New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-04-10

.x,ouaa b,oyclas hut now that the backbone
Of winter has been broken the chances are l'''''
fair weather will prevail and the new ihao"'"e'
will be brought out for inspection II VIII '
noticed that more wheels will be found equ'ppeu
with brakes this year than ever Oe1ore- i"'s -
a. good sign. for while the brake MAY i'' ;"
needed once in long time the chances are that
when YOU do need II you viii need II OauIE' anu
II NAV possibly save you from a serious accl-
aant The scorching brigade continues to favor
the extreme low frame and wide sweeping ana
low handle bars as becomes those VINO APP o,ie
racing men. In some cases the hicNccS appval
10 be almost headiess and II seems ,lIposs' 'a
FOR space enough TO be there Tor me piopei
fastening Of the handle-bar More tahue'hs ar
seen on the road than ever, ana thr ue
mand for this sort OF machine Is sad 10 De
greater than the supply. Occasionally Wo'ia,
may he seen on the rear seat OF the tandem Dut
this change about will not be as popular az
some people thought earlier in the season hlRh
gears continue to prevail among those VINO ell
5oy getting all the speed out Of their machines
their muscles are capable OF producing. lhesr
gears ere all right level road with me VIVA
at ones back. hut the ricers OF such gears are
pitiful- looking objects, indeed Nh"h ."eS O"
caught on A steep hill trying to make h"au
vav against a stiff breeze. Chaness wheels
are beginning 10 appear 20 som" extent anu
,he,r riders are subjected to much attention.
These wheels are examined critically 10y inc
owners OF chain wheels. and, the possessoi OF
the bevel-geared machine is generally called
unon 70 answer many questions from the curl
Gus Club members on runs will be paced by
Quad cunt and teams this year 10 laIh"r
On tent than ever before. as most or the prom
tnent clubs have the big machines at their dis-
posal During the weekdays the muiu'Nc'es
are used for pacing the racing men OF me ciup
who are getting into condlt1oh lor 'he "P'H'"5
Of the racing season
M l.. Bridgman. the president OF the New
YORK Cycle Board Of Trade. who is we'll known
in all departments Of cycling. tells an incident
in his career which may recall similar incidents
% 9th ri1
years ago l was honored at my place OF business
BY visit from rather distinguished looking
party Of people of whom told me that he
wished 10 purchase an American wheel 10 take
home with him England. | showed him the
different models He finally selected one Of the
models his fancy. and ne requested that II be
Grated and shipped on the steamship on when
he expected 10 sail a few days later. He was
member Of one of the fashionable set in Lon
DOR and thought that 1t would do our house
some good 10 have such n parsonage ride the
bicycle on the other side Of the Atlantic. |
heard nothing further for about three weeks.
when / received cablegram which was worded
like this: The wheel YOU shipped me is unrid-
able the pedals touch the front tire at every
revolution Well. here trouble. and did
not know what 10 do or what was the matter
In desperation ! called in a friend and showed
him the cablesram. Oh j see what Is the
trouble said ne. with hearty laugh. In pack
ing the wheel you have. as usual. reversed the
front forks that the machine VIII nj more
snugly in the crate. Our royal friend has fitted
the wheel together without turning the front
forks around, and. OF course, the pedals nj the
front tire every time he makes the slightest
turn | cabled back TO my customer to take his
wheel around to our London agent and that he
would fix 1t all right, and | heard no more OF
the matter
THAT recalls to mind" said the friend who
had solved the mysterious cablegram. that /
had similar experience myself when was
learning to ride. | had my wheel shipped TO my
house in Brooklyn in a crate. and the day mat
II arrived put 1t together and started out for a
ride knew as much about a bicycle hen
does about arithmetic. but did not think 80.
Like all beginners. | did not think II necessary
to ask questions / lived In feminist. Brooklyn,
and / was soon on the asphalt strips In Seventh
ave- bound for a spin In Prospect Park | got
along fairly we'll until struck the Belgian
block crossing az Third-st. Then my pedals and
front wheel seemed to get mixed up and took
the Hottest tumble Of recent years. Still. | was
not hurt much, and after strengthening out
things I managed to remount the wheel |
knew that something was wrong. but for the
life Of me could not imagine what II was. |
had learned how TO ride at Charley Schwal-
bachs. out in Flatbush-ave. and I decided 10
get out there as soon as possible 10 ask my old
tutor what was the matter. Well. | finally got
there, a distance of possibly mile more and
had two more falls on the way S,ill | rode
up to the academy-which by the way.
burned down since then-and called wildly for
Schwalbach What's the matter with this dad
blasted. 1nfernal machine? SAID !, and Schwal-
BACH looking over the new bicycle rOared as he
said:
How far have you ridden that Wheel
From my house In Tenth-st said !.
You're liar. said he. which. under the
circumstances. might possibly be considered per
missible
why. there IS not trick rider in this city
who could have ridden that bicycle up and down
those hills and around those corners without
breaking his neck he replied. he let out an
other gufYaw which could have been heard up
at the Plaza.
80 he took the wheel still laughing and
ioosening the handle-bar, turned the front forks
around, and then rearranged the handle -bars. I
had done the same trick our English friend had