The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-03-24


women here in regard to discarding the skirt
for the more convenient costume. at least
none that has reached the ears of the public
or become gossip in general bicycle circles,
hhii nted at on nus Several oceeasions' and It would
hardly be a surprise to see a dozen or more
women appear on the streets the first day
after the weather man gives his promise
that good weather has come to stay, at
tired of boomers. One dealer in bicycle
suits reports that he has already booked
nearly a score of orders for boomers
Like the science of electricity. the manu-
facture of bicycles is yet in its infancy.
Every year the rider thinks the bike has
reached perfection, and no more improve
ments can be made; byt the beginning of
the next season always shows his error.
This year is not remarkable for the num-
Der of improvements, but is for the quality
of them. Among the large number of new
features the reinforcement of the tubing
by inserting in places where it is most apt
to break a piece of metal in the shape of a
cross is one of the most important. The
Outing has this feature. The Waverly
comes out this year with a new pedal,
which is unique in one regard, and one of
the handsomest on the market. 1t is a rat
trap, but is convertible into a rubber pedal
by the addition of two side pieces which
weigh only a. few ounces. The change can
be made in a few seconds. The manufac-
turers of the Ben-Hur have overcome the
problem of making a hanger that is almost
dan pr Ola ana al at the t same e,,s1ime one o that
to the rider. The oil is introduced at each
end of the axle and flows through the hol-
low. Inserting the nozzle of the oiler
pushes back a valve and admits the oil, aft
er which the valve closes when the nozzle
but located differently, is used on the way
erly. Colonel Pope has introduced nickel
steel in the manufacture of tubing for the
Columbias this year. This is claimed to be
a very important feature. Colonel Pope
claims that nickel steel tubing will bear
other tubing, which allows the same
strength in a lighter tube. The Victor peo-
pie are the first to try a hollow crank
shaft. Their 1895 pattern has a crank shaft
that at first seems somewhat clumsy on ac-
count of its size, but, being hollow, it is
guard is a new feature this year, but is
not distinctive of any particular wheel. The
Winton hummer comes out this year with
from all previous frames. 1t is a diamond
frame precisely like others in that regard,
but has one extra brace, which will add
considerably to its strength. This brace
occupies a position similar to the upper
piece of a lady's drop frame wheel. 1t ex-
tends from the upper end of the head to a
point just above the hanger.
Racing for cash prizes, or professionalism,
is not so far distant in this country as
Wink YIN i6NC IOt obtiiC tAO 0Oii6 VI
the L. A. w. might suppose. AT the re-
cent annual meeting of the league in New
York Sterling Elliott proposed an amend
ment to the constitution, which was ac-
cepted, permitting the racing board to take
charge of professional races and adopt rules.
for their management. All that now re-
mains to make professionalism an institu-
ton of the l.. A. w. is for the racing board
to sanction it and adopt the necessary rules.
The amendment does not say that the l..
A. w. shall foster cash-prize racing. but
within the authority of the board to make
it a feature of the organization. 1t is not
at all improbable that when the racing
board is fully organized the subject of a
new class of races will come up for con-
sideration. The sentiment against the
barring of cash prizes grows stronger each
year, until now those members of the
league who are not racing men are nearly
evenly divided on the subject, with probably
class, thus placing bicycle racing on a par
with other legitimate sports.
losing it's brightest stars one by one. Most
of them study a long time before taking
the step which forever bars them from the
Grand Prix of Paris has attractions which
no race in this country can have under the
present amateur rules. Many of this years
fast men are seriously debating the ques-
ton of severfng their allegiance to the L.
A.. w. but are holding off to see what
action the racing board will take, now that
it has the authority to sanction professional
racing.
Many good tires last only one season on
account of the carelessness Of their owners.
Sunlight soon takes the elasticity out of
rubber. Exposure to the sun, however,
cannot well be avoided, but many times
when a wheel could be placed in the shade
it is allowed to stand in the hot, burning
suns rays. Many riders wonder at the
fact that their tire gives way in som par
ticular spot, while the rest of it is, appar-
emily, as good as new. Often this is caused
tire. Riders think it is sufficient to repair
a puncture to an inner tube tire by cement
ing the inner tube SO it will not leak and
closing the puncture on the inside of the
outer tube This allows threads in the
fabric to be exposed to moisture. which
they absorb. The moisture penetrates the
fabric several inches and finally causes the
threads to rot. The ordinary pressure will
then expand this portion of the tire until it
rot they break. one by one. and then the
tire is ruined. The remedy is to always re-
cover all abrasions with a coating of gutta
percha or some other good cement.
The wooden rim is now past the expert
mental stage, and another year will see
it entirely s~upplant the heavier steel rim.
Last year it could be seen to some extent
on the streets. but then it was locked upon
as an untried experiment, and the more
conservative buyers concluded to allow 9TH
ers to stand the expense of the trial. Now.
tionary period and is accepted by all man.
ufacturers as the best rim on the market.
There are few factories that do not fit all
wheels with wooden rims this year. except
where the steel rim is specified, while just
the reverse was true last year. Besides
lightness, it has the advantage OF being
more rigid, and viii more readily regain
its shape in case of an accident. Less
trouble is experienced in trueing wheels
ntted with 1t. II has come to stay and Is
welcomed BY all wheelmen.