New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-08-09
GORMULLY & JEFFERY MFG. co.
93o-945 Eighth Ave., New York,
342-344 Fatbush Ave.. Brooklyn.

you would much sooner pay s. or SO for having
It repaired at the nearest repair shop.
1t happened last Sunday evening. as the shades
Of night falling. He had just come home
from a long ride. and in order to make things
cheerful in the family circle had said that after
supper he would jump his wheel and ride
around to the frutstand on the corner and get
some nice pears. The way partly over cob
blestones but he didn't mind that. The pears
were duly procured and the wheelman started
homeward carrying the bag containing them In
his left hand while at the same time holding
the handle-bar Just after crossing the car
tracks the wheel gave swerve on the rough
pavement and in bringing its head into the
wind again. so TO speak, the riders knee came IN
contact with the bag, and the next instant
twelve fine, yellow pears lay scattered over the
pavement People their way TO church
couldn't help smiling at the mishap ana IL was
not without difficulty that the unlucky wheel
man restrained his impulse TO use strong IAN
guage With ruefu air he gathered up the
fruit and started after another bag, upbraiding
the fruterer for giving him one that was rot
ten" When he again started for home IL was
observed that he trundled his wheel until ne
reached a smooth pavement.
Said an experienced rider yesterday. Il don't
know whether have been more lucky than
other wheelmen or not, but the fact is that l
have had mighty little experience with road
hogs Even in the city streets rarely come in
contact with a driver of any sort OF vehicle who
doesn't give a fair share Of the load once
on country road I did meet a man who forced
me out on the stones that had to dismou 1t;
yes now that recollect believe that has hap
pened to me twice But would like to mention
another experience to show the kindly disposl-
ton Of some drivers toward wheemen. A Few
days ago had break in my tire when was
about three miles from a railroad. Contrary 10
my usual practice, | had no repair KIT with me,
and there was nothing for me to do but to take
train home had walked perhaps mile
toward the station, when a man in a covered
buggy, driving a nice horse, overlook me- he
looked at me somewhat closely as he passed,
and, after going few rods. drew up and asked
me IL / had had accident. | told him yes,
of course, and then he wanted TO know II |
couldn't get into the back OF his wagon ana
pull the bicycle along after me That was I'M
possible as | explained to him. while thanking
him cordially for his offer, but 1t was plain tha
II there had been any way Of carrying the wheei
in on the buggy he would have insisted on
my doing II. | mention the incident merely 10
show that there are men who drive horses VINO
have the kndest feeling toward those who ride
wheels OF course. it ought to be so, but many
people think 1t is not, and. no DOUBT, nave goou
reason for thinking as they do
A properly constructed tire valve ought to be
perfectly air tight without reference to the cap
that is taken off when the pump is applied
The purpose Of the cap is to keep out dust ana
dirt II ought to have nothing to do with the
air-holding quality Of the valve. Often. how
ever II serves an important purpose In keeping
the air in A rider thought that he must have
received a puncture a few days ago when he
had merely lost the cap OF his valve ana an
other found his tire getting fiat Unexpectedly
owing to the fact that the valve cap had not
been screwed on tightly. IL is easy TO test
valve by turning the wheel until the valve Is at
the highest point and then holding full glass
of water as to cover the valve. 1t Is well TO
make this test in case any suspicious are
aroused. with the cap off as we'll as on
The distance across Staten Island, from St
George to Tottenville by the usual route. is
often given as seventeen miles. That estimate
is somewhat too large. BY cyclometers. whose
accuracy has been tested, the distance is trihe
under sixteen miles. Two years ago this was
one of the finest rides around New-fork barring
the stretch of two or three miles wnere the
macadam was not completed. Now II Is mucn
less pleasant than formerly. owing to the raVages
OF the trolley.
II believe that this fad will die out inside or
five years" 1t was a non-rder who made the
remark. apropos of the widespread interest In
the bcycle And it enthusiastic rider
who answered him Il agree with you. l think
the fad will die out--if there is a fad. Just so
far as bicycling is fad, popular interest IN II
will surely decline after year OF Two bu' .
fail TO see that it is fad. There are none OF
the earmarks Of craze about H. III Is an ex-
hllarating and most delightful sport ana means
of exercise we'll as locomotion, ana II Is
nracticallv within the reach OF all me interest
in the wheel is phenomenal, / admit, put mat
is because there never was anything IKE IL IN
the world before. Undoubtedly Wneehns mas
heen oyerdone in some cases, ana people may
haya injured themselves by too free indulgence
In IL But on the whole the good the wheel mas
ACCOMPLISHED outweighs million times any evil
II may have caused.
There have been some curious bicycle accidents
,otelv In one case the victim was girl whose
shoelace became entangled in the pedal, and get
ting wound up gave her. a severe fall The first
Inference from thir might be as to the unwisdom
Of wearing shoes that laced when riding a
wheel but then laced shoes or boots are virtually
a necessity 1t is plain. though, that care should
be taken about leaving any long ends exposed;
probably the safest way is to have ones shoes
equipped with fasteners that do away with dan
Cling loops and loose ends Another strange acct
dent is that of the young woman who was struck
by a bicycle and knocked down In falling she biz
a piece out of her check. exposing an artery and
causing infinite trouble. For time her life was
almost despaired OF. but at length the physicians
succeeded In taking up the artery and stopping
the flow Of blood AS for bicycle accidents in gem
eral, many more occur than most people suppose,
but the majority are OF trifing importance.
Notwithstanding the rule on the Long Island
Railroad that bicycles to be checked must be pre-
sented TO the agent nfteen minutes peioie liam
time the rider who wishes to have his wheei
taken by train from OF the wayside stations
finds no difference between the present practee
and that prevailing before the Armstrong Id"
went into effect When buying his ticket lie
saws that he has a bicycle which ne wants u ~
along with him. check OF pasteooaru WIN
string attached is handed him, and he Is told TO
attach II to his wheel; and at the same time he