New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-03-22
\ THE CYCLING WORLD.
MHEELMEN ARE GLAD THAT WINTER Is
! OVER.

hrprNo TO AND FROM BUSINESS IN NETWORK
LEGISLATION BEFORE THE NETWORK AND
NEw-JERsEY LAWMAKERS.
While yesterday marked the verbal equinox
khe riders Of the wheel are not satisned thd'
spring is here in earnest. The roads are IN
ahon,,nable condition and it may be some time
before comfortable riding can be INDUCED IN on
country roads Several club runs have been
ncbeduled for to-day but it is doubtful II many
of them take place The snow however Is as
appearing rapidly, and those who are weather.
wise predict that by next sunday tne cycn sts
will be able TO take out their Wheels anu oe or
TO enjoy good riding. Wheeimen VINO pa,od 20
The cycle path In Brooklyn Will be GrieVeo "
know that the winters frosts. rains ana SHOWS
have played havoc with that popular course.
Park Commissioner Woodruff. howeVen, ~ ~. the
to hav, extensive repairs made as soon as une
weather will permit. The prospects FOR return
cycle path from Coney Island are good'
Prominence is given bv the prospect OF an an
asphalt route downtown to the problem OF soi'is
TO and from business awheel. SO many eleHeh'S
enter into this that the mere laying OF smooth
pavements will not solve it. although IT Is most
important step in that direction. AS matter OF
fact. considerable number of men habitualiy
rode downtown on their wheels last summer III
epite OF the granite blocks. Some riders have
grown so accustomed to this form Of paving that
thew find IT no hardship to go over It, more
annoying trouble last year was the sprlnhi,iS
cart-the more vexatious because IL see'neu
prauitous evil one that could be remedieu WIFI
out difficulty. Eighth-ave and Hudson-st. were
deluged with water just about the ume ma
men were starting out for business; me a,u'.,
was likely to have mud splashed on his garments,
and this was especially annoying because ne nau
to wear them all day in his office TO evening
suit 1t wouldn't matter much. put 10 pusn business
carlo
streets involved risk OF falls with the Possiohi''
OF being run over
The asphalt pavements will come in due time,
but thSre Is a likelihood that the sprrkling evil
will go on forever unless the wheelmen make
vigorous protest Even if that were abated. the
crowd Of trucks makes the Eghth-ave -Hudson-st.
rcLte difficult one Doubtless. with practice. II
becomes easier to wind through the maze and
snarl but at first the task is strain on the
nerves. When at last the rider has reached MS
destination further difficulty may await nm
that Of storing his bicycle for the day. Inc Dig
wholesale stores in the drygoods and grocery
districts are likely to have space for the purpose,
but an Office building further downtown might
not Some Of them have. and others could ar
range rooms in the basement without much
trouble. A small fee to the janitor would insure
proper care and safety; there might even be
Formal checkroom. Ii the number OF men VINO
ride to business warranted it, places for the stor-
age Of bicycles during the day would doubtless
be established.
Still another obstacle TO riding TO business is the
lmpossibity of a change of clothing or reaching
the store or office. In tie spring or fall this
would not be so serious in summer especially
II only a moderate speed were maintained. 1t
nay be added that there reed be no doubt OF the
Beard Of Estimate carrying out Commissioner
Colliss recommendations as to paving HUDSON
st., parts of Eighth and Madison ayes. and the
Boulevard, as well other short stretches with
asphalt More than that when this work is com
pleted. there will be available another S1OOOOOO
for additional smooth pavements.
Two years ago. when wooden rims first came
into something like general use, they were re-
yarded with doubt by many people, who feared
that they would not prove as strong as steel,
and that year a considerable number Of steel
rims were used. But the wooden rim soon swept
the field. and to-day new wheel with steel
rim Is rare indeed. Wood has been found more
elastic than steel. and. though a wooden rim
will split from the force of violent collision.
repeated trials have shown that 1t will spring
back unframed from the effects Of an impact
that would cause serious injury to steel and
make the resources of a repair shop needful.
Wooden rims ale made in different ways-some
of single piece bent into circle, others being
laminated or built up Of layers Of woodruff
there is nothing more improbable than that
return to the use of stee. rims will occur
Last year the use of wooden guards over the
rear wheels and chains of women's bicycles was
adopted. and their gracefulness and pretty
effect at once for them high degree or
favor. Now they tC be seen on almost all
the wheels made for the gentler sex, being in
some cases enamelled in white or some other
color One or two Of the manufacturers cling
to the use of steel for this purpose, and one that
adopted aluminium last year adneres to 1t this
wear: but wood seems bound to be used as
generally for this Lrrpose as for rims. Thls
year the wooden handle-bar has made It's ap-
pearance, and II is question whether the eX-
perience Of the wood rim is to be repeated.
Handle bars Of WOOD have been little used thus
far but the season is young yet. NO one VINO
has seen them can deny their graceful and
comely appe arance. Hickory wood is sued and
by q process of steaming ii can readily be bent
into any shape These handles seem 10 be as
light as steel and as they more elastic il
is said that the vibration of the wheel is less
felt by the hands and arms. Probably IL IS
too early to make any positive statement on
that point. The wooden handle-bar can be
made adjustable we'll as the steel one IL
certainly will not rust and II would be a simple
thing to give it coat of shellac now and then.
A good many people will watch with interest
to note whether wood becomes universally
used for handle-bars as for the rims or wheels.
When men go a-touring on wheels ii is not
q difficult thing for them to carry sufficient
luggage TO last for two or three days, or even
longer. and by shipping valise from one point
to another at which they will arrive three or
four days later they can make their Journey
without discomfort. The same thing is true
when a anC his wife so on an extended
trip together BuI in the Of two or three
women who propose to go on a tour without a
male escort the problem is considerably more
difficult at least If they rice drop-frame BIZ
cycles On diamcnd-frame wheel bag made
to fit In the diamond-the bag can be bought
at any supply store for & or $3-f carefully
packed will hold a good many things, but on
= drop frame there is possibility of carrying
such a portmanteau. woman then Is limited
"a such luggage as she can attach to the handle
bar of her machine, which. obviously. is not
yerv much Is there not room here for the in