Omaha daily bee., 1897-02-21

AbAANNu AAN AuNN WYE =
natl and Denver will entertain the fans this
week and Omaha will follow next week.
These exhibitions do more than demonstrate
the popularity of the wheel. They group
the skill of manufacturers and inventors, and
present to the cyclist the latest improve
ments in wheels, all calculated to increase
the comfort ana pleasure of riders. The re-
suit Of the two leading exhibitions. particu-
larly in attendance, must be gratifying 10
the dealers. as the manufacturers report a
goodly number OF advance orders.
Australian papers are telling a pretty good
story on Martin, the old American crack,
who is racing in that country. At Brisbane,
on September is, he was billed to go for the
Australian hour record, and was induced by
a Mr.. Beckman to ride his patent hand drlV-
ing attachment. Martin got the record and
the manufactures claimed all the credit, al
though 1t Is stated that he only turned the
coffee mill when passing the grand stand,
using his legs entirely when on the back
stretch. The machine weighed 36 pounds,
but Martin established new records, as fol-
lows: Ten miles. 22.16: 25 miles, 57.2O; one
hour, &c miles. $50 yards.
DIR. Shadwell. who has written much about
the bicycle and who claims credit for the
discovery OF the bicycle face" has an ar
ticle in the National Review on the hidden
dangers Of cycling. If the doctor had his
way all would-bo riders OF the wheel would
be condemned to the ordeal of a physical
examination before taking to this form of eN-
ercise. But the redeeming feature of the
wheel is that while it may do harm to some
riders with weak hearts or diseased kid
neys it cures more than 1t kills.
There are two sides of the cycle question
for women and from a woman's point of
view. This only serves to illustrate the
battle that is now being waged. Miss Frances
Willard SAYS she has found a high moral
use in the bicycle. and can
it as a teacher without pulpit or creed,
''She who succeeds in gaining the mastery or
such a creature as the bicycle she says,
will gain the mastery OF life, and by eN-
actly the same methods and characterlstics.'
On the other hand, Mrs. Lynn Lynton
says: one of the lowest CraZeS Of the age
is that Of the bicycle. Walking, riding,
skating and dancing l can understand as
fit exercise for the vigorous and young. But
cycling seems to be such a doubtful kind
Of amusement-suCh a queer cross between
the treadnill and the tight rope-demand-
ms such a constant strain of attention to
keep your balance, with such a monotonOus
and restricted action of the limbs, as to
render 1t a work of penanCe rather than OF
pleasure"
Yet there are plenty of people who believe
In either one side or the other of the ques-
ton.
1t looks all right for an able-bodied, full
limbed person to ride a bicycle, but a per-
son with one arm, or one leg, or manned in
any other way, seated on a machine, is re-
garded as odd. But the loss of an arm or a
leg, or, for that matter, both arms or both
legs, is not an obstacle to riding a wheel.
In New York there are several persons who
have lest one of their arms who can be
seen riding a wheel, and a safety at that.
With one hand they are able to guide a
machine with as much skill and as much
confidence as many of their brethren who
have two arms. Then, again, there are
several persons in the city with one leg
who use the wheel. The bicycle not being
especially adapted to them, a tricycle. is
brought into requisition, and the power
supplied by the one limb is sufficient. There
is one instance, of a young man who has
a false limb, who pedals his wheel, a safety,
with as much vim as those who have two
sound legs. In fact, this young man could
push a wheel so fast and so well that he
entered a couple of local track races. There
are also unfortunate people deprived of
the use of both limbs who managed to get
around on %tricycles or quads, by using their
as the means of transmitting power.
In Chicago there is an instance of a young
lady who lost a lower limb through an
accident, and who pedals around with one
foot.
Electric lights for bicycles have for the
most part been dead failures. They were
too heavy, or too inefficient, or too trouble
some, and the b~icyclist. as a rule, felt that
he had thrown the purchase money away,
The latest electric wheel lamp, however, f.
of an entirely different order. 1t i2 a clean,
powerful illuminator, which cannot be blown
out, Jared out, or eXtinguished by the ordi-
nary accidents which affect other lights. It
consists of two parts, the battery, or source
Of power, which is carried in a compact
leather case hung from the top bar of the
diamond frame. or from the handle bar Of
the drop-frame machine, The lamp proper
Is a very small, heavily plated with silver re-
Hector, mounted on a swivel support, and
connected by a slender cord with the bat
terry. Within this is the small incandescent
lamp which gives the light. The whole out
fit is almost as useful in a carriage as 1t is
en- a bicycle. The mcst striving thing about
It is the power of the light, which the rider
can instantly defect in any desired direc-
ton. 1t IL more like a miniature search
than like an ordinary lamp, and It
throws a strong beam OF light for fifty or
ueYeDty-five yards ahead. This increase or
light of a one candle-pCwer lamp to over
100 candle-power simply by a scientifically
made reflector will probably suggest to some
thoughtful people that they may cut down
their bills for electric light fully 50 per cent
or more by going the right way about II.
The battery will run for eight hours on one
charge, and can be recharged at any mean
descent lamp socket, or by the special APP
planes which are provided TO save trouble
in the process. Many bicycle clubs now keep
a charging outfit for the use Of their mem
bers.
How many girls would use wheels out
shopping II circumstances were all favorable
cannot, of course, be stated accurately, but
doubtless there are many. The chief diff
Guilty IS that the shopper has no handy
means of carrying home whatever small par
eel she may have purchased, for be III re-
membered some shoppers do really buy
A Partisan has devised an in
geniOus parcel carrier, which may be at
tached to the front Of the wheel and which,
when not in use, may De folded up neatly.
Being attached to the wheel there is NJ
danger of it's being forgotten when the for
getful shopper starts on her tour. Artisans
and Office workers who carry lunch with
them would also find such a contriyance very
handy.
A correspondent of the League OF Ameri-
can Wheelmen Bulletin bought one of the
counter bicycles last season and sub
mits the following statistics relative to the
cost Of his seasons riding;
Cost Of firSt-class, high grade,
guaranteed bicycle, worth Sl25,
but sold on bargain day"..... siGGs
Repair Of handlC-bar."..........S $50
Two repairs Of ain........... l25
ltcpair OF Observation-Disclosures. 2.I5
New crank $50
new spOkeS. ............. 1.20
Two pair Of rim5 CfrOnt whceD.... 200
one rim for rear whecl.....,.... 100
new tires Gor front wheel. 80