The herald., 1895-08-18
Next Year the Improve
ments Will Be in
the Tires
PRICES NOT LIKELY TO FALL
The Growth of the L. A. VISA Snake
Punctures a Tire..-A Pare
son Who FavOrs
Wheeling

announced that the coming wheel will
differ materially from the wheel OF this
or several preceding years. The wheel
will De heavier by few pounds and vast
ly stronger. 1t will have wheels of great
er diameter and the coming tire is said to
be about one-half larger than the tire
now in use. While the wheels will be
few pounds heavier, it does not mean
that the clumsy frame of few years
ago will be again in use. 1t means simply
that manufacturers have come to the
conclusion that it is bad policy to make
light wheel at the expense of strength.
With all the added weight, it is said the
coming wheel will carry rider much
farther upon like expenditure of physical
energy than the wheel of today, and
with added safety. The style of the wheel
will make no change in the price asked.
A prominent manufacturer said last
week that there wouli be no fall in prices
next spring in strictly high grade wheels.
Notwithstanding all that has been said
and printed to the contrary. He said
that during the present year 14O new BIZ
cycle factories had been started in the
United States, and. as a result wheels
can be had at almost any price one de-
sires to pay, but that the high grade
wheel will go on selling for h-grade
prices. He had no doubt of the truth OF
the statement that it was intended by
largo western syndicate to put wheels
upon the market next year at $50 each,
but he did not believe that such wheels
would injure tho manufacturers of high
grade machines. In fact, he believed that
1t would be for the benefit of high grade
wheelmakers. BY having a $50 wheel in
the market, great many people will
own wheels and would not learn to ride
for quite number of years yet if they
were compelled to pay standard prices.
Once they have wheel, they will not
be content with cheap machine.
1t is said that the increase in the size
OF the tire will be mainly in the thick
ness of the rubber tubing. An atempt
will be maze to increase the thickness
OF the tubing so that punctures will be
less liable. Six-ply rubber will not tear
as readily as two or three- ply.
Illinois has now mem bership of con.
siderably over 1900 in the League OF
American Wheelmen. which continues
its marvellous growth, about $40 new
names being added to the membership
list each week. Up to the present the
New York division leads the league in
new mem bers. The total number Of new
July 10th was 491. making a total men,
bership of 30. 247. 1t is predicted that
before the ending Of the present year the
total league membership will be moro
than so, 200.
An Eglish inventor has patented
bicycle tire that possesses originality in
high degree. 1ustead d of a continuouj
tnbe he employs eighteen or twenty in
fated rubber balls, held in place by
tanges in their outer circumference, the
rim being SO constructed as to receive
these balls and retain them in place. The
balls are connected by tube so that all
can be inflated simultaneously. The in
ventor claims for his new tire a great saw
ing Jf ground friction and increased
speed and smoothness of riding, and in
case Of puncrure the efficiency OF the tir9
is not seriously i'm paired.
All new inventions bring new snake
stories with them. An Ohio bicycle rider
coasting at lively rate down the hill
near Pulaski. He saw big snake lying
directly in his path. The motions Of the
snake confused the bicyclist and he was
compelled to run over it. AS the front
wheel struck the serpent its fangs shot
out ana to bicyclist had not gone far.
90 he says, when the front tire collapsed.
An examination disclosed the fact that
&c snakes fangs had punctured the tire. A
Middlesex physician examined the snake,
WnlCn tne young man cOnSluereu
trophy, and lent corroboration 10 the
story by discovering minnie portions of
vulcanized rubber in the teeth.
In a recent sermon Rev. Charles Trim
mer, rector of st. Georges Episcopal
church. New Brunswick, n. j., spoke on
the blessings of the wheel. He declared
that he favored the wheel; first, for pro-
noting health; second. as a means for
keeping young men away from barrooms
and low theaters. and third, for improv-
ing bad tempers. Mr.. Trimmer spoke of
the wheel as an emancipator of women.
She is the slave of custom, he said, and
the bicycle is doing away with the un-
cycle. costumes are excellent ernanci pators |
and perfectly proper, for the American
woman may dress as she pleases, and in !
few years her skirt will be entirely out |
Of style. With regard to the question,
shall We ride on Sundays? the preacher !
said: .'It depends on the motive, where
we 60 and what company we 60 in. If |
we 60 to church in the morning it is all |
right to take spin for short time in |
the afternoon, but wheelmen cannot |
fourth commandment. At any rate,
he thought 1t was just as proper to 60 to |
church on a bicycle as to ride there in |
carriage.
Two bicyclists of the village Of Shelton, |
Conn.,, had u peculiar experience lately. |
Leroy Moulthrop was riding his wheel on |
the outskirts Of the town one night, |
when a binding fash and loud report |
close to his head made him nearly fall |
off. He noticed that his rear tire was |
fiat, but he put Oh all his speed and
"scorched" out OF danger for all be was
worth. After reaching his home he ex-
anined his wheel and found that bullet
had been shot clean through the tire.
making jagged hole where it came out
and clean one where it went in, but
without touching the rim of the wheel at |
all. Half an inch further on his way
home the bullet would have missed him.
VINO nred at him, or for what purpose,
Moulthrop has been unable to learn.
Next day new danger presented itself
to cyclist from the same place. He
was wheeiLg through Oronoque. when he
saw farmer with long pole poking
about in tree ahead of him, and put
ting IN basket Whatever he gathered.
Then the farmer placed the basket near a
queerly shaped box in the road, and Just
as the wheelman got close to him he ran
for house near by. Farmer and cyclist
collided, and the two men and the wheel
were mixed up. The farmer recovered
his feet t1rst, and without stopping to
say anything put in his best lioks for the
house.. The wneelman was preparing to
apologies for the collision, when he felt
several red-hot sensations on the neck
md face sim ultaneously. Grasping the
situation and the handle. bar at the same
time, he vaulted into the saddle and