What early adjustment required a cyclist to stop and flip the rear wheel to change gear ratios?
Answer
Physically detaching the rear wheel and exposing a second sprocket.
Early attempts at mechanical advantage before integrated systems often mandated a complete stop. One rudimentary method involved the cyclist physically dismounting the rear wheel, turning it around to expose a secondary, differently sized sprocket, and then remounting the wheel. While this provided a choice between two fixed gear ratios, it was an extremely inconvenient process that strongly favored riding only on flat terrain, as stopping to switch gears regularly was impractical for varied cycling.
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