What was a common manual method for altering ratios before integrated hub solutions existed?

Using two separate chainrings of different sizes on the crankset and manually moving the chain.

In the earliest stages of mechanical solutions for variable speed, before the development of integrated hub systems or functional derailleurs, riders relied on relatively crude manual tricks. One common method involved installing two chainrings of different diameters onto the crankset. To change the gear ratio, the rider had to physically stop the bicycle, often dismount, and manually transfer the chain from the smaller ring to the larger ring, or vice versa. This process was highly inconvenient and often required tools or significant physical effort, underscoring the demand for smoother, integrated shifting solutions.