Evening star., 1896-11-28

at any rate, and though this season of the
year Is not the most favorable for bicycle
riding. 1t is the only season when there Is
any possibility of using a towpath for
cycle path.
The price of wheels for next season is
perhaps receiving more attention from cy-
clistS than any other subject, and,
though this subject has been touched upon
before in The Star, subsequent events have
arisen which throw new light on the mat
ter. The general impression scented to be
that there would be a big slump, SO to
speak, n the bicycle market mex: year, and
that all classes of wheels would be sold at
q greatly reduced rate. This impression, it
is thought by some, is erroneous 1t was
stated in The Star a month or more ago.
that the high-grade wheels for mex: year
would probably be reduced to $15 or $50.
One well-known firm has taken the lead In
the matter, and has advertised that next
year its wheels will be sold for $50. There
are other manufacturers. whose wheels sell
readily in the city, who have officially an
rounced that there will be no decrease in
prices, and that their product will next
year sell at s1cO. while their special makes
of wheels will go as high as S125. Taking
these as an indication it would seem as
though the price will not fall below Si5 or
$50 for high-grade wheels next season. All
of these prominent concerns are members
of the national board of trade of cycle
manufacturers, body which regulates, to
great extent the sale and price OF ma
chimes, and which incidentally has lowered
! the guarantee limit to six months. In
view of this fact. 1t is believed, the public
Will be disappointed II any further decrease
of price is expected in the high-gra.le ma
chimes.
The adjustment of the bearings on BIZ
cycle Is an all-important thing, and one Of
the first things the beginner should learn
about. Ignorance of this has shortened the
| life of many wheels. The cones and ours,
which keep the ball bearings m place, are
about as hard metal can ne, Yet, through
the bad arrangement OF the balls, these
| chambers become worn uneven and jagged,
i and as q consequence the wheel works ex-
| tremely hard and the rider knows nothing
about it. If always kept properly adjusted
| the cones and cups will last much longer
| than the tires, and there are some ma
| chimes in the city which have been ridden
| thousands of miles, the cones Of which are
| worn evenly all around, showing good aG-
| justment. while in the case of other wheels
| the cones are worn frresularly. showing
| extremely bad adjustment.
The proper adjustment Of the bearings is
/ a delicate piece of work. One may get the
| adjustment at the first trial, and then
| egain will have to make six or seven, or
| may be more attempts, before things can be
considered all right. The bearings SHOULD
be neither too tight nor too loose, and the
| striking Of a medium Is sometimes a
tedious task. One small turn on the cone
| may do the work or 1t may undo II. and the
| only indication that the rider has Of the
perfect working of the bearings ia when
| the wheel is not loose and will oscillate
| when lifted from the ground. If the wheel
grtads when showed around the bearings
| are too tight. 1t is not difficult 10 determ-
Inc this. II the bearings are too loose they
| can be detected easily. Hold the bicycle
| firm and touch each wheel. and IL the
wheel moves in the frame the bearings sre
too lose. To find the looseness Of the bear.
ings on the head. gently lift the handle
bars upward, and II they move withou,
the whole frame being lifted the bearings
need tightening. Loose bearings at the
| crank axle, where the pedals are connected
by means Of the crank shaft, nra un aboni.
nation. and result in more or less lost pow.
er. It Is moro difficult for rider to tight.