The herald., 1896-10-12
THE WHEEL

w
Willis Troy is back in New York after
trip to France as the manager of
bicycle racing team. In an interview
he said: Cycling is at the height of its
prosperity in France, and when Amer
leans were defeated on the racing path
it was because the Frenchmen were
faster. Racing over there has been re-
duced to the finest of fine points. Every
trial heat Is a race from start to finish.
They do not allow first and second men
to ride in the final heats. A man must
win his trial heat to get in the semi
finals, and then again ne must win his
semi-f1nal to get crack at the purse
What is the result? You have the
finest racing to be obtained under the
most favorable conditions, and aston
ishingly fast novices were springing up
all summer, and the stars had to work
themselves thin to keep the pace. With
a big team it might have been possi-
BILE to do better, but the Frenchmen are
riding in fine form. In France the motor
cycles are growing rapidly in favor and
L think many Amedricans who are
abroad this year viii interest themselves
in motor cycles on their return here 1t
is only a question of time when part
of the interest in bicycling will be di-
verted in that direction. What do l
think about bicycle prices? Why at the
rate prices are going down I think the
time is coming when there will be a
field for s125 and $3.50 bicycles, Thou
sands of riders have been dissatisfied
with the mounts they bought this year,
for they have had too much trouble with
them. Cheap wheels have not been
built strong enough. Many riders will
yet buy twenty-five or twenty-eight
or even thirty pound wheels, fitted with
stronger and more expensive tires, gear
cases and everything necessary for
comfort and safety Where the ball
bearings and the various parts of a
wheel are made and adjusted properly,
road riders will get far more satisfac-
tion out of thirty-pound wheel than
out OF one weighing much less. In Eng
land few years ago the bicycle market
was in precisely the same condition
that it occupies here today, but it ad-
justed itself, and good wheels over there
again bring good prices
Perhaps no rider in the world bios
somed into champion so unexpectedly
as did Tom Butler, the little orange
streak who has left trail of victims in
his wake since his advent in the profess
sional class. Everybody knew him to be
a speedy amateur. but few calculated
that he would be the champion of the
year AT Asbury Park last summer he
created furore by his remarkable wins
in the amateur division. He was un-
heard Of until he defeated Cooper this
spring at Boston. Subsequently reduc-
with his prize winning at a wonderful
gait His possibilities next year are in
Unite. He is the coolest and. d.speediest
man on the path today, and even his
rivals give him credit for these qualities
The pocket bicycle has come to the
rescue of the male and female drummers
You cant exactly put this wheel into
your pocket, but you can put it into a
specially arranged case so small that it
might just as well be put into the pocket
Any drummer who has this recent in
vention can laugh at trains, which al
ways go at the wrong time, and sales
can be made without wondering whether
there is sufficient time to make the next
boat No matter how many hundreds
of miles they are from home, they have
their wheels with them, for the pocket
bicycle is not a toy or plaything, but
full-sized machine, with pneumatic
tire, regulation handle-bar, brake of
latest pattern, ball bearings, and the
thousand and one things that go to make
up a high-grade machine. 1t is full size
and can be unscrewed and taken apart
and folded up.
Very few of next years models have
been exhibited, but it is practically as
sured that there will be no radical
change in the frame. The general de-
sign will remain the same and the tub
ing Will e1ther De unchanged IN DIAM
eter or slightly larger.
More riders will use low handle-bars
and nearly all wheels will have narrower
bars. Wood bars will be much more
popular
Several manufacturers are preparing
to recommend large pockets. The object
is to give more leverage on the rear
sprocket and consequently easier pro-
pulsion.
Some also think that the wheels will
have larger number of spokes-averag-
ing 80 and 40 instead of 2S and &c, and
going as high as 36 and A.
An attempt has been made to intro
duce the gear case In this country. Here
tofore wheelmen would not cucumber
their machines with any devices at all,
but the advance of time has changed
many ideas. The brake will be a re-
quisite next year, while the bell is now
considered Indispensable. In nearly
every city of Importance the lantern is
used to considerable extent, many or
dinances compelling wheelmen to adopt