The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-01-04

I quarter of a mile above the regular starting
point, Trainer Al Leslie pushing them off. By
the time the starting point reached the
men had got the machine under powerful
Roadway, and luck seemed 10 be with them, for
they swiftly crossed their first bad place, the
slight turn at the quarter stake which Green
was unable to hold on his first trial for mile
on q single short time ago Their speed was
rapidly increased until terrific momentum
was attained approaching the helfmie post
time 80 40. In crossing from the right-hand
J road into the new roadway, Just beyond the
hall, the tandem lunged violently and par
! tally recovered; ii then crashed across again
| into the right side Fighting up, and what
seemed g certain fall was escaped. The des-
| perate nerve OF both men was clearly shown
! here, for although being badly thrown out of
( their stride, they both exerted every effort to
again attain the fearful pace they had main
! tanned to this point. As they approached the
three-quarter stake the men again had their
mount under perfect control holding the very
center OF the roadway. They were through
the big Government gate like flash. They
were thrown to the extreme outside OF the
! r1ght-hand curve just through the gate. and
with no letting up took the reverse curve in
the next ninety yards safely and shot over the
| finishing line, doing the last and most danger
GUS quarter under 20-second clip.
The membership committee of the North
California Division League of American
Nheelmen, consisting of George II. STRAIT
ton, John f. Burke and H. w. Spalding
companied by Chief Consul Kerrlgan,
Secretary Treasurer Scovern, Henry F.
Wynne and others prominent in league
affairs will visit the San Francisco Road
Club next Monday evening, TO present to
the mem bers the many advantages to be
gained by Joining the league. They will
also visit all the other local clubs during
this month on their meeting nights with
the same purpose in view.
| A well-known repairer offers the follow
| ing plan for finding whether the two
| sprocket-wheels are in line with each
! other: Place straight-edge beside them
! long enough to extend beyond both front
and rear sprocket-wheels. If both sides
OF both the front and rear sprockets are in
/ touch with the traight-edge then the
! sprockets are true. The wheel should be
! turned slowly while the test is going on.
Ii at any point either of the sides OF either
OF the sprockets do not touch the straight
edge the sprocket- wheel is out of true.
The general use of bicycles affects the
/ price OF flour, says an exchange, as there
is less demand for bran to feed horses.
Thus one source of revenue is cut off from
the millers and the loss is added to the
cost of -four.
I. A. Griffiths of tie Bay City Wheel
men was riding in the park New Years
day with a wheel geared to 40. This is a
higher gear than the big Rambler quad
! ruplet, which is only 100. 1t requires an
immense driving power to push this gear
along, but once it is well started the speed
is terrific. The rear wheel revolves four
and half times while the pedals 20 round
once. 1t is the general impression that
hill climbing would be almost impossible
with such gearing, but Griffiths rides all
the hills in the PARK and the grade on
! Golden Gate avenue from Pierce 10 Steiner,
and up Steiner to McAllister street. He
is an exceptionally strong rider, however.
He, is now practlcing with this high gear
and If he likes it and can become accus
toned to 1t will ride it in the 25-mile road
race on February % and in the relay race
IN April. One thing undesirable about it
Is 1t IS almost impossible to back pedal or
stop the machine once it is started, and a
quick stop. is out of the question. A light
| brake would avoid the necessity for this,
however. The wheel attracts a great deal
OF attention wherever seen. The front
| sprocRet wheel has thirty teeth and the
rear one seven. An average gearing is any
! where from sixty-six to seyenty-two, the
sprockets having seventeen and seven
eighteen and eight, or twenty and eight
teeth, SO it can readily be seen what curl
GRITTY Griffith's new gear is. If he is sue
cessful with it it will no doubt be largely
adopted by other riders, as the popular
idea is that if a rider can push high gear
he Is better off as he gets greater speed with
less revolutions of the pedals.
1t is seldom necessary to winter wheel
In California except for perhaps few