Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-07-10

and the average reader will be surprised
to know of the large number of wheels
that are transported. One day recently,
without notification of any kind, the rail-
road handled between Patchoque, Brooklyn
and Long Island City between 1 100 and
loo wheels. Frequently the road handles
from 900 to 1,UD0 wheels, especially on holt
days, this serving to show the large num-
Der of cyclists who live in New York and
vicinity. 1t may be needless to add that
the railroad charges nothing for the trans
pCrtation of the wheels.
A physician who has just written book
endeavors to show the effect upon the
heart of overexertion. He is much opposed
to racing. Further. he makes the declara-
ton that fast riding by children is danger
Gus and almost sure to affect their health
in later life. The cyclists who habitually
ride long distances must now be consider
able" says DR.. Herschel. THE number of
individuals who make a profession of cy-
cling is rapidly increasing, particularly
that class who travel over the country
attending meetings. These will average
two or three races a week for six months
in the year: and as they are handicapped
according 10 their former and previous
performances. such races are usually holly
contested. Among amateurs every large
club has its record for long distances
against time.
1T is an open question whether We should
allow little children to cycle They are all
eager to do so, as they see their elders
crazed upon the subject, and the cycle man
ufacturers are fostering the idea by placing
on the market dimnutive wheels. or
course cycling for short distances with
low gear and frequent rests can do
child no manner of harm. But, to insure
this, constant supervision is necessary.
My experience Is that when hoy learns
cycling he does not confine himself to what
would be harmless to him, but Is even more
inclined to overdo it than grown-up peo-
pie. When out with a party he will of
necessity have 20 keep up with his elders,
and when alone he tries to break records.
The average boy has very lofty ideals in
the way of athletics. l read in the cycling
papers quite recently of little boy who.
at the mature age of four, has taken to the
path. What effect will the continuous high
pressure in the arteries of this infant have
upon the development of his circulatory
system? Time only will show. We have at
present no data upon which to form an
opinion. as 1t Is probably the first time In
the history of the world that the problem
has been presented to us, and that any
thing like cycling has become factor In
the evolution, development and growth of
our children. When we allow child to
ride long distances upon cycle we are
carrying out physiological experiment
which. although possibly of interest from
scientific standpoint, must be utterly I'M
justifable.
1.-The amount of disease which will be
produced by cycling in the near future
rests with that large body of family ply
sicians whom l am addressing In this eS-
say. Iney must lnSiSt upon making Il
thorough examination of the heart Of every
patient over middle age who may be taxi
ing up cycling Having made such an ex
animation. the practitioner will be in
position to allow the patient to cycle with
out restraint, or to put an absolute veto
Upon this form Of exercise, or to lay down
rules for its safe Indulgence; and to pre-
scribe the daily amount, the pace and other
details which may enable the patient to use
the cycle not only with impunity but even
with advantage. On his part every intend
ing cyclist will be well advised If he con-
suit his medical adviser and be thorough
ly overhauled before commencing to learn"
When applying graphite to the chain it
is advised not to smear 1t on like sauce,
too much being as bad as not enough. 1t
is claimed that little of 1t applied to the
Inside joints Of the chain will suffice to
lubricate for fully one hundred miles of or
binary riding. After each ride the outside
of the chain should be wiped clean, SO as
to prevent the dirt and grit from getting
In the graphite. 1t will not infrequently be
found that a chain becomes alternately
tight and slack as 1t runs around the
sprocket Wheel If the alienation takes
place with each revolution Of the pedals,
and II there be no dirt on the periphery of
the front sprocket wheel, very probably
the crank axle is not fixed centrally In the
rear sprocket, in which case a competent
repairer may perhaps put matters right.
On the other hand, If the alienation is
observed to have some slight relation to
the position Of the chain. but not of the
pedals. and recurS either with each COM
plete revolution Of the chain or with each
half revolution, the cause probably depends
partly on whether the chain Is new or not
If 1t Is new. there may be a stiff link
which does not properly straighten out az
ter leaving the chain wheel. In this case
ease of running will come with work.
Says a veteran rider: "Endeayor to culti-
vate the art of riding without curvng the
back; it is quite possible to lean forward
ard yet keep the spine straight. Cycling
is frequently robbed of It's splendid health
giving qualities by contraction of the chest
muscles resulting from a careless and I'M
graceful position on the saddle. and many
are deferred from adopting the pastime
lest the bicycle back be acquired. Begin
ners should never attempt to ride long dis
tances. Some preliminary training is nee
essary ere seventy or eighty miles can be
covered without stiffness and exhaustion
resulting. The pace should be steady all
through, and any inducement to ride fast
at certain places should be curtailed, so
that all supernuous energy may be reserv-
ed for the return journey, when 1t is most
required. Also make sure that the ma
chine is all right before setting out These
matters must be considered If the ride is
to be carried out with comfort and ease"
The appearance of the gear case has not
been as general in this city as was antici-
pated. Almost all of the cycle stores, ex-
pectlnS tnat demand would De made for
the same. secured a supply, which was
more easily acquired than has been found
to dispose of. The scheme does not seem
to have taken so readily in this country as
in England though 1t may take several
seasons before fully introduced.
One Of the chief aims of the bicycle man.
ufacturer is to construct the bearings in
the wheel he is manufacturing SO that they
will be dust proof. and having accomplish
ed this he loudly proclains the fact
throughout the width and breadth of the
land. But so busy has he been paying at
tention to the hub and axle bearings that
the chain containing 100 separate and dis
tinct bearings, as each rivet constitutes n
tearing in itself. has been completely over
looked. And not until very recently was
the fact appreciated that this very vital
portion of bicycle was the most exposed
TO the elements.
Our British cousin realized this a season
or SO ago, and several gear cases. as thew
style them. were introduced across the
water. but their attachment detracted from
the appearance of the bicycle, on account
of their bulk. They were not in line with
the average American riders ideas of
what gear cas-. should be. or rather they
were In line with" his ideas of what a gear
cnse should not be, for the average rider
can tell better what he does not want than
what he does want