The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-07-12
ENEAVORER WHEELMEN
BICFCLES CUT a BIG FIGURE IN
MEETING Ar WhSHINGT
A New wheel with the Frame all Wood.
Tires Fitted with Ironciad Armor,
to Make Them Puncture-Proof

part OF the ANflfllNn kiUeAFOr gathering
in Washington last week. Thousands OF
wheclmen. under the guidance Of the local
riders. visited every part OF tho city and
suburbs and tho runs mapped out were
participated in very numerously by the
tisiiing delegates Tuesday. a mann
moth parade is planned. and it Will be
grand event even in Washington, where
bicycles are as thick as mosquitoes in
Jersey.
NEW THINGS.
Many now things in the bicycle line are
making their appearance. Among these
is wooden bicycle with metal trim
ninGs which IS attracting much attention.
rs name. Old Hickory. tells the kind of
wood OF which IN Is made. With every
thing on, this bicycle weighs twenty-one
pounds. Among the many inventions for
rendering tires unpuncturable steel strips
arc playing a prominent part. \ new
tire which has made is appearance in
Richmond has steel strips IN the rubber
that work on the principle Of chain ar
NOR This renders the tire puncture-proof
but it IS question whether 1t will rot.
to great extent destroy It's resilency.
A STARTLING ACT.
a bicycle performer whose "act" makes
him look like nrcbug whirling through
space is a late novelty. lie rides a wheel
over Give electric wire ninety feet
from the ground. Attached 10 this little
wheel are a number of small incandcs-
cent lamps. Surmountine the riders head
is a crown and on this are also several
electric lights. giving the effect of -
halo. The pneumatic tire is removed and
the trimmed wheel acts rs a groove for
the wire. AS the fo0t-rcsts saddle, and
handles are OF rubber the rider does not
receive the current. which passes through
insulated wires mp his back to the crown.
while the current is not high enough TO
cause death. IL IS Of sufficient power 90
give n decided shock. The ends Of the
wire are connected syith a portable dvna-
mo. usually operated by a current from
some oloctrc-light wire near tho place Of
exhibition. This is done 90 reduce the
voltage Ct an arc-lamp circuit Tho effect
Is highly novel and astonishing. Chicago
Chronicle.
SOME NEW INVENTIONS.
Every week brings some new device
OF value 10 the wheel Last week alone
nearly a score Of new appliances were
placed On tho market when will certain
" be adopted 10y whcclmen. Among them
Is bicycle lamp which is held In a rub
her cushion I'm such a manner as 10 re-
spond 10 every movement or the wheel
without wabblng or Earring the lamp. I'm
addition. air inlet holes are arranged at
the side and bottom in such a manner as
10 give n lNiNllfAf anu AuHlWhrll 'lhhrAtAf
A simple now bicycle holder. known az
the quadrant. is now on the market II
"a made Of cast iron and contains a
trough with base for fastening against
the wall. The trough is curved. so as TO
embrace the wheel for q space Of twenty
two inches ana hold il firmly and Sc
curely. Through ether end OF the Hang
ed base are holes for holding screws.
When the support IS screwed 20 tho wall
4 N.... al 4
possible TO remove 1t without tearing It
10 pieces.
training device for wheelmen con-
sists of a standard holding an ndiusta-
bic saddle and handle bar and carrying
pedal crauks I'm addition there is fiy
wheel. sprocket wheel and hand brake.
To this contrivjrcc is suitably attached a
spring Indicator scale which records the
epeed OF the machine. The device is TO
be used I'm training for races.
The bicycle or rather tricycle., is he
ginning tto take a prominent part in
the business world Manufacturers are
kent busy making them for tradosmcn.
who find them Of great service in the
delivery OF goods II Is hard work, how
ever. TO propel them. They ara made as
lght as pcss ihle. but when heavy pack
ages are carried il is no easy matter to
keen up speed To avoid this n new de-
livery MFEf NI'NF mas lf''i Nf'~ifNAf'tt NHl'i
is propelled by two riders. one operates
tina pedals in frcnt ana the other from
a seat 70 the rear frame. Tn this manner,
II is claimed. tho strength Of two men
is utilized and the disadvantage Of weight
overcome.
BEST OF ALL
Rv far the most skillful OF the bicycle
riders who crowd the houlevards and the
ssphalted streets these fine afternoons
are children little shavers OF from I'VE 10
ten years They excel The Older riders IN
every element which goes 20 constitute
SKILL I'm the management Of q bicycle as
well as i'm grace snd ease % carriage.
The fundamental reason for this fact prob
ably is 10 be found Boa their superb self
confidence. 10 makes no difference, 7p-
parenfv. whether they are bows or girls.
They ride alouA the crowded streets,
dodging in and ont among the trucks and
tho scorchers WITH the greatest uucon-
Germ. The possibility Of mishap appa-
rently nrs never occurred TO any :of
them.
a KEW METHOD
A S&~ and perhaps deadly method 81
duolinr is said 90 have been discovered
ard ngs, put into practice In New Jersey
Two Youths we're Cnamorcd ~ Tho same
rna,nen. aud they promptly decided they
,-eYe ono too many. Both were wheel /
,,op and 20 settle their foud they rode
~ each on or. after selecting level spot
and starting al a distance Of leo Yards
from each other. As a result one was hurt /
and both bicycles were broken.
MADE TO ORDER
The latest scheme 90 solve the veNa- |
tlous blcvclo-sadole problem Is 10 have /
the saddle made 20 order. \ New York |
man Is doing Quite a thriving trade in this /
line his patrons including some OF the
leading members Of the Mchaux club. /
The process OF r;enaLrlng ana making are
thus described. 1.-THE wheel Is placed I'm |
a stand or home trainer. 80 that the
rear wheel can be rovolvsi Friction is
applied 20 the wheel so that rider can
at IN the saddle and pedal in precisely
the same position as when on the road.
"Whcn the exact position has been as
cevpsir>d the saddle fs removed and
in IT'S place q slab OF wood. trimmed AT
tho back and sides is fixed 10 the seat
poet ON 'th.s wooden seat Is spread
modelling clay 10 the depth OF three quar-
ters 81 an 3rch. A piece OF oiled silk s.
spread over the clay and the patron then
takes his or her seat. clad In regular ride
Ing costume. Pedalling Is continued Ter
ten or fifteen minutes. 80 that every pc
culiarlty OF pose and shape will be work
Cd out in the clay.
'From the clay a plaster cast is made