The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-12-31
NEWS or hi WHEELMEN.
DANGERS FRDM IyoRBAsED DROP
nv DRANK HAKGBR8.

49,
Bicycls Thtsves-aeeret Cnnpaign naeetiaG
Prepares q slnte-Riuanoinl Conditien Of
TIRE League asa tts D~tvtsisns = Gossip.
With tho introduction In 1893 OF wheels with
crank hanEers dropped from half an inch to an
inch and q half lower than this years models.
there IL prospect OF an increase in the number OF
accidents on race tracks when the mon are max
ing tho turns. The present pattern OF racing
wheel has its hanger 90 low that when the wheel
10 leaning well 10 one side. as In turning. the
inside pedal often strikes the track and
throws the rider. With q still greater
drop in tho hanger and no change in the
construction Of tracks this trouble will DO con.
~aiderably Increased. Tho proper safeguard
would DO TO make all new tracks OF tho whale.
bach" pattern like tho big indoor track of
Paris. It 10 said that the now track at Berkeley
Oval 10 being constructed on this plan, and II
20 1t win DO the first one OF the kind in this
country. II the number OF accidents due to
pedals striking tho track proves to be Nc great
40 now appears likely. even the old tracks should
DO altered into "whalobacks."
The increased drop In crank hangers, espo-
cially where IL amounts to three inches on road
wheels. az 10 the case with . few makes, will
probably bring some ordinary road riders to
grief, as well as racing men. Many riders now
swing around corners on o boulevard at q clip
which throws the wheel 30 much out of pcrpen.
dicular that the pedal does not clear the ground
by moro than q quarter inch. On a machine
having thepedals an inch nearer the ground.such
riders will do we'll to experiment a little and
study how much side leaning leeway they have.
for q fall due to o pedal striking is one Of tho
ugliest kinds Of cycling accidents.
When It comes to buying q wheel In 1893 per
sons habitually improvident are apt to feel the.
pinch Of their fault more than in connection
With nny other fnv..atmAnf Thona Who ara
small wage workers and buying
had for better begin now and save UP until they
have tho full price in cash than to wait until
spring and thon purchase on the l%nstallnent
plan, because installmont buyers are likely to
be Mt q greater disadvantage than ever next
season. 30 far rs getting the best value for their
money 10 concerned. Every opportunity to get
a bicycle bargain 10 closed to the installmeut
buyer. The part-payment system has been
looked upon as q necessary evil by cycle dealers
and this year they will frown upon It moro than
ever. With lower prices prevailing. the cut of
the nominal price will not be so great as with o
300 list, Of course, but It will be almost impoesi-
pie Si,I 70 b see so some OF tne SOo wnoo ?, h orer 1riI. w ,hsn
cash. There will be fairly good wheels Offering
A. + even loss than $50, but not on installments.
cunious who intend to buy should be economy.
prevalence Of bicycle thieves. During the sum-
per months, when the weather is suitable for
r ness, In iho order Ssei 10 t protec dG msm : suc ef sbe p Po1 4.
w. the New York State division established a
Of any bicycle thief who stole q wheel belonging
to q division member. This reward has not sue
seeded in putting an end to the larcsnies in this
State, and Secretary Treasurer Bull OF the d.
vision says that the offer has not accomplished
the results desired; He suggests that the diyis.
the bicycle thieves as follows: "' WIN
IT Is my belief that the reward Of S25 offered
Ing attached q distinctive numbered plate to be
Issued BY the division: It is the idea 70 keep on
each IN b tnS s' pro.eete o% SS e q re, qd'f pinte. 1@ Di
nediately, upon receipt Of notice Of a theft the
Tho plate willnot only serve as a protection
against theft. but will Insure careful handling
sSa e the .' semosa Z q ff e viii Silfy shS~ w p ssih manner
BALTrMoRE, Dec. so.-Ieaae B. Potter Of Nov.
the League o., American Wheelmen. His cleo.
moet Ma: S Bsirdft as fSSii isi,Ips iEe''ssf cs Only y q n ss' 1t
election arranged, but the entire slate was made
pledged to carry the slate through at tho next
fssemRly meeting, which takes place at St.
Al yesterdays meeting, the states of New
and Maryland joined forces; The deal was engl..
neered by Albert Mott, Chairman OF the Racing
| ccHSief Consul Boyle and secretary.
Collins OF Pennsylvania. The slate agreed upon
For President. Isaac B: Potter of New York;
Isen'nsy y, mia; Second d.. Vice. President dde the
OF Ohioi place for national meeting, Indian
On Monday last Mott and Sans paid New
with President Potter. Potter placed his candi-
Vest Yesterday they w went to % PStiadslphia and Con- con:
suited with Boyle and Collins. and after these
IoIn forces Win New York in sonsideES:
the second HVsiicee1PresTidents New :" jersey asdn'A Was ;
e eFGu nams tn oo 1Insi i.s sPs 81 Shi ple %ns a MioFS Ssoasht
into the combine. Indiana's votes wore OBJ
ss,eSG By p, ssiec' Tie I foIloniaS is If the ' ssbl eoo &
votes which the combination say they are sure
New York. 20; Pennsylvania, CO; New Jersey.
Other States counted on are Maine, a; District OF
n %aRss q 's sPan d0 teIsi 81 200 Z; ' There "a are sos sos
After the meeting all those present signed q
telegram to Mr.; Potter setting. forth the slate
e courses se.u e. re snprs as 50 Chairman Of ths
Racing Board.
Sterling Elliott. the Chief Consul Of the Massn-
chuseits division q the T.. A. W., who eng!-
L II TCCCnIo u DOoil " Tx l. n. w
Presidency, refuses to believe that Gideon Is
not a candidate for the office and cannot be
elected. President Potter announced yesterday
that he was advised that Elliott was In Pater.
son yesterday TO call on Chief Consul
interests Of Gideon. The New Jersey vote
is pledged to Potter, so that Elliott's visit
could not affect any change In Potter's strength.
An officer in the New Yor~ State division ven.
tured the opinion yesterday that il seemed as
though Elliott was u greater power in Pennsyl-
vania than the division officers, as he is work.
Ing contrary, TO their views; and seems bound to
run George ID. Gideon for the office OF President
whether the latter 10 willing to serve or not.
Comparisons of the receipts and disbursements
Of the four leading divisions OF the L. A. w dur
ing the past year show that while tho receipts in
the Now York State division were larger than In
either Pennsylvania, Massachusetts or New Jer-
sey, the financial balance In this State was the
smallest Of the four Mt the end of the year. This
condition Of Affairs has aroused criticism among
the conservative members Of the division who
pay annual dues but take no active part In the
official affairs OF the division: t. annual state.
ments recently rendered at the respective board
meetings of the big divisions show the halanca