The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-04-21


them impossible for bicycles and destruc-
tive to the cleanliness of pleasure vehicles
Why cannot some other hours be select
Cd for this work? Midday or after dark
would be more suitable and allow the full
use of these streets at a time when the
people need them.
BITTER STREETS.
The letter repair of ore or tho other Of
these streets for its entire length would
he popular move. The Councilmen who
viii take this matter up will do public
service Let whccmcn put their think
ing caps on about these matters. Ben
ton Harbor Michigan, Is the frst city IN
the United States TO build alcns IT'S streets
tracks for the exclusive use OF bicycles.
A dispatch from that city April 6th says.
"plans are now complete for the way
along Territorial street. and tomorrow
morning grodcis viii be set 10 Work 10
carry out the design. IL is proposed 10
construct the track six feet wide along
the side Of the adjoining street. and ON a
grade even with the sidewalk, -eaving
tho shade trees TO mark The INC between
the path for pedestrians and that for the
wheel riders The gutter viii be recon-
structed along the side Of the bicycle
track. and the outer edge Of the latter
will be defined and protected by posts
placed at intervals. which can be utilized
as hitching posts. The path will be made
Of earth. with hard clay surface About
one mile OF the track will be built now as
an experiment If it proves satisfactory
tracks on tie principal streets alons the
town will be made
The legislation by our CITY Council as
fsgarIs bicvclos has so far beel in fhe
lin, of prohibitory ordinances. ana while
sensible whcclmen will not oppose any
thing FOR the good OF the general pVoh,
/ q 1. q % Mo- Sc
nre, they will be heard from If hostile
] gislGtiOn Is imposed
Use or PARK PATHS.
The discussion Of the use Of the foot
| paths in the parks by wneelmen was
] timely Make "A Jew of the leading streets
/ so GOOD that they viii nave no excuse
and then keep them out strictly. Girls
! and children should not be mOlested even
In ,ho foot paths, and Mr. Gunsts resolu-
! ton, that the Keepers OF the parks be
instructed to allow children TO play on
the grounds of all parks" seems to cover
| this point. Bicyclers should use their in
| aucnce 10 secure the Viaduct to Church
| Hin. IL will open up a new vista 10 the
riders of both ends OF the city to have
| such connecting link. y bicycle track
would meet great demand when the
| bridge is built
OIL HRR UP.
1t IS altogether useless to talk about
| -cv.lfug TO the person who has had q
machine only Week-he knows II all,
! but ] will make few suggestions OF
| matters that may prove valuable at
| times. even 10 tyrO.
! At first glance IL seems an easy mat
| ter TO oil a wheel properly. but II ISN'T.
! The tyro hrs. as rule, great affection
| for oiling up ana ~ IS ne VINO peheNes
| il is easy During his first year he is pos
| sessed of the idea that, oil being a good
| thing, his trusted steed cannot have too
| much of IT, and as a result early morn
| ing. sunny noon and dewy eve lind him
| rrl.H trt
| Should he meet a long. steep hill i'm
| his travels he Will dismount, decorate inc
milestone at the foot thereof with "A
| fine assortment of old rags, turn mp ms
/ Wrstband and set to work % on up. I'd
! the hope that somehow or other the pro-
| cess viii perhaps make the machine run
| up the hill by itself, Just for all the world
| Ike one of those patents we near OF
| every now and then. Having reached the
| top, nothing seems more natural tnah
| that some more oil should be applied 10
| the poor. WORKOUT piece of mechanism
| OF course. all nOyices are not as bad as
| THIS but 10 may be said that most OF
| Thorn err on the side of excessive oilng-
! The driving chain Is usually the chitl
| sufferer for ii generally happens that II
| is either entirely neglected. or so surielted
| as to cause the lubricant 70 DEGENERATE
| into an irritant. as. collecting much
dust by the way. the bearing chain is
| sadly worn 10y the grit. which must IN
| eWtably work IN.
The proper treatment for the chain is
|
| il 10 take a camels HAIR brush, or "a
! feather from q chicken. and herewith
| carefully lay homeopathic doses of the
| best snerm oil money VIII buy, not Oh
| the bearing surface Of the cnain, but be-
| tween The Joints. top and bottom, on edch
| side. Having done this, carefully M-pc
| me cham over with cotton waste. and
| thtro vCu are. II is a delicate operation,
| and one which. ONCE success IS fully
achieved. is likely 20 discourage excessive
As for the rest of tho wheel the hear
inrs run no bettcf for being delueed
| win oil. What the balls want is a little
| and often. the frequency being governed
| nv the distance Travelled and the speed
| al which the spins are made. The inn
| r1rtance Of the waste cannot be eNac-
oeratcd. for cleanliness is necessary 10
| preVent the accumulation OF dust. which
| has an unhappy knack Of collecinE on
the oil and working into the bearings,
inst as I'm the case OF the chain joints.
LOOK TO YOUR CHAINS.
! In these DAYS when so many ELDERS own
] hrakcless machines fitted with maroon
gauge chains and ride them on the road.
| n little advice on chain adjustment IS
not thrown away, for AFTER an II Is not
| the racers alone who ride racing mounts.
the craze for ligh,ness having tempted
| many noyices TO purchase them. To ride
| with a tight chain Is 10 suffer to-tures,
but while case of propulsion demands
| that the chain shall run freely. IL IS as
| well TO bc careful that your gearing
Toes not err on the side OF sldckness.
| The bearing surface of these racing
| chains is 50 narrow. that jolt over "A
| throw IL off the cOgs. in which case
| tlere may be "A 0iSagreoahlc smash up.