Christopher Terpstra, a talented industrial designer, maker and YouTuber who is based in the Chicago area, has taken it upon himself to create a stunning penny-farthing bike that happens to be electrically powered, making it effectively a combination of the relatively ancient penny-farthing format and the contemporary technology of electric two-wheelers.
Dubbed the 'penn-E-farthing,' this particular penny-farthing bike has a motor-powered rear wheel that is pushed by a 350-watt motor, with the system making use of a battery mechanism obtained from a child-sized electric two-wheeler. Elsewhere, this penny-farthing bike features a gigantic front wheel in keeping with the distinct appearance of this type of bike.
Although there appear to be no plans to take the 'penn-E-farthing' to market, it remains an ingenuous example of using intelligent design and engineering to infuse modern technology into an outdated aesthetic.
Image Credit: Christopher Terpstra
What's Driving This Trend
- Electric Penny-farthing Bikes
- An emerging trend in the biking industry is the development of electric penny-farthing bikes, combining vintage aesthetics with modern electric technology.
- Intelligent Design in Bicycles
- The use of intelligent design and engineering to incorporate modern technology into vintage bicycles is becoming a popular trend among designers and makers.
- Retro-futurism in Bike Design
- The concept of retro-futurism is influencing bicycle design, as seen in the integration of electric motors and batteries into penny-farthing bikes.
Who This Affects Most
- Bike Manufacturing
- The bike manufacturing industry has the opportunity to capitalize on the trend of electric penny-farthing bikes by developing new models that cater to the growing demand for vintage-style electric bicycles.
- Design and Engineering
- Designers and engineers in various industries have the opportunity to explore intelligent design techniques and incorporate modern technology into vintage products, such as electric penny-farthing bikes.
- Vintage Bicycle Retail
- Retailers specializing in vintage bicycles can tap into the trend of retro-futurism in bike design by offering electric penny-farthing bikes as a unique and innovative addition to their product lineup.
