Penny-Farthings, High Wheeler Cyclists, 1880s

Group of men, some sitting on high-wheeled bicycles, and others standing at water's edge near Cabin John Bridge, Maryland. The penny-farthing, also known as a high wheel, and high wheeler, was the first machine to be called a bicycle. It was popular in the 1870s and 1880s, with its large front wheel providing high speeds (large distance for every rotation of the legs) and comfort (shock absorption through the wheel). Although the trend was short-lived, the penny-farthing became a symbol of the late Victorian era. Its popularity also coincided with the birth of cycling as a sport. The penny-farthing became obsolete from the late 1880s with the development of the modern bicycle, which provided similar speed amplification via chain-driven gear trains and comfort through pneumatic tires. No photographer credited, circa1880s-1890

Picture No

12695875

Media ID

47667833

Size

4500px x 3143px (1.4MB)

Credit

LOC/Science Source/Mary Evans