Riding on Top of the World
When Murray Miller rides around the West End on his penny-farthing, he gets a lot of smiles and comments. You might see him riding the trails through Stanley Park in the early morning, or running errands downtown and up through Robson Street onto Jervis to his store on Davie Street. It would be hard not to notice him on his penny-farthing, otherwise known as a high wheeler. Imagine an enormous tricycle without the third wheel – his front wheel is 48 inches, and his back wheel is a mere 16 inches.
“How’s the weather up there?” Miller got that comment twice today already. “You’re getting up in the world.” He’s heard this one a thousand times. The English ladies at Stanley Park will always comment incredulously in their British accents as Miller goes by, “A penny-farthing!” While its origin is still being disputed, the penny-farthing was produced largely in England and the United States in the mid to late 19th century.
Nowadays, it’s not something you see everyday. According to Miller, he’s never seen another person ride a penny-farthing in Vancouver. People think he’s in the circus, especially when the Cirque du Soleil was in town last summer. Miller is actually the owner of a decade-old local U-Vint, Back Alley Wineworks, located behind Little Sister’s Bookstore on Davie Street. Ironically, he gave up alcohol years ago, but is still passionate about his winemaking. “There are no clarifying agents used – it’s just booze,” he says.
Bikes have been a life-long passion for Miller. Prior to owning his business, Miller used to repair bikes in various bike stores. That’s how he came across a penny-farthing – a customer needed it repaired. Miller did some research and he cautiously started to ride it to see how it functioned. It needs a running start, and years later he still remembered how to do it.
Miller has never crashed his penny-farthing, although he’s lost control of it once. If he crashes, he won’t ride it again – that’s his commitment to his wife. While it’s impossible for his wife Wendy who is all of five foot four to ride his penny-farthing – she’s slightly taller than the handlebars – the original tall bikes come in all shapes and sizes. Wendy has a smaller 28-inch model, which is in need of repair.
Miller doesn’t have a favourite route, but he does love to ride through the trails in Stanley Park for the challenge. He also likes to ride to the lookout point at Cypress Mountain. If you do see him around town, wave and try to say something original.
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