The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1868-11-13
From the N. z. Sun.
The E'eE0ctpede .- /.

| 800 1~D0~4~@~~~ t. 3
The velocipede seems destined to come
into use in this city, though it will not soon
attain here the vogue it has reached in
France. Our streets are too narrow and
too crowded, and we have few broad,
smooth avenues affording the opportunity
of employing it extensively as means of
exercise and health. Still it is so attract
i've and fascinating, developing so much
strength and skill, and affording so great
amusement to the rider, that its votaries
and students must become numerous
The only. artistic velocipedes consist of
two wheels, the one directly behind the
other, and connected together by light
iron frame work. The fore wheel is usual
ly little the 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 a diameter of about two feet and four
inches. iH#. sa ~ :,
The propelling force is applied through
treadles, which are fixed to the fore wheel.
/ The rider drives himself by the alternate
action of his feet upon these treadles. The
motion of the feet is not unlike that in rap
id walking. The rider sits upon little
saddle just over the fore part of the hind
wheel. He guides his velocipede by turn
ing the fore wheel to either side. This is
done by means of q stiff iron rod which
rises from the axle, and has a cross bar at
the top that is held by both hands of the
rider. '!-h I" :"
The first art of the Velocipede ia to keep
laola Thsa ID ,,f
operation in skating. 1t eau only be &C
quired by practice. The more rapid the
notion the easier it is to keep the machine
upright, -
In velocipede contests in Paris prizes
have been given to the slowest rider.
With wheels of small diameter, the rider
stops himself by putting his feet to the
ground. With high wheels, he checks his
speed with brake, and descends to the
earth by inclining to one side till the foot
skillful practitioner starts his velocipede
with push and then springs into the sad
die, as we have watched Richard O'Gor-
man mount horse at speed. n. ..... E,
The most beautiful velocipedes that we
have seen have been French, but several
carriage makers in this city are engaged in
Auohih5 ehOhi' &hcJ PAo"toC hi"CnAuCc
much superior to any from Paris. The
Hanlons who have given velocipede exhi-
billions in New England, profess to have
made sowp improvement upon the French
structure. -' ~
Is there any danger in using this curious
apparatus Experience alone can tell how
much danger there is. A skilful rider can
guide himself in crowd of persons with
out running against them but all riders
cannot be skilful. Ona smooth course the
speed of twelve miles an hour can easily be
made, and with four foot driving wheel
twenty viii not be difficult But that car,
only be done upon hard and even surface.
The rough pavements of New York are un-
favorable to much speed. ..l, s-,, ....ss. y
We know q gentleman, who takes exer-
else with one of these machines every
evening, and goes from Thirty-fifth street
to the battery in ten minutes, but he has to
wind about good deal in search of a suit
able roadway. si,Y u sandal a.,l -sIs
The Commissioners of the Central Park
ought at once to open q course for the use
of velecipedists or to admit them to the
carriage drive, under proper restrictions. 4