New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-11-07
IN THE CYCLING WORLD.
BRAKE NEEDED MORE WITH HIGH
GEAR THAN WITH LOW ONE.

WEST POINT on wHEEI1-BIcYCLEs AND
THE RAILROADS - TO NEw-JERsEY
THROUGH STATEN sLAND-How TO
PUT OFT LAMP.
1t is a fact not recognized by many wheel
men that brake is more needed with hish
gear than with low one. Every one VINO mas
ever changed from low gea- to higher one Is
aware of the greater impulse given to the bicy-
Gle by each revolution Of the pedal as the gear
is raised and 1t must he evident to all that the
difficulty OF slowing down is increased IN the
same proportion. In city streets II Is often
necessary stop quickly at least greatly TO
reduce ones speed. and when an emergency
arises the man with a high gear may ma
brake uncommonly handy
One Of the objections to a brake OF the ordi-
nary type Is that it is rather difficult to deal with
in case one uses an adjustable handle-bar. The
adjustable handle-bar has come into general
use and is found to he entirely free from the
objections that were alleged against 1t when 1t
was first brought into vogue. As matter OF
fact however. when rider has once got his
handle-bar just In the right position he Is not
likely to make many changes in IT, though il he
has occasion TO push several miles in the teeth OF
a wind 1t is a decided advantage to drop 1t an
inch or two. X the bicycle is fitted with brake
the readjustment requires considerable time
whereas the change Of the position OF the bar
alone Is "A matter Of a few seconds only. COM
paratively few men ride bicycles provided with
brakes, but the brakeess wheel Is dangerous Oh
country roads unless one has acquired expert
ness in the use Of the shoe sole az brake The
knack of doing this IL not hard to learn care
must be taken to have a sole free from nails:
In going down a long hill. where good deal OF
hrakinp Is II the sole OF the shoe Is not
very thick the friction engenders so much neat
Us 10 make II uncomfortable at times. The use
OF pointed shoe in braking is to bee avoided, as
the point may be drawn so suddenly INTO the
fork as to cause complete stoppaSe or the
wheel and a tumble. When first using the foot
as n brake there is danger % applying 1t too
hard and reducing the speed too quickly. the
best place to practise is near the foot of hill
that is not very steep. Some riders are expert
enough TO use either foot for braking. and a
rider OF this district who recently returned from
a trip in the Catskills reported that he found 80
many hills and such steep ones that he mad worn
through the solcs of both his shoes Speaking
generally the right foot is the best one to place
on the tire when brake is necessary. for If any
reason arises for dsmounting the LETT FOOT Is
in rs normal place on the pedal, and one can
dismount In the usual manner without the
slightest trouble.
There few places Of interest within the
bounds Of civilization where the traveller will
have cause for regret II he takes his bicycle
with him. The care in mind at the moment
is that of a man and his wife who took their
wheels along when they wen, TO West Point
a few days ago. West Point is beautiful place
to visit at any season. but its distances border
on the magnificent To eujoy a stay there 1t Is
desirable to move about and observe the clfer-
ent points of interest. The natural way is To
take a carriage. but everybody knows that there
are drawbacks TO that method o. travel FOR
most there is entirely too much walking. II
they attempt 10 go about for any time on foot
The roads admirable. and with a bicycle IL
Is easy To go everywhere. 10 stop at any point
and to have n thoroughly good time. Even on
"F'llrtation Walk a wheel Is not wholly amlss
for in a number Of places one can ride several
rods without effort II may seem to detract
somewhat from the romance OF that romantic
winding path along the cliffs and through the
trees and shrubbery to ride bicycle over IT,
but u the bicycle IL trundled the whole way II
Will I've found mighty handy" at the beginning
and end ~ the stroll. In two or three hours
siay AZ West Point. II one goes about much. ne
will find that he has added half-dozen niles
10 his cyclometer record almost without KNOW
ing II.
DO the railroad men who handle bicycles feel
that they have neglected an opportunity II fhey
10 not break some part Of every machine they
carry? Two riders Of this city. who took train
FOR nny or sixty miles on their way PACK 10
town the other day were disguised 10 ma on
| their arrival that the cyclometer on one Of the
wheels WAS So b'nf anu bIphfll AZ ~ NC 'N'''S'
while that Of the other was bent OUT OF piace'
and had 10 be adjusted before the machine
would run right II Is absurd Tor the IaIlr"au
officials to assert that cy"ometers bells ana
| tool bags should be- removed before ol-
rvcla s placed I'm a baggage-Car. on one
~ The principal roads, In spite OF the Jaw
requiring the free transportation 0t picycitS'
the, wh..lrnan IL required To sign re-
lease declaring that he Will not hold the com
many responsible for any damage thar may &C.
cur before his wheel VIII be accepted as bag
Ia.
worth the paper II IL printed on II II were taken
into court but nevertheless II Ia exacted. II
will be- In order soon. II 1t Is not already To re-
auire the railroads to supply their cars win
urnper facilities for the safe carriage of bicycles.
either racks on which they can be hung or some
other proper DEVICE.
In going west and southwest from the city
yboem.n are often advised to take train as
far M Newark 50 as 10 avoid Il disasreeable
rifle across the meadows. The advice would
he good II there were no other simple way az
getting 10 the good roads Of New Jersey There
are several alternative routes. ana some OF
them are decidedly pleasant. one OF them IL
by the way IF staten Island and Elizabethport'
The ride along the shore road on the lsiahu
+, the ferry 10 Elizabethport Is not altogether
deloctabe owing 10 the trolley tracks when
n,ononolize "A good part Of the carrageway
sun. there is fair macadam all me way now
ond ono can get along with little trouble.
| From the landing on the other side or the XIII
| ,haro ia no good way OF covering the TWO
NILS 10 Elizabeth I'm fact the roads are execra-
| HE. but the distance Is only two miles Al
| Elizabeth as every one knows the woria Is
al ha,ore vou where to choose" Still better.
| an many accounts is II To cross Staten Island
| IN Tottanyille and take the ferry 70 Perth
| Ambov Perth Amboy. which. oy the way,
10 a thriving city 81 twelve thousand or thirteen
thousand inhabitants. Is the centre from when
some excellent roads radate one leads to W ood-
bridge and Railway. and Is In good condi'ioh
,ost n, the way More recently completed Is the
macadamiZed road to Metuchen whence nrst
class highways lead to Merchandising ana
ocross New-Jersey there are good roads TO
Uackensack Englewood and hundreds or other
places which cyclists wish to reach
iar,n ubich a one time gives satisfaction