Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1883-07-04
A Lightning BycicIe Ride.


Our mine, the Spondulix of Colorado
was the highest OF the range. 1t wa
2670 feet above Silver Brick station, an
nine miles distant from the village
From the works up TO the mines there wa
a broad, hard smooth road, used 70
carting ore down from the mines an
hauling supplies up. The average grad,
down the mountain was 300 feet to th
mile; in some places it was sleeper, an(
at intervals almost leve,.
BY constant practice | managed at las
to ride my 52-inch university roadster VI
the whole slope to the Spondulix, O
course resting at levels, but my chic
delight was the coasting down again; i
required skill, good deal of nerve and
firm grasp of the brake.
One evening an accident occurred to on
of tho men at the mine. l instantly got ou
my bicycle, explaining that could 90 swift
er than horse down the slope. In few
minutes | had on my riding suit and wa
off.
The nj ght air was clear and crisp; tn,
full moon, except in few curves, shont
directly into the gulch, lighting up the
road. Leaning W ell back, with my leg.
over the handles and firm finger on the
brake. allowed the wheel TO glide dowr
the first long slope at speed which hac
never dared venture before. Finding the
motion safe. l allowed the machine to rur
faster and still faster. Over the first leve
| shot like an arrow. Down the nex
slope seemed to glide with the rushing
wind. Then l turned curve and ran
into the shadow of the mountain upon
the next level. Knowing every inch OF
the road however, did not slacken my
speed, except very slightly.
As flew over the top of the next slope
a steep plunge of nearly half mile,
another curve completely shut out the
moon, making the road almost as dark as
a pocket. Here put down the brake
hard and checked my speed materially.
Still knew the road so we'll that had
no fear. But just as | was on the steepest
plunge of the slope
Cink
Something flew from the machine like a
bullet. Instantly the wheel darted forward
like the rush of frightened bird, while
the brake lever came home to the steering
bar under my finger.
The brake had broken short off at tbe
elbow.
There was nothing to check the ma
chine, which was running away with me,
with over five miles of mountain grade
before me, and the chance of meeting a
t..,n ,t INV n,oront in tho dorl, ,,;a,h,
have leaped backward off the machine at
the instant of the break, but five seconds
if was ton L,te 10 atten,nt ,n
dismonnt would be certain death Thern
was nolLino TO do bnt stick To- the saddle
and take nv chances.
Whom me accident honnened to ,he
brake was inst en- erino n dark curve in
he shadow of the mountain. The wall
an INV riob, onneared dark almnst
invisible brown. while the chasm nm nv
left was of an inky blackness. As /
-ounded the hollow of the curve 7 conld
see the moonlight shining lar ahead on The
point of the elbow which | must turn
where the road was channeled into the
wall As approached it ] had the sense
md nerve to run on the outer side of the
Dad, close to the edge of the CANYON, thus
giving myself as broad turn as possible
found by the track of the wheel afterward
hat at the sharpest turn / had actually
'idden within three inches of the extreme
,dge for several rods, where, if had been
,ong at less fearful speed, the wheel
would certainly have slipped over the
,dge and carried me down fall of 1000
eet.
Safely past this, the worst point, the
curves were easy. Thus far
here had been no time to think. NV
ctions were more instructive than reason.
nc. My mind was wild, confused
!, hirl of sensations and fears.
But now, as | shot down the last steep
ncline, | suddenly experienced n terrible
mental shock. 1t was caused bv hearing
he tinkle of a bell far below and seeing
he spark of IL lantern such as the mine
eamsters carry in front of their wagons.
There was team, perhaps train of
cams coming up the road! In a few
econds | should be upon them. The
hook made me think, and that clearly. If
he teamster was walking beside his team
e would be on the inside, next to the
nountain wall, and the team would be in
he middle of the road. If he was riding
be team would be kept near the mountain
vail at safe distance from the outer
doe of the track. Either way nv best
hance was to pass on the outside. AS |
therefore. | ran close IN The
inside cdoe of The track. and flew bv in
afety, hearing the teamster shout as / did
o. Here it was lucky that | was poino
sucb sneed. for the teamster saw the
ed LIGHT of my lantern when was
early a mile distant and. recognizing if
t once. he started his team towards 1be
utermost edge of the road. 50 "a to oive
1e the safest PASSAGE on the inside. bnt
nd nassed him before the team co,,,d bo
riyen over, otherwise | should assnredlv |
ave run into them.
And now The wheel ran alono the level
, lhe bottom of the mountain. stiIl NV
,iobtful velocity did not nprcentihly
iminish. I ran on mast the worEs and
ITO and along the village street. Lnckilv
efficiently to gradually stop coasting
heel. My speed slackened perceptibly. |
till | ran nearly throuuh tho villa ro ond |