He may have cycled around the world on his penny farthing, but for Greenwich cyclist Joff Summerfield, nothing beats the thrill of racing around the City of London against other penny farthing riders.

Summerfield, 49, took two-and-a-half-years to complete his solo journey around the world, but the rider will be in action for just ten laps of a 1.3km circuit around London on June 10.

The Rapha Nocturne is a festival of cycling that sees nine races contested before the elite men’s and women’s criteriums get under way as night falls on the street circuit through the heart of London.

Riding past St Paul’s Cathedral and the Bank of England, Summerfield will hope to be on the top of the podium at the end of the penny farthing race – even though he admits to not being the fastest rider in the field.

“The best I’ve done is third place. I always hopefully try and do better, but there are people who are faster than me,” he confided at the launch of the 2017 Rapha Nocturne, at the Rapha Clubhouse in Spitalfields.

“They’re more dedicated to their training than I am. But this year might be my year, you never know.

“But it’s just a fantastic event and I cannot wait for the race to begin. The best thing about the Rapha Nocturne is the fact that it’s a bringing together of all different veins of cyclists.

“You’ve got the top guys, professional riders, the amateurs on crazy bikes like us, everyone comes together in a fantastic free event.

“It’s brilliant for the City of London and London as a whole as well.

“It’s just a fantastic event and everyone should come and see it, because you won’t see anything else like it in the world.”

Summerfield began racing his penny farthing at the Knutsford Great Race in 2000 and even travelled to Tasmania in Australia in 2006 to race there.

However, despite his globe-trotting, Summerfield, who makes his own bikes and is part of a video production company specialising in 360 degree video, said London is still the best place to race.

“Because of the Nocturne, other events around the world have started from seeing what a great event this is,” he added.

“Penny farthings admittedly are an accident waiting to happen, and then a group of them is a disaster waiting to happen, but that’s part of the fun and passion.

“Everyone knows each other, so is careful. But people in our race especially, really do race, it’s not a parade, people love it, it’s quite a spectacle.”

The Rapha London Nocturne – a unique free to attend festival of cycling featuring the world’s most prestigious Criterium race – is coming to the City of London on 10 June. Visit www.raphanocturne.com for further information.