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Cyclist Richard Thoday breaks penny farthing record
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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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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. |
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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. |
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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 |
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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. |
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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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