New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-12-20
IN THE CYCLING WORLD
THE WINTER SEASON HERE IN EARNEST
INCREASING THE NUMBER OF TEETH on
sPRoCKET WHEELs-A NEW BROOKLYN
ROAD - DIsAGREEMENTs on

~-'~AsLHSi->p 4fiE NJ MBEk Of ON
sPRoCKET wHEELs-A NEW BROOKLYN
ROAD - DISBURSEMENTS on
THE TANDEM
The semi-blizzard Of last week put thoughts
OF cycling far from the minds of many, and only
the boldest and hardest were able TO look for
ward with pleasure 10 the prospect OF riding on
the succeeding days. There are some who take
solid comfort in riding in snowy and icy weather,
provided they adequately dressed for it.
Ice. strictly speaking, has terrors for the ex-
perienced wheelman. 1t is slippery. to be sure.
and one has to exercise care in turning on IT,
but In straight riding there Is small danger Of
slipping. With tires Of ordinary weight there
is practically no risk OF 7uncture in riding
broken ica. Splintcrs of ice have by no
means the sharpness Of glass. and a good tire
IS proof against them. 1t is said by those who
have tried il that snow three four inches
deep can be ridden through without effort or
discomfort. Riders who suffer from cold feet
when riding in WINERY weather may probably
take a hint from the experience of a man who
makes n practice of riding whenever it is posi-
BILE 10 get out Of doors on wheel. and who has
found it wise TO wear pair of loose arctic over
shoes. Another suggestion worth making note
Of is that to protect a tire used in Icy weather.
and render It less likely slip. ii is prudent to
wrap II with stout cotton cloth, tearing 1t into
strips three inches wide and winding it around
tire and rim between every pair of spokes. Tho
author of this suggestion fastcns the ends by
sewing, and in putting on the protective COW
ering debates the tires slightly. blowing them
up again. of course. before using.
The most important OF recent accessons to
the League of American Wheelmen is Rear-Ad-
mira Bancroft Cherardi. OF tho United States
Navy He Is the ! l29,h member of the Con-
necticut Division. and belongs-albeit a nava!
officer Of the highest rank-to the grest army
Of the unattached" His postoffice address Is
Stratford, in the Land OF Steady Habits. The
League continues 10 receive the benefit Of
clergy as is evidenced by taking into it's mem
bership the Rev. Or. George T. Van De Water.
a wcll-known Episcopal Clergyman of this city.
whose home is a No. West e-hundred and
twenty SccOnd-st
II is an ursrittcn rule Of the hlcycler that he
shall follow thc line OF leas; resistance. At all
events that is what h. aims at. and II he falls
shor; Of 50 dong the fault is one Of execution
rath than intention. Every one familiar with
a wheel knows that it sometimes has n mind OF
its own. or seems 10. and that IT Is difficult to-
bend II on such &c sasons t. It's owners viii.
II IS tho principle of least resistance that leads
wheelmen to avoid all inequalities in the sur
face of the road over which they are moving. so
far as these disclose themselves and Il is curl
Gus at times to note how hundreds Of wheels
Will swerve at almost exactly the same point.
describe short arc o. a circle and return to
the main lin IL travel for tho sake of avoiding
some trihing obstacle. IN not few cases.
doubtless. such a littlo turn IS made almost au-
tomaucally hy tho skilled WIDER. his eye sees
what all going before him have DONE and his
hand moves the bar instinc,ivciy. almost with
out any conscious intervention Of the brain.
Indeed. If h. g., n close observer Of his mental
processes. b. may detect his Iand in the act OF
attempting - ovortafc the action OF oyo and
brain. As an Illustration Of the general ten
deny 10 choose the path Z least resistance the
writer has in mind a certain bridge on one Of
the much-traHrlloI roads near tho metropolis
Fog the width Il IT, main roadway an extra
course n rlanEs has been placed on H. rising a
little above the main surface Of me road For
three feet or $50 ~ each side The bridge surface
IS composed o.: uli plankire inch two
lower. j. e. the Tragi!c" 81 20" great ma jority
~ whceimcn 10 avoid the middle part - the
bridge and the SLIGHT Jolt which taking n would
Involve. As respects other bridges. u often hap
pens thu, ty turning 20 one side OF the other
thr cycst may escape III" jar mat would come
from following tho beaten track whrr. tho
roadway has been worn down iy the impac; -
wafon wheels. and Pc comes 20 90 these things
as n hr instinct choosing The line - least re-
s.star. 20 !n o.. r-w. way fNat tn artist chooses
the l.r" ~ beauty l. becomes a. much = law
of ones bong ia the ono ease a. IN the other.
The idea Of getting gear OF seventy by tho
use Of sproclct wheels having twenty-five and
ten teeth respectively Sc ratt .r startling 10 an
oid-iinle rider whom mrs. suggested 70 hts mind
But that is what IS hcing offered On one we'll
known make Of bicycle IN the model Of 1891
With large sprockct Il this size a nlnc-too,h