Editing Penny-farthing (section)

=== Operation ===
{{section rewrite|date=January 2025}}
Mounting and dismounting a penny-farthing takes practice, but can be learned in about an hour or two. Mounting is generally achieved on flat, level ground. It's possible to mount a penny-farthing on a slight incline, but more challenging as you need to maintain momentum. Once the penny-farthing stops rolling, the rider will fall over if they have not mounted by that point. Dismounting on an incline is also to be avoided and one's ability to successfully reach the top needs to be considered before even attempting it.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Terrence |first1=Houlahan |title=Mount & Dismount |url=http://www.penny-farthing.org/mount-dismount/ |website=Penny-Farthing.org |publisher=Terrence Houlahan |access-date=6 July 2024}}</ref>

Once mounting and dismounting have been mastered, '''speed moderation''' is the next key skill to learn. If you never cycle faster than you can react to potential hazards, then you can avoid disaster. For instance, don't freewheel (feet off the pedals) down a steep hill which leads to a busy juncture/roundabout or has a blind bend where you can't see if there is a stopped vehicle or other obstruction. Slow-pedaling is a key skill to master. If you can slow-pedal up to a red light, you can stage your approach so when you arrive it is hopefully green, so you don't have to dismount. When cycling downhill, you must start braking at the top of the hill. Start applying resistance on the pedals at the top and through the descent. Also, never brake sharply if using a mechanical brake or you risk going over the handlebars.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Terrence |first1=Houlahan |title=Speed Moderation |url=http://www.penny-farthing.org/speed-moderation/ |website=Penny-Farthing.org |publisher=Terrence Houlahan |access-date=6 July 2024}}</ref>

The last key skill needed to ride a penny-farthing safely is learning to '''change direction'''. Never turn the handlebars too sharply or you risk a headover. Turns should be wide and gentle. Also, in respect to changing direction, skill and care must be exercised when approaching junctures and roundabouts. This is where speed moderation becomes important: you need to stage your approach so you can time arriving at the juncture or roundabout when a gap in traffic permits you to safely join the flow of traffic. This is also true for turning in front of opposing lane traffic: you need to be able to stage your approach to reach the turn when a gap enables you to do so. When approaching any juncture/roundabout, if you cannot enter safely, you must stop and dismount.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Terrence |first1=Houlahan |title=Changing Directions |url=http://www.penny-farthing.org/direction-changing/ |website=Penny-Farthing.org |publisher=Terrence Houlahan |access-date=6 July 2024}}</ref>

When learning, do not cycle a penny-farthing on busy roads: you will not have the skills to stay safe. Only venture onto the roads when you can mount/dismount reflexively and have mastered speed moderation or you risk serious injury or death.

In most other respects, once mounted, riding a penny-farthing is much like riding any other bicycle in respect to anticipating hazards, signaling, and defensive cycling. Penny-farthings are legal to ride on UK roads, but one must check the laws in the country they want to ride their penny-farthing <ref>{{cite web |last1=Terrence |first1=Houlahan |title=Are Penny-Farthings Legal to Ride on Public Roads (UK) |url=https://bicycles.stackexchange.com/questions/73453/are-penny-farthings-legal-to-ride-on-public-roads-uk |website=bicycles.stackexchange.com |access-date=18 November 2020}}</ref>

<gallery widths="200px" heights="200px" mode="packed" caption="Operation">
File:Zbraslav 2011, jízda elegance (07).jpg|A rider stands on the mounting peg to lift his other leg to a pedal
File:Zbraslav 2011, jízda elegance (19).jpg|The rider astride the bicycle
File:Zbraslav 2011, jízda elegance (22).jpg|A second person can be carried on the mounting peg
</gallery>