Around 1866, bicycles had wooden spokes and no brakes!
Our local bicycle heaven exhibits classic bikes from the rafters. Have you seen one of this vintage?
¡Olé! –Rebecca
This is part of Debbie’s Six Word Saturday. Click on the challenge name for some great photos!
Fake Flamenco 
Wooden spokes and no brakes? Perhaps with wooden spokes one couldn’t go fast enough to need brakes?? Rebecca, you are good at finding such interesting things. I love your eye!
LikeLiked by 4 people
Thank you, Wynne. I love how they looked like they were straight from a wagon.
LikeLiked by 3 people
I have heard of wood bikes but never seen one. Marvelous!!
LikeLiked by 4 people
Thanks, Suzette. I had seen a wooden tall tricycle, but not a bicycle before that day.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Amazing!
LikeLiked by 1 person
What were tyre made of?
Great share!!
You find interesting things
LikeLiked by 3 people
Thanks, Devang. They were made of wood as well, like an old wagon wheel!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Not actually. But would you believe there is a man fairly locally who owns and uses a PENNY FARTHING bicycle. We see it around from time to time.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Oh, my, the ones that look like an adult tricycle, but with only two wheels, the enormous one in front and the tiny in back?! That would be a sight to see *in use*. Please take a photo if you get the chance. : )
LikeLiked by 1 person
https://photos.app.goo.gl/W1mgih3CfhhKzhau9. This was taken through a shop window, hence the fuzziness.
LikeLike
Very cool! Thanks, Margaret. Felt like he needed a bowler hat and tie… ; )
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think so too!
LikeLiked by 1 person
The bicycle was part of our daily lives on the flat coastal plain of Georgetown where I grew up. I’ve seen donkey carts with wooden wheels, but never a bicycle. Human ingenuity is amazing!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for your comment, Rosaliene. As I grew up, I rode my bicycle all over Minneapolis too. I’ve seen horse carts with wooden wheels too. But, a bicycle? Yes, it is very ingenious.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Never seen this kind, but a neighbor had one of those very oldy-fashioned ones with the high wheel. I can’t imagine how he managed to ride it around town!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wow, a neighbor with “penny farthing” bike. How common is that? That’s two commenters who know someone who owns and rides one! The big wheel looks so tippy to me.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Not on one of those! We’ve seen some very old bicycles in a museum in France and not one of them looks comfortable. 🙂
janet
LikeLiked by 1 person
I guess they were less expensive to run than a horse. 😉
LikeLike
And no poop. But not as much fun as far as I’m concerned. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Horses are great, despite their deposits… 🙂
LikeLike
I agree of course. 😉. 🐎
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’d rather walk, thanks. 😅
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, I guess they are a very bumpy ride over RR tracks and uneven roads.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m just trying to not imagine all the places you could end up with splinters.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ha ha. Don’t dare crash it, or you’ll be a pincushion!
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re not kidding.. Yikes.
LikeLiked by 1 person
The horror of having no brakes! Thank goodness technology has evolved a lot since then. 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hope there were no stop signs or cross streets at the bottom of the hills. Yes, thank goodness for brakes!
LikeLiked by 1 person
We actually own a penny farthing, a business expense, really, since we’re entertainers. My husband rides on it whenever we are booked for Victoria days. Good fun. I actually met my husband when he was riding his penny farthing. One sure way of getting attention….
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh, that’s an adorable classic bicycle tale! Wish you’d write a post telling us all the details. Very romantic and “meet cute” from the movies!
LikeLiked by 1 person
You can read all about the event here: https://www.scottishbooktrust.com/your-stories/scotlands-stories-2022/scotland-for-beginners
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great, look forward to reading it!
LikeLike
Excellent example of how living with heart yields great results!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Maybe you braked the bike by reverse pedalling. Dutch bike do this- a real danger for an English cyclist hiring a Dutch bike. In Holland I once reached for the brakes to avoid a collision instead of reverse pedalling! Scattered pedestrians like ninepins!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Watch out in Holland! It is possible that reverse pedaling might work. I may need to ask our penny farthing experts!
LikeLike
That’s a gorgeous bikes. But wooden spokes and no brakes? I think I’ll just admire it from here! 😀
LikeLiked by 2 people
I like its looks, but no brakes makes me pause… 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
Bicycles with no brakes!
Worked well in the late 1800s but in this era, it is better to stay at home instead of going out on bicycle without any brakes.
LikeLike
I agree. Easier to get in fender benders with cars zooming around than with horses.
LikeLiked by 2 people