The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-04-25


those which fasten the sprocket wheel
to the spider or crank. These small
bolts are quite apt to work loose and
allow the sprocket to run uneyenly. in
which case the chain may climb the
sprocket, and either bend it out Of
shape, or else buckle the back forks
in such a manner that repairs will be
very expensive. If such an accident
occurs while descending a hill the dam
age is likely to be much greater, and
serious injuries are likely to result to
the rider
The precautions spoken Of are es
pecially necessary after bringing the
wheel home from the repair shop, par
ticularly one Of the smaller ones. The
repair men are so rushed at this season
of the year that they become very care
less. and turn out wheels ill-adjusted,
with bolts loose, and In other ways put
a riders life in jeopardy.
One thing which contributes more
than anything else to the good running
Of a bicycle is a clean chain, the next
to having an effective gear case the
best way to obtain this is to get a
large bottle, putting in it about 20
cents worth Of benzine. Then drop
the chain into this, taking care that i
goes in straight, rolling up as it does
so, and tying a piece of small cord
to the last link. Cork it tightly and
let it stand over night. In the morn
ing, when the chain is removed, every
particle of dirt which was on 1t will be
formed in the bottom of the bottle.
The benzine will almost Immediately
evaporate from the chain, and it should
be we'll fabricated. The benzine may
be saved by straining it off into an
other bottle ready for use again.
fo4a
changeable parts to different makes of
bicycles. If one happens to note a par
ticular style of bearing or adjustment
that seems a little better than that on
his own wheel, the best way to do is to
purchase a wheel possessed Of the
bearing that seems best, and not try
to add to a wheel that was never made
for such an addition.
Tires, pedals, chains, handle-bars
and saddles are, of course, to a large
extent. interchangeable, but that Ia
about as far as the bicycle will stand
tampering with and run well.
1t is a great temptation to amateurs
to straighten the spokes in the wheels.
It looks like an easy task, and all that
is necessary to bring the spokes to per-
lection is to use a wrench made for the
purpose. Yet the wheels may be made
absolutely untrue if the repairer is
ignorant Of the way in which to do the
work.
The wheel will run after such treat
ment in a beautiful curved scroll re-
sembling the Spencerian exercises Of the
writing class at school. The tire will
wear irregularly and the bicycle never
will recover, until it has. been back to
the factory. Even then it may not be
in it's original good state;
A bent crank is another great source
of temptation. OF course all that one
has to do is to put the bicycle on one
side. Then put a large stone or a piece
Of wood underneath the crank that is
out Of order, and pound the poor piece
of metal with a hammer or another
stone. Something will have to give way
shortly. 1t may be the stone, it may
be the hammer, but the chances are
that it will be the crank. 1t won't look
as we'll as it did before, and during the
course of repair double twist may
have been put into it that makes It
worse than ever.
Still there will be some great salts
faction to the amateur in knowing that
he did it himself The wheel, probably,
will have to go back to the manufac-
turer for final adjustment, or for a
new crank.
A bend in the frame after a collision
can not be remedied by copious ap-
plication of bowlder. The bicycle tub
ing of these days is strong, but it has
it's limits Of endurance. 1t will bend,
become dented, and stand a hard
knock on the port side or starboard
side, but it will not submit to too much
granite bowlder argument. Then the
manufacturer should not be blamed
for making tubing that is full of flaws.
1t is not a good idea to try to put
the front wheel of a Jones bicycle on
a Smith frame, however much the for
mer may have a particular attractive
ness of axle or finish. There may be
the difference of a sixteenth of an inch
in width, and just that difference
would cause the wheel never to run