What crucial component did John Kemp Starley's 1885 Rover safety bicycle introduce?
Answer
Chain drive to the rear wheel
The transition to practical gearing began seriously with the development of the safety bicycle. John Kemp Starley's *Rover*, introduced in 1885, fundamentally changed bicycle design by featuring equally sized wheels, a steerable front wheel, and most significantly, establishing the **chain drive to the rear wheel**. This innovation moved the ability to manage gear ratios away from being directly coupled to the wheel hub (as seen in high-wheelers) and into the drivetrain itself, positioning the rider between the wheels for improved balance, which made the management of sprockets and chains feasible.
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