AVID cyclist Alex Orchin completed Sunday’s London to Brighton Bike Ride in the most unconventional way.

Forget about regular road bikes – this 28-year-old cruised on to Madeira Drive to complete the 54-mile trip on his cherished penny farthing.

Alex, from Wivelsfield Green near Haywards Heath, contacted The Argus after seeing a video we posted of him racing for the finish line along the seafront on the Victorian bicycle.

He said: “I bought my penny farthing when I was about 17 or 18 from a chap in the Czech Republic.

“I always wanted to do the London to Brighton on it but have never got round to it.

“I have got an interest in old cars and vehicles and that’s why I bought it. I don’t own any modern vehicles.”

Alex is an “odd jobs man” and when he is working in a shop he cycles there on his penny farthing.

He also uses his 1917 Ford car in his work as a chauffeur.

He did the London to Brighton trek with his friend Peter Sinclair, who rode alongside him on a 1929 Raleigh bike.

The two managed to complete the annual race in an admirable time of about eight and a half hours.

However, they did have to stop a number of times, including when they reached the testing Ditchling Beacon.

“I don’t think anyone could make it up the Beacon on a penny farthing,” Alex said.

“It was pretty hard going.

“Getting up hills was a struggle and when you are on a flat the big wheel gets a lot of momentum so you have to make sure you don’t lose control.”

It certainly made for good entertainment, too, as Alex and Peter stood out among the pack of 16,000 cyclists, which included former England goalkeeper David Seaman.

Alex said: “I had a huge amount of support from all the cyclists and made thousands of people happy that day – those taking part and those watching it, too.”