The record-union., 1895-06-26
TAKE GOOD CARE OF YOUR WHEEL.
It VIII Be Found Economical by
Owners of Bikes.
A Little Skill and knowledge WIN
Suffice to Keep Them in
Good Condition.

An experienced wheelman is out with
some timely advice to owners of bicycles.
and now that so many persons are learn
Ing to ride the wheel who know little or
nothing of the details of their mechanism,
the suggestions offered will be OF great
service to them,
To take care of a bicycle properly re-
quires knowledge, patience and certain
amount OF mechanical skill. 1t should
be matter of pride to the owner to keep
his or her wheel as fresh and smart
looking as when purchased. a bicycle
should always be as irreproachable and
immaculate as a well-kept trap. To do
this a regular system should be adopted
from the outset, and persisted in con-
Etantly.
In the first place, before starting out,
the whole machine must be thoroughly
oiled, but if this is done carelessly good
deal Of damage is bound to result, Tor
nothing collects dust and dirt SO surely as
q joint surface reeking with oil. A dry
rag, therefore, should be kept in the tool
bag to wipe up the oil which remains un-
absorbed while care must also be taken
that no oil gets on the tires. for any kind
OF grease is very injurious TO india rub
Der.
so much for the morning toilet, so to
speak. But when the long days work Is
done the bike" should be thoroughly
cleaned before it or its owner retIres to
rest. Every part should be wiped free OF
mud and dust; the spokes should be
rubbed bright, and every joint lett as
''clean as whistle" 1t is also advisable
to let little air out of the tires, so that
they shall not be kept on tension.
But even if all this is done with regu-
Iarity it is not enough, as there arc some
parts which can only be reached In gem
erai cleaning up'' once a fortnight, or
perhaps oftener if the wheel has much
use. The axles, balls and chain should
be taken out and every particle OF ac-
cumuIated grease or dirt removed. Great
care should be taken at such times that
every bolt, screw, etc., is restored to its
proper place
At first this disintegI alton of the vari-
GUS parts seem an impossible task TO
one who knows nothing of mechanics,
but brains supply the lack OF expert
ence, and any intelligent person can cas-
lily master the necessary details, while the
consciousness of complete understand
ing of its mechanism establishes a SYM
pathy with the wheel that a constant rider
Will find Invaluable.
But even with the greatest care bicy-
get shabby in time. A few touches of
paint now and then will servo 10 put oil
tine final day Of renovation, but when this
no longer suffices, and the machine be-
gins to have mostled look and the
spokes to look rusty and furnished, there
is nothing for it but thorough over
hauling.
To do this, first get the frame clear of
the other parts, putting each one care
fully aside, with its nuts and screws so
that there may be no perpIexity when it
is necessary TO put them together. Then
scrape OF every particle of the old paint
from the frame with al old kitchen knife
Ut is impossible to sandpaper it off salts
fRotoriIy), and when a perfectly smooth
surface is obtained cover il entirely with
q covering of black enamel, which can be
had at any place whore they keep bicycle
supplies.
Alter the frame is painted go over each
part successfully. The chain viii prob
ably be found very much cloggsd with
grease and dirt; for this couple of hours
soaking in a bath of potash is the best
remedy. To make the bath take TWO
tablespoonfuls of potash to a basin OF
water. If the chain is steel the rust can
be removed by putting it in water to
which has been added q tablespoonful OF