Marietta, GA: From the name alone, you might be able to justifiably assume what Unicycle.com sells. And you wouldn’t be wrong.
That is, unless you assume that’s all they sell. Because it isn’t. Not only does Unicycle.com sell a variety of single wheel cycles, including models for muni riding, racing, touring, and affordable unicycles for beginners; they also sell a wide range of odd bikes.
In addition to their collection of unicycles for both beginners and proficient athletes, the company also sells a wide range of odd bikes, notably the bicycles with the big front wheels, which are more properly known as penny farthings.
Penny farthings, the bicycles with big front wheels, were actually one of the first machines to which the term “bicycle” was applied. They replaced an earlier contraption known as a “velocipede,” which lacked a chain drive and suspension and which was also termed “boneshaker” for obvious reasons.
The penny farthing was an evolution of that theme. These had a larger front wheel to which the crank arms were directly attached, and which solved some of the problems of the earlier “boneshaker”.
The larger front tire, chiefly, increased the potential top speed of the machine. This is because, in the absence of a chain drive, the size of the wheel that communicated with the crank arms was the primary determinant of how fast the cycle could be.
However, the bicycle with the large front wheel also solved the problem of “boneshaking,” because the larger tire absorbed some of the smaller bumps of an uneven riding surface.
Of course, the larger front tire also meant that the design of the bike required the saddle to be situated higher off the ground. This created some issues of its own; riders of penny farthings would take a longer fall if they experienced an unplanned dismount.
Another issue was that riders who struck an obstacle, or who attempted to brake too aggressively, might “take a header,” which entailed getting pitched over the handlebars.
Either way, these historical bicycles are still available online at Unicycle.com, along with all of the parts, tools, and safety gear you need to learn to ride.
Visit their website for more information, and if you have any questions, comments, or concerns, direct them to their customer service team at 678-494-4962 or at Amy@Unicycle.com.
