New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-12-13

higher speed can b. attained with less exertlOn,
that longer links can be used in the chain, ana
that the friction is thus diminished. They talk
glibly OF the ease with which high gears may
thus be ridden gears of SO. IS and 80 being
spoken Of as within easy reach Of ordinary riders.
There to be no good foundation for the
claims put forth. and general principles II IS
safe to say that beyond a reasonable limit hign
gear means q much larger supply Of energy to
propel It, one thing is certain: there can be no
patent on the size Of sprocket wheels and II any
advantage is found In Them all the bicycle max
ers will equip their wheels accordingly. AT the
headquarters of one concern in this city the IN"
cuirer will be told that If he wishes large sprock-
cts he can have them. but the new model now On
exhibition has sprockets with 10 and teeth, re.
spectively-that Is. "a gear OF 6612.
noteworthy improvement in many Of the
coming wheels Is the use OF flush joints in the
place OF gaspipe thimble joints. A few makes
have had this point Of superiority In the past,
and the improvement in the appearance OF the
bicycle is so great that it will not be surprising
II it is widely adopted. 1t has been said hereto
fore that with flush joints 1t was not possible 10
make the brazings perfect. and that therefore
such joints would be weak point IN the ma
chine. But this difficulty seems 10 nave Deen
overcome and flush joints Will be the rule here
after on a number Of the hrst-class machines.
One has only TO compare bicycle Win Husn
joints with one Of the same make having the oid
style of connections to the superiority OF the
new arrangement.
In tires the only improvement Of note that is
promised consists in the roughenng of the
tread. which Is believed to afford better hold
when the rider goes on slippery places. and Is
less liable to allow his bicycle to slide out from
under him with more or less embarrassing re-
suits This is not new idea. Corrugated tires
have been used on some types Of bicycles for
several years and the departure from per-
fectly smooth outside surface has been gradually
growing in favor: Two or three makes Of tires
provided with corrugated or basket-wofk
trcads this year, and the coming year VIII see
still greater advances in this direction. one
tire making company has given up smooth tires
altogether and will put on the market tire with
an embossed surface. Another well-knoWn con-
Germ. not wishing to make radical departure.
provides corrugated band which can be
cemonied fast to any tire having smooth out
side The additional weight Of the bands is said
to be So little scarcely to be taken into ac-
count by the ordinary rider. This recalls the So
called 'puncture- proof bands that were Of
fcred To bicyclists two or three years ago. but
failed 10 attain any degree OF popularity
No progress seemingly has been made in the
production OF unpuncturable tires. Two or three
such are offered for sale. but on experiment they
do not give entire satisfaction. The trouble lies
In their lack OF elasticity, a quality that can be
secured only by the proper combination OF rub
Der and fabric without the addition Of any other
substance. Even with well-made rubber tires.
OF kinds that largely used and popular. 1t Is
found that there is considerable difference in
the effect produced on the rider by long trip
with conditions nearly alike as may be. II
has been the experience in some cases that the
saddle is felt more on one variety OF tire than
on another. The only difference that can be
suggested is the difference in the resilency OF
the tires and the amount Of vibration they take
up.
There will always be fantastic ideas among
hnc
cessfully experimental with a notion OF his
own devising is proof that another should
try the same thing. one OF the most fantastic
Is that Of the man who docs away with tool
bar by carrying his necessary tools inside the
franz, OF his whea, by taking his seatpost
and dropping them into the aperture thus OBJ
tanned, inst placing the articles he wishes TO
take in a long. narroH bag. Ninety nine people
out Of lOD would consider il far more trouble
some TO do this than to carry toolbag in the
ordinary way. In the first place. it is not easy
always TO remove the seatpost when ii is
tight fl. and. besides. most riders do not like
10 make change in 1t when 1t is once set at
just tho right place. Moreover 1t is impossible
10 loosen It without wrench. and on the plan
described IL becomes necessary always to carry
n wrench in the pocket. That is nuisance In
more ways than one. When a rider carries
pump cement plugs End other things needed In
repairing. INSIDE the frame OF his bicycle he
seems to be- taking large amount Of trouble
t. accomplish an end much more easily attaina-
BILE for there G rational ground for object
ing TO a toolbag attached by straps In the usual
way. -...~
An official Of tho Brooklyn Bridge calls atten-
ton TO the great amount Of careless riding on
that structure which comes under his observa-
tlon. II is great wonder to HIM. he says. that
accidents are not far more numerous. What
he especially deprecates Is the conduct OF riders
with little experience. not infrequenty women,
who ride the Bridge among the numerous
teams and trucks running risks Of the most
FERROUS kind. OF course. there has been a great
Increase I'm the amount Of riding the Bridge
since the removal OF tolls went into effect but ii
would m that one would not venture 10 cross
the roadways unless one felt confidence in his
ability to control his machine in difficult cir
cumstances. There can Ice no doubt that some
drivers do their best to annoy biCycers, and they
have exceptional opportunities on the Bridge