First of all congratulations on your Guinness World Record, an impressive feat and doubtless a memorable one from on board a Rudge Light Roadster.

I based my observations of the Penny Farthing upon my imagination that from a height of about a metre or so up in the air, a bump in the road might have a rather jarring effect upon the bottom.

Of course, I bow to your superior knowledge, but must admit to remaining a little skeptical as to the existence of the Brooks International Long Distance Saddle in the mid-19th century.

Anyway, this was a short sketch of Brunel and his genius. Nothing more. I shall be more careful with my Penny Farthing descriptions in future.

I, Like You, Love the inventive Brunel. However, in praising him I DO NOT INSULT other people or things
… like the Penny Farthing Bicycle.

You call it the:

“bottom-breaking ‘penny farthing’ bicycle,”

You should know that Victorians DID LOVE COMFORT.

I wonder how you come to the conclusion that it is/was
“BOTTOM BREAKING”.

I wonder, and implicitly ask you, from a point of Knowledge … and experience. I have 48 of them …
and have ridden 39,000 miles on them. I hold the Guinness World Record riding across the USA on a 1887 Rudge Light Roadster with 54″ wheel – 29 days 9 hours 3 minutes averaging 111 miles per day. This was a lot of Saddle Time. I was totally comfortable … in the “Bottom”. I was Hot (temps over 100 on 5 straight days), tired, wind blown, hungry, and many things BUT I had
a HAPPY BOTTOM due to the Brooks International Long Distance Saddle. It is a more comfortable ride than in a Rolls Royce, or a Cadillac Escalade!

SO, please when you revere someone or something, please do not relegate other things of the period to being inferior. … unless you have tried them … a good example of them …. and know from PERSONAL EXPERIENCE. Please
do not try a BAD EXAMPLE …. & … Please do NOT BbbEee A BAD EXAMPLE!

Thanks for your understanding,
Steve Stevens

http://www.goldenoldy.org

The Sustainable Museum of Sustainable Transportation

1-720-497-1100

Net Zero Carbon Museum
of
Net Zero Carbon Transportation