Bicicleta "Rudge Ordinary" / "Penny Farthing Bicycle", 1884, Rudge-Whitworth Limited, Inglaterra

Bicicleta "Rudge Ordinary" / "Penny Farthing Bicycle", 1884, Rudge-Whitworth Limited, Inglaterra
Science Museum, Londres, Inglaterra
Bicicleta

Rudge Ordinary bicycle of 1884, lightened for racing purposes

Bicycles like this were popular from the 1870s. In the 1890s they became known as 'ordinaries' to distinguish them from the newfangled 'safety' bicycles. With a large front wheel you could go further with each turn of the pedals - but riding so high up was awkward and unstable. These bicycles also had the nickname 'penny-farthing' because the large and small wheels reminded people of the relative sizes of the penny and farthing coins.