Eastbourne will host the Beachy Head World Championship Penny Farthing Hill Climb TT today. Back for its 7th year, the annual hill climb is the only cycling event of its kind in the world specifically for penny farthings.
Held on an open road time trial course of 4.69km with an elevation gain of 150m, riders set out at 1 minute intervals to tackle the climb to Beachy Head. Starting just outside The Grand Hotel by the Western Lawns the quickest riders take just over 13 minutes to reach the finish line at Beachy Head car park.
The first rider sets off at 10am and competitors are ranked so that the fastest rider sets off first. Organisers expect around 25 to 30 riders this year, with the final rider arriving at the top at around 11am. A prize-giving ceremony will then take place where the winner will receive the ‘Block of Wood’ trophy containing the names of past winners.
Visit Eastbourne say of the event: This event is free to watch and we encourage spectators to cheer on the riders from the pavements along the course. There are marshals at points along the course and we ask that spectators follow any instructions given by a marshal so that we can maintain the safety of both the public and the riders.”
If you want to get involved the organisers advise that this is an amateur event open to anyone with a traditional or modern penny farthing with a wheel diameter in excess of 46 inches. As the event is on open public roads, riders take part at their own risk and should hold appropriate third-party cycle insurance.
