'He had a break, and his body wouldn't allow him to get back on' – penny farthing riders break multiple world records
From long distances to high speeds, a variety of attempts were made
Last week, a gathering of intrigued onlookers and media descended upon Palmer Park Velodrome in Reading, England, to witness four Guinness World Records being broken by riders from the Penny Farthing Club. Despite the club's eight record attempts, only four proved successful, including a tandem penny farthing hour record, a new 100m speed record, and a 100km record.
The most impressive feat was Richard Thoday's record-breaking 382.3km unbroken ride, which lasted 17 hours. Unfortunately, Thoday had to break his stride and could not complete the 24-hour furthest distance record. Penny Farthing Club founder Neil Laughton emphasized the challenges of riding these 19th-century bicycles, which lack suspension, brakes, and gears.
Laughton also highlighted the club's success in attracting a few hundred spectators and gaining media coverage. The Guinness records are currently under review, and the club plans to hold another records day. Thoday intends to attempt the 24-hour record again, while Laughton aims to break his 22km no-handed record in future attempts, preferably in cooler conditions.
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