The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1896-06-17
The Peoples Bike.

The scientific editor Of the Journal
des Debats gives an interesting ao-
count, which ia summarized by the
Boston Journal of Commerce, of a
new bicycle, or rather an improved
old one, known as a "celerette,'
which has some features that appear to
warrant the claim that it is the popu-
lar machine Of the early future. It
is very simple and very cheap com-
pared with other machines of its gen.
eral class. 1t has no pedals and no
gear. Strictly speaking it is an i'm
proved. "draisine," the bicycle Of u
grandfathers, which was invented by
Baron Won Drais, of the Grand Duchy
o. Baden, for whom it was named, and
who has left the record that son a
good road my machine can travel six
or even eight miles an hour, and down
an incline it can go faster than a gal
Looping horse" There were no scorch-
ers in those days, or if there were, no
account is given of their achieve.
ments.
The improved draisi7e is the inven.
ton or development OF NJ. Clerc. 1t
consists of a little wooden frame, a
saddle, two wheels and handle bar,
and the least that is claimed for it is
that a man can 'get along on it at a
faster rate than if he ran at his full
speed, and can 60 an immense dis
lance without becoming fatigued. One
signal advantage that it possesses is
that "little or no training is necessary
to enable anybody to ride it," As in
the case Of the old invention the rider
| rides and runs at the same time, the
machine bearing all his weight and
leaving his arms and legs free for the
sole use of propulsion and maintaining
his balance. When he mounts the
saddle he plants his feet on the
ground, "starts off with a few kicks
and away he goes, giving a kick now
and then to keep up his speed With
the cheapest and clumsiest kind of a
celerette one moves at a somewhat
slower rate than that of the modern
machine, but with pneumatic tires
and a light frame, it is claimed, "as
good speed can be made as with any
other Wheel" And this claim does
not appear tosbe an unreasonable one
on consideration. There is consider
able friction in the gearing of the
modern machine, and corresponding
waste Of motive power, as is manifest
to every rider in climbing a hill or
traversiug soft or sandy roads. On
the celerette all the power is utilized
and is applied directly to its purpose,
Of producing forward motion. There
is not, moreover, 80 much muscular
movement required for its propulsion,
the legs swing easily instead of
pumping" at the pedals necessarily.
It il not improbable that an expert on
a celerette would distance an expert
on a pedal machine in a fair race.
That question remains to be decided.
The important and most popular
feature of NJ. Clerc's machine, how
ever, is its cost. ;'One can be bought
for fifty cents or a dollar" Think of
thatI boys and impecunious young
men, Of unsatisied longings. Fur
thermore, 'sany mar who is handy
with tools can make a celerette.'
And, finally, it is so light that it can
easily be carried up steep hills or
along the portions of soft or rugged
roads where wheeling on a bicycle is
well-nigh or altogether impossible.
The new and cheap candidate for
popular favor is evidently a dangerous
rival fog the crack and expensive ma
chimes Of the day. A wheel that any
body can ride and almost anybody caa
make, and that will get about as fast
as the average horse can trot, and that
costs no more than a pocket knife or a
theatre ticket, is bound to make trou.
BILE for the makers of $50, SIS and 500
machines, and to make glad the hearts
of many youths who "do not care to
own a bicycle in present conditions.
There is only one drawback to its
sudden popularity and uccess Its
rider, sitting like George Washington
on the saddle, and moving about by
means Of pro~digiously long strides,
does not present a particularly grace,
full appearance. 1t is not probable
that such a machine will ever find
much favor with cyclists Of the fair
sex, even the most blooming of
them. But we will not commit our.
selves to reckless assertions on this
point. AS has been remarked by q
close observer Of recen events, these
be strange and ''record. breaking times
and "novel proceedings are strictly
in order Med and Courier.