The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-10-12
SPEED WIN me BICYCLE.
The Modern Machine a Great Improvement
over that OF Eight Years Ago.

An active, graceful young man. dressed in
pea jacket and knee breeches OF light brown
corduroy red stockings and ties. mounted BIZ
cycle In front Of the Everett House Yesterday
afternoon. and started 10 make trip about
Union square. A blue-coated police officer
promptly nabbel him. The young gentleman
rs promptly produced L permit granted by
President Wenmau Of the Park Commiss ioners.
giving him the privilege II exhibiting his ma
chine on the walks Of the square. The officer
graciously allowed the young man TO pass over
the plaza 10 reach the walks OF tho square
proper No sooner had he gone there than u
gray coated polio" OH 'er IN turn captured him.
The traveller again exhibited his permit. Tho
on ger. a fat. comfortable persOn. took the per
init and began slowly ~ spell Il out. The young
man offered TO read il 70 him. but he would not
Whether his failure to make out the contents oi
the permit was reflection upon President
Wenmnn's or his own education was not eN-
planned to the throug. The young nun de-
manded the return of his permit which was for
u month but Onl'er II refused t. give It up
unit khc had gone 10 the Commissioners office
and !earncd It's contents. The young man also
went 10 the Commissioners ONCE. and after the
officer had been enlightened each went his re-
Tho young man. Mr.. Pitman. an amateur
bicycle rider of Boston. had lourneyed 10 this
city to introduce mere the bicycles manuiac-
turrd and imported by the Pope Manufacturing
Company. In Boston the use OF the bicycle has
become popular Two clubs have been estab-
llshed. and there are good riders at Harvard
University.
Ills snid that co. 600 bicycles were made and
sold In England in the last year. Also that ON
one OF them q mile has been made in two min
ut's ana ifty-siN seconds. and that fifty miles
has been made in three hours siN minutes and
forty five seconds. and LOG miles IN seven hours
nfty-c.ght minutes and iiny-four seconds The
bcst tmr made by amateurs is one mile in
three minutes ton seconds 1ity miles In thrce
hours twenty minutes and thirty seven sec
onis. and 2O5 miles over n turnpike road in
twenty-five hours.
The modern Voloc.pede II q great improve
M nt over thutpl seNon or eight years ago The
seat Is placed almost directly over the centre 81
the iru nj wheel. thus allowing the use ~ q much
lrger wheel. Speed i gained. and the ma
chine IA propelled much more easily nnd hy n
motion OF the legs ike walking A notable i'm
prOyrment ~ u tire Of the best OF Rubber.
aud in the shape OF cord nn inch in diameter
fitting into the grooVed steel tire. By this Rd-
dtion the motion Of the machine is made moro
cndurahle. Tho machine Is propelled uu us-
cents with greater case. The objection has been
made against the usr OF bicycles in this country
that the average American road Is too rough
and hilly. New England gentlemen deny this
euy.Hg that they ride where they pleilsc. ascend
ing ordinary hill, with case.
Mr.. Iitman displayed 10 advantage II rapid
machine. and Will do So again to-day on the
grounds nt the New York Athletic Club 1T Mott
Haven. lie will also display II at other places
in this city and in Brooklyn. With the machine
he rides he has made mile in 3 minutes ~
seconds. and five miles in 2l minutcsS : seconds.
He has ridden out 10 Ftcnburg. As miles from
has ridden thirty miles at Il stretch without dis