Penny farthings, which have a large front wheel and a tiny rear wheel, became popular in the 19th Century but gave way to modern bicycles.<\/p>\n
Rider Neil Laughton said the time trial was “a tough event for people of a certain age on these crazy bikes” but was a “lovely place to cycle a Victorian bicycle”.<\/p>\n
Fellow competitor Glynn Stockton said the Eastbourne race was “a very famous event in the penny farthing community”.<\/p>\n
“It just seemed like such a wonderful, silly, British challenge to try and undertake,” he told the BBC.<\/p>\n
“It gets very steep and it gets very difficult at times but the crowds have been fantastic, all the cheering genuinely did help.”<\/p>\n
Rasta Rolla said: “It’s torturous, it’s difficult, it’s painful, but we come back year on year and we just do it again and again.<\/p>\n
“It’s nice to see the crowds, it’s almost like the Tour de France.”<\/p>\n
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