Safety bicycle Facts for Kids

An 1885 Rover safety bicycle in the London Science Museum

An advertisement from 1887 for a safety bicycle

A safety bicycle is a type of bicycle that became super popular in the late 1880s. It was a new and safer option compared to the older penny-farthing bikes. Today, most bicycles you see look a lot like these early safety bikes.

They were called "safety bicycles" because they were much safer than the tall, hard-to-ride penny-farthings. Even though bikes today use a similar design, we don't usually call them "safety bicycles" anymore. That name is mostly used when talking about old bikes.

How the Safety Bicycle Changed Riding
- The Rover Bicycle and Its Success
- Safety Bicycles in America
Why Safety Bikes Were Better
What Makes a Safety Bike a Safety Bike?
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How the Safety Bicycle Changed Riding

An 1880 penny-farthing (left) and an 1886 Rover safety bicycle (right)

The first bike called a "safety" was designed by an English engineer named Harry John Lawson in 1876. Before this, bikes like the penny-farthing were very common. Penny-farthings had one giant front wheel and a tiny back wheel. They were fun but also quite dangerous!

Lawson's safety bike was different. Riders could easily reach the ground with their feet, making it simple to stop. The pedals powered the back wheel, which kept the rider's feet away from the front wheel. This was a big change from the penny-farthing, where you pedaled the front wheel directly.

Lawson's first safety bike used a system called "treadles." Later, in 1879, he used a chain drive. This was a new and important technology that helped bikes become much better. However, Lawson's early safety bikes were more expensive and heavier, so they didn't become popular right away.

The Rover Bicycle and Its Success

In 1885, a man named John Kemp Starley created the first truly successful safety bicycle. He called it the Rover. This bike was heavier and cost more than a penny-farthing. But it was lighter and cheaper than the three-wheeled bikes (tricycles) that were popular at the time.

The Rover bike was a huge hit! It helped make cycling popular for many more people.

Safety Bicycles in America

The Overman Wheel Company was the first company to make safety bicycles in the United States. They started in 1882 in Chicopee, Massachusetts. By the end of 1887, they were already making safety bikes.

Overman bikes were known for being made entirely of steel. Their "Victor" bicycle was thought to be very good quality and lighter than other bikes of its time. By 1893, the Overman factory made every part of the bike, even the tires and seats!

In Australia, an engineer named Reginald Blunt also designed and built a safety bike in Brisbane, Queensland. This bike was used for racing instead of the penny-farthing.

Why Safety Bikes Were Better

The safety bicycle was a huge improvement over the penny-farthing.

Chain Drive: The chain drive was key. It connected a large gear at the pedals to a small gear on the back wheel. This meant the pedals could turn many times to make the small wheels go fast. You no longer needed a giant front wheel to go fast.
Smaller Wheels: With the chain drive, bikes could have two much smaller wheels. At first, this made the ride a bit bumpy. But then, pneumatic tires (tires filled with air) were invented. These soft tires made the ride smooth and comfortable.
Safer Riding: On a penny-farthing, the rider sat very high up, right over the front wheel. This made it easy to fall head-first over the handlebars, which was called "taking a header." The safety bicycle had a low center of mass (the balance point) between the two wheels. This made it much harder to fall over.
More Popular for Everyone: Because safety bikes were so much safer, more people could ride them. Before, cycling was mostly for young, daring men. Now, it became popular for women and anyone who wanted a safer way to get around.
Better than Tricycles: Compared to tricycles, safety bikes were lighter, simpler, and cheaper.

The popularity of the safety bicycle grew quickly. It soon became more popular than penny-farthings and tricycles combined. This led to a huge "bike boom" in the 1890s!

What Makes a Safety Bike a Safety Bike?

Safety bicycles usually have two wheels that are the same size, or very close to the same size. They also have a chain that powers the back wheel.

The most common type of frame for a safety bicycle looks like two triangles joined together. This is called a diamond frame. Another type of frame is the step-through frame, which is easier to get on and off, especially for people wearing dresses.

Even though there are many different kinds of bikes today, most of them still use this basic design. The main exception is recumbent bicycles, where the rider sits back in a reclined position.