The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1897-03-18
NOTES OF THE WHEEL.
The L. A. W. Will Endeavot to Increase
Its Membership to 100000.

Its Membership to $50. 900.
1t is the intention of the officers of
the l.. A. w. in the different sections
Of the country to introduce new meth
DDS in the League in order to recruit
the membership. The organization
now has a membership of over 1900,
and it is predicted by the conservative
workers that this figure will be in
creased to 10000 by next fall. In
this state the membership has grown
from 5000 to 10000 In less than two
years, and the division officials are
sanguine that next December the roll
will include fully 10000 names. In
Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Massa.
chusetts remarkable activity is shown.
and new members are being constant
ly enrolled. In Connecticut and through
out the South and West. where there
are thousands of wheelmen, the per-
centage of riders in the l.. A. w. is
small This condition of affairs is at
tributed to the Indifference of the d.
vision officers. President Potter Is
planning TO create a revival of inter
~ III aht A4tbEhts anu TANlF'Hfc "
communicate with all the divisions. as
well as to suggest and direct move
ments calculated to benefit the organ
ization.
Electric lamps for bicycles have for
the most part been dead failures. They
were too heavy, or too inefficient, or
too troublesome and the bicyclist. as
a rule, felt that he had thrown the pur-
chase money away. The latest cleo
trio wheel lamp, however, is of an en-
tirely different order 1t Is a clean,
powerful illuminator, which can not
be blown out, Jared out, or extin-
guished by the ordinary accidents
which affect other lights. 1t consists
Of two parts, the battery, or source
of power, which is carried in COM
pact leather case hung from the top
bar of the diamond frame. or from the
handle bars of the drop-frame machine.
The lamp proper is very small, heav-
lily plated with silver reflector,
mounted on swivel support, and con-
nected by slender cord with the bat
terry. Within this is the small incan-
descent lamp which gives the light. The
whole outfit is almost as useful in
carriage as it is ON a bicycle. The
most striking thing about it is the
power Of the light, which the rider can
instantly defect in any desired direc-
tion. 1t is more like n miniature
search-light than like an ordinary
lamp, and it throws a strong beam Of
light for fifty or seventy-tive yards
ahead. This increase of the light of
one candlepower lamp to over 100 can
dle-power simply by a scientifically
made reflector will probably suggest
to some thoughtful people that they
may cut down their bills for electric
light fully so per cent or more by GO
ing the right way about it. The bat
terry will run for eight hours on one
charge, and can be recharged at any
incandescent lamp socket, or by the
special appliances which are provided
to save trouble in the process. Many
bicycle clubs now keep charging out
fit for the use of their members.
The riding Of the bicyclette has re-
come pronounced fad among Pari-
sian women. The tendency Of French
society TO keep women at home and to
discourage athletics was hard to over
come: but 1t is now apparent, even to
casual observer, that the steel steed
is winning its way in all circles of
Partisan life.
In 1918, when the "celeriferes" were
brought out, is is not recorded that
any woman had the hardihood to try
one of them in public. The bicycle, In
troduced in 1920, failed utterly, so far
as women were concerned, and even
the velocipede Of the Second Empire
days had little vogue, except among
men. This was, however, the forerun-
ner of the blcyclette.
Many different styles of dress for the
wheel are to be seen on the Paris bou-
levards, but fair majority Of women
riders have decided in favor of the
zouave trousers, ending at the knees
The comfort of this costume cannot
be improved upon. With the trousers
are worn bolero jacket and a straw
or russet sailor hat.
1t is stated that the British war Of
flee has already under serious consid-
Grafton the motor cycle, or auto car,
as a defensive and offensive assistant
in the event OF war, The shape being
experimental with is oval, with plat
form enclosed with a breastwork of
steel. and is designed to carry two
Maxims, with ample supplies of am
munitlon.
A Christlana, Norway, firm that sells
American bicycles writes to Hard
ware" saying that Norweglans con-
slider the saddle of most American BIZ
cycles less comfortable than those of
English wheels.