Daily camera., 1897-02-08
BICYCLE PLANS FOR 1897,
some Changes That Will Be Made
in the Wheels.
Higher Gear and Wooden Handle Bars
VIII Be the RuIe-ProbabiIities
of Change in the
2r:ces.

1t seems trifle odd to speak of the
bicycle year of 1897 as already begun
but begun it is.
For months already the heads of the
great manufacturing houses have been
puzzing their brains over novelties to
be introduced into wheel construc-
ton, and rival firm have been closely
watching each C: ..ers' movements.
Most of them have pretty well deter
mined reNt secsc1'G -%c1cls and pat-
terms; the next thing is to keep the
factories running all winter to sunply
the spring demand.
A sharper line of demarkation will
be drawn next year than ever before
between the roadster and the racing
hicycle-between the light, high
9eared machine for track use and the
wheel of moderate gear and weight
which can be relied upon for ordinary
roads. There is a considerable reac-
ton against the 19-pound wheel, as
used for heavy riders on the road. Sc
date riders who are more fond of
scenery than of speed will be perfectly
satisfied with a weight between % and
II pounds, while tract racers will be
built as low as 12.
The -gearin~ shafE is no longer a nov
city. Many nrms will probably make
chainless bicycles for next year, as the
principle of the bevel-geared cog is so
familiar in mechanics that simple ap-
plications of it can hardly be. covered
by patent, any more than the chain
and sprocket arrangement now univer-
sal. The chainless gears will especial
" commend themselves to women be-
cause they require no skirt guards, and
Will cause no CRIME of mingled oil and
dust within sight or touch
The gear even of roadster wheels is
constantly rising, Sc, 63 and 68 being
successive landmarks of the progress.
Next year one of the famous New Eng
land firms will build no gear below No.
so for mems wheels unless specially or
dered. This year the standard
wheels have varied between GS and
72. Next year 76 will be considered
about medium. As the gear is raised
the necessity of a brake becomes more
urTent. Back pedaling as a means of
stopping a high-geared wheel in swift
motion is hardly adequate for an enler-
gency. Equipped with brake the
rider of rs gear can ascend hills of fair
grade which is fit for carriages. Wom-
EMS wheels will be geared between 63
and 70.
Wooden handle bars are to be used
by many builders as a means of saw
ing q few ounces of weight and may
become nearly as universal as wooden
rims. Handle bars-and indeed an en-.
tire running gear-of aluminium would
be much better, relatively to weight,
but the cost is as yet prohihitive of gen
eral use.
Whether the cost of high-grade BIZ
eycles is to be reduced from $1OO no one
W. know for some time yet. Some
maNsrs will propose to step in the other
direction by making a line of 'spe-
cials" at $115 or $125.
Whatever the list price no one need,
now or next spring, pay 500 for a first
class wheel, if he is willing to buy a sec
opd-haEd. There are 50 many "cranlls''
who sis upon having the rcry latest
models that there are usually in the
market plenty OF little-used cond
hand wheels of the best males, and OBJ
tainable at from $40 to $50 each. Bi-
cycles of the best go grades in good
condition are certainly good enough
fn h11t lie 70 in
1897
The present rage for tandems is eX
pected to continue during 1897, and
many light tanders are being built.
The bicycle built for two was, early in
the passing present season, used main
ly for pacing purposes, but tandem
racing is having quite little boom
this autumn and will undoubtedly rage
with much virulence next year. It's
dangerous business, like road racing,
but, like road racing, it will be hard to
stop.
The most exciting novelty of the
wheeling season has been bicycle polo,
which was practically unheard of until
about a month ago. 1t is a rather dan
gerous gone. but not more So then polo
as played with ponies at East Indian
gvmkhana or a Meadowbrook hunt
meet. A low gearcd bicycle has de-
cided advantages in playing it because
it is so much easier suddenly to check
or start it. OF course, the rider in BIZ
cycle polo must have quick eye for
distance, to be able to ride hands Off
at any angle, and to turn in the shortest
compass In spite of its difficulties the
game will be the principal attraction at
most of the big exhibition meetings in
the riding academies this winter.-N.
Y. Herald.