It was quite a few days down under for Canadian Lizanne Wilmot just before the New Year. The former penny farthing hour record holder had some big goals at the Tasmanian Christmas Carnivals, an event featuring a variety of competitions, including track racing, criteriums, and…woodchopping competitions. It’s eight days of events held across various cities in Tasmania.
The 38-year-old cyclist, originally from Brampton, Ont., had two big goals: to break the 1000 m world record and the fastest speed world record.
Weather got in way initially
Wilmot originally planned to attempt breaking the max speed record in Hobart and Burnie, but the events were canceled due to high winds.
The Tasmanian Christmas Carnivals, founded 130 years ago, has become a big Christmas tradition down under. Featuring $200,000 in prize money, the event draws world-class athletes from around the globe to compete in the eclectic mix of events. Champions at the world, national, and local levels compete for wins and cash.
A penny farthing is a vintage bicycle featuring a large front wheel and a small rear wheel, popular in the late 1800s. It was eventually supplanted by the safety bicycle, which had two equal-sized wheels and a chain drive, offering a much easier and safer ride.
The kilo record
Wilmot did end up setting the kilo record at the Devonport Oval. And not only did she set it—she destroyed it.
The two-time Canadian keirin champion, who claimed titles in 2015 and 2018, is also a five-time Australian penny farthing champion. Wilmot, a spatial scientist, set the women’s hour record for penny farthing in July 2023, though the record was surpassed in December in London.
Her shift to track cycling in 2010 followed injuries from speed skating, including a reconstructed ankle and a torn ACL. Though she still loves skating, she’s discovered her true speed on the track.
She broke the female world record for the fastest 1,000 m on a penny farthing. The previous record stood at 2:22.32. Wilmot destroyed it, coming in at 1:52.75.
Next up was the max speed record. This record is unique in that it’s the combined times of two attempts, going both counterclockwise and clockwise on the track.
“The first effort was a flying 100 m the correct way around the track, mildly uphill, into 40 km/h wind gusts,” Wilmot said. “I got 9.16 seconds.”
Fifteen minutes later, she made the second attempt.
“So that was 100 m the wrong way, with a tailwind and downhill,” she said. And…
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