Joff Summerfield has a better view of the world.

Hes seen a lot of it from atop his battered, green high wheel bi-cycle since 2006.

He was on his second trip around the globe when he came through Minnesota last July.

I used to be a race engine builder, said Summerfield, a tan and slender 46-year-old from London, England, wear-ing what he says is a south-

African-style British army pith helmet.

I started cycling for fun and decided to ride from London to Amsterdam in 2000, and I loved it. Then I wanted to make my own bike and the silliest thing I could think of was a penny-farthing. I have made about 50 or 60 of them by now.

He was lighthearted about mishaps on his first 22,000-mile

trip from England south through Europe and across India, China and Australia.

I had a lot of fun on my trip in 2006. I learned that

what you see on television about other countries is only a small slice of reality.

Most people are friendly.Besides being robbed

in his sleep in a camp-ground in Prague and a bout with dysentery from drinking tainted water in Turkey, he

has been unharmed.When youre

on the road, you remember every day, and thats how I want to live, he said.

This time around the globe

he started in To-

by Jan LasarTrails Publisher

ronto, Canada. I am only 1,200 miles into it, said Summerfield, But my best experience so far has been discovering the bike trails in the U.S. and all the lovely people Ive met. Everyone is so friendly.

Hell follow Adventure Cy-clings Northern Tier Route down the Soo Line, Lake Wobe-gon and Central Lakes Trail and turn south toward the tip of South America. Projected arriv-al: October 2015.

It is such a long trip with so many unknowns that it is hard to plan ahead, he said.

The penny-farthing doesnt offer much for comfort.

It is a lot more work than riding a regular bike. Thats why I travel slowly and cover only about 40-50 miles a day, with lots of breaks, he explains. You cannot stand up and give your bottom a rest. There is only one gear, and your pedals are always turning when youre in motion.

Hills are especially hard to climb on a high wheel.

But a hill always goes down on the other side, he said and smiled. Thats a good way to look at life.

Both tires are made of a solid rubber piece Summerfield glued to the rim and stitched together.

For the large tire I cut the tread off of two 700 c tires and glued that on top. The top tread usually lasts about 7,000 miles and I can find replacement tread anywhere in the world, he said.

The spokes are made up of two parts a hub side and a rim side joined in the middle. The hub side is a regular spoke found at any bike shop. The rim side spoke is a custom piece he made himself.

Carry a smile . . .

12 Summer 2015 Minnesota Trails

1505Summer.indd 12 5/5/15 1:26 PM