Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1897-12-16
TIMELY BICYCLE TOPICS.

With the tremendous growth OF bicy-
cling In this country the condition of
the highways 10 beginning TO Toceive
the attention it deserves. In that re-
spect ut least, is the bicycle to be held
in esteem. The efforts of organized
wheelmen all over the country towards
the Improvement Of roads are bearing
fruit, but there iu much more to do ia
that line. The League of American
Wheelmen is the prime movor, and
through its various divisions and com
mittees accomplishes much in general
way, But it cannot work out the needed
reform alone. Ii needs tho cooperation
and individual endeavor OF local or
carnations throughout the United
States. Each bicycle club can help IL
it's members are willing to put their
shoulders to the wheel.
Tho oldest organization of it's kind in
America is the Good Roads Associa
tiau of Brooklyn. Its BuCcess has been
so marked in recent years that il has
decided 10 widen its sphers of useful
ness 80 as to encompass all of Long
Island. To accomplish this, branches
will be organized during tho coming
winter 10 the principal towns and VII
lagos OF Long island. Each branch will
have it's own officers and will have jur-
isdiction over its immediate territory,
hut will act in concert with the parent
body.
Similar organizations might be formed
in the layrer cities by the wheelmun,
il few public spirited ones we're to
take the Initiative. Backed by the
pnwer of numbers much good can be
accomplished in dealing With the public
authorities in the interest OF road i'm
provement. 1t is no exaggeratioD TO
say that no city 10 America has had SO
large proportion of new pavementH as
brooklyn during the past five years,
and this IL duo uuquestiuDably to the
unceasing efforts OF the Good Roads AS
soeiation.
In the development of bicycle acces
sories the brake has come in recently
for largo share of attention, The Gus
tomary front wheel brake, with it's awk
ward lever and other drawbacks, bus
been in use 60 long that riders generally
| hava become satisfied with it to GER
tain extent. Last year several do
vices were introduced to attach a
brake to the rear wheel, or to engage it
in tho chain. They all had disadvan-
tages to more or lesg marked extent.
This fall several bicycle makers an.
nouuce that they WILL supply automatic
rear wheel brakes with their bicycles
for 1893. Thoy act on the hub of the
rear wheel and arc governed by the
pedals. That is to say, the action at
bacl. pedaling brings tine brake into
play and brings the wheel 10 stop.
It's progressive step, but ia far from
filling the hill. In nine casss out Of
ten a Gyclist needs his brake most
when he is coasting. In such instances
the automatic brakes referred to would
be useless, as the presumption lie that
tho pedals would he revolving so rapidly
that the rider could not catch them 10
put the brake in play. Therefore. the
average tourist, whose bicycle 10 fitted
with one Of the new automatic brakes,
will want one Of the old. fashioned front
brakes as we'll. What IL really wanted
is a reliable brake that can he operated
Independently of the pedals and act on
the rear wheel.
In spite of the Unborn prejudice ol
tho average Englishman against the
products of nations other than his own,
the bicycls trade of American manu-
facturefs in Great Britain has grow q
with tremendous strides during thu
past two years. From tables complete
by the government it is shown tina
our increase 10 this particular branch
hau been greater than in any other de
partment Of our export commerce. Tit
exports Of bicycles from American portI
To Great Britain during the fisca
year ending May 31st, 1S96, amounted
in value to s321, 600 The value o
bicycls exports for the corresponding
year ending May 3lst, 1897. reached
the surprising figure OF $2,0S2, GOO
The msaniug of that jump Of almost 70(
per cent in one year is unmistakahle
particularly when it, ia taken into con
siteration that only high grade ma
uhinea can be marketed successfully il
England The chief reason for this re
marakble development is the fact tina
American manufacturers have greatly
lessened the cost of and largely in
creased their output 10y the employ
ment of automatic machinery. Will
with very few exceptions the British
makers stick to the old methods o
hand labor. Certain bicycle parts ar,
being turned out by American fautorie
by the thousand, while the British ar
content with single pieces, made lubori
nusly and expensively by hand Th
machine made product OF the American
is infinitely superior in that each piec
must needs he perfect and all parts ar
interchangeable.