The times., 1898-01-22
WHEEL NOVELTIES FOR 1898.
4 -
The Detachable Sprocket VIII Aid
In Hill Climbing.


One of the biggest bicycle firms of
the country which last year sold it's
product for 500, and which will list
the coming seasons models at s15, has
several brand-new ideas in the con-
struction of the '9S model which should
boom it. The most important is the
patent detachables spfocket which is
calculated to make the hill climbing
more of pleasure than work as here
tofore. In seeking to do this the firm
has equipped the '9S model with a
sprocket on which only a comparative
few of the teeth engage the chain. For
instance, on a twenty fve-tooth
sprocket a large tooth at the outside
OF each of the five arms of the wheel
IS the only one that engages the chain.
The intervening teeth are smaller. and
are needed simply as guides and clean
ers for the chain and links. In addition
to making all hill climbing easy the
new arrangement of the sprocket re-
duces friction to little or nothing.
The '9S models Of the same firm will
be equipped with a handlebar that
should come up to all requirements of
the adjustables. This particular bar
is Joined by hinge in the center of
the stem head and is adjusted by
means of key in a door opening fash
ion. The key is small enough to be
carried on key ring. One turn of it
moves the bars as low or as high as de-
sired, and another locks ii securely SO
that the toughest road riding or jar
ring will not alter them The bars can
also be dropped so that the handles
touch the front fork, thereby taking
up little space when packed away and
making the entrance of the narrowest
doorway possible.
Those bicycle manufacturers who
have not a chainless model for the
coming season, but who are content to
trust their fortunes TO the chain ma
chine. do not expect to experience lull
in the chain machine market as a re
suit OF such proportions that they will
injure those OF the chain models. In
fact, IT was said yesterday at one Of
the places where high-grade chain
wheels are retailed, that bigger sales
are anticipated for the coming seasons
chain machines than those of previous
years.
AT the present time it is difficult to
say just how popular the gear cases
will be next season. Experienced road
riders are inclined to think the gear
case is a good arrangement for the
chain protection, and should give as
much satisfaction as the chainless.
Others say that an ordinary rider who
takes care of his machine should have
no use for a gear case. 1t is a clumsy
and detracts greatly from the neat
appearance of a wheel and adds extra
weight. Riders who are not in the
habit Of riding in wet weather or on
poor roads can keep their chains in
good condition by a little work.
Numerous persons are asking wheth-
er the writer's, giving weight and
height, were qualified to ride such and
such gear The answer TO questions
of this kind is that It depends on the
hardness Of the rider 150-pound
man riding 200 or fmore miles week
is better able to push a 76-gear than d
man of the same weight who rides
only thirty miles in that time A rider
that uses the proper ankle motion and
has his saddle so adjusted that his
body rests over the pedals can use q
higher gear with the same amount of
eyertion than one wEa does not ride
properly or scientifically. Generally
speaking, rider with one years eS-
perience should be- bile to elevate his
gear from four to six points the follow
ing season.