What critical mechanical innovation defined the arrival of the safety bicycle?

Answer

The introduction of the chain drive transferring power to the rear wheel.

The fundamental technological leap that enabled the safety bicycle to supersede the penny-farthing was the implementation of the chain drive. This system allowed the power generated by the pedals, which were now positioned centrally (no longer fixed to the driving wheel), to be transferred via a linked chain mechanism to the rear wheel. This decoupling of the power input from the drive wheel's size was revolutionary. It meant that speed could be managed and increased through mechanical advantage, or gearing, rather than solely relying on the diameter of the wheel. This innovation solved the core dilemma of maximizing speed without forcing the rider into an impossibly high position.

What critical mechanical innovation defined the arrival of the safety bicycle?

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