A ride through the evolution of the bicycle (Part 3)

1881 HB Smith Star
The U.S.-made Star bicycle, introduced in 1881, represents one of the more unusual responses to the safety risks that the high-wheeled Ordinary posed. In essence, this machine was a “reversed” Ordinary, with a large 48-inch driving wheel at the back, and a small 22-inch steering wheel at the front. 

Having the small wheel in front made headers less likely, while having the centre of gravity between the wheels offered better lateral balance. Although steadier, because there was so little weight on the small front wheel, steering was uncertain.

Slipping sideways on wet pavement was another potential danger. And although it was difficult to go over the handlebars, if you were unlucky, this bike could still tip over backwards.

Third, the Facile employed a relatively large 25-inch rear wheel. Its size meant it could roll over stones or other obstructions, rather than skipping to the side, causing you to crash. 

Finally, the Facile used “sun and planet” gearing to make up for its small driving wheel. With this arrangement, as one gear circled the other, the rim turned more than once. By “gearing up” you could get the equivalent drive that was possible with a wheel as large as 57 inches. The result was a safer ride without being forced to sacrifice speed.

True Safety Bicycles

In the 1890s, bicycle manufacturers standardized production around the design of the diamond frame Safety Bicycle. They added the pneumatic tire, providing a ride that was faster and more comfortable than ever. They applied techniques of mass production, making bicycles cheaper than ever.

The result was a world-wide bicycle craze in which millions of men, women, and children went cycling for the first time.

1887 Rudge Safety
Between 1885 and 1890, dozens of manufacturers produced bicycles like this Rudge Safety of 1887. These machines were known as “crossframes,” a word that referred to the straight backbone that ran from the steering tube to the rear hub, crossed at right angles by the seat tube extending down to the crank bracket. 
 
Other than the frame, this safety looks like a modern bike. It has two 28 inch wheels and rear wheel chain drive. The front forks, though hinged, are steered directly through the handle bars. It’s low to the ground, easy to balance, and hard to take a header over the handle bars.

One problem with this design was the overly-sensitive steering, caused by the short wheel base. Indeed, the wheels are so close together that the seat tube had to be curved to go around the back wheel. Another problem was the very rough ride caused by the small wheels with their solid rubber tires.
 

What was new was the “diamond frame,” named for the shape made by the tubes stretching from the handlebars to the seat, from the seat to the rear hub, from the hub to the cranks, and from the cranks back up to the handlebars. Compared to a present-day frame, the only thing missing was a seat tube between the saddle and the cranks.

Men could ride this bicycle. Women could ride it. Kids could ride it. It was easy to balance, and it was also fast, setting records in 1886 that were beyond those of the tallest Ordinaries. The major difference between the Rover and today’s bike was the rough ride it gave, which came from its relatively small wheels and hard rubber tires.
 

1900 Gendron Safety
This Gendron Safety Bicycle reflects almost every aspect of the cycling experience that was related to the diamond frame Safety Bicycle by 1900. You rode this bike just as you would today’s single-speed bicycle: by grabbing the handlebars with both hands, putting one foot on the left pedal and pushing off with the other until you gained enough momentum to swing your right leg over the saddle. Once in the seat, you steered the front wheel directly through the forks, and powered the back wheel using pedals and a chain drive.

With a large gear at the front and a small gear at the back, you could make good speed. With pneumatic tires on both wheels, your ride was quite smooth. Thanks to its Hercules "coaster brake" hub, you could coast without the pedals turning and brake by jamming the pedals backwards. 

But even on a seemingly standard Safety Bicycle there could be a twist. On the Gendron it was its wooden rims. Wooden rims were often favoured by North American manufacturers because they were light, strong, and cheap to make. Far from outdated, they represented the continuing search for improvements to the riding experience that played such an important role in the evolution of the bicycle in the nineteenth century.