The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1868-11-25
Concerning yeloeipedes.

IudQ6 IL lCUO. II Who 4" AoiieOt 90 ~
as practicability was concerned, the
labor of propelling it, as it was ther
constructed, overbalanced the pleasure
of the rider. 1t was introduced in Paris
where the two-wheeled velocipede il
the rage now. Tradition has it that q
velocipede was exhibited as early as
1899, in Paris, that required two per
sons to manage it, and which was
driven at a wonderful speed. All at
tempts to bring these inventions into
general use failed however. Now velo.
cipedes are common affairs in France
They no longer excite attention or re-
mark, except as their drivers exhibit
rare dexterity and ease in their manage
ment. The velocipede of to-day and
that of 1903 and 1890 are entirely diff,
ferent affairs; one is as neat and light
as the other was cumbrous aad heavy.
No extra strength is required to propel
the modern velocipede; all that is re-
quired is practice. An account says:
"When one first sees a two wheeled
veloeipede one naturally supposes that
to maintain ones equilibrium upon its
narrow back, supported by still mar
rover base, is physical impossibility;
but after little practice according to
the following rules laid down by one of
the NEST skillful byciclic operators in
France, the feat is found to be exceed
ingly easy to perform. He says:
"Walk behind your iron horse, lead
ing it as it were, with your hand so as
to familiarize yourself with its meve-
ments. This will be an affair Of only
few minutes. Then commence with it
on a slope, and after mounting it let it
move forward of its own accord, while
you occupy yourself in studying the
effects produced by the inclination
which you give to the balancing pole
or tiller. When you thoroughly under
stand the action of this, place one foot
to the pedal, and follow its movements
without assisting them. The difficulty
with beginners is to restrain the unnec-
essary expenditure of muscular force;
they ordinarily peform ten times the
labor that is requisite. To alight, both
feet are raised from the pedals at the
same instant, which has the effect Of
slackening the speed of the machine.
The feet are then placed simultaneously
on the ground, the tiller still being
firmly held by both hands"
In France the speed attained by the
reloce under the guidance of an adept,
averages from II to 13 miles an hour.
On the 2lst of September, according to
the Paris journals, party of nine reloce
riders left Roueu early in the morning,
and arrived in Paris in time for dinner,
having made the 81 miles in eight
hours.
The demand for the two wheeled ve-
locipede in this country is already very
great and is said to be increasing Hen
ry Ward Beecher, Charles A. Dana, Mr..
Edw ards, editor of the Northwestern
Christian 4drOOate, Mr.. Morris, of the
firm of Morris, Tasker Il Co., and num-
ber of other well-known gentlemen, are
dcvoting their energies to excelling as
velocipedists. a writer who ex-
u VI u d uCCluCu III huNO-
eating tho morits of tho tmu-wheeled
velocipede sums up its good "points" in
the following manner:
1t coats but little to purchase, and
still less to keep. 1t does not, like one
mentioned by an old hiGto-
rian, eat cart loads of hay, with carts,
horses and drivers as relish, just to
amuse Louis de Debonnaire, or any
other sovereign. 1t does not, like Je-
shurun, wax fat and kick. 1t is easy to
handle, and cannot stand alone, but is
independent only with a burden on its
back. 1t never "rares up" 1t won't
bite. 1t needs no check-rein or halter,
or any other unnatural restraint. 1t is
light and little; let alone, it will lean
lovingly against the nearest support.
1t never flies off in tangent unless
badly managed, and under no
will it shy at any
thing, 1t is not ludicrous
like the young mule, nor does it,
like the Morgan colt, cut up in ridic
ulously corybantic manner, nor does it
in other ways disgrace TIE memory of
its inventor. In its movements it is all
grace. Its one gait is so uniform and
easy, and beautiful to look at, and sim
pie to analyze, that it would be a shame
to speak of trot in the same breath.
When its driver driveth furiously, even
as did Jehu, the son of Nimsi, then
there may be danger to him who OBJ
structs the way and will not make
room for the flying steed. But other
wise, not. So, let US hope that at no
time shall just growl go up against
the bicycle or the tricycle., on account