In a world where modern bicycles dominate the streets, one man dared to defy convention and pedal his way around the world on a vehicle straight out of the 19th century – the penny-farthing.
Joff Summerfield, a former motor racer turned intrepid adventurer, embarked on not one but two epic journeys astride his self-made penny-farthing bike, traversing continents, scaling mountains, and immersing himself in the diverse cultures of the world, as he tells Rob Warner and Eliot Jackson on the ‘Just Ride’ podcast.
- Iconic Journey: Joff Summerfield defied convention by circumnavigating the globe on a self-made penny-farthing, covering 23 countries across four continents, totaling over 35,400 kilometers.
- Unforgettable Adventures: From journeying across continents to scaling the Himalayas, Summerfield’s unconventional rides immerse him in diverse cultures and landscapes.
- Resilience Amidst Challenges: Despite facing physical and logistical hurdles, Summerfield remains resilient, emphasising the importance of a positive outlook on life. He says: “Just smile and keep smiling. You’ve got to take chances.”
- An Experience for All: “It’s just this incredible, life-changing adventure. Anyone could have done it, I just chose to do it. Nothing is impossible.”
Popular in the 1870s and 1880s, the penny-farthing is an iconic bicycle distinguished by its towering front wheel and quaint design. Also known as the ‘ordinary bike’ at its peak, this vintage two-wheeler was named for resembling two British coins, the larger penny and the smaller farthing.
Symbolising an era of Victorian innovation and adventure, the penny-farthing has captured the imagination of cycling enthusiasts throughout history. Although its appearance may seem old-fashioned, this antique bike proved to be a sturdy and reliable companion on Summerfield’s travels. “It’s a very basic machine, but it works,” he remarks. “It’s also pretty much an accident waiting to happen,” he adds with a hint of humour, acknowledging the inherent risks of riding such an unconventional vehicle made of solid rubber tires, one fixed gear, and a precarious structure.
Despite his background in motorsports, which included racing around Silverstone and working as a builder in Formula One, Summerfield’s journey began with a simple desire to see the world on two wheels. “I had a pre-war BSA Paratroopers bike, a folding bike, and I rode out to Amsterdam for a holiday,” he recalls. “I had a great time, and I thought, ‘This is how I’m going to see the world, on a bike’. I was never a cyclist, but I like making stuff, and the silliest thing I could think of was a penny farthing. So I went to a museum, measured one up, made one, and rode that to Paris for the millennium,” the Briton continues. Shortly after, the idea of circumnavigating the globe on a penny-farthing was born.
Summerfield sold all his belongings and embarked on his inaugural around-the-world journey in 2006 from Greenwich, cycling through Europe to Türkiye. Originally planning to continue through Iran, Pakistan, and India, unforeseen challenges in southeastern Türkiye prompted a route change. He redirected his journey to Australia, then passed through New Zealand, China, Tibet, Nepal, India, Thailand, Cambodia, and Malaysia. Afterward, he flew to San Francisco, rode across the United States, and journeyed through Canada.
After two and a half years of globetrotting on his penny-farthing, Summerfield returned to Europe, arriving back home in the United Kingdom. His journey took him through 23 countries across four continents, covering an impressive distance of more than 35,400 kilometers.
In 2014, Summerfield answered the call of the road once more, setting out on his second around-the-world journey. He says: “I was feeling stuck and getting itchy feet again. So I though I’d do it again, but the other way around. So I started that trip in Toronto.” However, this global tour abruptly came to an end when he was robbed at gunpoint by two men in Ecuador, forcing an unexpected conclusion to his travels. Despite the ordeal, the rider emphasises: “It’s not a reflection on Ecuador, because the people there were lovely, amazing. They’ll give you their last grain of rice if they can. It’s a life experience, it makes you stronger, but it’s not a reflection on travelling there.”
Throughout his adventures, Summerfield encountered numerous other challenges, both physical and logistical. From navigating treacherous mountain passes to enduring extreme weather conditions, adversities loomed with every pedal stroke. Looking back at his experiences in Tibet, he says: “The toughest part was [crossing] the Himalayas. There’s no way out. I couldn’t go to the local station and get on a train because there isn’t a local station. It’s just this road. [I walked] ten steps and I had to take a breath. I was in tears because of the exhaustion, the altitude and the lack of oxygen. It was just crazy, crazy, tough.”
Yet, amidst the unforgiving landscape of the world’s highest mountain range, Summerfield experienced an extraordinary act of kindness and moment of human connection. Battling sleet and snow, his frozen hands drove him to seek refuge in his tent, only to find his clothes still wet the next morning. Struggling to maintain grip on his bike, he stumbled upon a hut; and with a knock from his elbow, a family welcomed him into their one-roomed home. “They knew exactly what was wrong. They pulled me in, pulled my gloves off, dried me out, and gave me jam jars and hot water. It’s just amazing, and that experience is just like, ‘Wow, humanity’.”
When asked by podcast host Eliot Jackson what defines a fulfilling adventure, Summerfield shares his perspective: “The further away you go, for me now, the better it is.” He continues by drawing parallels between his rides and life itself: “Like in the Himalayas – I always like to go back there a lot because going up the mountains, you’re pushing [the bike] for ten steps, then have to take a breath, and ten steps, and ten steps. But then you see the prayer flags, the tops of the palaces; and after that, you have this amazing downhill. Life’s tough, but you know it’s going to be all right. It’s really cool, and that’s a good metaphor for life.”
Given the risks he faced over the years, he highlights the importance of a positive outlook on life while travelling, and states: “The best thing you can carry, that weighs nothing and everyone’s got one, is a smile. Just carry that, and it will get you out of so much trouble. Just smile and keep smiling. You’ve got to take chances.”
Summerfield then reveals that he meticulously chronicled his journeys in a journal. Contemplating the idea of transforming his journal into a book, he envisions its theme as “the experience, just to show it’s possible and how you evolve as you’re travelling along.” He concludes: “When you leave, you’ve got no idea about what’s going to happen. Anyone could do these things, there’s nothing special about it. It’s just this incredible, life-changing adventure. Anyone could have done it, I just chose to do it. Nothing is impossible.”
Catch the Joff Summerfield ‘Just Ride’ podcast episode HERE.
Header image: Joff Summerfield Round The World Tour on A penny Farthing. Credit: Joff Summerfield / Red Bull Contentpool
