Lizanne Wilmot breaks women’s world record for fastest time on a penny farthing over 1000m at the Devonport Carnival

After a false start, Lizanne Wilmot finally has her penny farthing world record — but celebrations were only short lived with her eyes shifting to a new prize.

TAS Carnivals - Penny Farthing World Record Lizanne Wilmot. Picture: Caroline Tan

Lizanne Wilmot has broken the women’s world record for the fastest time over 1000m on a penny farthing.

And on New Year’s Eve, she will attempt to break another world record — which means she could have got two in the space of a few days.

On Sunday, Wilmot broke the women’s 1000m penny farthing record at the Devonport Carnival.

She will also be attempting the top speed on a penny farthing at the Burnie Carnival on Tuesday.

Wilmot was meant to attempt the top speed record on Friday at the Hobart Carnival but had to abort it for safety reasons due to high winds.

TAS Carnivals - Penny Farthing Michael Bailey Chief Commissaire Aus Cycling announcing record time to Lizanne Wilmot. Picture: Caroline Tan

Speaking to The Mercury after breaking the 1000m record, she said it was an incredible experience.

However, Wilmot expressed disappointment that she could not attempt the speed record in Hobart.

“But with the conditions at Hobart, I would have given it a crack, and I probably wouldn’t have got the record,” she said.

“The winds were just incredibly unfavourable for me to even think about having a shot, so I was disappointed but also relieved because I didn’t want to be a failure.

“And then the anticipation came because I meant I had to wait two more days before I could attempt a record.

“It got the nerves up a bit.”

TAS Carnivals - Penny Farthing World Record Lizanne Wilmot. Picture: Caroline Tan

On Sunday, Wilmot finished in a time of 1 minute and 52 seconds.

The previous women’s 1000m penny farthing record was 2 minutes and 23 seconds.

“I’m a track sprinter, so I specialise in the shorter events and the high cadence; it’s something you can’t really train unless you’re on a track bike — you’ve got the zero resistance, you’ve got the small gears, and it just makes it ideal to be on a penny farthing,” Wilmot said.

“Basically, every revolution you do goes further and faster - so if you’re on a bigger bike, your cadence doesn’t need to be as high.

“Because I’ve got that track background, and most people who ride pennies don’t, that gives me an advantage.”

Wilmot hoped to break both male and female speed world records.

“The female world record is 38km/h, and the male record is 41.5km/h,” she said.

“In training, I was hitting 42km/h.”