Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-09-25
SOM CYCLE CHAT

Some cycle dealers in the city would do
anything to save the reputation of the
make of bicycles they sell, and illustrations
of this occur quite frequently. II we'll
known rider has a certain make Of wheel,
which through some fault in construction.
breaks down. the dealer generally makes
the repair, or furnishes a new wheel with
out loss of time. The policy of this move
ment can be seen from the fact that if the
dealer went back on his guarantee. the
rider would tell his friends of the action,
and this would give the sale of the wheel
a black eye. On the other hand if the
dealer makes the repair as quickly as pos
sible the cyclist is quite apt to pass COM
plimentary remarks on the matter, and his
friends, thinking the agent to be a reliable
man, ready to hold good to any promise,
will purchase that make of bicycle in pref
erence to some other make which they
might like just as well, but on which they
are not so certain of guarantee.
An illustration of this sort happened only
snort time ago, and only serves to show
the extent some dealers will make good a
damage. A certain well-known rider. mem
Der OF prominent club, was riding alone
on the road early one evening not long
since. when the front forks broke, close to
the crown. he cyclist was going at good
rate OF speed. was thrown from his wheel,
and rendered unconscious. He received in
juries which kept him in bed for several
weeks, under constant medical and surgical
treatment. The agent of the make of
Whlch ne was riding at the time could
hardly do enough for him. He gave the
man brand-new bicycle, lamp and hell
Not only did he do this. but he purchased
the vince Imam new suit of cycling clothes
TO take the place of those which We're
ruined in the fall. Going still further the
agent. when the rider was able to get
around without any professional assistance
paid the doctors bills for the entire period
The dealer did this more to save the repu-
tation of his brand Of wheel than ont
of sympathy for the cyclist himself. It
only serves to show what some of them
will do to accomplish their objects
A young man. who is in business in this
city, Is the originator of an idea that is
bound to do good. He has issued a small
pasteboard sign, which can be attached to
the front of the wheel. and printed in such
large type as will be legible for some dis
lance. The drivers approaching can see the
sign Keep to the Right" The signs have
just been introduced, and are carried by a
large number of cyclists. With this little
injunction always before the public 1t Is
no more than right to presume that the
law on the subject will be followed. 1t was
an amusing sight the other day at 9th and
streets to see two cyclists, each with
the sign aboard. lodging both ways, uncer-
tain which way to turn.
II is not a disgrace to walk up a hill no
now steep the lucHHe may De. let
a good many persons are apt to look at 1t
in this light. This is especially true of club
me mbers, and no cyclist has right TO go
out on a club run. as a rule unless he can
pull any hill that may come before him.
The spirit of rivalry. to a certain extent, in
this respect, is quite great, and the man
who does not ride up the hills is apt to be
laughed and teered at. Why this is so is
hard to imagine
There are times when it is advisable to
walk up HILL no matter if 1t is small
incline BY doing so a two-fold object is
accomplished. A strain is relieved on the
wheel, and the rider is put to no extra ex-
eruon. In some cases the wheel is injured
more in forcing IT up a hill with brute
strength than IL would be If ridden for sew
eral months under ordinary conditions It is
well sometimes to look at the matter in
this light. Then, again. a person who is
subject to heart disease is foolish to ride
up hill. The extra exertion has an ex-
tremely bad effect, and 1t is an fdiotic no.
ton to risk this simply for the sake of saw
Ing that he was able to ride up such and
such 4 hill. There is no glory in this
That some persons feel ashamed because
they walk up a hill Is clearly evidenced by
the ready excuses which are SO frequently
gwen when the foot OF step incline is
reached
There was singular occurrence on the
conduit road the other Sunday afternoon
about 2 O'Clock. on the hill Just at the turn
OF the deciiyity at the Dalecarlia reservoir
leading to the small wooden bridge A
young lady. who appeared to be without an
frame wheel down the hill. She looked
natty. with divided skirt rather abridged
In length. The wheel evidently got away