Tall order as rough rider takes on Otago Rail Trail

David Wilson on the trail. Picture / Otago Daily Times

Oamaru man David Wilson has set off on an epic journey - riding the Otago Central Rail Trail on his penny farthing.

He aims to be the first person to cover the converted rail track on such a bicycle.

"They're actually called 'ordinaries', but we commonly call them penny farthings," said Mr Wilson.

He is captain of the Oamaru Ordinary (High) Cycle Club, one of three clubs in New Zealand dedicated to the unusual bikes.

"There are no gears on these bikes and they've got solid rubber tyres, so it's just gently, gently," he said.

The bikes, standing 1.47m with a 1.37m front wheel, were capable of reaching 35km/h. "When you're going downhill on one of these you've got to put your legs over the handlebars and just coast down. You can get up a really good head of steam."

The $5000 bike was handmade in Oamaru, which has about a dozen regular penny farthing enthusiasts.

"When I found out that nobody had done it on a penny farthing before, I just thought, 'Well, it's got to be claimed by an Otago rider'."

Mr Wilson said he hoped to complete the 150km journey from Clyde to Middlemarch by Wednesday.

The rail trail was developed by the Department of Conservation with funding support from the Otago Central Rail Trail Trust.

- NZPA