The record-union., 1898-11-30
BICYCLES IN SACRAMENTO.
INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT
WHEELS AND RIDERS.
Secondhand Bikes For q Song,
But Fast Driving Hurts
Business.

There are many interesting facts con-
cerning the evolution Of the bicycle.
These facts concern its shape, construc-
tion cost and general Importance as a
vehicle of locomOtion. Sacramento has
SO many bicycle riders that nearly ev-
cry style of wheel is seen on it's level
streets, but late styles are the rule.
A Record Union" reporter took a.
stroll through the bicycle stores of Sac
ramento a few days ago for the purpose
of taking notes on the business. Deal
ers complain that profits are not what
they were in the old days, though sales
keep up pretty well.
Wheels seem to be cheaper this
year?" he inquired of a we'll known
dealer, adding, Il suppose they will
soon be down to So"
This was the signal for a vehemence
unusual at the shop of a tradesman
No" said he, sharply, they will never
be down to $40, unless they are made
of gas pipes and pot metal, and when
that day comes life insurance rates will
go up or the companies will suspend"
That's the same old talk" said the
reporter, that We heard at the outset.
When they were sold at $3.50 dealers
said they would never get to 500. and
SO on. How's that?"
The dealer retorted: you are partly
correct, but there is a limit to all
things. The wheels now on the market
at low rates are made as we'll, if not
better than were the old ones at the
high rates, because the machinery for
making them has been perfected"
I'm what way?" was asked.
AS one example, take the tubing 1t
was once impossible to draw it fast and
strong. Now there is machinery that
handles a thousand feet of tubing with
more ease than the old machines ham
died hundred. In the matter of enam-
cling it is the same. All this is now
done by machinery, which handles
large quantities at a time In the old
days it was done by hand, and not SO
WELL"
1t was found that there is a great
demand for wheels, probably greater
than ever before. People find wheels
a necessity, and the installment plan
of buying them is very popular.
AS nearly as we can approximate
the matter" said the dealer, there are
about 5000 regular riders of
wheels in this city. There are
a number of people who are
afraid to ride here on account of the
lax way that the law against reckless
driving is enforced. There has never
been an arrest of reckless hackmen, and
hack driving on the wrong side Of the
street is very dangerous and very COM
mon. When it seemed that there would
be sharp enforcement of the law there
was squirt in the business, and a great
many people who did not buy talked of
buying, and intended to do So until
they saw that the threat to enforce the
law ended in smoke only. You would
be surprised at the number of timid
riders, even people who have ridden for
years elsewhere. If they are not afraid
themselves, they desist on account of
timid mothers or wives, who persuade
them not TO take the risk
There is pretty good secondhand
trade in Sacramento, and old wheels
of every kind may be bought at a low
rate-from ANY old thing up to S25,"
as one of the dealers said The cost of
new machines is so low now, however,
that it is only quite poor people who
buy old ones. 1t Is strange how the
dread of secondhand wheels deters
6oACS. IL a WHICH, udS D6Su TluQGH
around the block it is in a sense second
hand. Take a Wheel for example, that
was bought new last June. 1t is, of
course, '9S wheel. Well, no matter
how careful the owner may have been
with it, that wheel cannot be sold for
price anywhere near the price for
which it was bought. A man who has
handled $50 wheel with care for two
months may consider himself fortunate
if he can sell it for $40 or $25. Many
good wheels can be bought for sums as
low as $40. BY that term is meant
wheels of first-class make that are a
year or two old.
It is noticeable that nearly all the
modern wheels are heavier in build. The
smaller tubing and higher frames Of
the old wheels makes them a little off
color in style, though many of them are
as durable as any of the present day.
Sacramento has good many rid
ers," said well known agent yester-
day, who rode the old ordinaries.
which were so popular about 1880. It
was about that time that the ball bear
ings began to attract attention. and it
is said that there have been more than
300 patents taken out on ball bearings
and gear arrangements since the days
of the old ordinaries"
The competition among manufacture
ers is now SO great that all sorts of
schemes are undertaken to run down
opposition goods. 1t is said that one
company has lately had great deal of
annoyance in this city by the circula-
tion of libelous anonymous circulars
defaming its goods and stating that its
tubing consisted of Ordinary gas
pipes that Its bearings are Of cast
iron,' and like scurrilous assertions
This particular company has offered
$1,000 for the detection of the person
or persons who set the scheme af1oat.
Some of these circulars were recently
put up on the bulletin board at the
wheelmen's club, but nobody has ever
been able to find the man who posted it
and others.
QUESTION OF ALIMONY.