The record-union., 1897-08-09
CYCLER'S GOSSIP.
SOME THINGS ALL wHEELMEN
SHOULD KNOW.
Cut in Prices-Back Pedaling-
Cowboys and Wheels-Army
Use in Germany.

Cowboys and Wheels-Army
Use in Germany.
The cut in bicycle prices in this coun-
try has rapidly been followed by cut
in England, started by one of the best
concerns. The result was to weaken
bicycle shares on the stock market. The
cause is said to have been fear OF
further invasion by American makers.
AS a matter of fact, England is stlll
understocked with wheels, and prices
have been such as TO strike American
visitors and cyclists as high, in view OF
the cheapness of most other things 1t
is estimated that up to recent period
there We're some 100 cycle factories in
this country, with an output OF about
1,250 900 wheels. But it is doubtful
whether England has reached that
point yet by any means. Her roads are
crowded with antediluvian wheels of
the most extraordinary character, pro-
PEELED by persons Of class who in
the United States would rather be
found dead than seen riding last
years make.
A thing very much wanted is port
able and convenient bicycle rack. Such
an appliance is the subject of a recent
patent. The rack, which is of the or
binary hight, folds up. and can be car
Tied in the hand. When opened out it
holds six machines. 1t should be most
servicable on a lawn, or in any other
place where a wheel rest is needed
temporarily.
Cattle punchers chasing the wiry
steer on bikes viii give a fresh stimu-
lus to authors of penny dreadfuls. Ac-
eording to a South Dakota correspond
ent Of the Chicago Times Herald" a
Cheyenne River ranchman has intro
dueed bicycles for the work of his
ranch, and, although the experiment is
admitted TO have been a failure, it was
interesting while it lasted. Cowboys
on r. B. Mosely's ranch" says the cor
respondent, north of the north fork
of the Cheyenne River, are speeding
after their masters herd on bikes. The
COW ponies are eating their heads off
in his barnyard, and will not again be
called into service until deep snow rem
ders the use of the wheels impossible.
1dlllGllEn nave GOllSlQElEQ AhOSACJ a
crank and n dreamer of dreams, but
they conceded that he had outdone
himself when he resolved to furnish a
part of his herdsmen with bicycles in
stead of the tough bronchos so char
acteristic of the cow country.
"Mosely, to do him justice, never said
the experiment would prove a success.
He simply wanted to see it tried.
Wheels, he confessed, could hardly be
used in winter, nor in cutting out,
branding, roping and turning stam-
pedes He read some time ago of their
introduction into the army, remarked
on the testimony of the experts who
said they would go anywhere that a
horse could, and promptly declared
they would do for work on the ranges
if such statements were true.
His men say they have actually done
better work in some cases than with
horses. They are of the opinion-and
Mosely agrees with them--that in the
long run horsehesh discounts them.
Still the margin between the usefulness
of the bike and that of the broncho
is not a big one. The former certainly
covers more ground than the latter. It
is never vicious, never frightened, and
never strays from the spot where the
rider leaves it, no matter how long
may be his absence.
"One man who attempted to rope a
steer with the end of his lariat tied to
his handlebar, and was incOntinently
yanked into an adjoining county, says
the experiment is a flat failure. An
other tried to turn a stampeded herd
and met with poor success. A pony
would have stood its ground while the
rider got the frightened animals under
control When the wheelman saw the
maddened herd tearing down on him.
however. and realized that he directly
would be under their hoofs if he tar
ried he turned tail without loss of time
and scorched for safety. To the credit
Of his wheel, be it said he quickly dis
tanced the cattle and escaped harm
The wheels viii probably be abandoned
after this season, perhaps sooner, as
their use is somewhat experimental
but AIosely says he has had the full
worth of his money in watching the
cattle punchers master the machine
and in listening to their comments as
they discussed the success of the ex-
pertinent in which they were engaged >
During the last year or So" says an
English cycling paper, The German au-
thorities. and more especially the Ba-
varian. have given great attention to
army cycling. Shortly before the COM
mencement of the last maneuvers a
small detachment of forty men was at
tached TO each division of the Prussian
Army Corps-but the Bavarian army
has already two complete cyclist corps
100 strong, including officers and non
commissioned officers. In order to in
sure the greatest possible efficiency, only
skilled cyclists are permitted TO join
and the Bavarian Government spares
no expense in the question of the ma
chimes, the men being supplied with
thoroughly good and reliable cycles, all
of the same pattern, and made at the
same mandatory, so that any in
equalities in the riding owing to diff
ference in the machines are entirely
done away with. The uniform is practi-
cal, if not particularly smart and con-
sists of cloth trousers, blue blouse for
age cap, CATERS and lace shoes. cart
ridge belt, side arms. and flask. the car
bine light and short-Model IS.
Each man must be able to take his
cycle to pieces. and put it together again
in the shortest possible time. and re-
ceives the most minute instruction in re-
pairing it. etc, so that in case of acci-
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An AAEDnIIQV