The record-union., 1897-08-11

tance was 314 miles of the twenty four
hours.
After the first ride up hill on his wheel
Bigler remarked that he believed he
was now in condition TO sympathize
with the poor convicts who are sent TO
the tread mill.-Boston Transcript.
Queen Marghareta of Italy is the
latest royal convert to cycling. The
Queen was for long time opposed TO
the wheel, but now is being taught to
ride. The Milan Cycling Club has pre-
sented her the costliest bicycle in the
world, the wheels of which are of pure
gold and the other parts of precious
metals
The push the-butto -and-we-d o-the-
rest" idea has popped UP again in the
shape of a lamp-lighter for bicycle
lamps. It is pencil-sized, and inside it
a common match is placed, the point Of
the tube is inserted through the round
opening at the side of the lamp, but
ton is pressed, and the wick is at once
afiame.
Uncle Jimmie Lane, Chicagoan who
celebrated the Tooth anniversary of his
birth on last ST. Patrick's day, is learn
ing to ride a bicycle. He has got so he
can mount alone from the curb and
ride off on smooth street, and he de-
clares it's more fun than pushing
lawn mower. He is undoubtedly the
oldest bicyclist in the world.-Minne-
apolis Tribune
There must be something in the very
way the wheels go round" that puts
the boldness Of the lion into the femi
nine heart. Girls who formerly had
Mysteries at the sight of a cockroach
and ccnYulsions over antics of mouse,
go rushing down the steepest hills and
scorching through the most crowded
thoroughfares. Their actual endurance
seems to have increased.
London philanthropists are making
great efforts to enlarge the field of
womans work One of their --latest
achievements is an organized band of
bicycle repairers. They have a long
list of customers, each of whom is
visited once a week The women are
familiar with the different parts of the
wheel, and are able to make all need
full repairs. They also give bicycle les
sons.
Almost any decently modelled saddle
can be used without discomfort if the
rider viii put a fair share of his weight
on his feet. To do this effectively toe
clips are necessary. 1t is a mistake to
suppose that these useful appliances
are dangerous. The feet are disengaged
from them mechanically, and the rec
ord of accidents fails to show that they
have been responsible for any harm.
Cornell University comes to the front
with additional arguments in favor of
the chainless wheel. Tests made at the
institution relative to the friction in
bicycle chains reveal the fact that with
the lengthening Of chains, caused by
wear, friction increases very rapidly. A
new chain of the most improved pat
tern showed about a half of 1 per cent.
friction, while a chain which had
heightened so that it was necessary to
move link had an efficiency of about
90 per cent, showing a loss of power
of about 40 per cent.
Some times one of the joints of a
new chain will be found to be stiff. and
to refuse to straighten out after leav-
ing the chain wheels. 1t is easy to
loosen the joint by laying the chain
on its side with the end of the rivet un-
supported-for example, the chain may
rest on nut, with the rivet over the
hole-and tapping the other end of the
rivet with a hammer. The chain must
then be turned over, and the opposite
end of the rivet treated in the same
way. By this means, together with
working the joint backward and for
ward the stiffness will soon be taken
out.
The London "Cyclist," commenting
on high gears, says: Another point
about the present popularity of high
gears on the race path is that to them
can be attributed to very great meas
ure the poor style that is now so ap-
parent in some of our cracks, both am
ateur and professional. High gears
necessitates a digging action, especially
at the start which is most pronounced.
Three or four years ago when moder-
ate gears were in vogue, many riders
attained to gracefulness, but how many
present day cracks can be said to have
a taking or pleasing style Of riding?"
Most of the women cyclists ride with
too short a reach to the pedals, or, in
other words, the saddle is set too low.
Many of the men go to the other ex-
treme. The proper reach for a woman
is q saddle so adjusted that her wheel
will rest easily on the pedal when 1t is
at the lowest possible point. For a
man in the same position the knee
should be slightly bent. 1t is of little
consequence how high a mans knee
comes at the top of the stroke, while
nothing looks more awkward than a
woman whose knees seem to be trying
to reach her chin with every revolution
of the pedals. Further, an extremely
low adjustment of the saddle is very
fatiguing.
It is a curious thing that so many
men who are particular about the
cleanliness of brightness of the frame
nd V,1nTipo their vvhpplc