The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-02-07
MARINE bicycle WHICH las CHALLl

10 beat any thing that navigates the water
In bicycle fern.
This marine bicycle is cigar shaped.
ii consists OF an aluminium cylinder ten
feet long, tapering towards each end.
Underneath ii, buried in the water, Is
large keel precisely like that of a rae
ing yacht. There is regular bicycle ma
Enincry attached TO the cigar-shaped
craft. A large sprocket wheel a housing
for the sprocket chain and simple driv-
ing mechanism all correspond closely TO
the land wheel.
The rider occupies a seat upon the top
of the strange craft His seat is SINH
lar to "A land wheelman's saddle, and uu-
less he Is accustomed to riding he will
ind IL as difficult TO keep his balance
upon this strange craft of the sea AS it
was on land the first time he rode a
wheel. If he knows how to ride on land
he will Immediately get his balance as
soon as he strikes the saddle and be or
sending the boat swiftly through the wa
ter.
The pedals are broad rubber ones cor
responding to those on a land wheel
Upon being pressed they turn the sprock-
Ct wheel, which in turn causes the cigar
shaped cylinder TO TevOlyc. IL goes
around with the rapidly OF lightning
and pushes or screws its way through the
water AZ the back there Is rudder tOr
steering, which Is controlled by the ham
dle-bars. The motion Of steering is
by turning OF the handle
bars. something which a bicycle rider
soon learns TO do mechanically.
The speed that can BE- obtained with
this wheel is not yet known Like
land wheel II depends upon the rider.
The inventor says that there IS as on
land no limit TO the speed. A crack cy-
Clist coulc out-distance a railway train
and easily leave behind the swiftest
steamboat.
a marine bicycle that is staked to beat
this one Is the Invention Of Charles a.
Sulemen, Of Waterford n. Y. lie has
lr"de "A marine bicycle or velocipede that
has two cylinders. 4 sprocket chain con-
meets several small wheels that revolye
and plough their way through the wa
ter. while the force Of the rider legs
keeps the machine ever going onward.
This has the advantage of having more
intricate machinery from which greater
speed could he hoped. but II is heavier
and the odds are more upon the other
one.
A Michigan inventor has patented n
marine bicycle with balloon attachment.
hat this Is not quite as good as the 9th
orS. as I'm high winds there would ALWAYS
be d9Dger that the balloon would lift the
marine velocipede out Of the water
In the coming bicycle contests. which
Will take place upon all the large sheets
OF water. there will be entered marine
wheels OF all n axes. Those in favor Of
this or that wheel will race with n and
those who prefer another make gill Sc
lect II. precisely the same as on land
The entire twenty-five will come out an
competition with each other.
Learning 10 ride q marine bicycle IS
n very difficult thing unless one has had
great practice on land. Even then conf
6ence Il necessary. The difficulty begins
IN mounting. A man who knows how TO
swing his leg over the handle bars Of his |
bicycle should have no trouble with ITO |
marine machine. He steps upon the nea~
pedal and swings over until he IS seated |
in the saddle. II he wishes 10 mount |
from the rear he leans forward until he |
grasps the handle bars and then springs |
up TO HIS place
Water Is. however, much more I'M |
certain element than land and the ma |
.hlre dips when II first feels the weight
I, ducks downward almost beneath the |
water and when II rises n comes up |
rnly 10 It's own water level IL has sunk
en considerably since the bold rider