smells of bikesOct 14
40km biking at lunch today including this fun encounter
#weirdbikemastodon
Show threadDune (1987), but regular timeOct 14
@smellsofbikes lol the brake on the tiny wheel in the back like "I'm trying I'm trying I'm trying"
Show threadIsaac Ji Kuo

@nofunoverlord @smellsofbikes That's the correct place for a brake, though.

A brake on the front wheel would just launch you face first into the road.

Historically, the way to stop quickly on a pennyfarthing was to crash into something. This rear wheel brake thing is a huge improvement.

Oct 14 at 9:06pmWeb
Show threadDune (1987), but regular timeOct 14

@isaackuo @smellsofbikes lolol oh, oh I know a front brake would be a terrible, terrible thing on a penny farthing

but like it's gonna be tricky not to just lock and slide

Show threadsmells of bikesOct 14
@nofunoverlord @isaackuo yeah you ride these like a fixie (well it is) and do most of the braking with pedal back pressure. Plenty did have spoon brakes on the front wheel but yeeeesh.
Show threadsmells of bikesOct 14
@isaackuo @nofunoverlord there was a reverse pennyfarthing design called The American Star and it was better in almost every way. Much stiffer frame, front and rear brakes, no headers, period photographs show people riding down staircases on them.