What crucial component construction technique was introduced during the penny-farthing era?
Answer
Wire spokes
The dominance of the penny-farthing in the 1870s and 1880s dictated a significant step up in manufacturing quality, particularly concerning wheel construction. To handle the stresses of the large front wheel and improve overall efficiency, manufacturers introduced wire spokes into the wheel design. This innovation, coupled with the shift towards solid rubber tires replacing the harsher iron tires of the velocipede era, represented a substantial technological elevation in metalworking skill required to produce viable bicycles.
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