New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-10-31
IN THE CYCLING WORLD.
. FINE ROUTE FOR CYCLISTS IN NEW
JERSEY.

NEW MODELS AND IMPRovEMENTs-FAsT RIDERS
ARE LOOKING TOWARD THE MANUFA~r-
URERs-A LETTER ABOUT THE AQUE-
DUCT CYCLE PATH-To INSPECT
THE CITY sTREETs-NoTEs
AND COMMENTS.
One Of the most interesting bicycle trips to
10 made In this region in the late autumn Is up
rho Ramapo Valley and then northeastward to
the Hudson River at Newburg. 1t is fine at any
time in the riding season. but is uncommoniy
.,,ractive when the ripening foliage is at its
height as II usually is about the last OF october.
The route especially in the lower part is "a
,,lier to many New-York cyclists. The start
NAV he made from several points but for most
tho easiest way is to cross the North River
either TO Weehawken or Fort Lee. From either
~ these points the regular road to Hackensack
Is taken involving, as does every descent fioh
the heights OF the Palisades, ride down long
hill where caution is necessary, II the rider
doss not deem II wise to dismount. On the Wee
hawken route the Hackensack meadows are
passed and ordinarily they AFFORD some SPLEEN
did bits Of color at this season. From Hacken-
sack the route leads through Arcola and one or
TWO other small places 10 Ridgewood. where
square turn is made to the right From this
point the road follows pretty close to the Erie
Railroad and the Newburg Short Cut all the
way. passing Hohokus. Waldwick. Allendale
Rausey's Suffern. Tuxedo. Arden, Central Val
lev Highland Mills and Mountainville Taken
az a whole the road is good; much OF it is ex-
ceUent There IS fine macadam and hard gray
81 all the way TO Allendale and a little beyond.
with an occasional bad patch where fresh-brok-
en stone has been applied. About mile north
of Allendale the character OF the road suddenly
changes. and for perhaps two miles it is a COM
mon country road none too smooth and some
wha. sandy and dusty in dry weather. For
the most part, though, there is an "edging on
which bicycle make its way fairly well
Before Suffern is reached the road becomes
smooth again, and with the exception of
short distance just south OF Tuxedo and an
other bit just before reaching Central Valley
II can all be declared good, although in the vi
cintv of Mountainville Il is clay road which
gets dusty when dry.
For several miles In the vicinity Of Tuxedo
the road is simply perfeCtas hne and smooth
and hard as the most eXac.ing could ask
Another fine stretch OF highway is that in
the vicinity of Central Valley and Highland
Mills. where the material used for the top is an
excellent red shale. To ride over such road
Is a delight to the eye as we'll as TO other
senses. The poor road north of Allendae may
be avoided by crossing ;he railroad and riding
nearly to Ramapo. the west side OF the
tracks but the distance is thus heightened
nearly two miles Ii would naturally be sup
posed that the easier method OF going over the
Ramapo Valley route would be in the souiheriy
direction. but that is not the case There are
some hills to he climbed going northerly. At least
by all but the most vigorous riders. but To
reverse the ride would. particularly in the au-
tumn season. he an anti-climaX. tnasmuch as the
cOorng of the foliage grows more brilliant as
one travels further to the north. Persons famil-
lar with the region traVersed from seeing II
from car windows may he somewhat diSap-
pointed because the views Of the RamapO River
from the highway are not so good as from inc
passing trains Still there are some pretty
glimpses of the stream where II dashes down
rocky ravne or stretches calmly out in pond
over the dam Of which a miniature cascade Is
pouring In Fifty Miles Around NeT-NOrk
the alternative route from Allendale 20 Hamapo
is given on the map in dotted lines. but no
mention is made of the fact that from South.
fields little way north OF Tuxedo. the best
road to Arden is the new one on the east side
of the railroad track. The distance from
Twenty-thrd-st. TO Newburg by the Ramapo
Valley is sixty-fve miles. The return trip may
be made, II the rider has plenty Of time. on the
east side OF the Hudson. or a train may be
taken back to NeW-NOIk.
The average rider is watching with interest
the innovations in cycle mechanism they are
announced for the coming season The chain
less wheel created wonderful attention and at
tracted spectators by the thousand. The an.
nouncement that another company had invented
a ch2'n and sprocket which imperV!Ous 10
dirt and and water was hailed with delight
by ia Sc who for the present are in favor OF the
chain Driving wheel Another idea comes from
Toledo One maker viii fit his rear wheel with
two sprockets. 50 that the rider can have
change OF gear by simply turning around his
rear wheel There is also corrugated rear adj
iustment permitting Of the taxing up or any
looseness Of the chain.
The prediction is made that the manufacturers
will take a livelier personal interest in the
racing situation next year than was the case
in 1891 So many new ideas in mechanism and
chain and chainless Dir wing power will be intro
duced that the hiring Of ssonal racing
10 give illustration to the gearing adVan-
tages OF wheels on the racetrack may DC more
general. The rather lukewarm manner in when
the manufacturers. as whole. have supported
the racing men this year has been particularly
hard on the usually sleek and Weil-fed pros.
The riders are looking forward 10 offers OF tat
salaries from the makers next year, bat whether
they will get them OF not remains 10 he seen
The Southern circuit has not proved az re-
munerative as expected. and il is now SAID
tina. most Of the professionals VIII return 10
the North and take part in the indoor tourna-
ments which are being arranged for in this city,
Chicago Philadelphia and Boston
Experts who claim to he well informed in
such matters say that excessive ornamentation
of bicycle frames will not he general for next
season They sa, that scrollWork and
inartistic blending OF colors has had its day and
solid coors will be the vogue. Black enamel
ling VIII always ne popular. ana eIltCtl'N w
amelng in Brewster green and In browns VIII
be seen.
This is the season Of the year when many
riders are giving much thought 70 how 10 pre-
serve their wheels in good condition during
the winter. He who rides his wheel during
The pleasant weather OF the winter has no
such trouble. He knows that II he rides his
bicycle whenever the weather Will permit he
will keep the tires inflated and that his ~ heel
as whole will get sufficient attention to keep
In good condition all through the cold spell
II Is better for the wheel to be In use than
to store 1t away under the most favorable cir
cumstances.
A Brooklyn man has invented lamp for