The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-02-05
ABOUT THE CYCLERS
The First Modern Wheel at the Cen
tennial Exposition.
ATTRACTED LITTLE NOTICE
A Writer In the American wheel
man" Describes the Crude
Machines of That Time
Gossip for the Cranks.

the early history of modern wheeling
from which the following story is ex-
tracted:
The first modern bicycle which ap-
peared in the United States, of which
we have any very authentic knowledge,
was shown at the Centennial exhibit
ton. 1t was a 4SS-inch Ariel. wheel
now long out of date, and attracted but
casual attention, standing as 1t did
among the many other strange and in
teresting things which were seen in
Philadelphia In 1876.
But very little was heard of bicycles
In this country until along In the early
part of 1873, when in the "Sunbeams."
rs they were called, of the New York
Sun, various references were made to
the Spider Wheeled Velocipedes,"
which had been seen in Boston, and a
little later advertisements appeared in
some Of the metropolitan dailies, giving
an account of the machine which was
then being imported by Cunningham &
Co, of Boston.
The wheel of 1878 was somewhat dis
similar to that which we ride to-day
1t had solid forks to both wheels par
allel or cone bearings %-inch solid
tires and not a suspicion of a ball
about 1t anywhere. On each side of
the front forks were toe-rests held fast
against the side of the fork by stiff
rubber bands, but which could be open
ed by the pressure of the foot sufficient
ly to rest ones toes on them when
coasting.
Other features were direct action
Epokes. each one with a thread upon its
outer surface at the point where IL en-
tered the rim, so that 1t might be Sc
cured by a lock nut; perfectly
straight and very short handle bar:
two steps on the backbone up which
one climbed like a monkey up a lamp
VIyh an inf Inc fIa
roller brake upon the back wheel ope-
rated by means OF a cord or leather
thong, running through guide loops up
the backbone to the handle bar, which
had to be wound up In order to apply
the brake. The weight of the machine
was In the neighborhood Of 65 pounds
Nevertheless II was the delight of every
machinist's heart. There was not a
mechanic among the many hundreds
who stopped US in our early rides to
examine the strange vehicle but went
into OBSTACLES over It because II was as
they put 1t, so absolutely perfect"
In these early days the public had
various names for our wheels. Usual
ly, however, they were known as them
things" but the most unkindest cut OF
all was when very respectable gen
tleman met us on our return from an
afternoon ride. and asked us in a most
matter-of-fact way what particular
In those days we occasionally ran
across species OF game known as the
road hog" an animal once quite plen-
tiful, but now, owing to the closeness
with which It has been hunted by the
j. A w. and similar organizations. al
most extinct
Very early in the history Of wheeling
an important decision concerning bicy-
cles was given, for custom purposes. by
the secretary Of the treasury, which
has ever been of the very greatest as
sistance to cyclists In securing and
maintaining their rights When the
first wheels were brought into this
country. there was considerable discus
sion as to how they should be taxed for
duty, whether as machines toys. pleas
ure carriages, or what. The secretary
OF the treasury decided promptly that
they should be classed as pleasure car
riages. The Importance of this decision
can hardly be over-estimated, for II
gave the bicycle a foothold which had
never been shaken, and entitled il 10
equal rights and privileges, as well as
imposing upon 1t equal duties, with
every other carriage or vehicle used on
the public roads.
The adaptability OF the bicycle for
racing purposes was early utilized. Per-
haps the first bicycle race in the Uni
ted States was that run on the Manhat-
tan club grounds, New York CITY. on
Thanksgiving day, 1873; there being
four men In the race. 1t was a niIa
contest. and was won in the remark
able time of 4:10 What would our 1.Ee
men say OF that to-day?
From that time on, and for the next
Few years. there were but few athletic
meetings at which there was not one or
more bicycle race. The first amateur
champion Of the United States was Jos
Lafon Of New Jersey; he was succeed
Cd 1.r- I'll
man, who held the position Of amateur
champion of the United States for sew
eral years.
SO we might go on Indefinitely with
"reminiscences Of the childhood Of our
sport-the bahyhood of wheeling-but
perhaps enough has been said to show
what a little fellow the present giant
was. We might tell about the gradual
improvement in wheels, of roller bear
ings, the father Of the present balls
the double hollow fork, the ancient
Cornish saddle" followed by the "sus-
pension" and later still by a legion Of
others.
Such are a few incidents Of the mast.
The present we know: the future-who
can tell? Each fall we ride an anpar-
entity perfect machine: every spring we
find improvements made. Within the
last 10 or - years changes have been
made in cycledom comparatively as
great as those which have taken place
I'm the civilization Of the United states
within the past 200 years. What the
next 10 years may contain lies far be-
yond our ken. Its possibilities REQUIRE
the brain OF Bellamy to conceive; the
tongue Of a prophet 20 foreteu
\ Chicago bicycle concern has given
out some Interesting figures in regard
70 its 1895 output. They used 2S1 miles
Of tubing. or enough u reach from New
York - Wash ingt1n. The splkas re-
Quired 625 miles OF wire. enough 20
reach from Minneapolis 10 Clicaco and
back TO Milwaukee. Forty miles Of brass
wire were used for nipples. II the
sqokes. spoke nipples and tubing were
la.l end 70 end Il would reach from
chi - 10 Omaha and return Twenty