New-York tribune., 1896-05-03
N THE CYCLING WORLD.
CHAINLESS WHEELS MAY BE MADE
AGAIN


STREET LEADING FROM RIVERSIDE DRIVE
NEW ROADS IN NEw-JERsEY-THE
TRIP OVER THE HUDSON
COUNTY BOULEVARD.
The story is current that one OF the Oldest ana
largest manufactures Of bicycles Is going 10 make
chainless wheels almost altogether Tor lSs'.
Various circumstances are quoted which lend
color TO the rumor most important OF all peine
the fact that this company has pought tne
natents for the device Many experienced riders
were favorably impressed with the chalhless
wheel which was on the market a 1eW Seasons
ago. The company which made IL Wen, ohino a,'o
bankruptcy however. and this style or machlhe
has virtually disappeared. The reason gwen lor
the failure was not that the product was uh-
salable, but lack of capital
With the improvements that have been maze
in bicycle mechanism in the last two or three
years II would be practicable to turn out a chaih-
less wheel which would be far in advance OF the
old one The chain is. after the tire, the most
troublesome part of bicycle Some place II al
the top for possibilities Of annoyance Nuts
come unscrewed rvets break the chain wears
too loose and is always getting dusty. IL neecs
constant care, for ii easily becomes klnKy. anu
when not in perfect condition. increases the iric-
ton greatly. 1t Is true that the chan runs more
easily than did the old beve gear. but Its dls-
advantages might overbalance this conslderal loh
if the chainless mechanism were improved. The
difference In weight is not considerable, as the
rod is inclosed in light aluminium case
Extensive improvements are making on River
side Drive, the annual appropriation being con-
siderable. and wheelmen could wish that few
hundred dollars OF this sum be spent on the
street running from Claremont down the nil 10
Twelfth-ave. and ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
st. This street begins JUS. north of Grants tomb,
0lyac a
turn TO the left Last year, a sidewalk was laid
along the east side of the first stretch. and loose
earth was spread on that part Of the roadway.
Past the turn, however, the street Is mass OF
rocks, many of them of considerable size, ana
to ride over them involves risks Of fall or OF IN
fury to ones bicycle The dumping OF dozen
carts Of earth here would be some Improvement
The street gives the most direct route from
Riverside Drive TO the Fort Lee Ferry. and II
in fair condition would be much used. Instead or
going that way. wheelmen now usually ride from
the Drive down One hundred and-twenty- second
st. to the Boulevard, up to One-hundred-and-
twenty-fifth-st. and thence west over the granite
blocks
The man who won't keep to the right is still
to be met with. Sometimes he is merely using
the best side Of the road. and out In the coun-
try this is not a serious fault But oftener he
is careless or ignorant Often the only explana-
ton for his violation of the rule for safety is
droves He always has his handle-bars low. in
racing fashion. Six of the lk crossed the new
Central Bridge over the Harlem, not long ago,
all keeping near the left curb Why they did
cannot be explained except that it was their
nature to be stupid and laundering. a faVorite
place. apparently. for new riders to keep to the
left is in Central Park. just south of One-hun-
dred-and-tenth-st The West Drive turns here
with sharp descent. Overhanging rocks smut
off the view Somehow, novices have fond
!, thn
of the road, although cyclists coming from the
opposite direction are likely to be moving at
swift pace. That there have not been more
mshaps here Is due to the caution OF those
going north. 1t seems that only collision VIII
teach some people to keep to the right, where
they belong.
There seems no obstacle now to beginning
work on the cycle path from Trenton to Asbury
Park which is to be the first fruit of the Fran
els law, enacted at the recent session OF the
New-Jersey Legislature. The route has just
been laid out as follows: Trenton to Yardville
to Allentown to Clarksburg to Ely, to Smith
burg, to Freehold to Turkey to Farming
dale to Hamilton. to West Asbury Park. to
Asbury Park The distance is fortyfve miles.
Wheelmen of Monmouth. Ocean and Mercer
counties at meeting held in Freehold, adopted
this route after careful consideration. 1t is
interesting to note that a number OF farmers
were present and promised aid in building the
path Two townships Neptune and Howell,
have already voted the money for that section
of the path within their limits, and others are
TO take similar action at once. spur from
Farmingdale to Lakewood is an early proba-
bity.
Enthusiasm marks the movement In favor OF
good roads all over New-Jersey. The State APP
preparation Of 100000, to pay proportion OF
the cost Of new roads is altogether insufficient
to meet the demands upon IT, Petitions for
part Of ii especially heavy in Essex. Mer-
Ger, Burlington and Atlantic counties mac
adam road from Camden to Atlantic CITY
which would be extremely popular with Phila-
delphia wheelmen. is in prospect. The two end
sections are already In existence, and Atlantic
and Camden counties have Joined to complete
the intermediate part 1t is estimated that
New-Jersey has 1000 miles of stone road,
with fifty more building
The reviewing g-stand Of the cycling parade on
Riverside Drive is opposite Grants Tomb,
where there ere numerous park berches Here
idle spectators sit, and here rest many riders.
There Is a capital chance to observe costumes.
An hours scrutiny pleasant afternoon
lately gave the impression strongly that the
standard of dress was higher now than 1t was
a year ago Just as there advance In
1895 over 1894. Many attractively garbed women
were seen, but the change vas chiefly notice
able among the men. Early III the present out
burst Of cycling enthusiasm II was thought
by many that any old clothes were good enough
to wear for wheeling. Men put on trousers
with the legs frayed at the bottom, and old
athletic shirts and sweaters. Such combna-
tions are still to be seen. but they are rare.
The number of men who are conspicuously
well dressed is large. and in general riders
garb themselves for the sport with as much
care as they do for business However, the
man who rides in a cutaway coat with the
tails reaching his rear wheel Is still In evidence
There was striking contrast between two
young women who may be described as new"
and one who. for the purpose. may be classed
as "old" in Central Park on a recent morning
Doubtless the two felt themselves to be thor
oughly up to date They rode diamond-frame