A Penny Farthing Bicycle

On a recent visit to the city of St Albans museum in Hertfordshire I photographed this bicycle, called a penny farthing, although enthusiasts call it an Ordinary.Before the invention of the bikes you see today these machines were invented. Gears were not invented until the safety bicycle so to overcome this problem the size of the large wheel determined the size of the gear, the smaller the wheel the lower the gear, the larger the wheel the higher the gear. Penny farthing named after the currency that was in use in the 19th century.

Answer to the quiz

The answer to the latest quiz is the machine is named a Waywiser,  a device for measuring distances. For road and land surveying, as the wheel goes round the distance is measured in furlongs on a brass dial in front of the handlebars. To read about furlongs, etc, go to Wikipedia and type in  furlongs.

The Late Eric Morecambe

On a recent Sunday ride from Wheathampstead, Hertfordshire, to Luton, Bedfordshire, on a disused railway line which is now open to cyclists and walkers I came across this unusual statue of Eric Morecambe, one of the funniest and best loved comedians in the UK.

Another quiz

I recently visited one of the two museums in the city of St Albans in Hertfordshire and I came across this object. It has no pedals so what is it used for? I will reveal the answer in a few weeks time. Best wishes from an old biker.

Answer to the quiz

The answer to the quiz is it is a kit bag fastener. Servicemen had a kit bag with their possessions kept in it. To keep them safe it was threaded through eyelets at the top of the bag and then locked. The song associated with the kit bag in the First World War was Pack Up Your Troubles in Your Old Kit Bag. If you would like to hear the song go to U Tube and type in Pack Up Your Troubles in Your Old Kit Bag which was popular during 1914-1918 conflict.

A puzzle for you

I wonder if any viewer can identify the object illustrated. The younger generation probably will not. I will give you a clue. With the centenary this year of the First World War there was a song written about the object it is associated with. The song became very popular with both sides in the conflict.

Some interesting pictures

The Wheathampstead Local History Society recently held an exhibition in the village hall depicting the changing face of the high street over the past 100 years. There were very many pictures of local village life in past times. The picture of the motor car is a Lanchester 28 horse power travelling through Wheathampstead. I hope you can just about read the history of it but the flash from the camera obscures part of it. One picture is of fairy cakes with the letters spelling out "Wheathampstead." The mayor of the city of St Albans, Annie Brewster, who lives near the village, opened the proceedings seen here with some old chap, who is he? Might be a cyclist! PS: What an attractive mayor!