New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-08-23
IN THE CYCLING WORLD
HOW THE COST OF sUNDRIEs RUNS UP

THAT ANNUAL NUISANCE. WORKING THE ROAD
A GENERAL CRUSADE AGAINST SIDEWALK
AND sIDEPATH RrDING-M MONEY SPENT
on THE COMFY ISLAND PATH.
A newspaper rhyme which recently went the
rounds represented a bicycle-rider az bewail-
ing that the "sundries cost more than the
wheel" While not literally true. there Is an
element Of truth in TIE remark that every wheel
man who has had more than few months ex-
perience will appreciate. At the beginning. IN
deed. he is usually reminded that the sum paid
for the wheel does not comprise all OF the nee
essary expenditures. At any rate. he must I'M
less he lives in some rather remote country
place, supply himself with a bell. and In eight
cases out Of ten a lamp will be found neces-
sary 1t Is true that both these articles can
now be purchased for small sums OF money but
a good lamp and a good bell cannot be oo-
tanned for a trfe. The rider who Invests IN
cheap ones will soon regret IT, and the next time
will go deeper into his pocket. After that II he
keeps an accurate account. he will probably ma
at the end of the year that he has spent tldy
sum in repairs and sundries OIL Is indispensa-
BILE is lubrieating material Hardly less so
nowadays Is cyclometer Lucky Is the man
who escapes a puncture some other mishap
that may involve the outlay Of several dollars
Probably he will not be satisfied with the sadie
furnished him and will begin 10 experiment IN
the hope Of finding something more agreeable.
New grips or hardle-bar Of different shape
may seem highly desirable. And 80 on, and
so on.
There is scarcely any limit to be set If one
undertakes to determine for himself the utility
of all the appliances and so-called Improve
n'ents put upon the market to catch the Fancy
and open the pOcketbooks OF members or the
great cycling fraternity Some of them, now
ever are so obviously useless that no one with
common need give them second thought
One OF these Is the attachment OF mirror 20
the bicycle for the alleged purpose or enaplng
the rider to look behind him. II Is not from pc
hind that danger Is likely to come in ninety-nine
cases out OF a hundred. II the rider keeps
straight course. When he turns 10 cross the
road 1t Is wise always to give a glance PACK
ward TO IL any one is approaching. Nor
probably IS there much practical utility In the
attachment Of an umbrella to bicycle 10 pro-
tect the rider from the sun. With favoring
wind this might be no obstruction to progress.
but IL one Is riding against the wind or across
II the umbrella would be seriously in the way
Said a rider who had been counting up the
cost OF his seasons sport a day or two ago: L
am riding last years wheel still. but am about
convinced that It would have paid me 10 get
new one At any rate. | have spent $50 this
much more l may have to lay out before the
end of the season. In the first place. had 70
get new tire some time ago, and ! was fool
ish enough to invest In one that was guaran- |
teed 70 be non puncturable 1t may be nom |
so far | am aware; at least L
never had any trouble with punctures. but the !
thing broke out on the sides before had been |
using It very long. OF course. they replaced it |
at the shop where bought 1t. but all the same
I had to pay for having the new one cemented
on The second soon went the same way
as the first. and in due course Of time that was
replaced also, and again had to pay for hav-
ing II attached to the rim. The same fate was
in store for the third, and as the guarantee sun
held | might have gone on getting tire after /
tire. suppose for a year at least. But got !
tired Of 1t by that time, ard decided that
should prefer tire that might be punctured, |
but that could be ridden for several months. II
not longer, without going TO pieces. So have |
just had new one put on at cost OF ~ l
got a new saddle this year and a new cyclom-
eter: then I had the bearings or my wheel |
cleaned, and some other things done that don
recall just now, but know that have spent
$50 already on the old machine, and presume |
that by the end Of the season II Will cost me at
least S25 I don't believe it PAYS very well to
try to patch up a machine that has been so 1sed
the policy Of several Of my friends and get a
new wheel every year
In several villages and small towns near New |
York there is something Of crusade going on |
10 prevent bicyce-riders from making use of
sidepaths and sidewalks. The law is undoubt- |
edly on the side of the crusaders, but people !
who are suddenly arrested without having any |
intimaton that new regulation has been
adopted have reason TO complain about the man. |
ner Of It's enforcement. Within few days the !
notice has been posted on trees and |
fences along the highways of one part of Long |
Island:
BICYCLE RIDERS.
: TAKE NOTICE.
Bicycle riders are strictly prohibited riding
: sidewalks
: Within he limits Town Of North Hampstead
: Under penalty OF the law
Per order Town Board. SAMUEL HOOPER ,
. AucNt 2 Town Clerk