The Stories Behind: The 45-year-old Dutchman who rides a penny-farthing in Singapore
SINGAPORE — At 1.85m tall, Mr Rembrandt Struijk, a 45-year-old Dutchman, easily stands out in the crowd in Singapore.
But over the past week, he has been drawing much more attention than usual, thanks to his unusual bicycle.
It is called a penny-farthing, the first-ever bicycle invented in 1878, featuring a gigantic front wheel and a small rear wheel.
It earned its name due to the vast size difference between its two wheels, which resembles the discrepancy in size between a large penny coin and a much smaller farthing coin.
A farthing, which was discontinued in 1960, was worth one-quarter of a penny.
Mr Struijk had showed up with his 140-year-old penny-farthing at Car-Free Sunday at the Civic District last weekend, and the photos had gone viral, with him dressed like a character out of a Sherlock Holmes movie.
I met him and his bicycle in front of the Asian Civilisation Museum on a Wednesday morning (March 20) and again it attracted curious stares.
I had to ask the most obvious question in most people’s minds: How do you get on that thing?
With a smile, Mr Struijk pointed to a tiny foothold at the back of the bicycle. He placed his left foot on it, then swung his other leg over the saddle in one continuous movement, and off he went.
Gripping the handlebars, now made of partially rotting wood due to the bicycle’s old age, he propelled himself forward and took the penny farthing for a quick spin around the vicinity.
“Getting on is not that difficult. Turning and stopping the bicycle is more difficult,” Mr Struijk said, adding that the bicycle’s brakes had malfunctioned.
To stop the bicycle, he has to start pedalling backwards before extending his leg back to reach the foothold once more. Then, he hops off, with both feet firmly landing on the ground.
Riding a penny-farthing demands a careful balance of control, too. Mr Struijk said his antiquated bicycle’s wheels are wobbly, and the handlebar is misaligned with the body.
The wood on both the handlebars and pedals is also falling apart. “It’s a bigger challenge to ride this one compared with a modern penny-farthing,” he said.
He bought his penny-farthing last August in London, where he previously lived for five years with his wife.
When they moved to Singapore in September, Mr Struijk arranged for the bicycle to be shipped over.
Car-Free Sunday was only his second time taking the penny-farthing out for a ride.
“Most times, it serves as an art piece in our living room,” he laughed. Mr Struijk said he plans to get a modern penny-farthing with a slightly smaller front wheel so that he can cover longer distances with it in the future.
A SELF-PROFESSED CYCLING GEEK
Being from the Netherlands, where cycling is an integral part of the culture, it was no surprise when Mr Struijk said he was a bicycle geek. The penny-farthing is just one of the nine cycles he has.
His "family" of cycles comprises seven bicycles and two unicycles, although he admitted that he still needs more practice to master the latter.
“Cycling gives me the freedom to explore, and I like the feeling of the wind on my face. It’s also an easy mode of transportation instead of just walking,” he said.
His wife, the head of marketing at bicycle manufacturer Brompton, is also a bike geek.
And though they have been in Singapore for only six months, they have managed to find a community of cycling enthusiasts here.
“There are so many interest groups on Facebook. As my wife and I have Brompton folding bicycles, we found groups organising rides around places such as East Coast Park,” Mr Struijk said.
He is also an active member of the Safety For Active Mobility Users and Love Cycling SG Facebook groups.
SPENDING TIME WITH SENIORS THROUGH CHARITY WORK
Mr Struijk, who used to work in human resources back in The Netherlands, is unemployed.
He is here on a Dependant's Pass; his Dutch wife has a Singapore work visa.
Having time to pursue his interests and immerse himself in Singaporean culture, Mr Struijk gives back to the community by volunteering at nonprofit organisation Cycling Without Age, which has allowed him to meet people from different segments of society.
“We usually take seniors on trishaw rides through scenic areas in Singapore to help them overcome social isolation, which I think is very meaningful,” he said.
“All the seniors come back with smiles on their faces. While riding, we chat about how Singapore has changed, and they ask various questions such as where I am from, how long I have been in Singapore, and the weather.
“I speak a little bit of Indonesian and a few words of Chinese, which always helps to break the ice.”
Looking at the positive effects of cycling on seniors, Mr Struijk thinks that the larger community can benefit from cycling, too, and events such as Car-Free Sunday are a good way to encourage this lifestyle.
“I would like to see it organised every week or every month. If that’s not possible, then at least every quarter, to promote cycling as a beneficial activity,” he said.
“They can also consider holding it on a smaller scale in other neighbourhoods like Tampines, Woodlands or Jurong, so kids and families can come out and enjoy some time on the roads without cars.”
