The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1896-08-09
GOSSIP OF THE WHEEL.

The difference of opinion between the
| advocates Of single-tube, or hosepipe
tires, and those who believe in double
TUBES, Is likely long. to continue Those
| VINO became attached to the double tube
tire soon after pneumatic tires came in
to use are convinced that that style
! has decided advantages over the other.
| One of them remarked In casual con-
Versat1on the other day: 81 suppose I
| am conservative enough to stick TO
the double-tube tire as long as 1 ride.
though 1t is possible that something
may occur to change my mind. I do
not believe in those which are cement
cd TO- the rim, but in the detachable
tire. l. find that it is very easy to
mend this, even if one gets a large cut,
such as would make hosepipe tire
useless. once ran over a sardine box
and cut my tire open with long
cash. L took out the inner tube, put q
patch on 1T, and sewed up the cut in
the shoe and I rode 500 miles on that
tire, just to see how thoroughly the
work was dorle,' Newer riders. as
rule, are inclined.eto favor the single
tube, especially if they have once
wrestled with the question of getting
the inner tube out of a .cemented tire
and learned by experience what a diff
cult job 1t Is. The ease with which a
hosepipe tire can be mended In case Of
favor, for unless some serious mishap
occurs, 1T is never necessary to take
the tire from the rim.
80
In the United States the road house
owner controls many votes In his
neighborhood. Through his wide ac-
Qua1ntance he is powerful in conVen-
tons Today the road house owners
are controlled by the bicycle men.
The political managers recognize
that the majority Of bicyclists are
young men. Young men are enthu-
siastic. In campaign enthusiasm
has real money value.
The Republican leaders will pay out
three million dollars before November.
Two millions Of this will go to buy en-
thusiasm.
From their very nature the bicycle
campaign clubs will furnish the best
kind of enthusiasm, and will do it all
for nothing.
The campaign has hardly opened as
yet, but the bicycle men are already
actively at work.
They take pride in their numbers
and they like to make a display. They
are fighting too, for reforms beneficial
to themselves, and this presidential
year gives them the first opportunity
to show the people Of the United States
their real strength
They contemplate doing this in a
novel manner. Every one knows that
the wheel saves time, and therefore
lessons distance. It is found in city.
town and hamlet all over the United
states. Wheeling is a recreation, not
labor. In the coming campaign it Is
the purpose of the leaders to have
bicycle parades stretching along a line
Of march through village after village.
and thus extending from one end Of
the country to the other. These pa
rades will terminate in monster after
noon meetings, such as have never
been seen in this country before
In these parades the bicycle clubs
will carry bands with the full number
Of pieces.
The bandsmen, however, will nor
have to do any pedalling. They will
occupy the back seats on tandems
and will thus have nothing to attend
to but their musical Instruments.
In the cities there will be torcbliobt
cyclists will participate in them with
colored lights on each bicycle, with
every rider carrying a flaming torch
and with fantastic Chinese lanterns
hanging from the handle-bars. the
bicycle torch parade will be one Of the
most spectacular features of the cam
paign.
There is a new bicycle lock on tho
market. said to be the only one which |
grasps the handle post. 1t is fastened
to projecting stand or arms, under |
which the front wheel is placed. The |
handle post is showed into the lock
against trigger, when 1t is clutched
from the back by finger, which can
be released by turning the lock over.
Next Is a new bicycle brake on the |
market which pQn he roo div c,1oro 81 |
by a slight pressure of the feet 1t |
comprises brake levers, pivotally con-
nected at points intermediate in their |
length to clamps adjustably secured |
on the fork blades on each side Of the |
wheel Foot rests extend from the
clamps, while brake shoes are carried |
by the levers underneath the wheel |
rim. The point Of merit is rapidity Of |
operation, which is accomplished by a |
slight pressure Of the feet on the foot
rests.
The difficulty and ANNOYANCE ex |