BSA Ordinary

Made by the Birmingham Small Arms Company, this machine, in its simplicity and elegance — and in the height of its 54-inch (137 cm) front wheel — represents the further development of the Ordinary bicycle.

Its huge wheel offered high speed and reduced vibration, but it also magnified one of the basic challenges faced when learning to ride a high-wheeler: how to get on.

The approved method for mounting was to put your left foot on the step located just above the tiny 16-inch back wheel. You then pushed off with your right foot, hopping a few times until you gained enough momentum to climb into the saddle.

Another method was to run alongside the cycle until you felt you had enough speed. When the left pedal reached the bottom of its stroke, you put your left foot onto it, letting its momentum carry you up until you were high enough to swing your right leg over the saddle and pedal away. Of course, if you missed the left pedal to start with, or managed to stick your feet in the spokes, you either fell onto the bicycle, or it fell onto you.

Dismounting was also a challenge. First you slowed down by “backpedalling,” which meant gently pushing backwards on the pedals as they rose to the top, instead of pushing forwards as usual. You tried not to use the handbrake, if you could avoid it, for fear of accidentally squeezing too hard and taking a header.

Next, you felt backwards for the rear step with your left foot, trying not to stick your toes into the front spokes, or between the front wheel and the backbone. Having found the step, you shifted your weight onto it, swung your other foot round, and hopped off.

The alternative was to backpedal until you were going slowly enough, then wait for the left pedal to come to the top, stand on it, then fling your right leg over the front wheel and drop to the ground.

Learning to mount and dismount meant falling, falling and falling again, and called for a level of fitness (and a resignation to crashing) that was beyond most younger or older riders. And women simply could not ride an Ordinary wearing the voluminous dresses of the era.