Penny-Farthing bicycle: Why the Big Wheel?

Have you ever asked yourself why this weird bicycle model was invented? 

Back in the 19th century, before bicycle chains were invented, bikes had direct-drive pedals—meaning the pedals were attached directly to the front wheel. Without gears ⚙️ to multiply speed, the only way to go faster 🚀 was to increase the wheel size. 

From a mathematical perspective, with direct-drive pedals, one complete turn of the pedals results in one complete rotation of the front wheel. A full rotation of the wheel corresponds to a distance traveled by the bike equal to 2πR, where R is the radius of the wheel. This is the reason why inventors decided to increase the radius of the front wheel: to maximize the distance traveled with each pedal stroke.

So why the oversized front wheel?
✅ Higher speed – A bigger wheel meant a longer distance traveled per pedal stroke, acting like a natural gear ratio.
✅ Smoother ride – Roads back then were rough, and a large wheel helped absorb shocks and roll over obstacles more efficiently.
✅ Mechanical simplicity – Without chains, derailleurs, or extra components, these bikes were lightweight and had fewer parts to break.

Of course, there was a trade-off—these bikes were difficult to mount and extremely risky to fall from 🤕, which is why they were eventually replaced by modern chain-driven bicycles. 

The model is a almost print-in-place model, composed by the frame with handlebar and saddle (printed in place), and the wheels with their mechanism (printed in place). You just need to unlock with a bit of force the wheels, the handlebar and the saddle, and then mount the wheels on the frame (no glue needed).

ENJOY!