The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1896-10-24
BICYCLE NOVELTIES.

wv - - t->''
some of the New Features of Wheel Con-
struction fcr'97.
New York, October 13, 1896-It seems
trifie odd to speak of the bicycle year OF
1897 as already begun, but begun 1T Is.
For months already the heads of the
houses have been puzzling their brains
over novelties to be introduced In wheel
construction, and rival firms have been
closely watching each others movements
Most of them have already pretty well
determined next seasons models and
patterns; the next thing is to keep the
factories running all winter to supply
the spring demand.
A sharper line of demarkation will be
drawn next year than ever before, be-
tween the cruising and the racing bioy-
cle-bstween the light. high-geared ma
chine for track use and the wheel Of
moderate gear and weight Which can be
relied upon for ordinary roads. There la
considerable reaction against the
ninateen- pound wheel, as used by heavy
riders on the road. Gedate riders who
are more fond of scenery than speed will
be perfectly satisfied with weight OF
between twenty-five and twenty-seven
pounds, while track racers will be built
as low as twelve.
The gearing OF the shaft is no longer a
povelty. Many firms will probably
make chainless bicy roles for next ear, as
tie principle of the beyel-gea.c3 cog is SO
familiar in mechanics that simple appli'
cations Of it can hardly be covered by
patent any more than the chain and
sprocket arrangement now universal.
The chainless gears will especially
commend themselves to women, because
they will require no skirt guards and
| will cause no CRIME of mingled oil and
dust within sight or touch. An alterna-
tive will be the possible employ ment Of
gearing case, after the English fashion,
to cover completely the chain and
| sprookets. This will have some Of the
same practical advantages, hut will ps
| clumsy in appearance, besides adding g
pound or so to the weight of the finished
| wheel.
| INCREASING THEGEAR.
| The gear even of roadster wheels Ii
constantly rising-ffty six, sixtythret
and sixty -eight being successive land
marks of the process. Next year one O
the famous New England firms will built
no gear below eighty for mems wheel
unless specially ordered. This year the
standard" wheels have varied between
4 sixty-eight and seVenty-tw0. Next yea
seventy six will be considered abou
medium. As the gear is raised" tht
necessity of brake becomes more urgent
Back-pedaling, as q means of stopping
hing -geared wheel in swift motion, i
hardly adequate for an emergency
Equipped with brake, the rider OF
seventy six-gear can ascend hills OF fai
grade and descend any steep which is Il
for carriages Women 8 wheels will b
geared between sixty three and seventy
two. A low gear, q short crank and
high seat are the combination for aslad
who would ride gracefully rather thai
| tdpluly, as tQ6S6 COuultlOuo ICoduC Ia
ugly knee action to minimum.
Wooden handle bars are to be used b
many builders as means Of saving
few ounces of weight, and may become
nearly as universal as wooden whee
rims. Handle bars and, ndeed, an on
tire running gear-of aluminium woul
De much better relatively to weight, bu
the cost Ia as yet prohibitfve of. genera
use.
Tires are susceptible of practically n
improvement. Single tube tires OF sma
dimensions will be almost universal o
racing machines, but the middle age
cruiser will still use on the road the l;
size to best advantage. 1t is curious tbs
while the wheel itself has SO rapidly in
proved, tires are, as many complainel
claim. not as good as three years ag'
The tremendous development of ne
general use for rubber has so overtaxe
the sources of supply that 1t is hard
get enough good rubber. The princips
tire makers, who all guarantee the
wares. are put to great loss by the COZ
, slant necessity of replacing defeoti1
L tires.
THE QUESTION OF PRICE,
G Whether the cost of high grade bicycle
d Is to be reduced from 500 NO one WI
n kno" Tor some time yet. Some maker
e propose to step In the other direction .
s making line Of specials" at $llo
8 $40. 1t was significant fact that tn
Il POPE Company, which reduced Hartfol
IS wheels from $50 to sos last summe
J. raised the price again to $40 almost IN
}, meeoately; SO active was the deman
|. that the makers were unable to keep I
q with It, And when several thousan
d fairly good wheels were sold at $1S saci
as bargain sale attraction at New Yorl
d people tainted and were bruised in IL