Evening star., 1897-01-30
S ONE CYCLE CHAT

The invention of the cyelometer and its
reduction in price has been a boon for
cycling. Its use has become general, and
the wheelman after days ride can tell
almost to within few feet how far he has
ridden. When used honestly the cyclom-
eter is indeed an excellent thing, but
there are plenty of riders who seek to give
false impression of the distance ridden
by them by making the cyclometer show
much greater distance than they have ac-
tually Travelled. Figures are not supposed
to lie, SO it is said, but under skillful manip-
Elation they can show a much different re-
suit than what they should. The ways of
beating tfe cyclometer'' are many. No;
this is hardly true. The cyclometer is
never beaten, and working automatically
shows the actual number of revolutions of
the wheel. The ways of running up the
race figures are many. it should be stated;
ana ever since the Introduction of the ma
chine some cyclists have been studying how
TO get mrch larger mileage than that ac-
tually ridden. The old way was to sit on
the side of a road, turn the wheel upside
down, and in a comfortable position keep
the front wheel revolving until the figures
of the cyclometer suited the intention of
the rider, who could claim to have ridden
remarkably long distance In as equally
number OF local riders guilty of practicing
this trick. Improvements are the order
OF the age, and the improvements in keep
ing pace with the running up OF the fig
ures on the dial Of the cyclometer are con-
stantly appearing.
1t is related that one local rider started
out on big trip, or at least 1t was the
impression that he gave before starting.
II mas since been found out that he covered
only small part Of the distance, yet the
mileage on his cyclometer was six or seven
times as great. How did he do it? The
facts have just leaked out. He carried
along quantity of pasteboard with him.
stopped for several days at a wayside re-
sort. and run his cyclometer mileage up
IN this wise: He cut the pastboard up into
slips resembling the blades Of an oar. and
bended them in position between the spokes
or the front wheel, between the point Of
crossing and the rim, giving the wheel the
appearance Of windmill. He turned his
wheel upside down, and the wind. catching
the pieces of pastehoard would carry the
wheel around at a lively rate, while the
faithful little cyclometer would keep tab
on every revolution. 1t was not necessary
Tor the rider to be on the scene The wind
would do the work, and the cyclometer
would do the rest.
zimmerman, once amateur champion of
this country. and the invincible American
lider VINO did such excellent work abroad,
mas one thing to his credit, and something
that Will probably remain unbroken for
some years. He is the only rider of any
note who succeeded in winning in one sea-
son III nrst prizes, besides any number OF
seconds and thirds. This feat was accom-
pl1shed several years ago, and during that
time he has added many more valuable
prize souvenirs to his collection, the total
conceded to be the largest number ever
held by single racing man. He has
yielded to the request of the managers of
the coming New York national cycle show.
and Will place as many of his prizes as 1t
Is possible to collect on exhibition at the
show. which will open on the evening of
February q. This collection will be one of
the most interesting exhibits of the big af-
fair.
Speaking about distances calls to mind
of the country districts as to the length of
mile. There are very few road riders
Who have not had experience in this di-
rection. The inaccuracy Of the people in
this respect Is much nearer nome than
thought, though the ignorance, If it can
be called such. is more dense In the farther
away sections of Maryland and Virginia.
ire writer well remembers his first ride to
fs,s! fnoekVi!e. VIA the Conduit road and Of
futts Cross Roads, or Potomac, to Rock
VILE This was about ten years ago, and
the highways were not as well known then
as now. Shortly after leaving Offutts
Cross Roads a resident of the section was
asked the distance to Rockville
Il capclates dat it's ebery nit OBJ ten miles
fur as l kin jedge," drawled out he. His
reckoning and judging amounted to very
little, as far as the inquiry was answered
ny another person, a colored man. who
lived erway down yander," pointing in
the neighborhood Of Great Falls.
Il carclates dats is ebery bit OBJ ten lies.
boss" was his reply. This complicated
affairs and made matters worse. We were
In very great doubt now as to the true dis
tance. We rode on about a mile, and came
across a youth Of about twenty, who
claimed to be familiar with every bit of
land in that section of Montgomery county,
"Mareeland." That was his boast, and he
had just tramped from Rockville.
Il 'spect it's sufdn' like three an a half
miles," replied he. and his Speculation"
proved to be nearer correct than any of
the others. We were considerably relieved
by his figures. having been out on the road
most Of the morning. and by taking the
wrong roads covered much unnecessary
ground. .
A similar experience befell several riders
who were touring Virginia last year, which
shows the inability to calculate distance
OF some people. They had taken the wrong
road. so they thought, being bound for
Vinegar City tthe correct name of the town
not being published), and finally, after rid
ing many miles, they at last struck a negro
shanty, situated on top of knoll. This is
not many days travel from this city. They
were about to shout for some person at
the shanty. when they were startled BY q
voice which came from q nearby thfckef
and soon q typical southern negro woman.
with following Of little pickaninnies, came
out. -
.sWat am desc hngs?" interrosated the
woman, unconsciously, partly to herself
and partly TO her children. "Whar did dey
come from?' -
She was incredulous when told that they