The record-union., 1895-07-06
LATEST POINTS ABOUT THE WHEEL.
Facts and Theories of Interest to
Both Sexes.
Low Gears for ALI Except Racers
What Doctors Say About Bicy-
clfng-Women as Riders.

Few of the new crop of cyclists under
stand what is meant by gear, says the
Chicago Tribune. The wheels of bicycle
are each twenty-elght inches in diameter
AS the driving sprooket which is at
tached to the crank axle, is enlarged Oh
lesseued in size, the gear is increased OF
lowered. To determine what gear is
fitted to any given machine find the num-
Der of teeth in the driving sprocket.
multiply it by the number Of Inches IN
the diameter of the rear wheel and dlVlde
the product by the number OF teeth In The
rear sprocket. The quotient gives The
exact number of inches to which the ma
chine is gesred. 1t necessarily follows
that the higher the gear the more diffl-
Guilty is experienced in propulsion. The
ad' antage of q high gear is really only
exlerenced when travelling before the
wind or on level roadways.
There is physical danger in the use
of high gears by those who are not robust
in health or strong in limb. The tendons
in the knee are Injected to severe strains
and soon leave the rider with feeling of
numbness in the knee-cap, which
spreads downward through the calf OF
the leg into the feet. AS soon as the knee
aches it should be regarded by the novice
as sign that the gear requires to be
lowered.I
A machine geared to sixty-four inches
is about right for man of mature years.
Boys and girls should use gear as low
as or lower than fifty-four inches; other
wise their limbs are likely to be sub
jected 10 excessive strains, and the bone
formation will not be regular In shape
Women as q class ought to be satisfied
civ rrY
All that is here written applies to such
fiat lands as are to be found in the yicin-
ity of Chicago. 1t is not uncommon 10
find practiced road riders IN Chicago
using seventy-two-inch gears. Tandems
for road work will stand gearing to
eighty inches and upward.
LADIES WHEELING COSTUMES.
Often W hen choosing costume for the
wheel one is puzzled regarding the color.
There is generally a preference for medi-
um shades for bicycle costumes, owing
TO the dust and mud. Browns and tans
have always been fayorite colors for out
of-door exercising.
a most sensible suit is of dust-gray
color Make it sensible in cut as we'll as
color. Have the full knee length knick-
erdockers so welcome to most women
cyclers The bodice can be shaped like
Northfork jacket, having box plaits on
the conventional leg-o'-mutton style.
The belt of lizard skin. and the leggings,
shoes and gloves of black. a soft gray
hat with a black band and quill make
neat costume.
A cap affords protection for the eyes
and is becoming. With little taste and
good sense the bicycle costume may be
made useful and pretty.
When you plan your bicycle suit don't
sacrifice practical requirements to ap-
pearance. The loose open jacket may
look pretty when the wearer stands still,
but is hardly comfortable when in the
wind. The skirt-it there be one-to be
practical must be short. The lower
limbs must be covered with material
that will not interfere with the action
of the ankle.
One of our local ladies was noticed with
a particularly good costume. 1t was
made Of wide-ribbed corduroy of the
durable tannish gray dust shade and con-
sisted of a short box, double breasted
jacket belted at the waist with a tan
leather belt; a short skirt of corduroy
over bloomers of the same material; tan
leggings of corduroy, tan shoes and tan
straw hat, with yellow crown. The
effect was picturesque as we'll as jaunty-
The hats as rule are not bright enough.
Gray, being dust color. is useful and of
service, but as fashionable people are not
noted for economy, 1t seems absurd to
charge them with this estmable trait in
this somewhat expensive pastime. Be-
sides, holes show in gray as well as in
darker coiors, and the bicycle suit goes
into rags in an incredibly brief time.
The golden tan is sportive and has q
great deal of style, but most persons, be-
yond the pale OF extreme youth, look bet
ter when they are tired. disheyeled and
pardon the seeming crudlty-dirty, after
q long ride, in darker shades
OF course one should avoid conspicu-
BUSINESS OF all things on the bicycle for
many reasons-an important one being
the ever near possibility of an ungraceful
attitude-but. in these days of brilliant
hues the fashionable bicyclers look trifle
too sombre for iun.
BLooMERS FOR LONG RIDES.
The women who are obliged to wear
skirts are liable 10 criticise those who
adopt the bloomers, although If they told
the truth about the matter they would ac-
knowledge that the latter is the only rela-
bic thing for long run.
It seems that people should be as sensi-
BILE regarding a costume for wheel as
for any other situation.
A woman wouldn't wear q tea-gown to
q flil-dress party or a low-necked cor
sage to break fast. Compare the bloomer
suit for the wheel TO the conventional
swimming costume!
Let each woman wear O safe. becoming
and appropriate costume and the discus
sion OF the veXed question will cease for
ever.
MARK YOUR BICYCLE.
Don't imagine that the name on your
bicycle will simply help you TO find it
when lost. Of course, this is important,
but did il ever occur TO you that con-
spicuous name somewhere on the frame
OF your machine may prevent it from
being stolen2 A thief is not likely To
take wheel that could be easily identi-
fed.
A correspondent describes a plan for
etching the name on the frame. 1t may
also be done on the handle bar. Some
prefer TO paint the name on one Of the
enamel tubes. Still others prefer name
plate.
Any plan OF marking is better than to
let it 60 unmarked. The manufacturers
number is important, but the figures are
necessarily small. The most useful mark
is one which may be read without at
tracing the attention OF the person VINO
has possession OF the wheel.
WHY WOMEN RIDE WELL.
A writer in the american Cyct5St gives
the following reasons why, IN his opin-
ion, women become such excellent rid
ers. OF course, everyone Will not agree
with his premises, nor with bis conclu-
sions. but they are novel TO say the least:
1T is often remarked that in proper
tion 10 her general strength. as compared
with the strength of 8 man, the wheel
woman is better at long distances, hill
CHM blng aud so on than the wheelman.
Why shouldn't she be? Every normally
fashioned woman is a natural born cy
clist. Nature. in planning the female
specification, surely anticipated The blcy-
Gle, but the mans makeup contains 10
suggestion of cycling as belonging TO the
natural order OF things.
''In the female the bones of the head.
arms and whole upper framework are
small and ligbt. as co,nnared with lie