California Bicycle Museum

The high-wheel bicycle evolved from the boneshakers through two principal advances: The first incorporated design improvements spawned by boneshaker racing. Cyclists knew that a larger front wheel would be faster, and they discovered through experimentation that the rear wheel could be made smaller. The second area of innovation included manufacturing improvements through mass production in factories, metallurgy improvements with lighter and stronger steel tubing, and engineering advances—most notably the mechanized production of steel ball-bearings.

Although popular, the high-wheel bicycle did have a major design problem. With the rider perched high above the front wheel, any sudden stop could launch the rider forward and over the handlebars in a devastating crash that soon became known as a “header.” Designers attacked this problem by offering a treadle drive that would place the rider’s weight lower and further back. Tricycles and tandem tricycles (with chain drive) soon evolved as a safer alternative, and in 1880 the Star bicycle—also called the “safety high wheel”—placed the small wheel in the front of the machine to solve the header problem.

Clark “New Rapid” Ordinary ~ 1889

“Ordinaries”, also called “high wheels” or “penny-farthings” ruled the 1880s. This type was not as hard to mount and ride as it appears. They were also comfortable, fast and reliable. Thomas Stevens gained fame by riding one around the world, starting and finishing in San Francisco between August, 1884 and December 1886. Note the “spoon brake” and the odometer suspended from the front hub. The spokes were “tied and soldered” as much to prevent rider injury in case of spoke breakage as it was done to strengthen the wheel.

Manufacturer: Clark Cycle Co.

Location: Baltimore, Maryland

Museum Collection

University of California