Blog Single

In the long history of bicycle development, the emergence of safety bicycles is undoubtedly a milestone event, and the story between it and women’s cycling is a legend full of changes and breakthroughs.

In the 19th century, the design of traditional bicycles posed many inconveniences and safety hazards to women. The high-wheeled bicycles that were popular at the time had huge front wheels, and riders had to sit high up off the ground, making it difficult to get on and off the bicycles. If they were not careful, they could fall and get seriously injured. This design made it impossible for women to enjoy the fun of riding, let alone use bicycles as a daily means of transportation.

This situation was not completely broken until 1885, when the British Rover factory produced the first “safety bicycle”. The safety bicycle was driven by a chain, with two wheels of the same size, and its design was more stable and easier to control. Its appearance was like opening a door to the world of free riding for women

Angeline Allen’s 1893 ride became an iconic event. She rode a safety bike in the suburbs of New York City. It was a normal ride, but it caused a huge sensation because she was a woman. Men’s magazines reported it with the headline “She was wearing pants!” At the time, people focused more on the unconventional clothing she wore when riding a bike as a woman, rather than the revolutionary significance of the bike itself. This phenomenon indirectly reflects that the emergence of the safety bike is not only an innovation in bicycle design, but also a shock to traditional social concepts.

Before that, women’s travel was subject to many restrictions, and their activities were often limited to the vicinity of their homes. The popularity of safe bicycles has given women unprecedented freedom of movement. They can ride bicycles to go farther, whether to school, work or socialize. Bicycles have become a powerful assistant for women to expand their living radius. At the same time, cycling also allows women to feel the strength of their bodies and the joy of exercise, which has played a positive role in promoting the physical and mental health of women.

As more and more women join the cycling team, society’s view of women is also quietly changing. Women are no longer defined as just appendages of the family. The confidence and vitality they show in public have made people begin to re-examine women’s abilities and values. Safety bicycles have become a symbol of women’s pursuit of equal rights and free life, leaving a strong mark in the process of the women’s liberation movement.

Today, safety bicycles have become a common means of transportation in people’s lives, and women riding them is no longer a new thing. But looking back on this period of history, we can still deeply feel the great changes that safety bicycles have brought to women. It has not only changed the way women travel, but also promoted the progress and development of society to a certain extent.