The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-11-24

SPEEDY.
The popular inclination for very nght
wheels is deprecated by bicycle expert
| who argues i'm The following fashion; The
| highest wheel Is not always the fastest.
Lack OF rightly will often tend 10 de-
| crease the speed OF n machine far more
| than the addition OF few pounds 10 ils
| weight. Only machines Of the very nigh
| est gsade can with safety be maze very
| light and even then a very light machine
| is only to be recommended TO "A careful
and expert rider who will nurse II over
rough roads and bad ones.
Light wheels. even though they may
| not break down IN one seasons riding,
| will not last so long as heavier ones or
the same quality. and are more easly
| damaged by falls. The minimum weight
which can be safely ridden depends upon
| the character Of the roads upon which II
| is to be used as well as upon the weight
and skill OF the man who Is 10 ride. Be-
ginncrs will find safety and comfort, too,
| in selecting a wheel which weighs few
',1'Inds more than the highest. TOO
much weight is bad. too little weight Is
much worse.
SPOKE SNAPS.
Spokes are Ike records-some are easily
broken. others seem destined never 70 be
fractured If you are blessed with the
latter be duly thankful: If the former,
well, be as thankful as you can, and then
remember these hints, so your thankful
ness may be increased: In the case OF a
broken tangent spoke remove the wiz.
by which the spokes are tied where they
cross each other an1 If only temporary
repair is contemplated there il no neces-
sity OF the ties being replaced
II no spare spoke is at hand, bend the
end of the broken one into q hook and
attach it securely to the nange of the
hub, or sometimes even TO the rim. by
piece Of strong cord or wire. The cord
or wire had better be doubled. because
tightening up will thereby be facilitated.
To DO this insert a piece of stick, twist
until sufficient tension mas been secured,
leaving the stick in position and tying i
securely 10 tho adjoining spolSes.
In case you cannot rcrair the dam
age. any nrst-class wheel can be safely
ridden home with one or two spokes in
IL broken. When in place Of breaking the
thread is stripped from of the head,
screw IL in again. inserting a narrow
strip Of tin beside it. or slightly hatten
out he threaded spoke end by striking
it with a hammer or wrench.
BALL BEARING.
When you hear a grating sort Of noise,
or when on spinning either Of the wreels,
q jerk or catch I'm its running is noticed,
there is very likely broken ball IN one
Of the bearings. Under no circumstances
ride with bearing in that condition
HE yourself at once TO your friend the
rcJairer, or, If he is not hieable at that
moment, be you your own repairer am
put money in thy purse by being so.
Open the bearing. remove all the pieces
OF the broken ball readiust the bea~kg
ana proceed OH your way one or two
missinf balls viii not very much affect
the efficacy of a bearing temporarily, al
though as soon as possible new balls
should be inserted.
TIRE CLEANING.
While cleaning a bicycle many skip
over very important parts.
Something few cyclists ever think about
is cleaning the tires Of their machine
and yet the matter that clngs to them
frequently starts tire rubber TO rotting
Winter riders viii do well 10 scrape their
tires with piece Of wood or cardboard,
as well as wiping off the frames. when
they return from a trip.
When the fingers are numb with cold
and the little steel globes are greasy, IL
is hard to handle the ball bearings of a
wheel. a magnet is wonderfully handy
in this emergency, and it has the fur
Their virtue Of enabling you to detect
any piece Of lead shot that may have
creDt in through the medium of an I'M
Nrupulous repairer. In returning ball
beaings to their cases, 1t is frequently
the case that they run out as fast as
put in.
Smearing the cups and cones with vase
line stops this annoyance.
REDUCING FRICTION.
Now that the ideal has been reached
in the frame construction of the high
est grade of bicycles the energies of
the makers Of this class of goods Will
be chiefly bent during the coming year
in the direction of improving the de-
tails, The most important part of which
is the notification Of points of contact
which produce friction.
4 broad field is here presented to the
mechanical engineer. and with problems
of this character he viii in the future
be called upon largely TO exercise his
faculties. When the cycle factory de-
votes its talent exclusively during the
year to the perfection Of details OF this
character surprising results in easing the
running qualities OF wheels is sure to en-
sue, and ease Of propulsion with the
Least possible expenditure OF physical
strength is the ideal cycling condition.
Running gear is attracting the atten-
ton OF the leading makers at present
and many improvements in that al-im-
portant feature may be expected soon.
a TRICK or THE TRADE.
"The prices of bicycles according to
the manufacturers lists. have not dimin-
| ished much" said New Yorker who is
up in the secrets of the trade. but riders
| I'm New York are getting wheels a good
deal cheaper by means Of an ingenious
system. recently adopted by retail deal
ers You know each dealer IN bicyck
signs an agreement not 10 sell a new
machine below the figures marked on
price list. Wen. in Gotham this
agreement IS rigidly adhered to. I'm its
| letter, but Knocked galley-West when IL
comes 10 its intention.
The scheme is simply this: When a
person enters a bicycle dealers establish
ment in search Of a wheel he is shown
the collection. He asks the prices, and
IS told that this make IS $l00. that one
$40. the other Sl2O. and so on. II he de-
murs at the price. as he is pretty apt TO
the dealer tells him that If he viii come
in again next day there may be a good
secondhand wheel in at "A lower price
The visitor leaves, and then the dealer
puts the bicycle that most suited his
fancy on the rent list and hires IL out
by the hour.
When the inquirer calls again he is
shown the same wheel that ne wanted
the day before. but tho price is only $50.
The two or three hours use as a hired
wheel has made il a secondhand article
This trick is being universally played in
New York. and reckon dealers in Wash
ington and elsewhere will get on 10 IL In
course OF time
SNAP SHOTS