Penny farthing cyclist preparing for charity ride

Richie Mason is riding 50 miles for charity on his penny farthing

A penny farthing cyclist is preparing to ride 50 miles (80km) to raise funds for a charity that supports vulnerable young people.

Richie Mason, from Wantage, in Oxfordshire, is taking part in the annual ride for the Jon Egging Trust (JET) on 13 September 2025.

The trust was founded by the widow of a former Red Arrows pilot who lost his life following the Bournemouth Air Festival in 2011.

Whilst most will be taking part in the JETRide on standard road bikes, Mr Mason will instead be riding his modern version of the Victorian bicycle - which has a front wheel that is far larger than the one at the back and no gears.

Mr Mason said he bought his penny farthing last November and has found that it is great to ride and a "really good workout".

"My wife was quite surprised that I hadn't been sneaking bits into the house when I eventually said 'I'd like to buy one of these please," he told the BBC.

Mr Mason said riding his penny farthing was a "good work out"

JETRide has around 1,800 ft (550m) of ascent and starts and ends at RAF Cranwell in Lincolnshire - with spaces still available for people to enter this year's edition.

Mr Mason said riding penny farthings up hill was challenging: "You just have to grind it out really.

"There's no gears, so the power that you put through the pedals is directly contacted to the front wheel, so you get the torque going left and right with every pedal," he explained.