New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-01-03

her fs,iiv a wear in advance. and II there should
be q temporary shortage II would not anect us
at all. We have heard Of nothing OF the kina;
however, and do not believe there Is any sooo
basis for the reports referred to-
That the wheeling season Is not over Is evil
denced by a number Of Incidents of the week
Just ended; for example. the runs taken on new
Years Day. which would have been taken any
way. no matter what the state OF the weather.
On every day last week riders could be seen
abroad In small numbers Last Sunday was
one of the coolest days Of December but sew
eral cyclists made their way TO Coney Island
and back. and protested that they had good
time One Of them was a woman intent on
making a record. When the recent SHOWS nad
put a stop to riding for time she lacked sew
enty miles of 5000 for the year. and she was
determined to do that II 1t were In any wise
possible Having made the run down and up
the Cycle Path on Sunday IL Is NOT . sn,
that she went out also on two or three DAYS ioi-
lowing and turned her 3.OOOth mile peiore uar n
on Tuesday evening. 1t was not al all pad rld-
ing on the path. before the snow meNea emous"
to make 1t sloppy. although there was consider,
able mud where the snow had been cleared
away near the lower end OF Prospect PARK.
People interested in bicycles are already won
derng what novelties will be on view at the b-
cycle show next month"; and not few are walt
Ing to see the exhibition before fully deciding
what wheels they will ride the coming season
1t is reasonable TO expect that some new Things
will be seen at tie Grand Central Palace. Two
bicycles have recently been put together ABROAD
that would he sure to attract attention II ds-
played here. One Of them has four wheels IN
stead Of two all four in line. There Is q rear
wheel Of the ordinary size, but two small wheels
take the place Of the front one and thiro sma"
one Is placed behind the main rear wheel. Tne
advantage claimed for this arrangement is tha'
vibrations are greatly reduced and that one can
ride over roads as rough as CORNERSTONE pave
ments without discomfort. The other novelty
is the so-caIled normal bicycle" Its inventor
afirms that the wheel in common use is wrongly
constructed because the rider gets the benefit
only of his own weight without much oppor-
tunity to push In his machine ne has sup
port for the back. and the large sprocket and
high as the top Of the front wheel. The rea-
son given for this Is that by the push thus given
far greater power can be exerted. The position
of the rider is declared to he the normal one;
and hence the name which has been given TO
this bicycle.
Most of those who have INDUCED In riding
since winter began in dead earnest have gone
abroad on the wheels they have been riding dur
ing the year. One man has been heard OF,
though. who got his ~ mount one day last
week. and impatien: to try II that he
ventured forth on the following day, notwith-
standing the snowy state Of the streets He
contrived to cover three miles with some diff
Guilty and numerous spills.
Not all Of the models OF the present year are
yet on exhibition. although the number is far
larger than at the same time year ago. In
quiries, however, will disclose the points Of su-
periority over last years wheels, as glibly re-
cited by energetic and smooth-spoken agents
One Of these, when asked In reference to sprock-
cts on the '97 wheels. said that large sprockets
would be supplied with regular wheels, unless
specia! requests were made to the contrary.
Asked how large, he replied with twenty-five
teeth in front and eight. nine and ten teeth IN
the rear" Translated into easily understood
language this means gears or ABOUT o. 30
and 40.
The latest improved pavement in Brooklyn has
been completed too late in the winter season to
permit wheelmen to make use OF 1t before next
spring. Gates-ave. west OF Bedford-ave. has
now been all laid in asphalt. forming an i'm
portant section in a short route between the
lower part Of the city and the region to which
the old neighborhood name Of Bedford is still
pavement oil the way. with the exception Of
four or five short blocks, and that hiatus will
probably be filled early next summer. This is
the second improvement OF Importance made In
Brooklyn In the course Of last year. the first
being the completion of the smooth pavement
of ST. Mark's-ave. last June So many Of the
otherwise desirable streets have been given over
to the railroad companies that the solution OF
the problem of a good up and down town route
has been involved in many difficulties.
Followers OF cycle racing are to have a rare
treat on January 10. when the joint diamond
meet OF the South Brooklyn Wheelmen and Com
pany G, 18th Regiment, will BIO held at the
armory in Brooklyn. The list Of entries, even
at this date, is formidable one, and excellent
sport should result Many Of the most promi-
nent professional and amateur riders OF the dis-
trict have entered. f. c. Bald who has been
breaking indoor records. will give an exhibition
and a special race may take place between Jay
Eaton, Teddy" Goodman and Samuel Brock.
There will be several contests for military men
as well.
Most OF the arrangements have been finished
for the cycle show to be held at the Grand
Central Palace in this city next month. The
demand for space exceeds that at any Of the
previous shows held in this city, and the display
ought to attract large crowd right through
the week. President r. L. Coleman and his
army Of assistants have left nothing undone to
make the 81 show the best held here.
Every appliance which has any connection
whatever with the wheel will be on exhibition.
While some OF the makers will not distribute
souvenirs. many others will do so. and the
chances are that the rush for the buttons. pins.
etc, will be as fierce il was last year at
Madison Square Garden.
The committees in charge OF the campaign Of
Sterling Elliott and Isaac 3. Potter for the
presidency of the League Of American Wheel
men are far from idle. The National Assembly
will be held at Albany the second week In Feb
ruary, and 1t will be the most interesting In the
history OF the organization Mr.. Potter's friends
in this State to be confident that their
man will be elected by an nvarHhelmInQ