National Republican., 1883-04-02
THE B1CYCLEv
The Curious Machine II was Once Conn
pnred with what IL is Now.

pared with What ~ Is Now.
Every ono is familiar with tho appearance
Of the bicycle and its rider, and yet 1t is
scarcely five years since that instrument, in
its present shape, first visited this country.
The hasty craze OF 1869, in which the " bone
shaker played the principal part can hardly
be said to have boon moro than momcntary
compared with the present interest in the two
wheeled vehicle. Bicycles probably owe their
origin to Frenchman or German named
Charles dc Drais, master Of the forests of the
grand duke of Baden, who invented machine
in 1917, composed Of two wheels Of equal az.
amcter one behind the other, aud connected
by backbone or perch, on which was placed
q saddle for the rider. IL was claimed
that q traveller with this instrument could
cover eight or nino miles an hour on
good road The mode Of propulsion required
the rider, whose feet just touched the ground,
to place his toes on the ground and push the
machine along IL is said that considerable
| deXterity was necessary to prevent the rear
wheel from striking the riders heels and
that the toes were turned well forward TO
overcome the liability to such au accidents
| Baron do Drais, IL sUdinS, was inagnOtive-as
/ well rs inventive flc Wbs not satisfied TO
| ride only in the muungr described, but pro-
| posed To rig IA sail ana under favorable
/ weather to tack, 90 about sail in the winps
| eye, aud adopt other nautical means of ad-
/ vance, The Gcrmaus called this instrument
/ the idufWdshiH. IT. docs not appear to have
emigratcd from the barou's own jurisdiction.
4 The bone shaker of fifteen years ago was a
slight modification Of this instrument, but
never met with much favor in this country
because of the unsuitable roads here EXIT
bitiOns were given in halls and other inclosed
places, but it never roso beyond the place of
n curious toy.
A glance ut the present perfected bicycle
gives very little idea of the wonderful skill
in construction, or the delicate relation OF
parts that really exists Neither pains nor
expense have been spared in order TO make Il
machine absolutely without objection. The
metallic PORTIONS are constructed of steel, yet
for tho different parts, subjected rs thoyarc t0
varying degrees Of weight and strain, the
metal selected is, either rigid or yielding az
will best suit the object desired. The wheels
are composed of light but stropg rims, with
from 81 to 60 spokcs of number or IL wire
firmly attached to the hubs. Around the
wheel is stretched round circle of rubber
held in place by cement. This is the princi
pal feature of the modern instrument, and is
indeed, the point of greatest difference be
tween IL and its predecessors removing al
most all OfthGiars caused by inequalities OF th'
road. IL is not too much to say that without
the tire the bicycle would be useless in this
country. The rubber tire is an American in
vention, and is owned by the Pope company
which eXaCts u royalty of $40 on all English
machines brought here. Another great adj
vance was made when ball bearings wert
adopted. This arrangement provides for th'
turning of the journals upon the surfaces o
hardened steel balls, thereby reducing th'
friction. One company claims that the from
wheel of their machines have been made Il
revolvc eleven minutes from one impetus
I Nor are these the only decided improvements
Every portion of the machine from the bolt
and nuts to the wheel, has been CAREFUL!
studied with the view of reducing friction
and weight and advancing the possibility o
speed.
. The results of these inventions permit nj
most marvellous speed. At Cambridge, Eng
land, III. Il. COrtis rOdoa n mile in two minutes
forty-one and thrce-flths seconds Hon. MI
EalCOnCr, two miles in five minutes, thirty
six and twO-iiths seconds, and five miles u
fifteen minutes, thirteen and two-iifth
seconds. Ten miles were covered in thirt.
minutes and forty-hve seconds twenty y-iiy'
miles in one hour, nineteen minutes ant
twenty-three seconds; fifty miles in thre
. hours and five minutes, and one hundred mile
in seven hours, eighteen minutes and tiity-fiv
J seconds. In six minutes less than twcnty-iou
} hours w. 5. Britten rode 2l2 miles, and ut al
: exhibition given in London 1i0l miles ,wgG
covered in six days. These records have no
J yet been beaten by-Ametican riders. Tn
present superiority in England is prObabl,
) due to the fact that bicycles have been il
9 active use there since 1870 or 1S2, Will
4 with us they date from The latter part of lSs'
/ In this city the Capital Bicycle club has
! large membership. Mr.. j. Nick. Borden, MI
q owen, and others have made some very fas
time and Mr.. Rex Smith is considered one Z
the best fancy riders in America. >