The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-04-12
BICYCLES FOR WOMEN
Silver and Diamonds Do Not
Improve the Running.
the WHEEL VERY FASHIONABLE.
Every Society Woman Must Ride-Tho
Equipment OF q bicycle
Tour
the WHEEL VERY FASHIONABLE.

New York. April Especial Correspond
ence.-Columns In the newspapers are de-
voted to bicycles said to be worth their
weight In goid-in fact TO be almost made
of gold or silver. We are told of silver
lamps. OF silver handle bars. OF silver oy-
clometers. We even hear OF wheels COW
sred with precious stones. The girl who
has but just enough money 10 invest In
an ordinary bicycle grows faint at the
thought Of the machines which her more
fortunate sisters are riding.
Yet there Is nothing in 1t all-or almost
nothing. The Four Hundred are rot rid
Ing ieweled bicycles. or machines mounted
in silver or gold. Their bicycles are as
plain as those ridden by the humflest
amateur. To be sure. II one wishes to invest
sScQo in a bicycle she may have q circle
OF diamonds. for all the world like I'm
ger ring. fastened around the handle bar.
But the wheel Is none the better for that
She may also order a silver lamp or cy-
ciometer. but they are not generally used;
or the handle bar of your wheel. II your
folly SO ordains. may I've made Of silver,
with gold tips; but. far from being an ad-
vantage. the chances are that II will very
quickly bend and become unservIceahle
The Tact OF the matter Is that wheeling
did not become a fashionable fad untii last
autumn. too late for the out-of-town sea-
son. Fsshionahles who INDUCED In the
at the Aiehaux Club rink on the ordinary
wheels. But now that the weather Is be-
coming settled. runs by swell riders viii
be made. and when the season opens AT
Newport II Is expected that bicycle riding
win become stiil greater FAD.
Slice extravagance Is the law % nil
things at Newport. II Is probable that only
decorated machines win be ridden there
and In anticipation Of this many fashion,
abaes are now ordering whee.s With silver
aaornments. handsome silver lamps ana
other accessories
The foundation OF these wheels must
always be steel tubing. since the hnar
metals are too soft for the purpose: yet
they may be made very beautiful. with
shvef tracery over the entire frame. the
pedals. handle bars. saddle and tool bas,
fairly .ncrusted with silver ornaments
ton. The ends OF the handle bar arc
sometimes made of ivory while she sklrt
guard Is laced with white silk cord.
For these ornate wheels silver ismps
are being prepared which will range in
prices from SIS to tieo. the latter style
being embedded with pearls. The cyclom-
efers are made Of nickel. with silver
mountings. and on the handle bar IL
fastened a dainty silver bracket. from
which hangs silver watch: price SO.
Toe clips will not be used with these ma
chimes. The entire OUTFIT VIII cost $50
SIN more handsomely decorated than
those Just mentioned was machine pur-
chased for $50 by the wife OF an English
nobleman.
Notwithstanding the newspaper reports,
no gold whatever is being put upon
wheels. Az an experiment ono wheel
was entirely plated with gold, but with
very unsatisfactory results. Our fashion,
ahles will trust themselves only on ma
chimes OF solid metal. Each rider, how
ever. win have her monogram or crest on
the silver mare plate which is fastened 10
tho frame. These plates can be secured
at very reasonable figure. and are with
in the reach Of every wheelwoman.
There are other things. too. within tho
reach of the more humble eyc,ist: and
while they are not quite so dainty as tho
luxurious fittings Just described. they
are things which the sportswoman iovea
Very serviceahie lamps are now being got
ten up In aluminium and bronze. They
cost from $50 TO s. but are guaranteed
not to jar out-a temper-saving improve
mont There are toe clips, also. for the girl
who races. Two kinds are novel: ono IL
the clamp clip, in which the foot fasiena
AZ In a skate: the other consists Of a dou-
bic strand OF wire. twisted and turned TO
the shape o: the foot. A new cyclometer
Ia shown which has two indicators. one for
the total number Of miles ridden, and an
other On which single trips may be regis
tered. This instrument IL very useful In
sscertaining the distance between certain
points. and IN keeping count o. the number
u miles covered each day.
Every true wheeiwoman win spend her
vacation this summer on n bicycle tour
There IL nothing 10 equal II. A rarity Of
girls may easily go alone, for there in
nothing like wheeling to make one inde-
pendent. Before starting it'a a good
scheme TO Join the L. A. W., as this will
enable you 10 secure special rate at no.
tells. and to get road maps to assist In plan
ming your route.
Don't bother with any baggage. a wheel
woman doesn't need anything but her
bicycle costume. with couple OF changes
OF undercloshing These, Ii she rides a
diamond frame. may be put Up with her
toilet articles in triangular satcii.i Is
pecia'ly devised 10 ut the frame OF a
wheel II she rides iadies wheel, she will
be obliged TO hang a safchei In the bag
gage carrier fastened 10 the haniiehar
Below this satehel a small camera r. 20 be
strapped on. for no woman should return
from tour without snap shots CT the
prettiest bits Of country through which
she has passed
Nor must her outfit fall 20 include re-
pair KIT, TO save her from involuntary
walking. by means u tbs XII, a piece Of
cloth may BIZ inserted In a puncture In the
tire. cement poured .n ard the damage
remslIed In a very few minutes. A watch
In a leather case. % he strapped to the
handle bar, II particularly useful In tour
ing and n touches the feminine heart by
being dainty as well. 4 zproeket lock must
not be forgotten By .is use a wheel may
be locked al night 20 that 10 one may