The Bottineau pioneer. (Bottineau, N.D.) 1885-1895, 1894-02-10
MS BICYCLE A sLOoP.
I CALIFORNIAN iNvENIs
pRAcricAL LAND SHtP

@$-E. N %%+%Sa&&E% E,2#8
yvh.n u. Ii Going Before the Wine e
laas only Is Sit: STAN and Enooy .ns
.cenery and ths SENSE os
While the bicycle Sails. Z
Charles D. White, 9 San Derna.
dino boy, is an electrician ana rlIes
to and from his work on . Dicycie,
often carrying material TO pe usea
m q lob Several times while rio-
inc before the wind he noticed that
ha did not have to use his pedais,
the hreeze furnishing the motive
power. His active brain 81 once ses
to work to devise some metnoo
whereby he could make the wind 40
the work while he simply steereo
the machine. tie was not long IN
search Of an idea. He thought o! .
sail, having been raised in . country
where Ice yachting was one OF tue
leading winter amusements:
Securing a piece Of bamboo about
ten feet long, he and E Dougherty,
an intimate friend, set to work anu
soon rugged a mast, a strong piece Oh
sheeting being used for the SAIL says
the San Francisco Examiner.
The only stumbling block IN ms
path was how to secure q sal,
firmly to the wheel After severai
attempts he made q head block, IN
which the end of the mast was
placed and secured. This block can
be removed very easily by taking on
the burrs on two bolts. When the
sail is removed the block does not
interfere with the use of the machine
in any manner, o has 1t a displeas-
ing look to the eye.
In rigging the sail the block head
is made of Oregon pine. while the
two side clamps are OF oak q half an
inch thick. These are securely
fastened to the wheel BY two iron
bolte. Great care should be exer'
cised in placing this particular part
of the attachment in position. The
head block must not be fastened to
the handle bars or tubing, as it will
interfere with the guiding OF the
bicycle. 1t must be bolted to the
Joint just below the elbow, as this
allows the free use of the handle to
direct the wheels course.
To those who will try the inven.
ton it may be explained that they
should be very careful not to secure
the boom to the machine, but fasten
a small pulley to the spring under
the seat and allow the cord attached
to the boom to Ii freely through it,
as the balance can be kept much bet
ter in this manner. r,,-
The wind seldom blows steadily,
but comes in short gusts or squalls.
and will unseat an experienced rider
should he make the boom fast to the
wheel.
Mr.. Whites sail is attached to q
ten-foot mast and an eight-foot boom,
and weighs six pounds and nine
ounces The cost complete is about
$40, if the work is performed by the
individual himself. Almost anyone
can make q sail and place 1t on the
wheel. With q few hours practice a
good wheelman can easily manipulate
it and enjoy a ride without any
fatigue whatever.
For the benefit of those who will
try the labor-saving device Mr.. White
gives the following advice on the
subject:
After making or buying the sail
and placing it in position keep the
same furled until outside of the city
on a quiet and lonely road. Be care
full whom approaching a horse, as the
animal will take fright when q fourth
Of q mile away If the sail is in
position
On arriving at. q secluded spot
hoist the sail and allow it to swing
loosely in the wind.
Mount the machine the same as
usual and pedal while the wind is
filling the sail gradually and the
regular rate Of speed is being &C
quired. Then the sail will come un-
der perfect control.
The best position is to keep n
hand on the handle bars and the
other ON the boom, should it be close
enough to the rider. When the sail
swings away from the reach control
1t by the cord running through the
pulley under the seat Be sure tn.
cord will slip through the pulley
easily or sudden squall will unseat
you instantly.
Keep the feet on the pedals, which
should be racing Or rat traps" as
they will hold the feet in position.
best. This will assist materially in
keeping balance. The coasters can
be used. but not so we'll as the first
mentioned.
Sailing before the wind you will
60 just twice as fast as in ordina. "
bicycle riding, while the greatest
velocity is gained while riding at
right angle to the wind. With GOOD
handling a speed of from twenty Ia
thirty miles a be obtained. Beat.
Ing against the wind is very hard. no
u IS almost impossible to tack In the
narrow reads.
On approaching q team, and while
yet at some distance, loosen the sail
n come to = standstill. Push tho
vince out to one side OF the road and
lay 1t down on the side till the frac.
tious animal has passed or YOU NAV
oe called upon to pay damages or re-
pair a bl oxen vehicle.