The record-union., 1897-08-07

tempt to ride long distances Some
preliminary training is necessary ere
seventy or eighty miles can be COW
cred without stiffness and exhaustion
resulting. The pace should be steady
all through, and any indueement to-
ride fast at certain places should be-
curtailed, so that all superfiuous en-
ergy may be reserved for the return
journey, when it is most required. AL
so make sure that the machine is all
right before setting out. These mat
ters must be considered if the ride is
to be carried out with comfort and
ease
Unless your machine has been used
for considerable time, and you know
that the bearings are full of dirt, don't
think of taking the machine to pieces,
but hang it up and fill the bearings
with paraffin, then spin the wheels and
work all the bearings until the paraffin
runs cut quite clear. Then you can
wipe the parts clean. and lubricate
with good cycle oil prepared for the
purpose. Do not attempt to take your
machine to pieces unless You are quite
sure you can replace the many parts
correctly and adjust the bearings as
accurately az absolutely necessary
Should you know how to take the bear
ings out, and do so, never forget when
replacing the balls to drop five or six
drop of oil on the dry balls before COW
eIing with the cone. II you forget
this simple precaution it may cost you
a new hub, or whatever bearing you
may neglect.
Another unicycle has been invented
This one consists of a wheel without
spokes, to be ridden from the outside
The rim is in the form of a girder,
forked frame is suspended to the inside
of rim by a bearing, through which the
rim revolyes, the seat and handle bar
across the center is fixed TO the outer
edge of the rim On either side, in the
center of said bar is a hole, through
which the bearing rod is cranked, and
attached to the forked frame at the
lower part of the wheel. 1t is propelled
by chain, or other gear, by the feet A
guard brake consists of two rods,
which are bolted to the frame forks at
the top. the lower ends being attached
TO a small roller, which revolves on the
lower quarter or tire, and thereby
keeps the frame and forks perpendic-
ular
Although one sees few boomers, it is
noticeable fact that women are TAX
ing more and more kindly to the dia-
mond frame wheel. A divided skirt
can be worm but it must not be too
wide nor long enough to catch in the
chain.
Do not leave your bicycle standing too
long in the sun, or you cannot expect
your tires to last as we'll as II your
wheel was kept in the shade. The
bright sunshine soon takes the elastic
ity out of rubber tires, and so does OIL
if allowed to stay on the rubber. They
absorb water quickly. then the dirt
grinds in and the tires soon rot.
London has been invaded by band
of women bicycle repairers. They have
a long list of customers, each of whom
is visited once a week. These women
are familiar with the different parts
of wheel having studied at bicy-
Gle school, and are competent to make
all needed repairs In addition they
give lessons in riding.
Miss Frances Willard has another
good word to say to the ladies anent
the bicycle She has found a high
moral use for it as a teacher without
pulpit or creed. She who succeeds,
she says. '.in gaining the mastery of
oil Yx-i1l
the mastery Of life and by exactly the
same methods and characteristics"
Many a wheelman and wheelwoman
has wondered why, the morning after
an evening run, the tires of their wheels
are fabby as if the air had escaped
through a puncture. The London
.'Cycle" commenting ON this, says:
Tire troubles are of more frequent oc-
currence during dry, dusty weather
than in wet. Very often, after the
cycle has been standing in the hall over
night, the front tire is found to be soft
and flabby, and the leakage is located
with difficulty. Under such circum-
stance, special attention should be,
paid to pack of the inner tube, where it
presses upon the rim. The heads OF
the spokes, however, are not the only
things that cut through the rubber,
there. Small particles of grit lodge be-
tween the edges Of the rim and the
outer cover, and despite the fact that
wired-on edges have to be passed, in
sinuate themselves in time inside. A
punoture is the invariable result, al
though by some mysterious influence
the vicinity of the valve appears to
attract the greatest number Of the
fragments"
Oil is being discarded by good many
riders as a lubricant for bearings be-
cause of its tendency to thicken or
become rancid and vaseline used in its
place. The latter substance is less like
ly to make wet bearings, and so does
not gather dust about them so readily.
1t also has the advantage of lasting
longer. Many riders use it for their
chains. but this is doubtful expedient,
as vaseline has the same fault, though
in a less degree as the oil, namely,
that it produces a sort of emery joint
between links when the chain becomes
dusty thereby making the joint work
loose. and thus putting the chain out
of true.
Poisonous Buttercups.