When he gets to the stop light....

[Kano]

So, I should be thinking work thoughts right now, getting ready for the trip Sunday, and starting tonight's dinner, but my mind is doing things that it normally reserves for the middle of the night, when it delights in keeping me awake lately.

I know what _I_ do when I get to a stop light: unclip left foot, hop off seat, and plant foot firmly on pavement until the light changes. While I patiently wait, I arrange my right foot for take off. It's a quick, efficient process, with plenty of leisure time for things like a drink of water, or a piece of dried fruit, or protein bar, or something. Possibly peek at my computer to see how far I've gone or inspect road kill laying nearby.

But that guy I saw the other day on that bike with the HUGE front wheel and teensy back wheel. You know the kind, the goofy old-fashioned ones that are taller than me, and look a lot like tricycles but aren't...

What the heck does _HE_ do when he gets to the light?

Somehow, I'm guessing that stopping and putting his foot down isn't an option, and getting on and off those things has to be a bit of a thing too!

Karen in Boise

[mimitabby]

Karen, you sound like you're coming down with spring fever!

[Eden]

Well they are basically fixed gear bikes.... and I would guess if you are going to ride one you probably have pretty good balance in the first place so track stands???

[mimitabby]

augh!! track stands!!
Hey Eden, how'd the acting gig go?

[Eden]

I sat there all day and they never even used me.... at least they had food and water. They'll be shooting for another couple of weeks though so there may be other opportunities. I'd say its more like window dressing than acting

[Fredwina]

The couple of times I saw a "high wheeler" being ridden, the procedure was to hop off the bike while coming to a stop. To start , you push it to get some momemtum(there's a small step over the rear wheel to put your foot on)., and then leaped on board No wonder they called bicycle with both wheels the same size "Safety Bicycles" when they came out

[East Hill]

You saw a Penny Farthing in BOISE?

East Hill

[Tater]

You saw a Penny Farthing in BOISE?

East Hill

Yup, I've seen one on my commute into downtown. Pretty interesting and had always left me wondering how they got stopped or started.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Well automated traffic lights didn't start being mass installed in cities until after 1910, and by that time high wheelers had largely been abandoned in favor of "safety bicycles" with both wheels roughly the same size as today. Most highwheeler riders in their day did not have to contend with red lights. Also roads and streets were still horse and cart populated, which was more bike friendly than with cars. There were far fewer vehicles per person of every sort than there are today, and they all moved slower.

After the total takeover of cars and traffic lights in the 1920's, the only people on high wheels bikes were historic bicycle buffs, who I imagine might avoid city streets with lights- I know I would if i were riding one.

[alpinerabbit]

Getting up


and down


Here's a video - they have a little "leg up" at the back
http://youtube.com/watch?v=uCbudWuouvI

I guess being able to do the track stand would be recommended.

[Kano]

You saw a Penny Farthing in BOISE?

East Hill

I guess so!

Every now and again we see this guy riding around -- we have all sorts of things here in this town!

Karen in Boise

[Wahine]

Wow, that's a really cool video. Thanks Alpine.

[xeney]

We went on a ride once that included one of those, and the rider indeed did trackstands at every stop. He also went amazingly fast.

[alpinerabbit]

Finally, finally, I found him again:

Michil Costa: This guy rode the Maratona delle Dolomiti:

[mimitabby]

what kind of flag is he carrying?
That's a great picture.