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During the 1880s cycle makers were experimenting with ways of making bicycles safer than the Penny Farthing or High Wheel Bicycle. In Coventry, John Kemp Starley developed the Rover safety bicycle, which proved to be the most important of these safety bicycle developments. Its design was adopted by all bicycle makers and it became the blue print for all bicycle design until very recently.

It features elements of the bicycle which today we take for granted, but at the time were revolutionary. The most important of these elements are; chain drive to the rear wheel, a diamond shape frame, wheels of the same size, direct steering to the front wheel and a comfortable and ergonomically efficient seating position..

The Museum’s Rover safety is from 1888 and shows a mid stage in the development of the bicycle. Its Iconic status is obvious, without this machine we would not have the bicycle we all recognise and use today. .

Category: Product , People ,

Institute: Coventry Transport Museum

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