Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1896-10-23
A NEW STYLE BICYCLE.
IL f. the InvsBtIon OF George Nash, q
Former BrattIeboro Boy---Gesred q
I4I, but a Great ain Climber.

IL f. the InveBtIon OF George Nash, a
Former BrattIeborO Boy---Geared TO
I4I, but q Great ain Climber.
A new style bicycle which is expected to
be a great advancement over the present
safety has been invented by George w.
Nash, the noted trick rider, who will be
remembered as a former Brattleboro boy
whose father was at one time proprietor Of
the Revere House. Young Nash gave sew
eral exhibitions Of fancy riding in the old
rink during its palmy days. Nashs ma
chine is to be put on the market very soon.
T. w. Peabody, the Boston lawyer who
was the Democratic candidate for mayor of
that city two years ago, will be associated
with Mr. Nash in manufacturing the BIZ
cycle.
Briefly stated the advantages of the new
machine appear to be that instead of a
complete revolution being made by the feet
a short stroke, which is the segment of a
circle, is taken with the same result; that
the power is applied continuously, without
any dead-centreing, as is the case in the
ordinary safety, and applied at the point
where the greatest result is obtained with
the least effort; that stroke of any length
may be taken, thereby gaining a great ad-
vantage over the old machine in going up
hill or over a rough road; and further, that
the feet may be kept at rest while the ma
chine is in motion without TAXI them
from the pedals. II the machine is a prac-
tical success it should combine all the ad-
vantages Of the modern safety with those
of the old Star, and have some of its own
beside. 1t may be readily seen that in this
case it means large fortune for the two
men interested in it.
The cranks are longer than those on the
ordinary safety, being ten inches, and the
sprocket wheel is larger, giving the machine
a gear of 141. This is made practical bv
the doing away with the complete revolu-
ton of the feet, which would be impossible
with a crank of such length. A stroke of
any length can of course be taken, the max
imum stroke being from a point at about
forty-five degrees above the horizontal, to
one nearly at the bottom of the stroke, this
being the section of the circle where it has
been found that the greatest power can be
applied.
The greatest advantage claimed for this
machine is that the application of the
power is continuous. On the ordinary
safety, while a good rider never allows his
wheel actually to "dead-centre," there is a
point, when his feet are at the top and
bottom of the turn, where but little power
can be applied. This is obviated under the
new application; for, if the rider does not
like the full length of the stroke, he can
take any length of stroke he sees fit, and
apply the power just where he feels that he
can do the best work. This will be of i'm
mense advantage in hill-elimbing espec-
tally, and the trials already made Of the
machine indicate that 1t is a better hill
climber Yhen geared to 141 than the or
binary wheel is at IS or so, while the ad-
vantage of the high gear on smooth, level
road is manifest. Those who were riders,
and many who were not, at the time when
the old Stars were in use, will have no diff
ficulty in remembering the amazing feats
of hill-climbing which were accomplished
on these machines, and the new wheel has
all the characteristics of Star in this par
ticular. 1t also has all the comfort and
ease in handling of a modern safety, but
the question whether it will be as fast is
an entirely new one, as the motion of the
feet is something wholly different from
that called for in the case of either Star or
the safety. 1t seems, however, that the
wheel should be faster than those now in
use. The principal questions at stake are:
How will it wear, and will there not be too
much friction? Both of these queries can
be solved only by steady use. 1t is certain
that there is not too much friction outside
of the gearing as the wheel runs far more
easily when at rest than does that of the
ordinary bicycle. The advent of this wheel
on the road and track probably will be
watched with great deal Of interest.