Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1881-08-31
NEW SERIES--V0L. %, NO. "a,

found that his pursuit of his profession
had undermined his constitution. The
physicians pronounced him a wreck.
But he was not yet stranded While
there is life there is hope, And he
read in an English work Of the bicycle
and its work, He procured bicycle
with some delay and difficulty, acquired
its mastery and made the first appear
ancc as a bicyclist in the thorough.
fares of the modern Athens--not in
tho heart of Boston, one may be sure
There 10 no chance in the narrow,
crooked streets Of the Club" for
bicycle, but in the wide, pleasant ave.
nues that line the suburbs From the
first, Boston and its people took kindly
TO the wheel, and in a few weeks the
young health'seeklng bicyclist had
many imitators and disciples. The
success of the bicycle was assured.
As a general thing the bicyclist must
be self.taught. The best way to learn
to manage the bicycle is to procure
one, obtain o few hints from "the
knowing ones, and begin by going
down hill or down an inclined plane.
Tho common idea is that the chief
difficulty in learning the management
of the bicycle lies in mastering the art
of supporting ones self on it when in
motion. This is very natural idea, /
but nevertheless a very false ono. The
bicycle in motion supports itself--and
its rider. Its very velocity constitutes
its safety. As an enthusiast phrased
It, sit hasn't the time to fall" But
the real difficulty lies in learning how to
mount and dismount from the bicycle
and the great art is to manage it, not |
when il Speeds but when it "slows.'
Bicycle races are comparatively easy |
things. A fair bicyclst can outrun an
ordinary horse, but TO "hasten slowly"
is the point in which the skill is dis.
played. Consequently great interest
is taken in "slow races" as they are
called, in which the slowest wins. In
these slow races the bicyclist's ability |
is taxed to the utmost TO maintain the |
upright position OF his bicycle. The
nearer he attains to an absolute stop
the more skill he displays. As for
standing still on the bicycle that is
from the very nature Of the case i'm.
possible, unless the wheel is placed at
an angle. Going backward on the
bicycle is also regarded as a somewhat
difficult achievement.
OF course the larger the wheel the
greater the speed that can be made,
button any good bicycle speed offfteen
miles an hour can easily be maintained.
The size OF the bicycle must be pro.
portioned to the length Of the legs OF
the rider. Anyone who has learned
to ride can hire bicycle for So for
twenty.four hours, from A. NJ. TO 8
A. NJ, or 81 for four hours. The best
English bicycle costs $40 to $3.50,
while American makes, equally as good
will not cost more than sl10 to Sll5.
The cheapest bicycle for boys cost sl2
to sl5.
There are 33l different styles of
bicycles, so experts say, now actively
in use. The bicycle of 1881 is the com.
bined product of the ideas of four
great nations. Of thesix ideas which
are illustrated in the various compo.
nent parts, France has contributed
two, England two, Germany one and
America one. The American contri.
button or suggestion--thOt of the rub
Der tire--is generally regarded as
practically the most valuable of all.
This rubber tire enables the bicyclist
to accomplish the otherwise impossible
feat of running up hill. The rubber
tire has also been applied with success
to the wheels of dog carts and other
vehicles.