The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-07-07

THE WHIR
OR THE WHEEL.
The average woman bicyclist exercises
too little judgment In the selection OF her
wheel. 1t IS not enough that an cie-
CANT machine" be purchased by the Dig
brother or husband for the fair aspirant'
T'he individually OF the rider should be
carefully considered when the wheel IS
set I'D. and then such changes should
follow as experience may dictate. IN
dictionary parlance. the gear or gearing
OF the machine comprises the toothed or
overwhelmingly and the chain "nlch
connects them. In the language OF the
practical wheelman. a bicycle with a gear
OF sixty-eight inches IS 50 adjusted that
ono revolution Of the pedals viii carry
the machine a distance equal 70 That
traversed by a single revolution OF
wheel slxty-eight inches IN diameter. &C
cordingly the arrangement OF the sprock-
cts and chain is Of the utmost Importance
I'm regulating the speed and the force
necessary TO propei the bicycle.
AS a large woman OF lymphatic tenn
perament is not expected TO be as active
in her movements as her nervous, INN
sister II would be wise TO give each
machine gcared TO her individual netds.
Let the stout woman ride bicycle win
a large sprOcket. Then her weight VIII
help her 10 the additional force needed,
and each complete revolution OF the
pedals will carry the bicycle farther In
its way. The smaller sprocket wheels
Will permit the nervous slight woman TO
spend her surplus activity IN pedal action
recurring less actual strength, but carry
ing her wheel as fast as the other. A
sprOckot wheel can be easily changed,
and no woman rider should omit consider
alton or this essential to the best per-
Torrance.
In extreme cases the pedal bars can
be heightened or shortened, a slight diff
ference in their length making a radical
change I'm the gait OF the wheel. Usually,
however all tho changes necessary can
be effected IN the adjustment OF the gear
ing by anyone accustomed to setting up
machine.
The saddle Of a bicycle can make
ride a delight or an agony. The correct
saddle should, in the first place, ut the
rider absolutely; in the second. 1t should
be placed in the right relation 20 the
pedals. A woman's saddle should, in
general, be shorter than mans and
be tipped backward at a slight angle.
A wheel Is not an animate body but
Il is a sensitive combination OF delicate
" adjusted mechanism and responds
10 the automatic movements Of tho rider
even more quickly than hlgh-spirited
horse. There can. therefore. be no great
er mistake made by a beginner than 10
think that all wheels are alike. save in
price. and that uiscOmforts must be
borne as part Of the sport
WHEELS IN THE ARMY.
The use OF the bicycle in all the armies
of Europe has enormously increased dur
ing thepast two years. In Holland, MEM
bers OF the various bicycle clubs who have
attained their twenty-frst year. and are
proficient I'm the use Of the wheel, are IN
Vted 10 join the army under advanta-
ecOus conditions The number OF posts
offered is seventy-nve. The candidates
are paid fifty guidens a year, are given
the rank Of corporal, and are present.
ed with a uniform 10 be worn during
their term OF service. When upon duty,
the bicycIers are allowed FIVE guldens a
day. From the first Of March 10 the
S0th OF April they receive instruction
twice a week in military affairs The
candidates have 10 bind themselves for
a term of five years 20 be ready for ser
vice when called upon by the Minister OF
War, and 10 go into encampment for
three weeks in the year. These ar
rangements are said 20 have resulted IN
great increase in the enlistment OF
cyclists in the Dutch army.
Bicycles have also been introduced IN
the army OF Portugal. where they have
met with great success. Their utility
was proved in the manoeuvers which
took place az Tancos
In Spain, bicycle instruction is a spe-
cIalty IN the infantry and rifle CORPS.
Money prizes are offered for the best
riders. The bicycles are TO be used FOR
the carrying Of dispatches and the Ike.
In bulgaria, since 1893 10 every SIX divl-
sons a bicycle corps, consisting Of one
non-commissioned officer and eight men,
IS told off.
In France. at least two men in every
regiment are detailed for bicycle work.
In Denmark. a certain number of re-
cruits undergo n course OF instruction
in bicycling.
Sweden for some years has paid partic-
ular attention 10 the use Of bicycles in
the army. The bicycle corps are armed
with revolvers. To every division ten
men are told OF, are especially instruct
ed in fore-pOst duty, the reading or mill
itary maps. and In the surveying OF roads
and bridges.
NEW WAY TO GET A BICYCLE.
A new method OF obtaining a bicycle
with the expenditure OF wit and not mon
ey is that employed by a bright young
man in Brooklyn. The said young man.
carrying a bicycle footpump, called at
the janitor's apartments Of one OF the
fashionable flats in Brooklyn and stated
that he had been sent by the owner Of
the bicycle there to pump up the wheel
The janitor unsuspectingly led the young
man to the cellar bin, where the bicycle
was kept opened the door and left him
pumping up the tires. When the janitOr
returned after a few moments absence.
he found that the tires had been so we'll
pumped up that the young nan and the
bicycle had disappeared together. Up
TO date neither the young man nor the
bicycle has returned, and the owner or
the wheel and the janitor are trying &c
decide which shall stand the less.
THE BICYCLE IN 1900.
The Hardware Dealer publishes a
French satire on the bicycle In 1900 as
follows:
In quick-witted France the predomi-
nance OF wheelmen In the community
has already been recognized. and the
leading journals are strenuously advo-
eating the adoption Of law which will
effecually guard the rights OF the great
fri, ..tfs