The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-07-11
CHAINLESS CYCLES COMING.
BEVEL GEARS WILL BE THE
WRINKLE NEXT SEASON.

Pneumatic Tire Came In-The New
/ Machines viii BE Heavier, nut
Speedier-HaIf a Dozen Manufac-
turers to Put ChainIess Wheels on
the Market.
The cut in the price of high grade wheels
and the probability of the advent of the
chainless bicycle have been the princi-
pal topics among cycle dealers and wheel
men in general for the last week.
There seems to be little doubt that sew
eral of the big manufacturers will make
the chainless wheel their leader in 1895 1t
is announced that the Pope Manufactur-
ing Company viii place chainless bicycle
on the market early in the year and this is
given as the secret of the cut in the price
of '97 Coumbias. The Columbia people
have been working on a chainless bicycle
for several years. and they have made a
good many models. In fact it was re-
ported last winter that they would bring
out chainless wheel this year. but it
was not done.
The very fact that this firm and half
dozen others, equally as well known have
been experimenting with chainless bicy-
cles for some time would seem to augur
that the day of that style of machine is
not far distant.
In an interview in New York the state
ment was made by person interested in
the cycle trade that at least ten of the
| largest bicycle manufacturers in the Unit
ed States will place chainless wheels on the
market next year. One company, IL is
said, has arranged for the manufacture
I Of IN xtFba Of r
ment In 1898.
The construction of the chainless wheel
| will cost the manufacturer more than the
present style does, but it is hardly prob
| able that the price will be placed above
500. One manufacturer has stated that
! the chainless wheels to be put out by his
company would be worth $3.50. which is an
| intimaton that this would be the price.
The day of the $3.50 bicycle, however Is
past, and no wheel, no matter how great
the improvement could sell with any ma.
terial success for $50. Most riders will
continue to ride the present wheel at half
price until the chainless affairs shall be-
come more in line with the ordinary per-
| sons pocketbook.
A chainless wheel of an unknown make
made its appearance in Savannah several
weeks ago, but it has failed to attract
much attention. The wheel in question did
not appear to be a high grade machine,
and the beVel gear is probably not the
| acme of perfection but those who have
ridden it testify to its easy running quail
| ties.
The point in which the new machine will
differ from the style now in vogue will be
in the substitution of what is known as
| the bevel gear for the chain gear. This
| gear is entirely enclosed in the lower
| framework of the bicycle, being operated
! by a revolving shaft through what is
| technically known as the right back fork
/ 40 al q fOr
vice are that there is no lost motion in the
! transmission of power to the driving
| wheel, and fuzzy one-third less friction.
| Consequently the same amount of leg
power would drive the chainless wheel
! faster than the chain wheel the gears
| being equal.
The champions of the new style of gear
ing argue that the exposure of the chain
is a serious defect in bicycle construction;
that it adds friction, causes the parts to
wear more rapidly, thereby making the
| bicycle harder to propel, and is a source of
annoyance in the way of accommodating
dirt and soiling clothing. The vibratory
| strain often causes it to spring and throw
! the sprockets out of alignment. These
| faults are claimed to have been entirely
overcome in the bevel geared machine.
AS in the case of chain-driVen wheels
the side shaft machine may be geared to
an size required. Owing to the ease in
propulsion the gears will probably be
| made slightly higher than the average
ones used now. The new machines will
be from one to two pounds heavier than
| those with chains.
! 1t is confidently believed by advocates Of
the chainless bicycle that when racing
wheels fitted with bevel gears are used
on the track there will be another whole
| sale smashing of records, such as follow
| ed the Introduction of the pneumatic tire.
| Racing men will be enabled to use higher
I av,a TO, . F-fa
ton their momentum will carry them
much longer way than at present, once
| they get into their stride.
The strength and durability of the new
| type of bicycle is attested by the fact that
sample wheel manufactured last year
by a New York firm has been ridden more
! than 5000 miles, over all kinds of roads,
| and after thia continuous test has been
| examined by expert mechanics and found
! to show no perceptible wear. Similar sat
isfactory tests are reported to have been
made by other manufacturing firms
The echoes of the races at the track on
the 5th have been heard all week, and
the results are stll being talked Of.
There is a squabble on over third place
in the mile handicap between Marion Luz
cas- and Darwin Hull. Both claim the
place and the prize has not yet been de-
.ivered The majority OF the officials
are of the opinion that Lucas won. and he
was given the place in the account OF the
| races printed in the Morning News. The
race was the last on the programme and
the people we're leaving almost before the
finish. Announcer Farmer, la announcing
| the winner and the time, gave Falligant
first and Lucas second. but this was an
error, as Greene was second. Not until
the next day did HUI make a kick and
/ claim the place. The finish was not close
enough TO have made the decision difficult
and IL remains with the memory Of the
judges 10 decide which rider is entitled to
| the place.
Del Barrio, who collided with Dixon In
! the final Of the one-mile open, Is out ana
well. He SIN carries with his some
bruises, but his injuries did not prove as
serious as was thought at first. McDon-
ough is still sore and bruised, but will be-
gin riding again next week.
The racing fever continues strong and
| new aspirants for honor on the track and
path appear every day. The next event
IN racing circles will be the ten-mile road
| race 10 be run about the middle ~ uovf