and donate to my ride,” he said.
To visit the sponsorship page: https://www.themailrun.org/users
Louise Nichols
From cattle to coal. Once a specialist agriculture writer today its about community, in particular, the Upper Hunter. I have lived and worked in the region for more than 30 years. Land use issues and the future direction of our region. But you cannot take ag out of the picture - our food and how we grow it is the basis of all life. Covering the Hunter and Mid North Coast rural issues is now part of my role with ACM.
From cattle to coal. Once a specialist agriculture writer today its about community, in particular, the Upper Hunter. I have lived and worked in the region for more than 30 years. Land use issues and the future direction of our region. But you cannot take ag out of the picture - our food and how we grow it is the basis of all life. Covering the Hunter and Mid North Coast rural issues is now part of my role with ACM.
