The record-union., 1896-03-29

| lean quite heavily on them instead of
pulling on them at every stroke. This
seems Objectionable at first, but as soon
as the rider becomes reconciled to the
fact that he is propelling a machine in
stead of riding horse, the idea seems
more sensible. When this position is
attained the question of saddle is also
settled
To the rider now the saddle Is but a
resting-place, not seat his weight be-
ing distributed on the pedals, handle
bars and saddle in about the relative
percentages of 20, Is and 15-and when
| crossing tracks and rough places he
| throws his entire weight on pedals and
handles, relieving himself entirely from
| the saddle for the moment.
| Now the rider is able to make "cen-
/ turies" without exhaustion or discom-
| fort from the saddle, and now he makes
no more complaints about the hard
| ness" Of his saddle. 1t is the novice
usually who makes such complaints.
One Of the oldest sights a wheelman
ever witnessed was on K street last
Saturday night. 1t was about II
| O'Clock, the sky was heavily clouded
and rain was falling quite briskly. The
| bitumen pavement was wet, muddy and
| slippery, so much so that few persons
would attempt to ride wheel over il
even with daylight to aid them.
About the hour named as a Record
Union" reporter was standing in a door
way at Seventh and K streets waiting
| for a street car, a man came wheeling
| up the latter street, and as he neared
Seventh it was seen that he was leading
a horse People on fne sidewalks ex-
pected to see him take a tumble at al
most any moment, but he didn't. He
| kept right on through the rain and
| darkness and over slippery, creased
like pavements. The rider made the
turn into Seventh street safely, though
the intersection is all cut up by railroad
tracks, pulling the horse after him, and
disappeared in the alley in the rear OF
| the postoffice.
1t would be difficult matter for BIZ
cyclist to lead horse under the most
favorable conditions, but to do it sue
cessfully on dark night, during rain
storm and over slippery pavements,
was certainly a noteworthy achieve
ment.
A novel idea for ladies' cycling wear
is expressed in a hard felt riding hat
with simple brim and two specked
quills at the side. For all weathers the
club straw sailor hat is worthy of at
tention with its waterproof ribbon and
gray wings. A third shape, in felt
very becoming and soft to a degree, is
appropriately trimmed with shaded yel-
| iaI rrrith h oh how IQ11i
the same style can, of course, be bought
in any color, looking exceedingly well in
white felt or in a light biscuit tone.
The ranks of the lady riders will be
greatly augmented this year. Physi-
clans now recommend the wheel fol
women, and thousands of fair devotees
will seek health and recreation astride
the silent steed the ensuing season
North, South, East and West the re-
ports tell of the enthusiasm shown
among the feminine sex, the fact thai
the feeling is universal being substan
itated by statistics furnished by the re.
tail dealers who are catering to this
class of trade.
There were several specimens of non.
1
recent New York show. There was one
consisting of spring steel rib in the
center of the tire, and from it on eacf
side are small aluminium plates, which
lap upon each other and are hinged
by means of fabric. Another consist:
of an inside sheath made of laminatet
plates of watch spring riveted together
1t is curved, and a section of it look:
l 1Ol@ &ai1 hi
. else.
There was also self-healing tire
: with aperatures that close up as soor
as made without loss of air. 1t is made
with a coating inside the tire abou
, the tread. The coating is a compost
ton similar to rubber cement, but very
) adhesive, and so constituted that i
does not dry up or cake.
The multo gear exhibited was also
: decided feature, being the first eve
made permitting Of three changes o
gear while riding.
, do you really think that a bicycle Il
worth the money!"
Worth the money!" said the quick
tempered man. why, mine has PAL,
; for itself in less than three months il
Tie DGdAlllU4 0A AptdUdllOuS II
, for black eye"-Indianapolis Journal
| The banana skin is becoming
greater menace to cyclists than tn
ubiquitous and remorseless tack 1t i
| bad enough to step on one while walk
ing, but to strike one with your wheel
while going at brisk pace, is apt t,
/ lead to serious results.
: Clair Foster, well-known New Yorl
contractor. reached America last weel
from Paris, having spent a couple o
months wheeling on the continent. MI
D Foster says that tourist in Europe
subject to more expense when ridini
through the foreign country than mos
! people imagine Mr.. Foster was take,
e for everything, made to buy tags an
: licenses in almost every town, and both
D cred so much, in fact, by Government
e officials that he cut his tour short an.
2 returned to America disgusted
i Use the ankle in pedaling. particu
larly when climbing hills. The ankl
s motion is hard to adopt, but when ono
e the knack is learned it will greatly re
0 lieve the wheelman ascending eleva
: ticns. Upturned handle-bars also ia
cilitate the art 1t is also good rem
g edy for developing the calf of the leg.
=
: The National Racing Board has re
: ceived but few applications for sane
r tions this year A year ago at this tim
t the board was flooded with applications
Y Most of the cycle meet promoters ar
i gauging the question before concludin
1