![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blog.citrus-lime.com\/balf\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2021\/12\/JV-Penny-Farthing-2-576x1024.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nDespite all his years\u00a0in the trade,\u00a0this was a new one for him.\u00a0“I have never checked over\/serviced a penny-farthing before. I was quite interested and looking forward to working on a cycle that goes back in time way before my life and\u00a0from\u00a0the very beginning of the cycling history.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Despite the many similarities with a conventional bike, there were still\u00a0several\u00a0challenges to overcome.\u00a0“They are pretty easy to service\u00a0but\u00a0pretty hard to wheel true as I don\u2019t think there is a wheel truing stand big enough. That said you have to go over the normal check and setup,\u00a0i.e.\u00a01 rear road calliper brake. Hand bars and stem bolts setup and saddle position. Though interestingly it has internal cable routing for the rear brake which is quite cool.\u00a0For\u00a0such a big front wheel the spoke tension was\u00a0really\u00a0well balanced and within the tolerance.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
With\u00a0Matt double-checking matters, Store Manager, Robin Foad suggested some\u00a0additional\u00a0TLC in the shape of some new bar tape\u00a0on the grips area. However, penny-farthing brings\u00a0new\u00a0obstacles. With a different diameter to standard handlebars, you cannot use normal\u00a0grips. Instead the team used PRO bar tape for\u00a0comfort,\u00a0but a stool was\u00a0required\u00a0to give\u00a0Gilliver the height to fit the tape.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Normally when a bike is checked or serviced, the mechanic will put it in a work stand for stability and ease of access. This is not something you can do with a penny-farthing, so the team had to improvise. \u201cWe used two normal back wheel floor mounted stands and the wall to keep it upright and stable to work on. Oh, and a box to stand on for height as I wasn\u2019t tall enough.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Once the job was complete, Gilliver had to give it one final check, \u201cAt the end, I asked Robin to hold the bike so I could climb aboard and see what the seating position was like. I took the safe option and didn\u2019t test ride the bike, as I didn\u2019t want to risk myself or anyone else out. Plus, I would Have taken a fair few Strava KOMS.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
With the work complete Mr Vine was very pleased to have his penny-farthing back and in tip-top condition. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you want to get your penny-farthing or conventional bike serviced, you can book it at any of our 12 stores.<\/p>\n\n\n\n