The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-09-26

on Fifth avenue in New York, "A short
time ago Mr.. Reynolds has consented to
tell just how he won the recent quarter
mile contest with a wheelman. He has
written over his own signature descrip-
ton OF the race. as follows:
Il have been convinced for long while
that the bicycle skate Is the coming motor
for speed. 50 far as power is con-
cerned. Most people do not understand
exactly how such skates are made, and
will before telling how It seemed to me at
the time of my recent victory over the
bicycle. tell just exactly what the bicycle
skate is. Each skate weighs two pounds
and consists of A thin bar of brass with
fork at either end i'm which the wheels
six inches in diameter are set. The rims
are OF steel and the tires OF cushion rub
Der.
The pneumat tic tire. it Is conceded. is
out Of the question. - the pressure upon
the skate is largely lateral The skate is
equipped with straps for ordinary road
use. but ! do not use them, preferring in
stead - ordinary racing shoe fixed 10 the
skate plates by means OF rivets. The up
ward curve a; each end of Che skate serves
the double purpose OF accommodating
larger wheel and bringing the foot nearer
10 the ground. thus facilitating locomo-
ton on the same principle as the lowering
of the crank hanger on a bicycle.
I'VE haY- all heard a great deal partic-
ularly those of Us who have, made study
OF the wheel Of the b aaty OF the bali
bearings. II does not seem to me that
ever Jaw anything about the bicycle as
perfectly adjusted as the BAH bearings Of
the skate. one Of the little wheels of the
skate when once set free. VIII spin until
further notice. ] don't mind telling YOU
that I am having pair of improved skates
made which will only weigh three pounds.
"Of course It comes easy h me 20 skate.
for In three years contests in roller skat-
ing throughout The United States Won li2
out OF a possible 10. Then az ice skating
have always done we'll and 40 felt
quite confident Of at least making a good
showing when I tried 10 set the pace for
Fox down al Bath Beach few days ago.
III was only quarter OF i mile, and il
IL very hard 10 get your hest speed in that
short distance. but 7 made up my mind
that when We got the word 20 20 would
show what I could do and incidentally
show Fox the way They gave me a start
OF twenty yards. Rhi@A was really good
deal more than needed, and AZ no time
was Fox within reaching distance.
You know YOU can't hear a bicycle.
Somebody told me ne other day that Il
came upon YOU like a thief In the night
and 7 guess that u the way j, Is. Anyhow.
when 1 started had h ell figured out how
] was going % win. Flere are TWO Things
that win rares-steady speed and good
Judgment I knew 1 had the one and /
tried very hard 70 EXHIBIT the other / eX-
pected that after 3 biz Fox would work up
within thirty feet o. ne and tried 20 look
over my shoulder several dimes 70 see just
how far NJ wss bat ! KEEP, going or aud
on. giving bacsw glances. put without
seeing a sign % me wheel
II heard tae people cheering, and there
n "a Tr.H Of H- fenHr fffss
trouble was J could not tell whether they
were cheering Fox ~ mr. I knew Of
course. that / was Ia the lead but II
seemed 10 ire that there was a chance ~
all times that Fox might D. coming up on
me In second. however. when / real
ized thar 7 was not being caught, felt
that the victory Was mine. You have 40
idsa how celebrating IL is 10 80 over The
earth IN that easy. gliding Way that TIE
skater does. n fee} that you aye not *
erting yourself 10 the utmost. and yet
that YOU are winning the praise OF thous-
ands q people Who are watching you.
II did net realize until then what a
very bitter thing defeat would be. bat /
felt IL when I came within reaching dis
tarce - the goal and knew that Il only
could keep Gp the pace or squire q little
perhaps break ms own record. which m
ore else has been able - do. Al this
wondering ard skating had been done iH
a very small number Cf seconds. but IL
seems 20 ere under those circumstances
~ Il each Seeond vas a minute
As I Eeared lhe end u ihs quarter