Evening star., 1896-12-05

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thirds of the cyclists injured were men,
and as the proportion Of men riders is in
excess of women riders these figures indi-
cafe a relatively greater liability On the
part OF women. This Is explained, not cnly
by differences in dress and general physi-
cal development, which work to the detri-
ment of the female sex, but ny the ccm-
mon observation that women cyclists carry
more bundles than men, and. therefore,
have their wheels under less perfect con-
troll. and that they also take chances that
none but the most reckless male riders
. would dare.
The lively interest taken in cycling at
the different colleges promises well for the
intercollegiate cycle racing for next sea
son, which will occur about Decoration
day. 1t is now assured that a two Gays
meet will be held next season, and the 'af-
fair promises to be one of the most IN
teresting of the year In order to get IN
condition considerable indoor training will
be done during the cold weather CT early
sprng.
The recent touch of cold weather taste
of what can be expected for the next three
or four months, has had the effect of turn
ing the wheeiman's mind to suitable dress.
There are some riders who are compelled
to ride the wheel during the cold weather,
and the question with them Is how to dress
warmly and comfortably. On wheel one
cannot be overburdened with clothing, as
it retards progress. and Is apt to work the
riuer into a perspiratiOn something to be
avoided bad cold, If nothing worse,
Is the direct consequence. The clothing
should rot be too tight to prevent the free
circulation of the blood. Paper Is a very
warm material If a sweater is used next
to the shirt, use two or three thickneSses
of newspaper on the breast, and that will
keep out the cold. If regular clothing is
worn, paper can be used in a similar man
ner. Many wheelmen in cold weather
troubled with cold feet. The use of golf
stockings furnishes remedy and If the
ankle motion is used the entire foot will be
Kept In motion. A good. heavy pair of
woo!en gloves Is a popular remedy for cold
hands
One or two of the bicycle accidents which
have occurred in this city this season have
been due to insecure handle bars. The
only wonder is that the accidents were not
more serious than they really turned out
to be. An accident resulting from this
cause Is apt to result far more disas-
trously than from a broken frame any
thing else. "a rider skimming along at
fair rate whose handle bars turn COM
sure pull out, is apt to fall to the ground
much more quickly and harder than from
any other cause. The causes Of an inse-
cure handle bar are numerous. The bar
may be too short. and when the nut IS
frightened to hold 1t in place the pressure
may not be on the bar at ALL. This is
raising 1t up, leaving only fraction of an
inch In the head OF the machine.
If person owns wheel. this matter can
be easily investigated and made secure. 1t
Is In the hired wheel that the most diff
Guilty occurs. Frequently, to suit custom
ers. the dealer will change handle bars,
taking those from another machine
Through a mistake the bar on the changed
wheel is not made tight. and unknowinely
wheel Is rented to another customer. who
finds out the oversight greatly to his
row. From these causes the greatest num-
Der Of accidents occur. OF course handle
bar Is likely to snap in the head when any
great strain Is placed upon 1t, or when
there is flaw in the material at the point
Wnere tno strain Is 1elt 1neSe acCt-
dents are few and far between, however
though the handle bar may frequently
break at other places.
The wheelmen Of Jersey City have
cured a novel vindication of their rights.
A lawyer Of that city, who Is also wheel
man, while riding one of the principal
streets Of the town. was annoyed by the
persistent efforts of the driver of vehicle
to head him or. He secured the drivers
arrest on a charge of assault. and the court
in which the case was tried sustained the
charge. The court claimed that "It is an
assault to ride dangerously near a person.
thus exposing him to fear injury to his
person State agt Sims, 35 S. c., 137, and
Morton agt. Shoppe, c. & p, 373). An
assault is an attempt unlawfully to apply
any or the least actual force to the person
of another. directly or indirectly, or, in
other words. an assault is an unsuccessful
attempt to do harm to the person of an
other. thereby causing a well-founded ap-
prehension of immediate peril There can
be 10 criminal assault without a present
intention as well as ability of using some
violence" The counsel for the defendant
claimed that the bicyclists wanted the
EARTH, SO to speak bat the court thought
they were entitled to the same rights on
the public highway as are accorded and
enjoyed by the rider and the driver. On
account Of the case being the first of its
kind. the personal bonds of the prisoner
were taken.