The record-union., 1895-08-17
AS 70 BICYCLES.
Latest Things in the Line of Modern
Wheels.
Convenient Coupler-Tricycle for Two
The Delivery Wagon ana
the Duplex.

Bicycles In beWildering variety are ap-
pearing on the roads, drives and boule-
wards, says the New York World. There
are offered in the New York market over
300 brands of Cycles, that differ only IN
weight strength, cost and name. The
highest priced wheels are the lightest 10
weight. A minimum weight OF nineteen
pounds has been reached. Next year
they will weigh less than seventeen
pounds. The problem of how light
wheel can be constructed and still bear
up a ll-sized man has not as yet been
fully solved, but from present indications
the probability is that the cycllst OF 1876
will present the appearance OF man who
has been captured by a couple OF hoop
snakes, who are bearing him off to their
lair.
In France and Germany no less than
twenty varieties Of motor cycles have
appeared. They are. without exception,
cum bersome in appearance.
The arrangement by which two bicycles
are coupled together has met with much
favor and is frequently seen on the New
York boulevards. 1t is intended pri-
marlly az means for social tour OF
lady and gentleman. When q fatiguing
hill is come up with he can gallantly do
all the work, If necessary, to the summit.
1t is also used in the instruction Of tlmld
women. The machines may be readily
uncoupled and. in case of disagreement
the cyclists may return separately.
Not so with the interesting arrange
| ment called the Duplex. There the fair
cyclist is united to her companion for the
entire journey. A very high rate of speed
| can be obtained on this machine. 1t can
upset if the twin riders are loggerheads,
as each has steering apparatus in hand.
| 1t is claimed for this machine that no
previous practice is needed upon the be-
half of the lady. The Duplex is quite
| frequently seen on the Riverside drive
and IN Central Park. 1t is especially
adapted to the use OF engaged couples and
newly married persons, who csnnot bear
the most temporary separation. A young
lady and gentleman seen on the road on
Duplex will be set down as a pair of
recently mated turtle doves or soon to be
such.
There are many designs for the affiX-
ing OF baby chairs to the front of cycles.
Fond fathers spinning along with their
cherubs costly seated in basket chairs
can be seen by the score on the boulevard
every Sunday. So far there have been
no accidents in New York City, and but
one In Brooklyn, 10 children thus carried
bat fond mothers out watching the flying
wheels shudder at the possibilities.
\ tricycle. freight carrier, one of twenty
patterns to be found in the trade papers, is
a hint of the commercial importance
which the silent steed must ultimately
assume. The United States local mail
delivery has been conducted with tri-
cycles for nine years.
Two Frenchmen of Rheims have re-
Gently completed an invention which
they claim will in measure revolution
ize the pneumatic tire. They build their
wheels by substituting an outer pneu-
matte tube made of leather for the rubber
tubes now in use. Their invention has
been taken up by the Ministry of War
who are now pertecting the idea with a
view to supplying all the military cycles
with tires that will not give out easily.
The resistance of leather is considerably
greater than rubber, and it will better
stand the pressure from within and the
exterior agents of destruction, such as
| nails, hoops, roots or sharp pebbles. 1t
| is not absolutely imperforable, but it is at
| least as good as the fine steel band which
| was experimentaily placed between the
outer and inner tubes, and which was
pierced by needles and tacks.
Leather offers the greatest lnpenetra
bility in relation to its thickness with out
impairing the necessary elasticity. 1t is
further improved by a preparation which
renders it impermeable to water. The
| leather tire is easily repaired in case of
perforation; any cobber can sew if up,
and this repair is permanent and not
| likely to get out of order. Other advan-
tages claimed for the leather tire are
greater lightness; it will not get out
of shape as does rubber, and it will
not slip on asphalt pavements or wet
roads. The new material for the tire
seems to meet with great encourage
ment on the part of the military autnori-
ties of France. Should it be adopted, as
it is expected it will be. there is chance
for very amusing scenes in the barracks
when the cycling orderly will "shine"
his pneumatic tires the same as he does
his boots for the parade or the inspec-
ton.