Safety bicycle

Safety bicycle

The safety bicycle or low safety is a type of bicycle that became very popular beginning in the late 1880s. The first safety, using a diamond frame, was invented by John Kemp Starley in 1885. "Safeties" are characterized by having two wheels of identical - or nearly identical - size, and a chain-driven rear wheel.

The safety bicycle was a big improvement on the previous penny-farthing design which it replaced. The chain drive, coupling a large front cog (the chainring) to a small rear cog (the sprocket) to multiply the revolutions of the pedals, allowed for much smaller wheels, and replaced the need for the large, directly pedaled front wheel of the "penny-farthing" or "high ordinary". The smaller wheel gave a harder ride, thus hastening the replacement of solid tires with pneumatic ones.

With the center of gravity low and between the wheels, rather than high and near the front hub, the Safety greatly diminished the danger of "taking a header" or long fall over the handlebars. This made braking more effective and cycling, previously the reserve of spry, daring young men, safer, and therefore much more popular, especially for women. The same basic design of bicycle is still in common use today.

ee also

*Bicycle frame
*History of the bicycle

External links

* [http://www.makingthemodernworld.org.uk/icons_of_invention/technology/1880-1939/IC.025/ Rover safety bicycle] often thought of as the icon of safety bicycles.


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  • bicycle — Safety bicycle Safety bicycle A bicycle with equal or nearly equal wheels, usually about 28 inches diameter, driven by pedals connected to the rear (driving) wheel by a multiplying gear. Since the 1930 s this has been the most common type of… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Safety — Safe ty, n. [Cf. F. sauvet[ e].] 1. The condition or state of being safe; freedom from danger or hazard; exemption from hurt, injury, or loss. [1913 Webster] Up led by thee, Into the heaven I have presumed, An earthly guest . . . With like safety …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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  • safety lock — Safety Safe ty, n. [Cf. F. sauvet[ e].] 1. The condition or state of being safe; freedom from danger or hazard; exemption from hurt, injury, or loss. [1913 Webster] Up led by thee, Into the heaven I have presumed, An earthly guest . . . With like …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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