These wacky bikes look impossible to ride, but two record-breaking kids did it!

Do you know how to ride a bike?

Well, these bikes are a little bit more… unique!

During an international cycling event in the heart of London, UK, on 13 June, a little time was set aside from the professional races for something slightly more quirky… but certainly just as challenging!

Penny-farthing bikes are old-fashioned bicycles with a HUGE front wheel and a tiny back wheel – they look very different from bikes today, and are harder to ride, but they’re traditional and so cool!

Multiple world records were attempted that day, from talented riders of all ages who wanted to make cycling history.

Guinness World Records Adjudicator Juliet Dawson and Senior Managing Editor Adam Millward attended the event to make sure the participants strictly followed all the rules – and ultimately see if they had been successful!

The first record? It was the largest rideable penny farthing, of course!

In order for it to be recognized by GWR, British rider Neil Laughton had to cover a minimum distance of 100 metres (330 ft), without any mishaps. The huge bike, named “Big Bertha”, stood 282 cm (9 ft 3 in) tall to the handlebars and had a front-wheel diameter of 254 cm (100 in) – this is double the size of a typical penny farthing’s big wheel – WOW!

After surviving this ultimate high ride, the jubilant rider told GWR: “I was born in London, worked in London and honestly, after riding the world’s largest penny-farthing bicycle that’s ever been built, I’m just pleased I didn’t die in London today!”

It does look very hard, doesn’t it?

Next up were 2 young riders, kids around your age who attempted the polar-opposite record: the smallest rideable penny farthing. One after the other, sister and brother Flo and Finn Woodward (aged 7 and 6, respectively, both from the UK) took to the course riding a penny farthing named “Little Bee”!

This tiny bike stood 62 cm (2 ft) off the ground (akin to the world’s shortest woman, Jyoti Amge) and had a front wheel spanning just 29 cm (11.4 in) – the same as a standard dinner plate!

The result? They broke the record together, joining their mum who ALSO holds a record, and even inspiring their dad to attempt breaking a record himself soon!

Flo and Finn, you are truly iconic.

Finally, 2 more records were broken that day:

• Fastest 100 m on a unicycle while blindfolded - 37.31 seconds, achieved by expert British rider Roger Davies (do NOT try this at home!)
• Fastest 100 m on a penny farthing while juggling - 19.87 seconds, achieved by Henrik Hedström from Sweden

Laughton said: "It was a fabulous day with 5 GWR titles awarded for some extraordinary feats of bravery, skill and focus by boys and girls aged 6 to 62."

Congratulations to all the riders, you are all Officially Amazing. And let this be proof that you can achieve amazing things at any age!