Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-10-30
T HE C H A N L E S S

The much taiked-of chainless bicycle has
made it's appearance in this city. To many
its advent was in the nature of a surprise,
but to others it was not Since Its arrival
the model has been examined by several
thousand persons, mostly bicyclists, who
are interested in the new style OF the
transition of power. Comments of all
kinds have been made on it, some favorable
and some unfavorable. 1t is seldom that
departure from usual form is received
with open arms. The public is generally
suspicious and holds off.
The idea of chainless bicycle has been
agitated a good deal during the past year.
This is probably due to the fact that the
manufacturers who contemplated placing
such an article on the market let out some
Of their intentions in order to whet the
appetite of the people. This has been en-
larged upon from time to time, until all
riders began talking Of the new invention
Thus the matter was kept up and the way
paved for an suspicious introduction Of
the new style bicycle. The public has
heard ali about the merits of the new style.
1t now wants to see practical demon
stration, which can be obtained only from
general experience.
|. The chainless models of this year are not
the pioneers in the field. The original
eral years ago. Its method OF construc-
ton was somewhat On the order or the
model of this fall, but it did not become
popular. While several of the wheels were
sold 1t was found that the wheel when in
motion gave a whirring sound, which can
be caused orly by the working of cog
wheels. Then again.. SO 1t Is charged, there
was trouble with the connecting ROD, the
revolutions Of which furnished the Grivlng
power for the pedals to the rear driving
wheel. The sale not meeting with expec-
tations, the local agency was discontinued.
To show that there is distrust of the new
who ought to know something of bicycle
construction, the following answer TO
correspondent is taken from weli-known
cycling journal: 81
ing the .s eh Ia, safety? VIII it re pop
AnswerN..waft until, a year from now.
and We will be pleased to answer this
question" tqa q
Journal in question Knows all about the
claims that are advanced for the new
wheel, from the Manufacturers side, but
would seem from the answer that the ed
itor has some doubts about the workings ct
the chainless, and, yuk9 diplomatic indi-
vidual, evades the nQuestion
A New York letter to The Star has the
following to say: b'Mere than 10000 per-
sons visited single store in New York
chainless wheel, and yet the Carriage Man
ufacturers' Association proclaims cycling
to be in its decline Opinions Of the new
machine very greatly. The chief merit ac-
corded 1t by all Is its Immunity from the
effects OF rain. mud and dust, due to the
driving mechanism behind incased. The
only criticisms, apart from those Of me-
chanical theorists. appear to be on the
score of Its wide tread and its weight Of
26H pounds. One thing the advent OF the
beveled gear wheel promises to accomplish
Is the complete conversion of the American
mind to the English idea of protected
gears. Every advantage claimed for the
bevel gear wheel q based directly on the
fact Of its waterproof ana dust-proof fea-
lures. and these Identical claims apply
equally to the gear-cased wheels universal
ly used In Great Britain. and to the In
closed chain models now appearing here
The arrival of bicycle manufacture at this
mixed condition Of affairs IL explained by
the unsatisfactory character Of the En-
giish gear cases when offered on the Amer