Debate rages over the starting point of the bicycle, butmost experts agree that the nineteenth century was the great era for the development of the bike. British cycle-maker John Kemp Starley (1855-1901) claimed the safety bicycle as his invention, first demonstrating it in 1885. Questions have been raised over Starley's right to this invention as other similar models appeared around the same time, but his version was undoubtedly the best. Starley's Rover Safety model featured spoked wheels of almost equal size, a diamond-type frame, J. H. Lawson's recent invention of the chain-drive (which powered the rear wheel), and an easily adjusted seat and handlebar.
The word "safety" was used here for a reason. Previous bicycles were perilous contraptions, especially the penny-farthing (developed by Starley's uncle, James Starley) that immediately preceded the Rover. The penny-farthing's giant front wheel and tiny rear one made it a strange-looking device, with riders perched precariously a long way off the ground. The safety bike was a more sensible height and its design and weight distribution were far better balanced.
The new bike featured tangentially spoked wheels—one of James Starley's innovations—but hard rubber tires still made for an uncomfortable ride. When John Dunlop's pneumatic tires were incorporated, however, the safety bicycle became a massive hit. It was also less costly than its predecessors, allowing cycling to become a more widespread activity. Many refinements in the bicycle have since taken place, significantly with the advent of the mountain bike in California during the 1970s.
