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Cyclist Richard Thoday breaks penny farthing record



 
 
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  #1  
Old November 18th 19, 02:53 PM posted to uk.rec.cycling
Simon Mason[_6_]
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Default Cyclist Richard Thoday breaks penny farthing record

QUOTE:
A cyclist who rode a penny farthing bike from Land's End to John O'Groats in four days and 12 hours has been told he has broken a 133-year-old record.

Richard Thoday, of Matlock, Derbyshire, completed the 874-mile challenge in July but had to wait for confirmation from Guinness World Records.

The previous record was set in 1886 by celebrated cyclist GP Mills, who did the journey in five days and one hour.

Mr Thoday said the wait was "nerve-racking" but he felt "very relieved".

"I gave Guinness World Records all the evidence I could provide so if they said 'no' there was nothing else I could do," he said.

"I certainly wouldn't be doing it again anyway.

"It was just so hard."

The 55-year-old's record attempt helped to raise £10,000 for Children in Need.
Mr Thoday, who designed the penny farthing he rode, said planning the challenge had become a "full-time job on top of having a full-time job".

"It was the toughest thing I have ever done in my life but definitely a one off," added the teaching assistant.

"It took 10 months out of my life and lots of support from my wife.

"I felt very relieved when I had the record confirmed."

Mr Thoday has been riding penny farthings for 10 years.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-englan...shire-50451465
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  #2  
Old November 18th 19, 09:06 PM posted to uk.rec.cycling
TMS320
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Posts: 3,875
Default Cyclist Richard Thoday breaks penny farthing record

On 18/11/2019 13:53, Simon Mason wrote:
QUOTE: A cyclist who rode a penny farthing bike from Land's End to
John O'Groats in four days and 12 hours has been told he has broken a
133-year-old record.


A remarkable achievement to do that these days. I would never have been
able to have done it in that time on a modern thoroughbred. Although
road surfaces are better and navigation is easier now, one imagines it
would be much harder to deal with the volume and unpredictability of
modern traffic. Though a good vantage point to see over hedges on
country lanes.

I have tried one out, just a 36 inch one, very stable for manoeuvring
but the hard bit was getting off. I couldn't find the footpeg to do a
proper dismount so being a small bike it was easier just to tip off
sideways. The oddest part in the initial encounter was the steering
reaction when turning the pedals but it only took a minute or so to
filter that out.

  #3  
Old November 18th 19, 10:04 PM posted to uk.rec.cycling
Simon Mason[_6_]
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Posts: 2,244
Default Cyclist Richard Thoday breaks penny farthing record

On Monday, November 18, 2019 at 8:06:42 PM UTC, TMS320 wrote:
On 18/11/2019 13:53, Simon Mason wrote:
QUOTE: A cyclist who rode a penny farthing bike from Land's End to
John O'Groats in four days and 12 hours has been told he has broken a
133-year-old record.


A remarkable achievement to do that these days. I would never have been
able to have done it in that time on a modern thoroughbred. Although
road surfaces are better and navigation is easier now, one imagines it
would be much harder to deal with the volume and unpredictability of
modern traffic. Though a good vantage point to see over hedges on
country lanes.

I have tried one out, just a 36 inch one, very stable for manoeuvring
but the hard bit was getting off. I couldn't find the footpeg to do a
proper dismount so being a small bike it was easier just to tip off
sideways. The oddest part in the initial encounter was the steering
reaction when turning the pedals but it only took a minute or so to
filter that out.


I went on a 80 mile club ride in 2008 and this Captain Birdseye type turned up on one. He rode up a local 14% hill with ease and ended up at the first check point before us. According to the landlord of a local village pub, he was interviewed by Sir David Jason for an upcoming TV series called The Inventors.

  #4  
Old November 18th 19, 10:06 PM posted to uk.rec.cycling
Simon Mason[_6_]
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 2,244
Default Cyclist Richard Thoday breaks penny farthing record

On Monday, November 18, 2019 at 9:04:48 PM UTC, Simon Mason wrote:


I went on a 80 mile club ride in 2008 and this Captain Birdseye type turned up on one. He rode up a local 14% hill with ease and ended up at the first check point before us. According to the landlord of a local village pub, he was interviewed by Sir David Jason for an upcoming TV series called The Inventors.


https://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/what...kshire-3369317
  #5  
Old November 18th 19, 10:22 PM posted to uk.rec.cycling
Kerr-Mudd,John[_2_]
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Posts: 374
Default Cyclist Richard Thoday breaks penny farthing record

On Mon, 18 Nov 2019 20:06:37 GMT, TMS320 wrote:

On 18/11/2019 13:53, Simon Mason wrote:
QUOTE: A cyclist who rode a penny farthing bike from Land's End to
John O'Groats in four days and 12 hours has been told he has broken a
133-year-old record.


A remarkable achievement to do that these days. I would never have been
able to have done it in that time on a modern thoroughbred. Although
road surfaces are better and navigation is easier now, one imagines it
would be much harder to deal with the volume and unpredictability of
modern traffic. Though a good vantage point to see over hedges on
country lanes.

Whilst I applaud his stamina and achievement; did he do it alone, or with
a support team to shield him from kamicarzy drivers?

I have tried one out, just a 36 inch one, very stable for manoeuvring
but the hard bit was getting off. I couldn't find the footpeg to do a
proper dismount so being a small bike it was easier just to tip off
sideways. The oddest part in the initial encounter was the steering
reaction when turning the pedals but it only took a minute or so to
filter that out.




--
Bah, and indeed, Humbug.
  #6  
Old November 19th 19, 12:25 AM posted to uk.rec.cycling
TMS320
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 3,875
Default Cyclist Richard Thoday breaks penny farthing record

On 18/11/2019 21:22, Kerr-Mudd,John wrote:
On Mon, 18 Nov 2019 20:06:37 GMT, TMS320 wrote:
On 18/11/2019 13:53, Simon Mason wrote:


QUOTE: A cyclist who rode a penny farthing bike from Land's End
to John O'Groats in four days and 12 hours has been told he has
broken a 133-year-old record.


A remarkable achievement to do that these days. I would never have
been able to have done it in that time on a modern thoroughbred.
Although road surfaces are better and navigation is easier now, one
imagines it would be much harder to deal with the volume and
unpredictability of modern traffic. Though a good vantage point to
see over hedges on country lanes.

Whilst I applaud his stamina and achievement; did he do it alone, or
with a support team to shield him from kamicarzy drivers?


Well, the pictures suggest that he got somebody else to carry his
luggage. Some years ago, I fell upon the website of a chap planning to
do a world tour before a sudden health problem stopped him.
He had bags piled over the back wheel: I imagine 15-20kg close to the
ground provides a decent gain in braking.

 




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