What did the chain drive mechanism allow the safety bicycle to decouple?
Answer
The wheel size from the pedaling mechanism.
The introduction of the chain drive fundamentally altered the relationship between how fast the rider pedaled and how fast the wheel turned. On the penny-farthing, wheel size dictated travel distance per revolution because the pedals were directly attached to the hub—a direct drive. The chain drive system broke this direct dependency. Power from the centrally located pedals was routed via the chain to the rear wheel, allowing engineers to use gearing ratios to achieve high speeds even with wheels of similar, smaller sizes. Speed was thus governed by the mechanical advantage provided by the gearing system, establishing the foundation for modern bicycle propulsion.
Related Questions
Why was the Victorian high-wheeler machine better known as the penny-farthing?What dictated the top speed achievable on a penny-farthing due to its direct-drive system?What infamous, high-risk failure mode was common to the high-wheeler design?What structural aspect of the penny-farthing made the rider prone to the 'header' hazard?How did penny-farthing riders attempt to slow down without modern braking systems?What critical mechanical innovation defined the arrival of the safety bicycle?What did the chain drive mechanism allow the safety bicycle to decouple?How did the geometry of the safety bicycle significantly improve rider stability?What societal shift in purpose did the safety bicycle represent compared to the high-wheeler?Which famous advocate believed the safety bicycle did more to emancipate women than anything else in the world?