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🇦🇺 Australia /Culture & Society

Australia's sole penny-farthing maker breaks world records

From ABC Australia · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

In-depth Sources not specified Context piece
  • Dan Bolwell, Australia's sole full-time penny-farthing maker, crafts custom high-wheel bicycles in his Bacchus Marsh workshop.
  • He recently set two Guinness World Records for the world's largest and smallest rideable penny-farthings, with the largest, 'Big Bertha,' measuring 282 centimeters high.
  • Bolwell transitioned to this unique craft after leaving his family's farm, teaching himself the trade and building over 400 custom bikes since 2012 for international clients.

In a quiet workshop northwest of Melbourne, Dan Bolwell is keeping a unique piece of cycling history alive. He is believed to be Australia's only full-time maker of penny-farthing bicycles, crafting these iconic high-wheel machines by hand.

There was a customer in Sydney who lived alone and he kept to himself a lot and he liked that.

— Dan BolwellBolwell shares an anecdote about a customer who found social connection through riding his penny-farthing.

Bolwell's dedication to the craft has not only garnered attention but also earned him global recognition. He recently set two Guinness World Records: one for the world's largest rideable penny-farthing, a towering 282-centimeter creation dubbed 'Big Bertha,' and another for the smallest. The record for the largest was achieved with the help of a UK-based enthusiast who rode 'Big Bertha' 100 meters through London.

They got to know him and his daily ride each morning was a short little ride that felt so social and so interactive and it meant the world for him.

— Dan BolwellBolwell describes how the daily rides on his penny-farthing positively impacted a solitary customer's life.

His journey into this niche profession began after he left his family's farm. With no formal career path, Bolwell, who had always been handy with bicycles, decided to teach himself the intricate art of building penny-farthings. Since starting his business in 2012, he has handmade over 400 custom bicycles, shipping them to diverse locations like Belgium, Nepal, Puerto Rico, Borneo, and Israel.

And then for other people, I do have customers, and I'm in that category as well, the attention becomes overwhelming.

— Dan BolwellBolwell acknowledges that while some enjoy the attention, for others, like himself, it can be overwhelming.

While some customers cherish the attention these unusual bicycles attract, Bolwell himself prefers the solitude of riding on open roads. He notes that creating a highly customized penny-farthing can take up to two months, reflecting the detailed and labor-intensive nature of his work. His business has steadily grown from a small operation into a globally recognized enterprise, fulfilling custom orders for bikes with elaborate features like gold-plated handlebars.

I would rather go somewhere completely quiet, away from crowds, out in the open road somewhere, and just enjoy the riding.

— Dan BolwellBolwell expresses his personal preference for solitary rides away from public attention.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by ABC Australia in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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