It was a hill too far for Oliver Briggs.
The New Zealand penny-farthing hill climb champion attempted to ride his penny-farthing up the world's steepest street, Baldwin St, yesterday and almost ended up coming a cropper.
The 30-year-old Oamaru resident said he failed to cycle very far up the street, which has a gradient of 1:2.86 at its steepest part.
''I did as well as could be expected, which was not very far up.''
He said the wet weather hindered his success because he had his treadless racing slicks on and the wheel lost traction.
''I made it up the hill, just past where the tarseal turns into concrete.
''It started slipping, so I gracefully dismounted. I think the hill has beaten me on this occasion.''
Mr Briggs said he attempted the climb to raise awareness of the National Penny Farthing Championships, in Oamaru on Saturday.
