The record-union., 1897-12-25

certain extent. Last year several
devices were introduced to attach
brake to the rear wheel, or to engage 1t
in the chain They all had disad-
vantages to a more or less marked ex-
tent. This fall several bicycle makers
announce that they will supply auto
matte rear-wheel brakes with their bi-
cycles for 1893. They act on the hub
Of the rear wheel and are governed by
the pedals. That is to say, the action
of back pedaling brings the brake into
play and brings the wheel to a stop.
It's a progressive step, but is far from
filling the bill. In nine cases out Of
ten a cyclist needs his brake most when
he is coasting. In such instances the
automatic brakes referred to would be
useless, as the presumption is that the
pedals would be revolving SO rapidly
that the rider could not catch them TO
put the brake in play Therefore, the
average tourist, whose bicycle is fitted
with one of the new automatic brakes,
will want one of the Old-fashioned front
wheel brakes as we'll. What is really
wanted is a reliable brake that can be
operated Independently Of the pedals
and act on the rear wheel.
1t is not SO long ago that mud guards
We're deemed necessary at least on
women's bicycles and even mems ma
chimes were fitted with them for the
asking. One or two manufacturers
sent out rubber guards that could be
rolled up when not in use, and then
stretched out when one had occasion to
q
practical device, as those who tried to
use it soon ascertained, and SUCH
thing as a mud guard on mans
wheel is now almost unknown, While on
women's wheels the guard is more use
full to prevent the riders dress from be-
ing entangled in the me- hinery than to
protect her from the splashing OF the
mud when caught in storm. Every
body knows that mud is one thing that
the bicycle was never designed to con-
tend with, and nobody rides through
mud except in cases of necessity. Inc
attempt to equip a bicycle for use on
muddy roads was bound to be failure
in this country.
In the reaction from the high frames
Of a year or two ago there is some
thing of tendency to go too far in the
other direction. 1t is generally con-
ceded that it is not wise for cyclist to
buy the highest frame that he can ride,
although that was the rule and practice
at the beginning of 1896. AT the same
time there is a loss of rigidity, as well
as an awkward appearance, if the sad
die and handle-bar have to be raised
several inches to meet the require
ments Of the rider. While there is an
advantage, doubtless, in the dropping
of the crank bracket below the level or
the hub of the rear wheel, it is easy to
see that this can be overdone. With too
low a bracket the pedals are brought so
close to the ground that in turning
there is some danger of striking the
earth, while if one has toe clips on his
pedals, but does not have his feet in
them, they are almost certain to hit
the ground in such circumstances.
The heel clip, which was used by
number of riders some time ago, seems
to have suffered a rapid decline in pop
ularity The knack of getting 1t in the
right place was perhaps more easily
caught than the use of the toe clip, but
some wheelmen found that even with
a fairly high crank bracket the heel
clip would strike the ground in coast
ing with every revolution Of the pedals.
This was a nuisance, to say the least,
and to some extent it was dangerous.
In the six-day race at Madison
Square Garden, New York, three Of the
professionals used heavy, puncture-
proof tires. one had a brake on his
wheel. one a gear case, presumably to
keep the smoke off the chain, and two
appeared several times with caps on
heads and bells on the handle bars.
None carried an umbrella.
Dealers in graphite and other lubri-
cants, are likely to suffer through the
appearance of the bevel gear and the
inclosed chain models, If the fad of
trying to see how far a wheel can trav-
ell without having the gear fabricated
continues to grow. Edward Edwards
has engaged to ride a bevel gear wheel
100 miles day for 365 days and he
will keep record of how often he has to
Iubricate the gears. Several of the
prominent long distance riders who
have adopted dust-proof gear cases are
boasting of the number of miles they
have covered without touching the
chain. Robert Weyh, who is competing
for the Century Road Club mileage
medal; Captain Glib, Of the Century
Wheelmen and c. 2. Staubach, the
century rider, have all gone several
thousand miles without looking at their
chain. Even Eta Morse lHudders, the
health culture writer, is after record
Of the kind and has announced that she
has gone 2,400 miles on gear-cased
wheel without meddling with the chain