The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-05-10
WOULD THESE IMPROVES
An Cid-Tfmer Offers q Few Hints to
Bicycle Manufacturers.


New York Commercial Advertiser
A correspondent, who modestiy signs him.
self Back Number" asks some very per-
tinent questions of the wheel" on the sub
ject Of changes in the model Of the modern
bicycle.
When the good old ordinary" was dis
caroed. he says, manufacturers apparent
ly discarded with it some of its good quail
ties which might well be retained. First
for instance, the difference in sizes between
front and back wheels.
Ease Of steering depends upon the size Of
front wheel and the rake Of steering head
and fork. own frankly that haven't taxi
en- the trouble to find out why, but it's ex-
perience. and It goes. Why, then, do they
backward rake of steering head, perpetual
ing the wholesome prociivities of the ma
chine and increasing the difficulties of learn
ing 20 ride? Why. also. do we have crank
ax'es. with adjusting nuts, and complca-
ton or them, extending beyond the tubing
OF frames and forming shoulders apparently
fo- the express purpose of inducing the accu-
mulated dust to enter the bearings? / i'm
ported a racing ordinary machine in 1881.
IN which the adjustment OF front whee. bear
ings was made by circular disk, which set
flush with the frame when in place and was
locked by a screw in outside OF frame. 1t
was not until 1895 that it was put on an
American-made machine, and know of only
two of them that have it to-day on crank
hangers.
tried it the advantage of a large front wheel,
say, from 80 TO 81 inches in height.
1t will lift out OF ruts without Straining
the machine, gives an immense gain in ease
OF steering, absolutely prevents side slip any
where except on ice, and greatly lessons the
jar of riding, and can be made to retain all
inch, or even inch, which admits of build
ing that part of the machine very light
The back wheel is not important as pal
ancing or steering adjunct, but all important
why not make it "a or even 20 inches. in
diameter, with Pinch tire. plenty of spokes
ro1l etc v~irx rrbi hu~il 1pcc he
danger OF breaking the rim when tire is
punctured? The advantage of this broad
tire for propulsion. | believe. will De easily
give ease in riding and the small size OF
wheel will allow OF its being made mucn
stronger than the present type without in
With added ease of steering it becomes
possible to place the handle bars where they
belong, VIZ: Just where they would be on a
himself to best advantage. Two freaks in
the show had this feature, but it was accom-
doesn't give it chance to prove its full
worth.
This ought to be tried. even IL it is neces-
sary 10 build single machine with an aux
Hilary steering apparatus similar to those in
use on tandems.
We are still cropping for the right saddle.
and the problem has been complicated by the
continued narrowing of tread.
The spring in the saddle ought not 10 be
in the material of which the seat is COM
posed. 1t soon shapes to body on almost all
of its surface, with the result of increasing
the friction between the riders clothing and
skin, when most Of 1t ought TO be on GER
tain portions Of the riders clothing on the
saddle side. The fat-topped saddles with
pneumatic or other pads are good for ex-
eremly cautious riders. but they afford no
security for active enthusiasts nor any side
hold for those who enjoy coasting.
The ideal 1 believe to be a wood saddle.
covered with rawhide, plenty of spring be-
tween it and the frame-but the shape? All.
there's the rub in more senses than one,
but IL little good experimenting were done
in this direction ii seems as Ii a stock OF
five or six shapes ought to fill nearly every
demand.
We want gear cases. Are the maDufac-
turers of chain lubricants conspirng to keep
them out of our hands? The Englishmen
have already done our experimenting for US
on this article, proven them good and will
not do without them. and we need them
forty times as much as they ever did.
l do not profess to be able to even hint
at the mechanical problems or processes In
volyed in these contemplated changes, but
il some of our manufacturers will put lit
tle of their time on them instead of ever
lastingly ringing the changes on trivial and
unimportant things on which they waste so
much advertising space they will be Of serv-
ice to the sport and incidentally increase
their profits.
One thing more There are thanks and
shekels waiting for the man who will FUR
nish good pneumatic brake to the rear
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