Wrist & Hand Guards:
I know many PF cyclists, and I’m the only one who wears wrist guards. My logic with protective equipment as a cyclist who rides a Penny-Farthing almost daily on busy roads is that no matter how careful and skilled I might be, I have no control over random motorists who might strike me or cause me to wreck. If you dump on tar from 5 feet you could really hammer your hands & wrists bracing for a fall. Break your hands and wrists, you’re probably facing 6 months on the bench- at least. These wrist guards are not very cumbersome and don’t restrict hand movement. However they are a bit pricey. But if you smash your hands up, you’ll be off of work for a long, LONG time, the cost of which will exceed the cost of the hand/wrist guards. Wrist guards are not terribly cumbersome and I don’t even notice them cycling anymore. It’s a no-effort solution that could save you from a serious injury so no real downside to wearing them but HUGE upside.
Fox Titan Jacket:
When you’re beginning, being padded-up isn’t a bad thing as you’re most at-risk of making an error. Fox Racing sells a Mountain Biking jacket with all the pads built into it. Takes 2 seconds to put effective armour on and as a practical matter it doesn’t encumber you.
This jacket is comfortable, doesn’t restrict motion and will save you from serious blunt-force trauma in a fall or a collision. I was wearing this when I caught a bad pothole cycling up a hill and did a headover. The spine of the PF was seriously damaged, but I wasn’t. I definitely recommend this jacket when starting out learning to ride a Penny-Farthing. I sourced mine HERE