The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-05-29
AMONG THE WHEELMEN.
THE NEWS AND GOSSIP OF THE
WEEK FOR CYCLISTS.

THE Racing spirit beginning TO Be
Felt In sevannah-A Lack OF Har
mouy Still Between Drivers of Other
vsh,cles and Bicycle Riders-The
B,cvcle a Vehicle That Must Be
Recognized-Tne Wheelmen's Rule
of the Road. --5.-..-. SO
There is no city in the south, and proba.
hIv few in the country, where a greater in
tsress is taken in cycling than there is il
savannah. With between 500 and 60.
1rbeels this is not to be wondered at. Sc
vannah, too, leads thesouth in the excellene
NJ its bicycle roads. There are few citis
that have the number of miles of rideale
roads that Savannah has. theentire milege
of good roads being about thirty nearly Ne
lies Of which is asphalt paved strets.
The rest in pavement and shell roads. TIRE
ia some reason therefore why the whee' is
popular in Savannah, and its popularity is
increasing all the time. Business men Tho
a year ago would have scorned the idea of
being seen on a bicycle now ride with she
utmost indifference to the jibes of tbse
who have not yet learned that the bicyce is
a good deal more reputab le vehicle han
some of the shays that are driven in the ity.
THE RACING SPIRIT.
So far the wheel in Savannah has cen
ridden almost entirely for bus
mess and pleasure. Very little affection
has been paid to racing, the May week aces
being almost the first that have ever been
witnessed in this part of the south. Tie in
terest in them was shown by the crwds
- I 90. L i
the races occurred. A road race, how,ver,
Il practically no race at all. The onI, test
of speedy riding musb be ON track. there
is probability that by fall the Savannah
Wheelmen's Club, which has taken the mat
Ter in hand, will have a fine track and will
ipaugurate a series of races which will adj
still more to the interest In cycling. Then
are. according to reliable estimates, mon
bicycles ridden in Savannah than in all tbs
cities Of the south together.
At present pleasure riding is almos
wholly confined to the asphalt paved stress
and to the she'll roads. On the streets thee
is yet a strong Discrimination on the part IF
ordinary vehicles to accord the bicycle Is
rights. The law recognizes it as a vehide
entitled to the same rights as any vehile
and it must be respected as such. Drivers
of carriages have not yet learned to yild
the right of way in the manner that the Inv
requires they should, and accidents, al
though, fortunately, they have so far re-
suited in slight injuries, occur almost eyry
day because Of the failure Of carriages Snd
wagons to yield the street as they should.
There are, of course. reckless bicycle riders
who are disposed to claim more rights ;han
they are entitled to, but there are not many.
THE wHEELMEN's RULE.
The rule Of the wheelmen is, keep to the
right in passing around all squares; keep to
the right whenever team or vehicle is ap-
preaching, and turn TO the left to allow
q team or carriage or other bicycle to pass
when going in the same direction" II this
rule were strictly adhered to, there would
be less accidents from collisions between
bicycles and carriages and between bicycle
riders themselves.
The interest of ladies in cycling is in
creasing. 1t required few to make the
first attempt and brave the objections OF
their friends and those who are disposed to
regard cycling as unladY-llke and not the
proper thing. The ice has been broken,
however, and ladies are seen riding nearly
every afternoon and evening now. At first
they were not seen in the daytime, but the
pasttme is too strong to resist, and in a
short time the wheel promises to be as popu-
lar with ladies as it is with gentlemen.
There is not the slightest doubt that the
wheel has come TO Savannah TO stay, as it
has In nearly every city in the north and
west
An idea of the popularity of cycling
may be obtained from the fact that, with
the hundreds Of styles and makes of wheels
1t is almost impossible to secure one from
the manufacturers of few leading and
standard machines in less than a months
time, so rushed are the manufacturers, and
good many Savannah men have waited
for two months before they were able to
get their wheels.
The entries for the great Pullman road
race, in which wheelmen all over the coun-
try are interested, to be held tomorrow,
number 800.
A Danish woman, Johanne Jorgensen,
WAC has broken several of the road records
Tor long distances, has practiced lately on
the road clad in mans clothing.
More applications for membership in the
League # American Wheelmen came in
last week than il any other week in the MIS-
tory OF the organization. Seven hundred
ano SIX new names were enrolled
FRANK LEM, the well-known wheelman,
ieIt Pit!sburg on the morning Of May II for
MS bicycle trip around the world. He will
Do absent about two years.
A man in Springfield, Mass. has pat
en'ed a chainless safety bicycle and a CONS
pany Is being formed in that city to man
fracture the machine. The year 1898 will
zee this wheel on the market If all turns out
as contemplated. The idea is not a new
one and it yet remains to be proved practi-
cable. The power is transmitted from the
peaaI crank to the rear wheel by @ beveled
gear, and one Of the chief features Of the de-
VIC wee is Its extreme simplicity. Aside from
Tue manner in which the transmitting
power is executed, this bicycle will differ
H NIUE In general outline from the Pope or
"arwlck wheels of the latest pattern. Att
tached to the driving shaft is beveled
gear made stationary exactly in the center
pl tne wheel, which is settled into q second
DeVel ed gear, which connects with a shaft
t,uuuIhg TO the rear wheel. By similar gear
.ue power Is transmitted to the rear wheel,
SuS oeVeled gear being attached to the rear
axe. The shaft will be made of steel,
when Will be incased in a metallic tube.
mIi'e the gearing at each end of the shaft
VII also be incased in metallic cap, which
WI make the bearings of the wheel dust
PROOF. The wheel will be fitted with
tbleutnahc tire, and will have ball bearings
throughout. The cost of the wheel will be
ooI5uslderebly reduced by dispensing with the
TTHta'n' which will also tighten the machine.
me power will be applied exactly in the
i'aI OF the machine, and a perfect balance
~ secured, whereas in the common bicycle
sAe chaln and all its bearings have to be on
oIe SIDE of the center. The wheel will
pIooaoly be, when completed, the lightes5
t tbi.t machine in existence, Weighing only
thirty pounds.