The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-12-15


than ~ al present turned out by the very
best factories 1t would he untrue 10
| assert that the question OF strength las
| not been prime factor in wheel con-
struction, but Il Is none the less true
that TO the question Of new model
there has attached undue and consequent
ly injurious importance.
Form. together with the play Tor an
nual change. has clogged mechanics in
that il has been carried TO the point al
most Of fanatic fadism. 1t has cxerted
greater influence in the general question
of construction than II has justly de-
served, and 10 that extent has retarded
in the perfection OF structural parts.
WHY THEY CHANGE.
Dealing with this very question, one Of
! the largest cycle manufacturers In this
country. If not in the world, says: IF II
were possible TO manufacture bicycle so
! perfect in general outline and design that
alterations every year would be unneces-
sary, then might makers give TO the all
important questions of periecting detai5
the time and attention II SO much de-
serves. The field which improvement in
the details Of bicycle making presents 20
the mechanical engineer is a most inter-
esting one, in which his efforts in the
future viii be widely utilized. When the
frame has been so modelled that changes
are unnecessary the whole years ener-
giles of a manufacturing plant can be di-
verted 10 the perfection Of minor parts
with the ultimate object OF producing the
perfect bicycle. 10 IL TO be hoped this de-
sirablo era Is not far distant. and when
81 bursts upon us II can be truly said that
the millennium OF The cycNst has ar
rived"
APOLOGIZED AT LAST
Ia
cyclist who is responsible for Il collision.
A member Of a woll-knOwn athletic club,
riding along at an easy pace, was over
taken by another wheel, which didn't
turn out in time ana a rcar-end collision
was the result. When the clubman re-
covered from the shock be found him
self lying on MS back with the 'baggy
knee OF a pair of trousers across his face
Furious at the stupidity Of the other rid
en- he struggled TO get mp, shouting.
why the devil do YOU ride like thaty'
"Oh, dearl Oh, dear!" said a plantive
voice. Il don't meaa TO. I'm all tangled
up"
"Oh, Lord, Il girl" groanod the young
man. "And / went and swOre at her.
and his contrtion increased when he
picked himself up and saw gazing up at
him from around the wreckage very
pretty face. flushed with modification.
man tried TO apologize.
'Awfully sorry. / thought 70 was some
idiot of "a man that bad run into me.
That is-er-er--I don't mean you're an
idiot. YOU know: 81 I'd known that you
were ] wouldn't have sworn at you. No,
no. ] don't mean that, either. I'm lit
tie ratified. you see. but 1 thought il was
q man when 1 saw your trousers. That
is ! thought yOur-er-garments were
trousers of a man, you know. II IA
known you wore bloomers-that is, If Tt
known those trousers were boomers
mean if ia known il was a girl who wore
trousers-. Oh, darnitalll 1 apolisize,
and the youth mounted and sped away SO
madly that he narrowly escaped wreck
ing a street car leaving the girl reddcr
tAan before.
FROM WHEEL TALK"
As a river grows in grandeur as It in
creases in length and strength, so in
creases the pleasure Of cycling as the
days so by.
70 many riders. experience Is like rid
ing a wheel with the lamp reversed, IL
Illuminating only the road which they have
passed.
The bicycle has been adapted TO earth.
ice and winter; the air alone remains TO
be conquered by IT,
DO not judge the wheels or tires by the
tales Of their enemies; their friends Will
admit their faults.
The true wheelman trains his BODY and
his mind together, and cultivstes neither
at the expense of the other