Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1897-02-14

liar to c land wheelman's saddle, and
unless he is accustomed to riding he
will find it as difficult to keep his bal
ance upon this strange craft of the sea
as it was on land the first time he rode
a wheel. If he knows how to ride on
land he will Immediately get his bal
ance as soon as he strikes the saddle
and be off, sending the boat swiftly
through the water.
The pedals are broad rubber ones
corresponding to those on land vince
I-pon being pressed they turn the
sprockct wheel which in turn causes lhe
cigar-shapcd cylinder to revolve. 1t goes
around with the rapidity of lightning ana
pushes or screws its way through the wa
ter At the back there is a rudder Tor
sterrlng. which is controlled by the handle
bars. The motion of steering is by a
turning of the handle-bars, something
which a. bicycle rider soon learns 10 do
mechanically.
The speed that can be obtained with
this wheel is not. yet known. Like
land wheel. it depends upon the rider.
The inventor says that there is. as on
land. no limit to the speed crack
cycist would out-dstance a railway
train and easily leave behind the swlftest
steamboat.
A marine bicycle that is stalled to beat
this one is the invention of Charles A..
Suleman. of Waterford. y. Y. He has
made a marine bicycle or veloclpede that
has two cylinders. \ sprocket chain con-
meets several small wheels that revolve
and plough their way through the water.
while the force of the riders legs Keeps
the machine ever going onward. This has
the advantage of having more intricate
machinery from which greater speed could
be hoped, but 1t is heavier and the odds
are more upon the other one.
A Michigan inventor has patented q
marine bicycle with balloon attachment
but this is not quite as good as the others.
as in high winds there would always be
danger that the balloon would life the
marine velocipede out Of the water.
In the coming bicycle contests which
will take place upon AN the large sheets
of water. there Will be entered marine
wheels of an makes Those in favor or
this or that wheel will race with IL. and
those who prefer another make will sc-
lect &c. precisely the same as on land.
The entire twenty-five Will come out in
competition with each other
Learning 20 ridc a marine bicycle is
very difficult thing unless one has had
great practice on land. Even then. con-
ndeuce is necessary The difficulty Doe
gins in mounting. A man who knows how
TO swing his leg over tho handle bars Of
ihs bicycle should have 40 trouble with the
marine machine. He steps upon the near
pedal and swings over until Doc is seated
en- the saddle. III he wishes 20 mount from
the rear ne leans forward until he rrasps
the handle bars and then springs up 90
his place.
Water is. however much more urcer-
tain element than land and Tho machine
dips when &C. first feels The weight t.
ducks downward almost beneath thc wa
ter. and when 10 rises BE- cores up only to
ifs own water level u has suukrr cor-.d-
erably since tho bold rider mounted. This
one little fact ls what startles the marine
rider and throws him Oh bis guard. Do
loses his presence OF mind and the marine
bicycle begins TO roll. once &c gets roll
ing on there are high seas ahead. 4
steady seat. absolute confidence and a
hard pushing are all that will carry the
day.
The man who rides the wheel with the
double cylinder has the great advantage
of not being able TO upset. But DO must
keep working his feet and steering or
he will drift backward or turn into
something. His machine takes care OF IT,
self. in that it will not overturn. but Il
needs great deal Of steering ability.