The record-union., 1897-07-18
INTERESTING WHEEL NOTES.

INTERESTING WHEEL NOTES.
The reduction of price in the bicycle
is not due alone to the intended in
PRODUCTION of direct gear wheels to dis
place chains, but to conviction of the
leading manufacturers that larger sales
and smaller profits are preferable.
The annual wheel meet, eighteenth
year of the League Of American Wheel
men, takes place at Philadelphia Au-
gust 4th to 7th 1t is believed that
it viii be the largest and best ever
held. All Eastern roads have made
half-fare rates to the meet east of st.
Louis. The first day win be a recep-
ton by the city: run to Valley Forge;
tour through Fairmount Park, and
a night excursion on the Delaware.
Second day, century run over the South
Jersey course; tour over the Lancaster
Pike; run to Chestnut Hill along the
picturesque Wissahickon; at night a
smoker and musical entertainment, and
the League of American Wheelmen
bah. Third day, run to League Island,
Point Breeze. West Fairrnount Park
and Wissahickon; trial heats atWil-
low Grove; finals of first days races;
wheelmen's night with exhibition rid
ing and concert by the Damrosch SYM
phOny Orchestra. Fourth day, run to
Fort Washington: run to West Fair
mount and up river; trial heats at Will
low Grove track. Last races with the
professional mile open for $500 Alb
bott Bassett. the L. A. w. Secretary.
be present. At the lowest he says 15,-
600 wheelmen Will take part in the
runs.
Superintendent Grant of the Citizens
Car Line, Detroit, estimates the loss
of fares to his road annually at 200. 600
a day, due to the introduction of the
bicycle. DR. A L. Vincent of New
York says that means 80 per cent, gain
in health and strength to the men and
women of the wheel.
The first wheel built on the canti-
lever principle has arrived in Chicago
from Europe. 1t is to be manufactured
now in America. It reduces the weight
of a mans wheel to fourteen pounds
without loss of strength. Racing ma
chimes viii come down to nine pounds.
and women's wheels to eleven. 1t is
built on the principle of the canti-
lever bridge.
Women wear out wheels faster than
men, because they ride with softer
tires, invite punctures thereby. and
consequently hard wear on tires and
rims. Soft tires drag heavily, and slip
more easily than hard ones, and up
hill they are simply fearful.
Lady Henry Somerset took up bicyc-
ling merely to study its benefits and
defects and not from any particular
liking of that form of exercise. She
studied it thoroughly in the light of
her own experience, and in that of a
large circle Of friends. Not until she
had gathered a large amount of infor-
nation and had consulted with many
physicians did she publish her judg-
ment or opinion that it was an invalu-
able aid To health, strength and physi-
cal well-being. A similar course Of
study was undertaken by Miss Fran
ces Willard and the other noble
women who conduct the Worlds
Women's Christian Temperance Union.
and they in turn confirmed the opin-
ions of Lady Henry Somerset Through
these women, probably more than
through any one else, English society
and royalty adopted the wheel, as did
fashionable society on this side of the
Atlantic.
In five years the bicycle. says DR..
Vincent of New York, has introduced
more dress reform than all the reforms
ers of all time. It has made loose
clothing fashionable. The muscles and
arteries are no longer bound the lungs
not SO much corseted in, and breathing
has become with tens of thousands of
women as God intended Miss Hahn
writes in the New York Mail and F,x-
press" that the bicycle has nearly run
out the French corset, and the Ameri-
can easy waist has taken its place
Even women who do not ride. take the
advice of those who do, and no longer
corset themselves as once they did.
"Rah! the next generation is to have
a chance" exclaims the Iowa State
Register''