John Kemp Starley created the Rover safety bicycle in Coventry in 1885. Its frame and chain-driven rear wheel already resemble a bicycle we would recognise today. The successful design became a model for other manufacturers.
By the late 1870s, designers were looking for ways to bring riders closer to the ground. Chain drive allowed wheels of similar size while retaining pedal propulsion. The new arrangement helped cycling become popular with both men and women.
The museum object also reveals differences from today: the 1885 Rover in the London collection has solid rubber tyres. Its sprung saddle was remade in 1961, a reminder that a historic exhibit can also carry traces of later restoration.
The Rover story offers a different way to look at an everyday bicycle. Materials, brakes and gears keep changing, yet the familiar connection between pedals, chain and rear wheel still serves a simple purpose: turning human movement into a journey.