Writing as something of bicycle historian, and yes, a long-time rider of these 'highwheels', I have to caution viewers that almost everything said about these bikes and their history in this video is incorrect. These two guys being interviewed can't be considered as experts or sources of reliable history, if what they say here is any indication. I could swear that these guys are just making stuff up as they go. To be sure, they manage to use a few applicable words, but usually incorrectly. There can be a big difference between enthusiasts (and people who simply "do" something, and people who have bothered to inform themselves on the topic. My arthritis us acting up, or otherwise I would be tempted to write an itemized critique of this video.
@@youtuuba Please do write it up…you seem to have written quite a lot so far! Both of these chaps are internationally known as experts in this field. Please point us to your accreditations. You can easily find theirs online
@DavidHarperAntiques , I have contacted a number of leading experts on the subject of this video, and they replied with even more dismay over the inaccuracies than I had personally. I will quickly cite just a few things: - Correct in the statement that these highbikes were not initially called Penny Farthings. Incorrect that they were originally known as "Ordinaries". BOTH terms were applied to these machines later on, after their heyday was past and the new Safety bikes were on the scene. In their day, they were simply called "bicycles" or "wheels". - Incorrect that "Penny Farthing" was given these bikes because of the similarity of wheel sizes and the coin sizes. Historical and etymological research has proven this "common knowledge fact" to be inaccurate. The term Penny Farthing long predated the invention of the bicycle, as a term of derision for anything outdated or made worthless with the passage of time, and it was based on the low values of the coins, not their sizes. The term was naturally attached to highwheel bikes due to them being obsolete and considered worthless. No historical evidence has been found to support the claim made in this video. To the contrary, etymology sources show clearly how the term came about, and how and when it was finally used in reference to the high bike. Furthermore, the sizes of the penny and Farthing coins known to people of the late 19th C are a long ways from inspiring anyone to associate them with highwheel bike wheels. Actually, there is a bit of evidence supporting the use of the term for the earlier "Velocipede", as it's wheel size ratio closely resembles that of the two coins. Penny Farthing continues to he used in British slang in modern times for all sorts of things unrelated to bicycles, when somebody wants to denigrate something or somebody thought to be worthless. - The actual history of women riding early bicycles is well documented, and is significantly different from the mashup of history as related by these guys. Some bits of what they said in this subject apply more to the Safety bikes rather than the highwheels. - The statements of how Victorian women were able to "ride" highwheels would have been more accurately given if they had mentioned the highwheel tricycles rather than a "sidesaddle" highwheel. The above should demonstrate that I have put considerable effort into being properly informed on this subject. You wanted credentials, but nobody has that; nobody has diplomas in Penny Farthing. Your two "experts", particularly the 'adventurers fellow, obviously like riding the bikes, good for them. But riding across England on a highwheel while wearing a suit of armor is silly and hardly inspires knowledgeable people to give him much credence. Even what he is wearing in the video is a poor example of what real riders wore in the day. There are quite a few real vintage bicycle experts in the UK, people are internationally respected and who can give a good presentation on this subject that no knowledgeable bike historian would disagree with. Too bad you did not contact them.
Eccentricity at its best fantastic.
That sounds like a lot of fun. I love the idea of playing polo on them.
Fascinating! Beautiful but You couldn’t pay me to get on one! 😂
I'm crazy but not suicidal. With my nerve damage and rotten balance...aww heck no. But if they want to? Have at!
South Korea 😅
Excess electricity
Writing as something of bicycle historian, and yes, a long-time rider of these 'highwheels', I have to caution viewers that almost everything said about these bikes and their history in this video is incorrect. These two guys being interviewed can't be considered as experts or sources of reliable history, if what they say here is any indication. I could swear that these guys are just making stuff up as they go.
To be sure, they manage to use a few applicable words, but usually incorrectly. There can be a big difference between enthusiasts (and people who simply "do" something, and people who have bothered to inform themselves on the topic.
My arthritis us acting up, or otherwise I would be tempted to write an itemized critique of this video.
@@youtuuba Please do write it up…you seem to have written quite a lot so far! Both of these chaps are internationally known as experts in this field. Please point us to your accreditations. You can easily find theirs online
@DavidHarperAntiques , I have contacted a number of leading experts on the subject of this video, and they replied with even more dismay over the inaccuracies than I had personally.
I will quickly cite just a few things:
- Correct in the statement that these highbikes were not initially called Penny Farthings. Incorrect that they were originally known as "Ordinaries". BOTH terms were applied to these machines later on, after their heyday was past and the new Safety bikes were on the scene. In their day, they were simply called "bicycles" or "wheels".
- Incorrect that "Penny Farthing" was given these bikes because of the similarity of wheel sizes and the coin sizes. Historical and etymological research has proven this "common knowledge fact" to be inaccurate. The term Penny Farthing long predated the invention of the bicycle, as a term of derision for anything outdated or made worthless with the passage of time, and it was based on the low values of the coins, not their sizes. The term was naturally attached to highwheel bikes due to them being obsolete and considered worthless. No historical evidence has been found to support the claim made in this video. To the contrary, etymology sources show clearly how the term came about, and how and when it was finally used in reference to the high bike. Furthermore, the sizes of the penny and Farthing coins known to people of the late 19th C are a long ways from inspiring anyone to associate them with highwheel bike wheels. Actually, there is a bit of evidence supporting the use of the term for the earlier "Velocipede", as it's wheel size ratio closely resembles that of the two coins. Penny Farthing continues to he used in British slang in modern times for all sorts of things unrelated to bicycles, when somebody wants to denigrate something or somebody thought to be worthless.
- The actual history of women riding early bicycles is well documented, and is significantly different from the mashup of history as related by these guys. Some bits of what they said in this subject apply more to the Safety bikes rather than the highwheels.
- The statements of how Victorian women were able to "ride" highwheels would have been more accurately given if they had mentioned the highwheel tricycles rather than a "sidesaddle" highwheel.
The above should demonstrate that I have put considerable effort into being properly informed on this subject. You wanted credentials, but nobody has that; nobody has diplomas in Penny Farthing.
Your two "experts", particularly the 'adventurers fellow, obviously like riding the bikes, good for them. But riding across England on a highwheel while wearing a suit of armor is silly and hardly inspires knowledgeable people to give him much credence. Even what he is wearing in the video is a poor example of what real riders wore in the day.
There are quite a few real vintage bicycle experts in the UK, people are internationally respected and who can give a good presentation on this subject that no knowledgeable bike historian would disagree with. Too bad you did not contact them.
Well, I dared to watch a video about Penny Farthings that featured no actual riding of....a Penny Farthing.
Apologies, there should have been a link at the end of the video to one where Robert attempts to ride the Penny Farthing…it’s there now. Thanks