Penny farthings and bone shakers compete in Knutsford's Great Race

Cyclists prepare their penny farthings for the Great Knutsford Penny Farthing Race on 5 September 2010. The Knutsford Great Race is the only penny farthing event in the UK and competitors come from around the world. Original and replica cycles race around the moor and is only held once every 10 years. Competitors have to complete as many laps of the one kilometre course as many times as they can in the three-hour time limit Photograph: Christopher Furlong/Getty Images

Original and replica cycles race around the moor and is only held once every ten years. Competitors have to complete as many laps of the one kilometre course as many times as they can in the three-hour time limit Photograph: Christopher Furlong/Getty Images

Penny farthings were raced all afternoon while 5,000 came out to watch along a 1km track laid out around the town’s heath Photograph: Phil Noble/Reuters

A young girl in period costume gets a high viewpoint Photograph: Christopher Furlong/Getty Images

The race was a chance to see the very earliest modern bicycles hurtling past at 20mph Photograph: Andrew Yates/AFP/Getty Images

The day attracted 87 riders from around the UK and further afield, including participants from the US, New Zealand and Canada Photograph: Andrew Yates/AFP/Getty Images

A cyclist takes part in a warm-up race riding his hobby horse Photograph: Christopher Furlong/Getty Images