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Oleander Cycles donates a ‘Penny Farthing’ to the National Trust

It might not be the smoothest ride, but the National Trust was excited to be given an iconic bicycle this week.A spokeswoman for the charity announced that John Leseur, of Oleander Cycles, had been kind enough to donate a Penny Farthing, a bicycle dating back to 1870.The bike earned it’s name because while modern bicycles have wheels that are the same size, the Penny Farthing’s front wheel is much larger than the rear wheel in the same way the British penny was large while the farthing, worth a quarter of a penny, was significantly smaller.The bikes played a major role in the development of the bicycle, which became a major mode of transportation in Bermuda through the mid 1900s.The spokeswoman for the Trust said: “Although easy to ride slowly, the Penny Farthing was prone to accidents.“With the centre of mass being high and not far behind the front wheel, any sudden stop or collision with a pot hole or other obstruction could sent the rider over the handlebars, taking a ‘header’ or ‘coming a cropper.’”She described the bicycle as being in good condition, and called it a welcome addition to the BNT Globe Hotel in St George’s.