John Kemp Starley demonstrates the Rover safety bicycle

Background. Coventry became a center for the British bicycle industry due to its skilled workforce, which attracted James Starley. His nephew, John Kemp Starley, worked with him to create safer alternatives to the penny-farthing. By 1883, their products were branded as 'Rover'. The term 'safety bicycle' referred to designs safer than high-wheelers, eventually becoming the standard for modern bicycles.

Design. The Rover safety bicycle introduced a design with two equal-sized wheels and a chain drive, distinguishing it from earlier safety bicycles that often used front-drives. In 1885, most cataloged safety bicycles used front-drives, making Starley's chain-rear-drive design a significant innovation. It was heavier than penny-farthings but lighter and cheaper than contemporary tricycles.

Legacy. The Rover safety bicycle is often regarded as the icon of safety bicycles and the first true modern bicycle. Starley is credited as the inventor of the modern safety bicycle and the originator of the 'Rover' tradename. The design replaced the penny-farthing and became the most common type of bicycle, though the term 'safety' is now obsolete.