The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-11-03
WHIR OF
THE WHEEL,

! &kG w AEGk.
The parade Of the League OF Richmond
Wheelmcn viii take place next Saturday
afternoon at $50 O'Clock.
The wheelmon who expect TO participate
will have TO be promptly Oh the grounds
10 start with the parade At that hour. as
the evenings are so short that no delay
Is permissible The wheolmcn will as
semble az the City Hail 80 as TO have
all In line promptly az the hour named.
on starting the line viii circle the City
Han three or four times so as TO get the
large number Of whcclmon al I'm line be-
fore the head OF the procession taxes up
the line Of march. and then two abreast
they viii ride down Capitol street 20 the
SIDE entrance 10 the Governors Mansion.
passing in front OF the house aud out
through the Capitol Square.
The chief marshall has received n letter
from his ENcellency the Governor, who
has cordially consented 10 review the
parade. He will occupy q position on the
front portico while the parade passes In
review.
His Honor the Mayor has also entered
into the spirit OF the occasion and en-
Enthusiastically expressed his interest in the
parade. by special invitation he will re-
view tho paralo from the front porch Of
BIG AFFAIR.
When tho parade was first discussed
there were some who thought that not
enough wheclmen would enter into the
parade 20 make IL a success. But instead
OF there being a scarcity Of numbers the
parade has become a question Of whether
the marshals can property handle such
large body OF whcClmcn. The numbers
have steadily grown until the lire form
alton will be something immense.
The colors which have been presented
20 the chief marshal MIR. c. ". Lefeb-
vre. by a. Saks & Co., are Of the same
shade as the coiors Of the league.
The Richmond League Of Wheelmen Is
printed on them IN silver letters. The
flags are Of heavy silk and are attached
10 gilt stats with spcar-hcadsB
The Lakeside and owl clubs will form
separate divisions I'm the parade, all
Of their members being under the i'm
mediate command OF their respective cap
tains. The marshals viii be designated
by badges. consisting Of double streamers
secured by knot OF ribbon. They are
also Of the same color as those OF the
league.
wHrTL TALK.
one OF the rules Of rhetoric IS to avoid
technical terms. and generally wheel
U.
inronsiderate Of those present who do not
rile. IN a group Of five or six, Of whom
all hut one or two are cyclists, the TAX
IL likely 10 drift TO riding sooner or later.
and once started on that subject It Is not
easily shifted. Those who are not IN
terosted in the sport may ma the GOSSIP
about tires and records and sprockcts ana
pDlals a bit tedious They VIII not be
able 10 understand how cycling can be
made the subject of such ehaiess o'scu"-
sion.
Those who are devoted to the wheel are
usually clad TO spend hours OF time IN
talking about IL in its various phases. a
man who Is inclined to think TOO nluch
about business after Office hours mus
this an agreeable and benefcial ieat 'e
81 cvcline il not only takes his mind
.rorn bie shon while he IS riding. but at
other leisure times. Thus he sleeps bet
ter and starts in on his work fresher
mentally as well as physically.
HrcKf g. =.
In designing machinery Of any kind al
lovance is made for a certain amount OF
safety or strength over and above the
amount which is required OF the appa-
ratus. the builder making IL just so much
stronger than the point 10 which IL Is
tested and expected TO work ordinarily
The amount Of safety allowed 10
bicycle is smaller than that generaily
allowed. I'm fact. a great deal below thill
accorded other vehicles. Yet, for all that,
the number Of accidents and bad break
ages ARE Surprisingly small in proportion
10 the number of wheels in use ana the
reckless carelessness with which so many
Of them are ridden. just think Tor a mo-
ment on a machine Weighing twenty
two or twenty-three pounds man VINO
Tins the scale at 100 or 10 rides over all
kinds of weather. and quite possibly never
thinks Of such u thing as cleaning the
hearings or giving it anything Ike the
attention IL should receive in any way,
and stu il stands the racket in way
which is really surprising.
The modern bicycle is really one or the
mechanical marvols Of the day. and the
manner in which these few pounds OF
steel wood. and rubber are put together
SO as TO stand the strain TO which the
hicvcle is subjected, is the result of years
Of study by many high-priced mechanics
and designers.
CONFD SGT ~ LIGHT wHfFis.
When the lightweight craze first start
ed IL was looked upon with distrust. nut
nevertheless it's benefit was appreciated
and riders were anxious 10 purchase.
The use of the wheels soon exploded the
idea that they were dangerously light
and as each succeeding year sun lSHttI
models were brought out the public
gained confidence and purchased without
hesitation.
There is a limit 20 everything. however,
ana the limit I'm this case seems TO have
been reached Manufacturers are loth
to put forward anything which viii not
give good service for the most excellent
of business reasons that such action would
hurt their future trade. No one keeps
such a watchful eye over results as they,
and that they have called halt ct last
shows that in their efforts and desire
10 cater 10 the demand for lightness on
the part OF riders. they have gone so lar
that 10 Is impossible TO do more without
increasing the risk Of accident through
brcakage
such makers as increase the weight or
their new models Will divide the extra
ounces i'm different parts which IL has
been deemed advisable 10 streng . en-
somewhat. The tires will quite probably
receive most of this additional weight. IN
The general desire for lghtness tires We're
cut down in weight TO such an extent
hat punctures have become more frequent
shan ever owing 20 the thinness Of the
fabric used i'm manufacture Although
the handy little kits and instruments for
mick repair have considerably lessened
The riders troubles i'm this respect. the
average cyClcr would prefer a few ounces
additional weight 10 the necessity of nav-
ING 10 make repairs or the risk OF an ac-