How did the Rover Safety Bicycle transmit power to the rear wheel?
Answer
Through a chain drive
The move to a chain drive was a transformative mechanical innovation. By using a chain to transmit power to the rear wheel, the bicycle's speed was no longer dependent on the size of the wheel, but rather on the gearing ratio provided by the chain and sprockets. This allowed the rider to sit lower, pedal at a comfortable cadence, and achieve efficient road speeds, effectively decoupling the rider's physical limitations from the size of the front wheel.
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