Omaha daily bee., 1897-03-21

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There are some legislative bodies outside
OF Nebraska which do not regard the BIZ
cycle as an unmitigated evil. Some are so
closely abreast Of the times as to consider
1t a necessary part Of a mans travelling
equipment. And so regarding 1t they have
deliberately gone to work to place 1t in
the category of personal baggage. A year
ago New York, New Jersey Ohio and other
eastern state legislatures legalized the BIZ
cycle as baggage. The first state following
the example this year was California. The
coast railroads promptly ratified the act and
1t has been in operation since February 20,
to the great satisfaction of wheemen and
profit TO the railroads. Bills for similar
laws are pending in Colorado, Michigan and
Illinois, and there is every probability Of
their passage.
Here Is what the New York Sun has to
say regarding reports Of split In the
League of American Wheelmen on the Sun
day racing question: 1.-THE new racing
board of the League or American Wheelmen
will at once put itself in communication
with the prominent wheelmen In all sec
tions OF the west where Independent racing
associations are talked of to find out now
the sentiment OF secession from the League
of American Wheelmen really STANDS. IL
is felt that the talk Of opposition organiza-
tions is due entirely to the work of track
owners and race meet promoters, and whle
the officials of the league profess an utter
disbelief in any secession talk, they feel thst
strong measures must be taken In all sec
tions to strengthen the control OF tne
League of American Wheelmen. The pro-
81 roaf,sv wh | q,
would affiliate with any movement to pro-
mcte Sunday races and oppose the govern
ment of the league, deny that they Will JOIN
any association that will work contrary 10
the League of American Wheelmen rules
and this circumstance proves that at this
time the league has nothing to fear from
dissatisfied members OF the crSanlzatlon'
The racing season is now close at hand, ana,
while the wheelmen in California protest
that they will take part in SUNDAY races, no
association or individual here felt strong
enough to launch any movement calculaIeu
to work in opposition to the league.
latter organization has the control OF rae
ing throughout the country in both the am
ateur and professional ranks, and Is recog-
nized by foreign associations as the govern
ing body in this country. To try to start an
independent racing league means the suS
pension of racing men from the League Vi
American Wheelmen tracks. Throughout
tha west the tall. of secession is dying out,
-+-'..
1t is foolish thing! for rider TO en-
deayor to propel a machine Wheh any
thing Is wrong. Some riders when they
get puncture will ride the tire lat over
Che most miserable of roads. AS result
the steel rim cuts the rubber so badly that
a new tire Is necessary, or the wooden rim
is damaged or a clinoher rim is masheu
or broken. Another foolish thing Is to
ride a wheel with any of the balls proKen;
k,,t
can easily be told by both the hard running
of the bicycle, and the grating, grinaing
noise that will emanats from the portion
of the machine in which the break occurs.
AS soon as such is discovered the pest
method to pursue Is to remove ths plohqn ,,.ii
destroy the cones by wearing grooves IN
them. The absence of a ball or two VIII
not materially affect the running OF the ma
chine and it Is a simple matter to take the
bearings apart.
There has been a measure of complaint
from the clergy that the popularity of the
bicycle has leSsened the attendance at the
churches There is doubtless ground for
the complaint Thousands OF people en-
gagged in business during the week nave
little opportunity for indulging in wheeling
except on Sunday. Some of the churches
have sought to cater to the cycling element
by providing storerooms for wheels In the
easements These facilities have been taken
advantage of to some extent yet the CON
grega tions do not include very large per-
centage of wheelmen, Notwithstanding.
Out in Sacramento CAL, one of the com
panies which operate trolley lines of street
cars has adopted a bicycle rack, which
holds two wheels. The rack is attached 10
the rear dashboard Of the car, and the bicy-
cles are carried there at the owners risk.
The charge is cents for each bicycle IN
addition to the regular fare.
Tho accommodation is used mostly by
those whose wheels have come to grief.
What makes a wheel run hard? is ques-
tion often asked by riders who are unac-
uuainted with the construction OF the cycle.
The proper answer would be a number of
causes Perhaps the best plan for any
rider whose wheel runs hard would be to
make a personal diagnosis of the cause.
1t would not take much investigation to
reveal the cause. The bearings of the
wheel may be too tight or too loose;
they may be so clogged up with dust and
gummed as to prevent the balls from work
ing freely; the sprocket wheel may be Out
of line; the chain may be running level or
may be too tight or may be in need of clean
ing or fabrication; the wheels may be out OF
true; the frame may be bent; the head may
be too tight; or there may be number OF
other minor troubles, The most common
trouble is in the bearings and the power to
the balls are not too tight or too loose, but
running evenly and perfectly.
The friction is perhaps greater at the
chain than at any other part OF the BIZ
cycle, and, next to an unadjusted bearing
this is the most common cause for com
plant. If too tight it will grind and make
noise plainly heard by the rider; If too
loose tho chain is apt to jump the sprockets
with more or less serious results to the rider
Keep 1t always well cleaned and well lubri-
Gated with graphite or 1other substances
and it will work all right il not running
out Of line or uneven. When the chain is
in good working order and the bearings
properly adjusted The wheelworks easily and
delicately. The weight of the valve in the
tire is sufficient to cause 1t to revolve on its
own accord, and keep sWfhging, sometimes
making several complete revolutions.
If the lower side of the chain says and the
upper part is taut 1t shows that the front
sprocket and cranks are pulling the wheel,
and the latter, therefore, must run harder
than the former. IL the upper part says
and the lower part remains taut, the reverse
is the case and shows the, trouble to be in
the crank bearings, and they should be ex-
amined for bad cones. cup balls or bad
adjustment, often the latter
Frequently 1t happens that the chain used
is not running even; that is9it does not run
on a level. II the chain Is lin good working
order 1t should be lying perfectly level at
any DOint betWann the two lsDFOckets. There