Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1895-04-11

y
in the spring. when the craze was at
its height the great parade was held
there. Prizes had been offered for the
handsomest machines, the most gaudily
decorated ones and the oldest ones.
The latter prize was the one most
sought after by the Parisians and the
French manufacturers were kept busy
long before the parade building BIZ
cycle monstrosities on plans submitted
by wheelmen ambitions to carry off
the prize.
Three weeks before the parade a
young Frenchman named Leon Lyon.
a member of the committee which got
up the parade, made wager of 500
francs that he could design and have
ready in time a machine which would
carry off firsr prize for the oldest BIZ
cycle. The bet was taken by another
bicyclist who had designs on the prize
himself. and the next day NJ. Lyon went
To England, and calling at the bicycle
office of blcyele-maker at Beeston.
Informed him that he wanted a bicycle
made, shaped as much like the Eiffel
Tower as possible.
The dealer thought he was talking
with a crazy man al first, but Lyon
convinced him that he was in earnest,
and the two went to work and designed
the ridiculous looking. but. neverthe-
less. rideable machine which is now on
exhibition in this city The manufac-
turer called it the giraffe bicycle but
NJ. Lyon insisted ON calling it the Elf
fel Tower Bicycle" and under the latter
name il was catered in the Paris pa
rade. From the moment machine and
rider appeared on the street there was
no doubt about the winner of the prize.
The rider was as proud as a peacock,
perched away up on his seat. but he
didn't dare to respond in any way to
the enthusiastic applause which his
presence caused. 1t took all the in
genuity he had to keep from falling
off of the lofty affair. He managed to
get through the parade without
tumble, however. and when he received
the prize he didn't forget to mention
the fact that an English firm had made
the wheel. The machine cost Nj. Lyon
the equivalent of $3.50 American money,
but the prize he won with it was worth
almost as much as that. From the
ground to the saddle of the bicycle is
a distance of ten feet, the framework
being made Of steel tubing. light, but
very strong. The manufacturers fol-
iOWel instructions IN making the ma
chine look as much like the Eiffel
Tower as possibls, and this probably
had much 20 do with the success of the
rider. The lower part of the machine
is an ordinary safety bicycle, with
pneumatic tires and ball bearings.
The small cog beside the rear wheel
is connected with another cog wheel
about i've feet Up the frame by the
ordinary bicycle chain. Another chain
connects this latter cog With the pedals.
Above this are the saddle and handles,
all made in the usual style. The frame
work in the rear is so arranged that
ii forms sort of ladder. up which the
rider climbs to the seat while some one
holds the machine. 1t would be almost
impossible TO climb on the bicycle while
II was in notion which is practically
the only thing that can't be done on
the "Einel Tower" wheel that one can
do on any other wheel Despite it's
great height. the whole thing weighs
only sixty pounds. which is less than
the weight of some OF the old-fashioned
high bicycles. The wheel was brought
to this country several months ago and
exhibited at the Springfield meeting.
IL has been ridden in this city several
times. 1t requires nerve to mount the
machine. but once on top and started
there is little difficulty in keeping ii
going. Dsmounting causes the great