New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-11-17

| would probably get Into the papers. and there's
| no telling what trouble II might cause. 1t was
| pointed out to him that there were officials OF
| high standing In the city who used bicycles In
going their daily journeyings. but the fact failed
TO create favorable impression. The official
| still felt that 1t would embaTrass him II he should
! 90 anything divergent from the ordinary
course of his life. His position calls to mind the
! experience OF another man holding public Of
flee who does not hesitate to ride TO and from his
office but who some time ago felt that he ought
| to give up riding on Sunday because some people
were talking about IT, and he did not feel fully at
| liberty TO act as II he were private citizen.
A large manufacturer OF tubing for bicycles
| said a day ago that the output Of wheels
| next year would be enormous. His factory. he
said had already made engagements that would
keep 1t busy to its full capacity until May. 1896
and il was by no means able TO fill all orders that
would be given it If it were able to turn out
more tubing The tubing OF next years bicycles
| is to be larger as a rule than that used hereto
| fore: an inch and ar eighth will be the diameter
| generally used. The manufacturer also said that
| there would be some Increase in the weight oil
| wheels the coming year. and he thought that
| twenty -four or twenty-five pounds would be the
| most called for weights, the craze for light
| ness had been carried to an extreme. When
/ asked if he knew anything about the reported in
| tention Of large concern to put bicycle IN
| large quantities the market at go he sald
! NO. don't know anything about IT, ana don
| believe il is going 10 be done. Ii Is true that
| bicycle could be sold for that money. Dut
! shouldn't advise any to buy IT. Certainly
| wouldn't trust myself or any member or my ram
! lily on one The actual cost OF high grade wheei
! is about s27 and there cannot be much reduc'iVh
| in the cost TO the purchaser below Sloo Whle the
| nresent methods of selling prevail Advertising
| is large item. The price TO the trade or WheeiS
| az this class is about $40 or SO THOSE VINO are
| expecting another cut in prices next year oe-
| cause there was a OF s25 two years ago ana
! another reduction Of the same amount last year
| are therefore likely 10 find that they are mis-
taken.
II appears that insurng bicycles so as TO pro-
tect their owners in case they are stolen Is not
such an easy matter. after all. 1t has been sug-
gested that it would be good thing Tor the
League Of American Wheelmen TO go into the
| insurance business. But. according to state
| nlent made by Insurance Superintendent PIERCE
Of this State. there are a number Of obstacles
| in the way. Any concern undertaking to Insure
BICYCLES against burglary or theft would have to
comply with the provisions Of the laws OF lS'2
| and organize with capital Of 100000 ana
would have 10 make a deposit Of 100000 with
the Insurance Department. Then, to insure
| against accident another section Of the insur-
ance law would have to be met, 900 more
capital would be required. and another deposit
Of 800 900 made. Therefore. says superlhtehu-
ent Pierce. 'to insure bicycles from theft or
| accident or both a stock corporation with
capital Of at least Sl50.c00 would have to be or
| ganized and said company would have 10 make
with this Department deposit OF sZoO.ooc. Any
| foreign insurance company frahsactlne rc!cie
| insurance unless authorized TO do business IN
| the State would be subject TO certain penalties
| prescribed in the Penal Code.
The great majority of riders who go to Coney
Island by the Cycle Path return by the same
route No doubt many would be glad to come
back some other way if they knew of any. For
| the benefit of those of that way Of thinking l.
| may be said that with a little effort. one can
go from Coney Island to Bath Beach and Ben
sonhurst. though the trip is not to be recon-
mended 10 novices or nervous riders. The route
! is as follows: From the end of the Cycle Path
| turn to The right ard go along the Concourse
and the granite-paved street connecting with IL
| as far as the street just beyond the big eie-
| phant Turn TO the right again on macadam-
| lied street. The macadam does not extend very
far. at the point where it ends bear off on
| path 10 the left until you come to railroad
track. This railroad track be followed all
the way 20 Cnionville, Bensonhurst or Bath
Beach though some dismountng will be found
! necessary as at the bridge over Coney Island
Creek There is path alongside the tracks or
! between them which be ridden without
much difficulty After reaching roads on the
| mainland a variety OF routes back to town can
be taken Either Twenty second-ave, Eigh-
teenth-ave or Seventh-ave. Will furnish good
riding nearly il not quite all the way, and de-
Ightful trip somewhat longer than the others
and involving considerable sidepath riding can
be had by following the shore around Fort
Hamilton and taking the Shore Drive. which Is
some day TO be turned into a magnificent boule-
ward.
One Of the newest bicycle attachments is de-
vice intended 10 keep the front wheel straight
without constant pressure from the hands. II
consists OF three rings connected by springs
two OF the rings placed on the sides Of the
! front fork and the third on the tubing OF the
frame The front wheel can then be turned
only by stretching Of the springs which
however. are not strong enough 10 interfere with
guiding the machine easily. II is said that this
balance" prevents wabbling and keeps the
wheel steady and true. and II is obvious that ii
/ makes riding with the hands off easy mat
ter The weight Of the balance is two ounces
! Whether il has any practical advantage is open
TO question
POLITICS IN PROTIDLNCE.