The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-11-03
BICYCLE PLANS FOR NEXT YEAR.
The Gear of All Wheels to Be In
creased-WOOden Handle Bars.


New York Herald.
1t seems trife odd to speak of the BIZ
cycle year of 1887 as already begun; but
begun it is. go -
great manufacturing houses have been puz-
zling their brains over novelties to be IN
troduced into wheel construction; ana rival
firms have been closely watching each
others movements. Most OF them nave
pretty we'll determined next seasons models
and patterns; the next thing is to keep
the factories running all winter to supply
the spring demand
A sharper line of demarkation will be
drawn next year than ever before between
the roadster and the racing bicycle-be-
tween the light, high-geared machine for
track use and the wheel Of moderate gear
and weight which can be relied upon for
ordinary roads. There is a considerable
reaction against the nineteen-pound wheel
as used for heavy riders on the road. Sc
date riders who are more fond OF scenery
than of speed will be perfectly satisfied
with weight of between twenty-five and
twenty-seven pounds, while track racers
will be built as low as twelve.
The gearing shaft is no longer novelty.
Many firms will probably make chainless
bicycles for next year, as the principle of
the bevel-geared cog is SO familiar in me-
chanics that simple applications of 1t can
hardly be covered by patent, any more than
the chain and Sprocket arrangement now
universal. The chainless gears will es-
pecially commend themselves to women be-
cause they require no skirt guards and
will cause no CRIME of mingled oil and dust
within sight touch.
The gears even of roadster wheels is con-
stantly. rising, fifty-six. sixty-three and
Sixty-eight being successive landmarks of
the progress. Next year one of the famous
New England firms will build no gear be-
low No. so for mems wheels unless special
ly ordered. This year the standard
wheels" have varied between sixty-eight
and seventy-two. Next year seventy-six
will be considered about medium. AS the
gear is raised the necessity of q brake be-
comes more urgent. Back pedaling a
means of stopping high geared wheel in
swift motion is hardly adequate for an
emergency. Equipped with a brake the
rider of a seventy-siX gear can ascend hills
of fair grade and descend any steep grade
which is fit for carriages. Womens wheels
Will be geared between SiXty-three and
seventy-two.
Wooden handle bars are to be used by
many builders as means of saving a few
ounces of weight and may become nearly
as universal as wooden wheel rims. Han
die bars-and indeed an entire running gear
of aluminium would be much better. rel
atively to weight, but the cost is as yet
prohibitive of general use.
Whether the cost of high-grade bicycles
is to be reduced from 500 no one will know
for some time yet Some makers propose
to step in the other direction by making
a line of specials at Sis or sl25
Whatever the list price no one need. now
or next spring, pay 800 for a first-class
wheel, If he is willing to buy it second
hand. There are so many "crankS" who
insist upon having the very latest models
that there are usually in the market plenty
of little used secondhand wheels of the
best makes and obtainable at from $40 to
$50 each. Bicycles of the. best 1896 grades in
good condition are certainly good enough
for any but cranks or racers to use in 1897
The present rage of tandems is expected
to continue during 1897, and many light
tandems are being built. The bicycle built
for two was, early in the passing present
season. used mainly for pacing purposes.
but tandem racing is having quite little
boom this autumn and will undoubtedly
rage with much virulence next year. It's
a dangerous business, like road racing, but
like road racing ii will be hard to stop.
The most exciting novelty of the wheel
ing season has been bicycle polo, which
was practically unheard of until about a
month ago. 1t is a rather dangerous game,
but not more so than polo as played with
ponies at East Indian gymkhana or a
Meadowbrook hunt meet. A low-geared
bicycle has decided advantages in Playing
il because IL is so much easier suddenly 10
check or start it. OF course the rider in
bicycle polo must have quick eye for dis
lance. be able TO ride hands off, at any
angle and to turn in the shortest compass.
In spite of its difficulties the game will be
the principal attraction at most of the big
exhibition meetings in the riding academies
this winter.