New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-11-28

A New England manufacturer OF bicycle bells
has arranged a bell which will contain on the
top surface tn, emblem OF the League OF Ameri-
can Wheelmen OF course only members OF the
l.. A. w. VIII be allowed TO attach this bell 10
their machines.
The new route through Brooklyn from Green
point to the Eastern Parkway, and so to Pros
pect Park and Coney Island, and in general to
points OF interest on Long Island. is now almost
completed. ard a description Of It cannot fail 10
be of interest to cyclists in this city who desire
10 cross the East River. 1t was New-fork
wheelman who complained in public some time
ago about the "bowy" character of the pave
ment in Bedford ave. 1t is now possible, or
soon will be- TO eschew Bedford ave. altogether
in making a Journey through Brooklyn. The
main thOroughfares traversed by the new
asphalt route arc Leonard-st.. Lewisave and
Albany ave- but there several other streets
forming a part OF It. il Is somewhat cir
cuitous route: at least, there are a number OF
turnings. although on the whole the way IL
fairly direct. To reach 1t one must cross the
ferry to Greenpoint from East Twenty-third-
81 instead OF going TO Broadway; then ride
straight up Greenpoint-ave. for three or iour
blocks To Ieonard-st After the first snort
block there are asphalt strips in Greenpoint-
ave Turn right on Leonard-st. and rde ABOUT
two miles to Broadway. At this street IL Is
necessary to go a few rods on granite pavement
to reach Gerry-st., on the other side of Broad
wav Follow Gerry-st one block turning INTO
Throop-ave for seven or eight pOChs' W
Floyd-st. Here there is Il turn to the ieII iol a
couple of blocks, and then one TO the rleht my
Lewis-ave. Lewisave. Is followed 10, up" ~
Of a mile when another turn Is niaue W tne
riob. ,rto Danotur-st After crossing Sumner
ave IL Is q short block TO Glenada PiaCe. mere
lnf, Nj 4, III
ave- which form one continuous thoroughIare'
TO the Eastern Parkway. The distance from
the Greenpoint Ferry to Prospect fark py I'M. inns
route Is upward OF five miles. This Is CONSIDER
ably longer than the route by Bedford ave.
but as against the longer bicycle ride there is
a much shorter ferry trip, and on the new route
the asphalt pavement Is all practically new, the
greater part having been laid this year Sew
eral blocks in Lewis-ave. are yet to be COM
pleted The only drawback to this route is the
fact that II passes in part through tenement
house district, where large numbers of children
play on the asphalt which is for the present at
least. novelty to them The grades are easy
all the way. as may be inferred from the fact
that the pavemnts are all asphalt. but on the
Eastern Parkway, going toward Prospect Park.
there is something OF ascent between Nos
trand and Bedford ayes.
New-York riders going 10 Brooklyn are also ad-
vsed that when they take the Bedford-ave. route
It is no longer necessary TO 60 up the hill on that
ST. Marks-ave and riding through that avenue.
Grand ave. and Washington-ave to the Eastern
Parkway and then. by going straight on down
the hill on the brick pavement, the shortest
route to the Cycle Path and Coney Island Will
be found At the end of the brick pavement
Flatbush-ave. should be taken as far as Fort
Hamilton-ave. where turn to the right for
a block brings one 10 the path on the outside
OF Prospect Park, which is exceedingly popular
with wheelmen.
There are few wheelmen who maintain that
It Is better to hire bicycle whenever they wish
10 go out than to own a machine Of their own.
but as a rule they are men who have never been
the owners OF bicycles. Every rider Of much
experience knows that II takes some little time
20 get ones saddle and handie-bar adjusted
rightly. and when everything is just right Il IS
a nuisance to make any change. Hence few
cyclists care to let other people ride their wheels
II doing so involves any change in the adjust
ment OF movable parts. But in case Of a rented
wheel the adjustment OF saddle and handle-bar
has to he made every time and Il s question
able whether the most expert attendant al
bicycle school can so arrange things as TO make
no further changes necessary on the road. In
spite OF the arguments Of those who contend
for renting against owning bicycles, the vast
majority OF people who practise cycling cannot
but prefer ownership. with all the word implies
Nor ia there much to be said in favor Of having
a bicycle made to order. one would have n
suit Of clothes Starting with n frame Of the
right height, the essential things are TO get the
right sort Of saddle. rightly placed. both as to
height and tilt. and to have the handle-bar
properly adjusted. These things are as neces-
sary in the OF wheel made TO order as
in that Of one chosen from the large stock OF a
dealer and II the cyclist means 20 ride good
deal and enjoy his riding to the full he will make
mistake In deciding on the pattern Of wheel
he prefers and becoming the owner or It,
People who have ridden any length OF time
have their wits so sharpened that they are
prepared for anything that may happen and are
rarely caught of guard. Occasionally. though,
the unexpected happens AZ was the case with
a veteran who relating his experience at
a club the other evening. while on my bicy-
Gle today" he said II was positively startled.
On the asphalt street / came up behind big
wagon loaded with furniture. AS approached
II saw a wheelman coming in the opposite
direction In front OF the van. as It appeared TO
me. He seemed to be dangerously close to the
horses and | did not see how there was to be
room for us TO pass. With cyclists instinct.
! rang my bell vigorously az | swung 10 the
left TO pass the Quick fash OF light
ming the rider disappeared. and | saw the way
entirely clear ahead There was something
truly uncanny about IT, As passed the rear
end OF the / just had time to see, out OF
the corner Of my eye. that large mirror was
strapped there and then realized that the
man | thought ! had seen coming toward me
was only my own reflection In the glass The
| whole incident did not occupy more than ten
seconds I could not help smiling az went on.
| to think that | had been almost frightened by
| something as unsubs tantial as shadow but
| for a moment or two the emotion OF alarm and
| possible danger had had complete possession OF
| my mind"
| Despite the almost universal use OF the BIZ
cycle there are intelligent people who still have
vague notions as TO the proper function Of the
| bicycle bell. This is doubtless due largely 10
| the wrong and needless OF 1t which many
wheelmen. especially OF the Juvenile class IN
dulge in Pedestrians are too apt 10 think
! when they hear bell. that II Is their duty