WorldWide Drilling Resource

The Un-Comfort Zone II by Robert Evans Wilson, Jr. I was Motivated by Nostalgia until Good Sense Kicked in Recently, I was having lunch with my cousin Lucy in a trendy section of Atlanta known for its variety of restaurants, bars, and unique shops. We were dining by the window when I noticed something across the street I’d always wanted to try. It was a contraption known as a penny-farthing. It was the world’s first bicycle; invented in 1870. Oh, there were other vehicles with double in-line wheels before this one, but they were coaster bikes you propelled like Fred Flintstone, by pushing your feet against the ground. The penny-farthing was the first one on which you could mechanically propel yourself by pedaling. As a biking enthusiast, who also has a strong sense of nostalgia for the olden days, I’ve always wanted to ride one, but I’d only seen them in pictures. You’ve probably seen a picture of one before - it’s the original big-wheeled bike. Giant wheel in front with a tiny wheel in back. It’s how it got its name; it reminded someone of a penny next to a farthing (an old British penny and quarter penny - you can look them up; I did, but after seeing the proportions, I thought “silver dollar-dime” would’ve been a better name). This one was on display in front of a bicycle store. After we finished eating, we crossed the street for what I hoped was an opportunity to scratch an itemoff my bucket list. Lee, the shopkeeper, was happy to tell us all about it, but first he said it wasn’t for sale or rent. Wah! He explained it had been brought in for repair three months earlier, but the bike’s owner hadn’t re- turned to pick it up. Hence, he turned it into a display item to attract people into the store. It sure worked on me. These bikes have been out of pro- duction since 1893, mostly because they are mortally dangerous. The rider’s body weight is centered over the big front wheel, and if the wheel hits a pothole, the rider is thrown head first over the handlebars. Unfortunately for those early adopters, bike helmets weren’t invented until the mid-1970s. This penny-farthing had been custom built, and it stood as tall as a man. Lee helped us get on it. He held it steady, while we took turns climbing into the seat. It was way higher than I had imagined. My foot at its lowest extension was still 2½ feet off the ground. There was no way I could touch the ground with my toes, which made me curious. How would I actually get on it if Lee wasn’t there? Lee explained you had to run along- side it, put your foot on the small step conveniently placed just above the rear wheel, then launch yourself onto the seat (sort of like rodeo cowboys do when they leapfrog onto a horse from behind), all while trying to grab the handlebars (which are too high and far from the back to hold while running), getting your Wilson cont’d on page 30. 12 JUNE 2017 WorldWide Drilling Resource ®