Cycling History: What Was The “Safety Bicycle”?

By the late 19th century, cycling’s popularity was booming. However, the bikes of the day were far removed from anything that’d look familiar to a modern cyclist. The penny farthing reigned supreme – and while it was a vast improvement on its predecessor, the “boneshaker”, it’s design still left a lot to be desired. Before … Read more

What is a Penny Farthing Bicycle?

A penny-farthing is the iconic Victorian-era bicycle (1870s–1880s) with a giant front wheel (50–60 inches in diameter) and a tiny rear wheel — named after the British penny and farthing coins, which were similarly sized. The huge front wheel was direct-drive (pedals attached to the hub), so a single pedal revolution moved the bike forward … Read more