New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-08-16
IN THE CYCLING WORLD.
THE HOT SPELL KEPT MANY RIDERS
OFF THEIR WHEELS.
HEAVY TIRES AND WHEELS FOR ROUGH TOURING
MISINFoRMATIoN ABOUT ROurES-THE

MISINFORMATION ABOUT ROtrES-THE
USE OF GRAPHITE AND or OIL
The recent hot spell did something which has
been pronounced mpossiblo--it robbed cycling
Of most of its popularity Yet the number "i
wheelmen abroad was astonishing. The average
man could not understand last Sunday, for m
stance, when he could hardly summon enough
energy to have himself transported to the sea
shore. how the bicycle riders found enjoyment
i'm pedalling along in the burning sun YET
there are not lacking wheelmen VINO say that
after a hot days work downtown ten-fnile
spin before dinner is the best means of prepar-
ing for cool evening At any rate, the man 10
whom cycling has brought perfect health is bet
ter able to withstand the effects Of the heat
than no is indiiferently we'll
\ man who has gone over the same road for
the last seven Sundays reports that last Sunday
afternoon not more than one-eghth Of the usual
number Of whcelmen were out. while almost no
women were to be seen. 1t was evident either
that the heat had kept many at home or else. on
account of the high temperature those wheel
men who abroad had decided to postpone
their return trip until the later and cooler part
OF the day This rider had a strong breeze fac
ing him all the way, and did not find his ride
uncomfortable but at the end of his journey he
found tangible evidence of the holiness Of the
day and its effect on him in thai his shoes
were fairly we'll soaked with preparation
something that he never remembers TO have
happened before Another man. who rode sixty
five miles that day. thinks it doubtful whether
he could have passed SO hot day in any other
manner more comfortably than on his bicycle.
Riding through sand is one of the things that
daunt the novice the bicycle. To be strictly
truthful one should say attempting to ride
through sand" for no beginner do it. 1t is
not a pleasant thing for any TO undertake.
if there is much sand and it has more than
an irch or two of thickness. A short stretch
Of sand. however, can be surmounted success
fully provided the rider keeps his front wheel
straight and attacks the sand with reasona-
bic degree Of speed The principal thing Is to
go through it as directly possible. II often
happens on a road edgc--Or "edging." the
young woman recently referred TO in this col
umn would say-a bit of sand will be encoun-
tered that the experienced rider will make moth
ing Of while one of limited experience may be
"noored" by it Immediately. Sometimes at the
foot OF a hill where a quantity Of sand has
been washed down. there is an element of dan
ger If wheelman comes down the hill swiftly
and strikes the sand before he realizes that 1T is
there A sudden swerve of the front wheel may
follow. causing the rider to get off in anything
but graceful fashion.
When one comes to wayside we'll or spring
where no drinking vessel is provided and the
pocket cup has been left at home. a passable SUD
situte may be had in the top OF ones bell. which
can be readily unscrewed. Certainly it is better
than attempting to Stake the thirst by scOOpng
up water In the palm of the hand Wien remoV-
ing the top Of the bell should be careful not to
dsarrange any of the interior mechanism. 4
man out in NeW-Jersey who was not careful in
that respect found some time after leaving the
drinking place that his bell would not ring. and
then discovered that small but essential attach
ment had been lost.
a nan who wished to make sure Of a wheel
strong enough to stand the wear and tear of rid
ing In tha do
known has wants to a we-known manufacturing
firm. and said that he would gladly pay some
thing in addition to the regular price if they could
make him a bicycle with an extra strong frame
and adapted in other respects for rough work
He was assured that the ordinary frame would be
amply strong enough for his purpose and that
the company would guarantee it in that respect
He was advised. however to have his machine
fitted with tandem wheels strong brake. etc.
The tandem wheels are stronger and heavier than
those put in ordinary bicycles; the rim is thicker
the spokes are Of larger wire and the tires
extra heavy The special wheel complete weighs
close 10 thirty pounds, and the owner feels that he
can safely ride ii on any hills and rough roads i'm
the North Woods that he may care TO tackle"
This suggests whether it might not be worth
while for the ordinary rider to have a set of heavy
wheels. such used tandems. which he
could have put in his frame when setting out on a
tour good frame will not break under any
amount OF hard usage. but the vulnerable tire Is
always a source Of anxiety. and the chance OF
pulling out n spoke on rough road Is unpleas-
ant to contemplate. The tire for a tandem would
not be beyond the possibility of punctuTing. but
would be much less liable to give way than the
ordinary tire BN-the-waN. some of the manu-
facturers this year have been making a specially
heavy tire for road and for the use Of riders
with whom speed is secondary consideration.
No fast rider would choose such tire. but with
many wheel men and women comparative immu-
nifty from punctures is a far more important con-
sderatOn than the covering Of a certain distance
In the shortest possible time
The completion Of the Glenmore-ave improve
msnt in Brooklyn will make end, practically. !
of the carrying of bicycles on the elevated
roads. though tn latter will still be awaited of
In of rain at the end or beginning of
an extra long run. ON the elevated road one
has his bicycle Immediately under his own eye !
and there is feeling Of security about II that |
cannot be had when il has been put in the bag
gage-car of a railroad train. ON sue IA hot days |
recent ones. riders coming in from |
Long Island find the opportunity for rest on |
the elevated trains a good thing: and some !
take advantage of the time thus spent by clean |
things necessary at the end OF a trip if one I
is to keep his machine in good ORDER. Some
times, though. the smOking-car, I'm which hi |