New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-01-26
IN THE CYCLING WORLD.
rcuors OF THE BIG SHOW IN THE MADI-
SON SQUARE GARDEN.

~ THE CRUSADE FOR GOOD ROADS.
r, WAS Of course. impossible for TO see
r,ore than a fragment of the cycle exhibition
=, tho big Madison Square Garden at a single
,,s,t though one could do fairly well If he was
on hand promptly at o'clock or fingered dur
to, what IS the dinner hour for most New
workers man who was at the show every
dav of the week and took particular pains to
learn what was going said, after the ex-
bibltion was more Than half over, that every
time he met some one else who had been there
HE attention was called to some interesting
ching which he had overlooked in his rounds
The crowds alone were worth seeing. as those
who looked down at them from the boxes can
testify. To make ones way from one END or the
building to the other when the crowds We're
densest was a task of great difficulty, and 1t
was not without danger TO ones clothing.
Some of the wheels on exhibition at the Garden
ecipsed in finish anything ever attempted in the
cycling line before. The opinion seems to be gem
eral that the exterior finish for the coming wneei
will be something other than enamel. Enamel
no matter how carefully put on, is bound 10
come off after a certain amount of usage one
cannot handle a wheel no matter how carefui
he NAV be- SO as to avoid this. Many seem to
think that a gun-barrel finish will be used more in
the future. while still others argue that this sort
Of finish does not fit the bill There is one wheel at
a
ari the effect is beautiful. If appearance IS
trustworthy. the finish ought to prove 10 De d
lasting one The frame looks like compromise
between a gun-barTel finish and an enamel one
wheel which was exhibited in rather out-o1-
the-way place in one Of the balconies was
model Of beauty and grace. but owing 10 us
situation did not attract as much attenu9n as AS !.
would have DONE had it been on the main iloor
OF the Garden tits finished with KIND 81 onyx
and the makers guarantee that 1t is more lastlhg
than either the gun-barrel or enamel nnishes
forks are oval in shape, almost 10 roundness.
The maker says that additional strength IS
thus gained in the forks.
People who visited the Garden and expected 10
see many new ideas exploited are probably DIS
appointed with the result of the exhibition IL Is
remarkable how few really new inventions were
on exhibition. 1t is the opinion of experts that
the present diamond frame is the most desiraDie
that has been placed before the public. TWO all
ferent styles of triangular frames were shown
but neither attracted the favorable attention that
the makers had expected. \ practical test OF the
one containing the arrangement ny winch 'he
handle-bars came around from the rear seemed
more feasible in theory than in actual practce'
The other triangular frame had the handle-bars
In the regular position. Except as an oddlty, the
machine attracted little attention More IN
genuity has been shown In the manufacture Oh
tandems quads and sextuplets. There were Two
sextuplets on exhibition, and a race between the
two at one of the coming meets would attract a
tremendous crowd Of people. 1t Is declared that
with these machines properly manned II riders
are able to retain their seats, mile can be done
in close to one minute 1t will take. however, a
remarkably cool-headed man. with muscles OF
steel TO sit on the front seat and guide the wheei.
While the average rider of wheel knows little
about the mechanical construction Of his ma
chine he is at least becoming expert IN the mat
ter of gears and weight Probably OF the thou
sand wheels exhibition. comparatively re"
weighed within a pound or two OF their aneseo
weights The manufacturers argue, possibly.
that the public is crazy over nght wnee's. any
they realize that extremely light wheels cannot
be made serviceable for road use. Possibly a
man If purchasing a twenty-two-pound wheel.
will be satisfied so long as he does not know IL
actually weighs twenty -four pounds In this re-
spect bicycles are unlike fish yarns for the wheel
generally weighs much more, while the hsh
weighs much less than In the stories.
Wheelmcn everywhere cannot fail to be pro-
foundly interested in the efforts which are
being put forth to compel railroad companies
to carry bicycles free, or at any rate for a
nominal consideration. The subject has been
taken up in the Legislature Of the State, and
likewise in Congress. AT Albany number or
bills have been introduced affecting the bi-
cycling fraternity, and more than one on the
subject of the wheel as baggage. This Is
matter which the League of American Wheel
There are those who believe that If the ques-
ton were carried into the courts 1t would be
decided that the railroads must accept bicycles
as personal baggage. and give them free car
riage To reach a decision. final and author-
tative on such a question would take consider
ahIe time The simple and easy way Is, rather,
10 pass a law declaring that they are baggage.
The railroads would then feel under oDllga-
tjons to provide means of carrying them with
reasonable safety just as they now run Dag
gage-cars for the transportation Of trunks 1t
is probable that few wheelmen would object 10
signing a release if their machines could be
checked and a guarantee thus given that they
would not be delivered TO any one other imam
the owner Whatever law is passed should APP
ply to all common carriers Tor on some siam
boat lines outrageous charges were e"ac'eu
from wheelmen last year
Not long ago the public was Informed that the
wheel had been used successfully by botanists.
entomologists and the Ike In the pursuit OF the
objects dear to them. and II was pointed out 'hdt
they were thus able to cover much larger areas
than IN the DAYS when they were compelled to
trust TO their feet alone. Now comes new use
for the bicycle. for it has been impressed into
the service If the Government Lifc-Sav!ng Ser
vice Down on the coast of New-Jersey BIZ
cycle has been purchased by the crew or one
Of the Ufe-saving stations, and Il Is to be usea
by the men In patrolling the beach II IS urge"
that Il will enable them. on sighting wieck
to report II al the station and secure he,p 'iuc
more quickly than would otherwise pe ~. stt@,
The only doubt arises regarding the qurs'Io.
whether bicycle can be used on the saiI sea
sand at all stages OF the tide. Those VINO ma Z
attempted TO ride along the shor" know ,hsa'
II is an easy operation when the tdc II oo"h
and there is not a heavy on. II is dlner-
ent, however when the tide is up ana the Tlutr
has TO betake himself 20 the SOFT sanu Wiz,
has not been wetted and into which his wheel
sinks treacherously. The writer has urea /.
on the coast OF Long Island. and knows wnat
he is talking about. II bicycles can pc uscu ps
n.
no good reason why they cannot be used all
along coasts.
An encouraging item comes from Passalc. ~
j.. a town which is often reached by riders OF