That's why the smaller wheeled bicycles we recognize today were referred to as "safety bicycles". A common crash mode of 'high wheelers' was hitting an unnoticed rock or pothole and faceplanting forward over the front wheel due to the ridiculously high center of gravity.
I already covered that, a couple different ways, and so I don't bring it up anymore: https://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2020/04/the-1885-hillman-herbert-and-cooper.html http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2011/08/racer-a-zimmerman-and-his-star-safety.html https://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2014/04/bone-jarring.html https://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2011/05/1890-clipper-high-wheeler.html High Wheelers, Penny Farthings, Bog Wheels, Ordinary (s), there were several names these were known by before the common bicycle came around
They need high wheelers so their neckties don't get caught in the spokes. Perhaps it's just economy here: when you fall and die of brain injury, you're already wearing a suit you can be buried in.
I have always wondered how one felt when they fell off of one of these big wheelers. OUCH!
ReplyDeleteThat's why the smaller wheeled bicycles we recognize today were referred to as "safety bicycles". A common crash mode of 'high wheelers' was hitting an unnoticed rock or pothole and faceplanting forward over the front wheel due to the ridiculously high center of gravity.
ReplyDeleteI already covered that, a couple different ways, and so I don't bring it up anymore:
Deletehttps://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2020/04/the-1885-hillman-herbert-and-cooper.html
http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2011/08/racer-a-zimmerman-and-his-star-safety.html
https://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2014/04/bone-jarring.html
https://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2011/05/1890-clipper-high-wheeler.html
High Wheelers, Penny Farthings, Bog Wheels, Ordinary (s), there were several names these were known by before the common bicycle came around
They need high wheelers so their neckties don't get caught in the spokes. Perhaps it's just economy here: when you fall and die of brain injury, you're already wearing a suit you can be buried in.
ReplyDelete