The sun., 1897-12-01
CYCLING.


way of alleged improvements on tho
bicycle is tires without air. An attcmp
to do away with the air some time age
resulted in cork tire, which was non
puncturable. 1t never became very pop
ular, however. The new airless tire in
vention, if we can believe the manufac
turers, surpasscs anything yet conceived
1t is made exactly on the same plal
as other standard tires, but instead o
being filled with air it contains secret
composition which the company owns
and controls. The composition is sup
piled to the tires by machinery. The
best thing about the invention is that
the tire will not collapse when punctur
ed and things like tacks or nails driver
through the rubber has no effect on it
1t has been successfully tested in Spring
field, ILL.,, for four months. The tire is
resilient and pliabe and it is claimed tc
be but six ounces heavier than the or.
dinary tire. The invention is in the
hands of company incorporated for the
purpose OF putting the arless tire on the
market.
The thing which gives the wheel a
more rrpulsive appearance than any
thing else is the black and greasy cork
handles. Any rider who has not given
the matter much attention can do away
with the unsightly look by the appliance
of a little elbow power as follows: Take
a soft cloth and dip it it in kerosene OF
turpentine, which is preferable, and rub
the corks hard. The grease will be re-
moved and the corks will look like new.
The smell Of the kerosene may cling to
the hands for while and for that reason
the turpentine is preferred.
Bike-cleaning promises to become an
industry during next season and on the
ferries largely patronized by wheelmen
and women system of bike-cleaning
like that of the bootblack may be in
vogue. The riders returning from long,
hard runs on suburban roads can have
their wheels thoroughly cleaned before
reaching the city. Ridinga wheel clogged
up with mud is not delightful expert
ence, and for this reason the ceaning-up
idea would prove extremely advantage
GUS and would save much trouble and
annoyance.
"cycling is pleasure-walking is
drudgery," says cycling paper. Cyc-
ling practised with the same moderation
as walking is no more hultful than
walking, even to those with heart af,
fection. -Four or five miles on wheel
can be done by delicate person with
less fatigue than one mile could be COW
cred on foot. The superior exhilaration
of the wheeling makes it more beneficial
than walking. Abuse and not use of the
wheel produces injury.
Now that Michael has met and defeated
NIcDuflie, Titus and Starbuck indoors, he
has to meet Taylore, the French middle
distance champion, at Madison Square
Garden, Christmas night. The victor in
that contest will meet A. A. Chase, the
English crack, on New Years night.
Nat Butler is the next asprant in order,
and Butler seeks a match with the win
ncr of the New Years match, to be
pulled off in January. John S. johnson
may tire ere that and give up his aspira-
tions, but that is not at all likely,
although the Westerner is anxious to
enter the skating lists this winter, Five
middle-dislance contests are therefore in
sight for the winter the greatest number
Of which will probably be pulled off in
New York. Gardiner, the Chicago man,
may be willing to take on the winner OF
one of these contests in Chicago.