The record-union., 1898-08-12
OF INTEREST TO CYCLISTS.
SUNDAYS RECORD TRIALS
SERIES" BEGIN ON 2lST.
Some New Inventions-Functure
Risks-The Bicycle In the
Army-News Notes.

AS very great progress is being maoe
An European countries in the use " 1ie
bicycle and motor wagons, ana as poth
have been found practicable IN this
country. and would certainly be utlilz-
ed to a. great extent in case Oh Wal'
recommend that a force equal 10 oiie
full regiment of twelve companies pe
eouipped with bicycles and motor wa
xons. and their utility thoroughly DEM
onstrated@ by actual warfare service.
There are more than 1900 officers ana
men in the army who are able TO use
3he bicycle as a means OF transpofia-
tion. The officers and men for such
regiment to be so equipped shoulo pe
carefully selected from the most en-
cient and skillful in the use Oh lhie
modern appliance, and l reco1niiienu
shat authority for such transfers ue
granted with as little delay as possible
General Nelson A. Miles. Inls was
General Miles recommendation prior 10
the outbreak of the present war Inc
opportunity to organize such res
ment did not present when the cohilict
with Spain came on, because OF haste
10 arm and because Of the bad roao con-
ditions in Cuba. However, plcycle
corps was organized at Fort MISSOURI
Montana, some two years ago by dl-
rection of General Miles, and mace an
experimental trip Of 1,4OO miles WAN
perfect success over some OF the WORST
roads in the United States, through
sand, mud, rocks, up hill ana down.
across unbridged rivers, etc.
Every wheel in addition to the rider
dc of o.
and food. With personal fittings and
arms the average of weight to each
wheel was 232 pounds. Even where it
was impossible to ride and propel the
wheels, the men found the bicycle a
great assistance, because the machine
carried the loads the men would other
wise have been compelled to pack, and
thus vital energy was husbanded. In
the regular army the study OF the Wheel
is now being carried on for use by in
fantry. engineers and the Signal Corps,
and every day goes to prove that the
wheel will become an indispensable
auxiliary in military service, not only
for carrying men and loads rapidly.
but in a fight by stacking, forming a
barrier against charges Of the enemy
that greatly protects sharpshooters and
signal men. The formation of this
bicycle auxiliary to the army forces has
established the military wheelmen in
our army. Punch" years ago printed
q picture that was regarded at the
time as very humorous. 1t depicted
"a corps of soldiers, mounted on bicycles
charging an enemy. "Punch's'' joke.
like many similar ideas that appear
hare-brained at the time, has ceased
n ha humorous
The c. c. W. fast men are to be
warmly commended for the fine spirit
they have manifested recently in devel-
oping the capacity of the club to make
up teams for track and road work.
There is to be another record meet at
Oak Park track Sunday morning,
the pistol firing at 10 a. m, sharp.
A Chicago man has patented a device
to overcome in a measure the jar or
the seat in passing obstructions OF some
size 1t consists of two parts, one pro-
viding for a longitudinal motion of the
seat and the other for vertical mo-
tion, both motions being retarded by
springs. One spring works up and
down the seat post and the other on
a longitudinal bar beneath the saddle.
Another Chicago inventor has invented
a flexible or yielding handle to prevent
the vibration of the handle bars that
IS sometimes so excessive as TO NUMB
the hands after a long ride. The in
vention consists for the main part OF
an elastic metallic core and flexible
covering inclosing it. But Sacra-
mento man a year ago invented the
spring grip, by which the jar is taken
off when there Is downward pressure on
the grip, but it leaves the grip un-
yielding to an up pull, as when ascend
ing a grade, or plugging through mud
or dust.
A puncture clamp for tires is the re-
suit of a Chicago thinkers efforts. II
has an outer clasp of metal, with a
facing of rubber, and is affixed with a
thumbscrew. 1t may be put on in ten
seconds, and it inventor claims it will
temporarily cure the worst leak or cut
A Western cycle company, in produc-
ing an 1899 model, has introduced an
odd feature that will be watched with
interest by cycle mechanics. 1t is call
ed a ''fluted" spoke, and every spoke
as the name lnOlcaIeS, Is Huleu OF cor
rugated, the flutings being about half
an inch apart. Its object is to prevent
capitalization" The inventor Of this
device has had years Of experience in
cycle construction and he believes that
the constant vibration of the spokes
of a bicycle causes the metal to crys-
tallze near the head of the spoke sc
badly that the spoke is weakened al
this point He claims that the Vibration
waves are DETECTED at every corruga-
tion, and the strength of the spoke is
not impaired. If his theories on crys-
tallzation are OF no especial value, tht
inventor still claims it will give an at
tractive appearance 10 a wheel with
spokes thus futed.
New York Times: To those cyclists
who take pleasure in the opportunities
provided by the bicycle in addition tC
cycling itself, feature with many pos.
sibilities of pleasure is afforded by the
picnic run. Any Sunday or holiday