The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-11-29
THE ROAD SKATE.
Sixteen Miles an Hour Can Be At
tanned by 1t After Little Practice.

From the ST Louis Post-Dispatch.
Now comes an evolution of the roller
skate, which threatens to knock out the
bicycle The roller skate was and is sim
ply diversion and exercise. The road
skate has now made its appearance sug-
gested by the old roller skate. AT present
it is considered merely as a form of
healthful exercise and amusement, but as
a speed of sixteen miles an hour can be
attained on good roads after very little
practice, it's practical value is not very
likely to be long overlooked.
The road skate, which is a modification
of the bicycle wheel, is rubber tired and
only differs from the bicycle wheel in
being great deal smaller. But it's pro-
portionately larger than the roller skate
wheel, and differs from it in having only
a single wheel to each foot. 1t is com
posed Of steel frame that clamps onto
the foot, and to this, directly under heel
and toe, are wheels, with or without rub
Der tires, as your fancy pleases. Previous
experience on ice blades or the four old
wooden wheels, helps one not at all in
mastering locomotion on the road skates,
hrst, because one is lifted nearly two and
a half inches from the floor
FOR these reasons the center of gravity
Ior the road skating must be sought with
the aid of an attendant in a rink and
studied as carefully as for exercise on
the ice. The effort for one thoroughly ig
norant OF the proper stride is almost pain
Iully dlnlcult, but it is as easy to learn
as the bicycle, and quite as much fun
When you discover how. Just as no cv-
cllst Is ever content to spend his leisure
hours toiling round and round the bfg-
gest academy floor ever built, so directly
'tIe eecentrlcities of these new skates are
conquered one is impelled to get out on
the nearest asphalt or macadam highway
with them. @'
A nice roll-beaten earth road is mite &c
good as skating ground, and in the open air.
the true JOY of this improved means Of
locomotlon is felt. There you push out ex-
actly as If skimming over ice piclxing
your path with care and running at the
rate OF SIX or eight miles an hour, when
the road and weather are propitious To
any one who has once been on these biob
easy wheels, there is no need of extolline,
the advantages they offer for their exhila-
rating sensation and splendid exercise but
Tor women and in autumn weather as n
grows cold for bicycling, they hold out ex
ceptionai opportunities.
"A bicycle skirt with blcomers and bicv-
Gle shoes all answer the needs of road
skating, while the upper half the body IAN
be dressed just as individual tastes dic-
lates. Ihose who are studying out the
question OF balance on these foot wheels
use sometimes, instead of cycling skirts.
any rather short, easy walking dress and
calfskin boots, which lace high and have
broad comfortable soles. Weak-anlxIed
women lace their shoes very close and
use supporting rod and can make as
good time on their skates as at any time
during the summer on their bicycles
AS muscle stretchers they are quite the
equals of the wheel, and on the whole
they are less expensive less troublesome.
more easily repaired and cleaned; handy
to carry about with one, and on a cold day.
in high wind, afford pleasure and profit
equal to the more difficult and dangerous
ice skating, which is by no means always
within every ones power to enjoy