Largest penny-farthing race in a velodrome

The largest penny-farthing race in a velodrome was organized by Neil Laughton and the Penny Farthing Club (both UK), and contested between 58 cyclists at Herne Hill Velodrome in London, UK, on 12 October 2024.

The race started with 58 riders, all of whom completed at least one lap of the 450-m-long (1,476-ft) outdoor, banked track. During this elimination competition, slower riders were gradually flagged off the track, leaving only the fastest sprinters. The race was decided by a final three-lap sprint, which saw British retired pro-cyclist and multiple Guinness World Records title holder Chris Opie take first place by a long margin. All riders were required to wear a helmet, even if some chose to wear an additional top hat.

This mass gathering of penny farthing enthusiasts was organized by Neil Laughton, founder of the UK's Penny Farthing Club. As per the Club's rules, only penny farthings with traditional solid-rubber tyres were permitted; modern designs with pneumatic tyres are frowned upon by penny-farthing traditionalists. The race was adjudicated by Guinness World Records Editor-in-Chief Craig Glenday.

The Herne Hill Velodrome was erected on the site of a former dairy farm, and first opened in 1891. Its red-shale track was replaced by wooden slats in 1893 then concrete in 1896, and in 2011, it was resurfaced with an all-weather tarmac. The outdoor venue played host to the "Austerity Games" in 1948 – the first Olympics after World War II – and is the only surviving sports venue from the XIV Olympiad.

The penny farthing was introduced in the 1870s, and was the first vehicle known as a "bicycle". It featured a large front wheel of c. 48 inches (121.9 cm) and a much smaller rear wheel of around 18 inches (45.7 cm), with the rider perched precariously high on a sprung leather saddle mounted above the front wheel on a metal frame. The name "penny farthing" was adopted later to describe the bicycle and comes from two pre-decimal British coins in circulation at the time: the 31-mm-wide penny (worth 1/240th of a pound) and the smaller 20.19-mm farthing (worth one quarter of a penny). It was also later known as an "ordinary" bicycle, to distinguish it from the "safety" bicycle that replaced it within about 20 years.

The diameter of the large front wheel allows penny-farthing riders to cover a longer distance on a single rotation of the pedals than would be achieved with two smaller wheels of equal size. However, the popularity of the ordinary declined sharply in the late 1890s with the introduction of the safety bicycle; with its pneumatic tyres, low seat and chain-driven gears, this revolution in cycling provided a smoother ride with much less risk of the rider falling off.

Despite its obsolescence, the penny farthing continued to appeal to a dedicated if small fan base, and many original models are still in circulation today, refurbished and made roadworthy by enthusiasts. Modern versions are also produced in small quantities by a limited number of manufacturers. British adventurer and entrepreneur Neil Laughton founded the Penny Farthing Club in 2013 and is captain of England's penny farthing polo team.