The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1868-10-28
TWO DOLLARS PER. ANNUM.
Thr Velecipede.

TIE veIocipede seems destined to come into
use in this city, though it will not soon attain
4 here the vogue it has reached in France. Our
streets are too narrow and too crowded, and
we have few broad, smooth avenues afording
the opportunity of employing it extensively
4 as means Of exercise and health. Still, it
is so attractive and facilitating, developing 80
much strength and skill, and afording SO great
amusement to the rider, that its votaries and
| students must become numerous.
The only artistic velocipedes consists Of
two wheels, the one directly behind the 9th
er, and connected together by light iron
frame work. The fore wheel is usually a
little higher Of the two. Where great speed
is aimed at, its diameter may be made as great
as four feet, while that Of the hind wheel
should hardly exceed two feet and eight or
| ten inches In most of those that have been
seen in this city the two wheels have been
pretty nearly equal, with diameter Of about
| two feet and four inches se .et1il az
The propeling force is applied through
! treadles, which are fixed toethe fore Wheel
The rider drives himself by the alternate ac-
ton OF his. feet upon these treadlss. The
motion OF the feet is not unlike that in rapid
walking. The rider sits upon little saddle
just over the fore part of the hind wheel and ,
guides his ,yelooipede by turning the fore.
wheel to either side This is done by means
Of stiff iron rod which rises from the axle
and has cross bar at the top that is held by
both handslof the rider. 9sai & sq it. a'fa
The first art of the velocipede is to keep,
your balance. This is not unlike the same
operation in skating, 1t can only be acquir-
ed by practice The more rapid the motion,
the easier it is to keepithe machine upright
In velocipode contests in Paris prizes have
been given to the slowest rider. 49,. ,...s. IL.
With wheels of small diameter, the rider
stops himself by putting his foot to the ground
With high wheels, he checks his speed with
a brake, and descends to the earth by sinclin-
ing to. one side till the foot touches. - In
mounting with high wheels, a skilful practi-
TONER starts his velocipedc with push, and
springs into the saddle, as We have watched
Richard O'Gorinan mount horse at speed.
The, most beautiful velocipedesz that we
have seen have been French, but several car
riagge makers in this city are engaged in build
ing them. They promise machines much su-
perior to any from Paris. The Halons, who
have given ivelocpede exhibitions in New
England, profess to have made some improve,
ments upon the French structure. -
Is there her any danger in using this curious
apparatus Experience alone can tell how
much danger there is. A skilful rider can
guide himself in a crowd of persons without
running against them; but all riders cannot
he skiliul, On a smooth course the speed Of
twelve miles an hour can easily be made, and
With a'iour-foot driving wheel twenty miles
will not be difficult. But that can only Sd
done upon a1hard and even surface. The Z
rough payements Of New York are qnfayora-
bic to much speed. .''i' ''e1
We know a gentleman, who takes exercise
with one Of these machines every evening,
and goes from Thirty fifth street to- the Bat
terry in ten minutes; but he has to wind about
= good deal in search Of a suitable roadway.
The Commissioners of che Central Park
ought at once to open a course for the use Of
ve9ocipedists, or admit them to the carriage
drive, under proper restrictions.-N Y. ,SuN.