The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1889-12-01
THE WHEEL NEXT YEAR.
A Few of the Many Varieties Of Bikes Now
Before the Public.

To the Editor OF TIE HERALD:
Nowadays one hardly knows what sort
of bicycle to buy. The styles change as
fast as the fashions in ladies' apparel. A
couple Of years ago the big wheel machine
was all the rage, running from fifty to
sixty inches in diameter, with very little
IS inch brother behind, and young and
ambitious rider could hardly find wheel
tall enough for him then. Now the small
equal wheel safety, of twenty-six to thirty
inches, has run its big brother almost ell
tirely off the road. Enthusiastic wheelmen
are eagerly looking forward to the signs
for the season OF 1890.
Interest is re-excited in good two speed
gear for safeties, about forty and sixty
inches. the lower gear of course for hill
climbing. The demand is growing for such
a contrivance, simple, quick, easy, light
and durable.
There is leaning again toward sort of
pony machine, with sun and planet gear
ing, sonnet Jag like the "geared Facle."
The "Facile' in Europe and The "Ameri-
can Safety on this continent appear to be
the only live representatives of the pony
ordinary. The Extra" sacred to the mem
DRY of DR. Groves, appears to be gone
read" though very good machine. The
'ROVer" type killed it. All those three
are lever machines.
There is much desire in the direction of
lessening the vibration or Jar and shaking
on rough roads, which wears On the ner-
vous system.
In Europe at least the new pneumatic or
inflated hollow rubber tyre is exciting
great and increasing interest. Like many
other useful inventions, it may not yet be
fully perfected, but that it has great ex-
cellence can no longer be reasonably
doubted. 1t is not new idea, but a new
working out of an old idea. Those who
have used it give it high praise, such as
that it is an assured success; that it will
revolutionize the bicycle and tricycle. trade,
shat it is scarcely possible to eXaggerate
the importance of the invention; that a new
era is dawning for riders who live where
bad roads abound chat means us), that a
pneumatic tyred machine is the most com
Portable ever ridden, that nothing can come
near it on grass track: that the absence
of vibration is delightful even when run
ming over stones; that the roughnesses in
the read surface are absolutely not felt at
all that the machine runs with remarkable
ease; that it slips along without any Il ouble
at all; that is almost as good on the ave."
age road as a solid tyred machine Is on the
path: that on all rough roads it is extremely
satisfactory, and That this new tyre is
simply perfection; all which is claiming a
good deal, ana IL challenges Uue attention
of the wheel world.
The pneumatic tyre is two and half in
ches in diameter, and is made of rubber
and canvass, cemented on a wide and
rather fat rim. 1t has heavy look, but is
really very light A hole or nozzle passes
through both rim and rubber. to which a
small valve is attached. Iufation is
quickly effected, or renewed, by means of a
three ounce brass sJ ringe, or football
bladder.
Great things are expected of this new
kind of tyre. The only objection yet dis
covered is that, when running on tenacious
mud, it increases the $ de slipping tendency
of small wheel safe1ies, the large inflated
tyre fattening the stiff mud, while the
thinner solid common tyre cuts down into
it. On all other kinds of road, especially
loose and rough ones, the vast superiority
Of the pneumatic tyre appears to be beyond
controversy. OF course it will take time
TO fully settle the question Of durability
A company is being formed in Dublin,
ireland, to manufacture this new sort of
tyres under able and experienced manage
ment, with the object Of supplying the
trade. This very valuable invention will
probably be in use to some extent in this
country next year. for such a comfortable
contrivance is greatly needed on the aw-
fully rough roads of this western hemis-
pba~a ITHEPT