The first Penny farthing was invented in by British engineer, James Starley. The Penny Farthing came after the development of the 'Hobbyhorse', and the French 'Velocipede' or 'Boneshaker', all versions of early bikes. However, the Penny Farthing was the first really efficient bicycle, consisting of a small rear wheel and large front wheel pivoting on a simple tubular frame with tires of rubber. The Wheelmen embrace a broad range of bicycle-related activities, centered on the historical aspects of cycling.
Such activities include riding in parades, tours and demonstrations, holding rides, participating in events to promote modern cycling, displaying bikes and memorabilia, research, writing and publishing cycle history, collecting bicycle literature and memorabilia, restoring cycles, restoring and recreating uniforms and costumes, recreating grand dance balls, picnics, developing buglers, show and tell meets, swap meets, auctions, slide shows, visiting historic sites and museums, and learning trick riding.
The Tricycle Era, — While the Ordinary had become popular with young men, it was not a practical mode of transportation for most people. Manufacturers set out to capture this bigger market through a multitude of different tricycles. Frequently using the latest technologies, tricycles made it possible for many men and women to go cycling for the first time. Many inventions that were integral to the development of modern safety bicycles, such as continuous chain drive systems, ball and roller bearings, tangential spokes, and gearing systems came about during the Tricycle era.
To ride the Rotary you clambered over the tubular steel frame onto the seat, put your hands on the grips and used your feet to pedal the cranks. This turned the chain — it was the first use of a chain drive in cycling — which, in turn, drove the large inch wheel. It was his Ariel that had established the pattern of the popular high-wheeled Ordinary.
Starley was well aware that many more people wanted to ride than were willing to risk injury on a high-wheeler. For them, he designed the Coventry Rotary, which was the first commercially successful Tricycle. With three wheels and a relatively long wheelbase, you didn't have to learn how to balance. Headers were unlikely. The metal wheels and hard rubber tires absorbed road vibration.
Average speed was only a little slower than that of the Ordinary — and it had a brake. Unfortunately, as with most tricycles, steering was somewhat erratic.
And despite the stability offered by three wheels, cornering could be dangerous. You had to be very careful to reduce your speed and shift your weight as you turned. One problem was the tendency of machines with one driving wheel to turn in that direction as you pedalled, which made for erratic steering. To remedy this, the Devon had two chain drives to power both wheels.
A second problem was that the outside wheel had to travel further than the inside wheel as you turned, which meant that two wheels had to travel at two different speeds. If not, the inner wheel would jam and the Tricycle would turn over. To solve this problem, the Devon had a ratchet system that disengaged one wheel as you turned. A third difficulty with Tricycles was that going up or down hills involved shifting your weight forwards or backwards, meaning that you were no longer in the most efficient posture for pedalling.
The Devon was designed with an unusual pivoting swing frame, intended to keep you in the perfect pedalling position. This made tipping over while turning much less likely. Partly because of the ride, partly because the balance gear eliminated an extra chain, and partly because of the chain guard, the Salvo was the vehicle that opened cycling up to respectable women for first time. So respectable were these machines that Queen Victoria bought two.
Though these machines would soon by eclipsed by the faster, more stable, safety bicycle, the designs we use today are very much in debt to this experimental tricycle period. She has worked with cultural media, research, and virtual exhibit companies, and enjoys bringing history, education, and technology together. New Cars. Buyer's Guide. Type keyword s to search.
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