The herald., 1895-08-25
BIKES WERE
NOT ALWAYS WHAT THEY
ARE TODAY

There is perhaps no better manner of
pointing out the wonderful progress that
has taken place in the bicycle business
than by referring to the columns of the
first paper that was published IN the in
terests of the sport. In October, 1882, there
appeared the first mum Der of a magazine
known as the Wheeman. Almost the first
article Is a digest on the subject OF Tho
Bicycle. Having in mind the wonderful
construction of today that passes by shat
name, and then thinking of the sixty
pound 'ordinary," with its straight han
die bar and cum bersome parts, as COM
pared with those of today, one cannot
help being amused by the following:
"Since 1869 hundreds of thousands of
these machines wonderfully perfected in
the principles of their construction, in
workmanship and in material, have been
scattered over the world"
At that time there was total of less
than 5000, 900 invested in the entire
bicycle business. Chicago alone has in
the ighborhood OF 1000, 900 invested
in the bicycle business. the first riding
feat to attract the attention OF the public
was the ride of Ion Keith FalcoDer, VINO
rode from Landsend to John O. Groat's.
The distance, 1894 miles, was made in a
few minutes less than thin days, and
the performance was considered OF sufti-
cient importance to have the rider make
a tour of the country and give lectures
on the ride. The present record for the
ride is less than one-third of those fig
ures.
The first race meet that is chonicled is
that given by the Worcester Bicycle club.
This first race on the programme was
two-mlle affair and was won in 6:5l. The
fastest mile of the day was 1921, while
the half mile was reeled off in the "phe-
nomenal time of l :35. - These three races
constituted the days programme. and are
referred to as an exciting race meet.
May o. 1888. the league gave banquet
at hotel in New York city. 1t was at
this time that the League of American
Wheslmen was having hard fight to
establish its right to ride on the road.
AS a result number of the speeches
| that evening were on the progress that
| had been made in number OF suits that
| had been begun to establish the point
| that bicycle was vehicle, and as such
! entitled to half of the road. Among
other things that were prohibited to the
bicyclist of that time was the use of Cen
trai PARK. New York. Finally a meeting
was arranged at which the cyclists were
board. A number OF the prominent rid
ers of the day went before the board and
gave their views. One of the points that
was brought up was that about every
form of vehicle was allowed in the park
with the exception of the bicycle. One
of the speakers had great deal to say
on the subject of allowing goats in the
park. The arguments were without avail,
however. at the time, and it was only
after the greatest effort on the part OF the
riders that they were finally accorded
the use of the parks and driveways.
In 1882 it was estimated there were all
told 10, ,0O0 riders in the United States and
| Canada, one in ten OF whom were men,
| bers OF the league. In those days rider
another rider without saluting, anc if it
were on country road the riders would
| dismount and have a little chat with each
| Other. Then all riders we're bonded to-
| gether in one cause. thu of securing their
| rights, and as result it was almost equiv
alent to being member OF fraternal
order to be rider OF q bicycle.
One of the most interesting of recent
| inventions in the bicycle business is that
| for adjustable handle bar by T. III. Bur-
| ton OF Chicago. The invention relates to
an oscillating or adjustable handle bar
| for bicycles, it's object being to provide a
construction whereby the handle bar may
| be rotated into any desired position to
| adjust the elevation of the handles: and
| furthermore. to provide measures VIII ere
| by the angle OF the handles relatively to
! the handle bar may be adjusted so that
the handles may be raised to any desired
| height without necessarily changing the
direction of the axes thereof. 1t has been
| proposed heretofore to provide an adjust
able handle bar for bicycles, but the con-
| structon has always been such that it
| necessitated the dismountng of the rider
| and the application OF wrench to un-
screw and screw up certain parts. 1T is