New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-09-14

the road. IL Is question whether the residents
Of the two villages can figure out return suf-
fcent to warrant the spending of the necessary
money. The cyclists are likely to vote In the
affirmative. and the trolley company organized
to connect the two places will doubtless exert a
considerable influence. 1t has among It's stock
holders a number of men of importance in the
TOW nship. whose weight would he in favor Of the
road. The corporation was formed some time
ago but hesitates about laying its tracks over
the rough or sandy surface Of the island. III II
could place its ties beside fine macadam
road. the problem would be much simpler Any
way, II is an anomalous state OF affairs that the
two shores of Long Island should for so much
Of their length be separated so absolutely as
they
One Of the side issues to the bicycle business
which have recently sprung into activity is the
demand for bicycle racks. Permanent racks have
long been used at roadside hotels and wheel
mems rests" but it is only within short time
that small movable racks have made their APP
pearance i'm front of shops of all kinds in the
cities They are made to hold anywhere from
three to six eight wheels. and are construct
cd that either the front or the rear wheel OF the
machine can be set in them easily and without
running the risk Of breaking cyclometer or do
ing any other damage. woman living in
small city near NeW-YOrk says that the bicycle
rack in her town spiang up like magic. 1t hap
pened that for two or three days, month or so
ago. she did not go to the business part OF the
place and on her next visit there were racks In
front OF nearly all the shops she was In the habit
Of visiting and In at least half dozen stores
! they were sale. Racks Of this kind are used
on lawns and are exceedingly convenient for
those having country houses in places where BIZ
cycles are much used.
Apropos of what said in this place week
ago about valves that leak and cause trouble, it
not infrequently happens that valve which al
lows the air to escape slowly when the bicycle is
not in use will serve its purpose all right when
the machine is ridden The reason for this is that
the air pressure the inside Of the valve is in
creased by the riders weight and the washer
thus pressed firmly into its place shutting off the
escape Of air. OF course. such valve Is not
good thing to have. but at the same time rider
may feel reasonably safe in going out for days
run. even If his tire was fiat in the morning.
In such a case. though ii would be a great mis-
take not to carry a pump.
Foot pumps are sold at such low prices nova
days. and do their work much more rapidly
than hand pumps. that they have come into
pretty general use especially where there are two
or three bicycles in a family. 1t makes differ
ence if tires Of different makes used, for the
couplings are arranged that one pump can be
used on all varieties Of valves At of the big
department stores inquirer for a hand pump
told the other day: I'VE don't keep them
that didn't think 1t worth while to add To our
stock" Nevertheless, the demand for hand
pumps will not dis appear for a pump that can be
easily carried is necessary part Of the outfit of
every thoughtful wheelman. In touring parties
It sometimes happens that a foot pump is carried
by one or another member for the common use.
} but il is rather an awkward thing to manage and
those who have tried it are not inclined to repeat
! the experiment.
All rational persons will agree that wherever
IL.
bicycles to go on sidewalks and sdepaths within
the limits" conspicuous notice of the require
ment should be given. The writer has seer
nothing more to the point in this respect than
on the road leading to the village of Northport.
on the north shore Of Long Island. All along
the main highway this side Of the island
there is a smooth-beaten track by the roadside.
indicating that many bicycles pass that way.
About a mile from the centre Of the village
large wooden sign has been erected on two
posts. announcing that at that point the limits
of the village begin and that riding the
walks is forbidden under penalty of SO The
sign is OF such size and so placed that no
one but q blind man or a "scOrcher' bent over
so far as TO see nothing but the road mmedi-
atelv in front of him could fail to observe it.
! In most places where similar notices posted
I they are either painted on small signs printed
and attached TO trees CT fences. and so are likely
/ TO escape notice.
Nowhere have wheelmen been subjected to
more annoyance than in Jamaica. on account of
the rule forbidding riding on the walks The
/ local constable here has made himself
/ cially obnoxious bv the methods he has pur-
sued in lying in wait for cyclists. in order
to pocket his share of the fines imposed The
officers of the village, ii now appears not
pleased with his operations and are considering
means Of putting stop to them. 1t is obvious
that II he received salary ne would not be
scrupulous in making arrests. but would be
/ chance
to go on the forbidden place in ignorance Of
the law. As a matter of fact. the signs of warn
ing to wheelmen in Jamaica are most misedd
ing. and on account Of the reputation the place
has gained in the cycling fraternity. it is
avoided much possible although the ia
nous Merrick Road begins there.
There is probably no hill within the city limits
more dangerous than the one on Tremont-ave..
between Macomb's Dam Road and Jerome ave.
The roadway is smooth. and there is nothing in
/ the appearance Of it at the top that suggests
danger. but there is double curve on the way
down. and the grade is sleeper than it looks
/ to be. The consequence is that many wheel
men lose control of their wheels there and come
/ to grief At the hotel near the foot of the hill
it is said that three or four men get into trou-
BILE nearly every day. and often take refuge in
the hotel to pull themselves together and get
patched up. The hotel proprietor has taken the
precaution Of putting up sign Of warning. but
it is not needed by many riders who are al
lured by the smoothncss of the road and know
nothing of the dangerous curves and steep pitch.
What is coasting? OF course every cyclist
knows what 1t is. but II you called to
define it to person who knew nothing about it
what would you say? They have been wrestling
with this question in a small town in Virginia.
where an ordinance forbidding coasting and rid
ing on the sidewalks has been adopted This
ordinance refers to amy person who shall al
low his bicycle 10 run with gravity with the feet
OF the rider removed from the pedals" Else
where il is believed, coastng is called cOasting.
and this is supposed to be the first where
an attempt to describe It in legal terms has
been made.
Riders seeking to get to the good roads Of