Omaha daily bee., 1898-08-14


wheel a blush ball Of fire exploded at the
point where the handle bars connect with
the steering fork and that sparks of fire few
from the spokes. The wheel remained
heavily charged for several hours.
a woman has Just beaten all records in a
Iong-dlstance bicycle ride between New York
and Boston. She will be enabled to make
the proud boast that she rode in less time
between those two cities than any one before
her. Her feat will also incite a number Of
silly imitators to risk health by similar feats
OF speed and endurance, which will harm
themselves and do good to nobody else.
Nerve and endurance are good things to pos
sess, and women in these trying times are
making splendid use of them. But they
are grave things to abuse, and that is what
these much praised feat5, with their reward
of ensuing notoriety, achieve as their main
result.
The Maine division of the League of
American Wheelmen has voted to pay the
sum Of $50 to any person giving information
that viii lead TO the conviction of any one
guilty of maliciously placing tacks or other
DISTRACTIONS on bicycle paths for the purpose
OF puncturing tires or otherwise disabling
wheels. The divisions of the organization
in other states should follow the example of
the state of Maine.
The spokes in a bicycle are always the
first parts to be attacked by rust, although
all the joints suffer, because the moisture
tnds room to deposit itself. 1t is possible
Tor riders to a considerable extent to pre-
vent trouble OF this kind by taking proper
care or the wheel after each ride and by
using judgment concerning where they stow
them away. The great trouble about bicycle
storage is that what is good for the tires is
apt to be detrimental to the rest of the ma
chine and vice versa. Tires should be kent
In a cool, dark cellar, but it is in lust such
places that turks the moisture which causes
rust. A room. that is cool and dark and ab-
soIuleIy dry would be best all around, but
this Is not always convenient and riders
have to make the best of what circumstances
afford, using some discretion in knowledge
OF the facts. In taking care of a wheel It
is best first to clean off the wet and dry
mud and then remove all dampness with
a dry rag or Voc! waste. After that a going
over OF the nickel parts with an oily ran
VIII protect them fairly. There are some
Oils claimed to be rust preventives and the
best OF these is preferred to any Of the ordi-
nary sort. The true cure for RUSTY smokes
is to have them enameled black. the same
as the frame. In England enameled spokes
are used almost universally. Formerly some
OF the American makers enameled the spokcs
Of their products, but the practice has now
wholly died out.
a Chicago man has patented a device to
overcome in a measure the Jar of the seat
in passing OhStrllntinno Of eop,o .,..
sists OF two parts, one providing for a
ststs of two parts, one providing for a
longitudinal motion of the seat and the other
Tor a vertical motion, both motions being
retarded by springs. One spring works I'd
and down the seat post and the other on a
longitudinal bar beneath the saddle. Another
chicago inventor has invented q flexible or
yielding handle to prevent the vibration
of the handle bars that is sometimes so ex-
cessiYe as to numb the hands after a long
ride. The invention consists Of the main
part OF an elastic metallic core aud a hexi-
bic covering inclosing it.
Most riders who use toe clips are bothered
a great deal by having them work loose and
SHIFT to one side or the other. A handy wav
to prevent this was hit upon by a rider who
stopped at a bicycle store a few DAYS ago.
he asked for a piece of leather. Having
obtained 1t, after some trouble, he cut out
Two small round pieces with his knife and
then punched holes in the center of them
SO that they might be used for washers.
When placed on the bolt of the toe clip.
between the pedal plate and the original
metal washer they permitted Of the nut on
the bolt being set up very hard, because of
the yielding quality of the leather, and after
the nut was frightened the leather held the
other washer firmly. This was a good scheme
and one that would prove entirely satisfac-
tory unless the nut on the bolt worked
loose because of the strain and the jar on
it. To prevent this a little powdered rosin
on the threads of the bolt is the thing. In
fact, If rosin was used on the threads at
first so that the nut was bound in its place
for awhile. it would become set and there
would not be the trouble with loose toe
clips that is now so prevalent. Another
point in connection with these useful aux
~iliaries is that many riders consider it
worth while reversing the bolt in their
clips, so that after being fitted to the pedals
the nut will be on the outside, instead of
the inside, of the pedal plate. If the threads
of the nut and bolt are well cut, so that it
Is not necessary to use both a wrench and
a screwdriver to tighten the clips, this plan
will be found a very useful one.
A device to lessen the effort Of steering
provides for returning the steering head to
a normal or streight ahead position after
being turned. Incidentally, 1t may be of
value for learners who are inclined to wab-
BILE, and for weary wheelmen who wish to
take their hands off the bars and st up
straight. By this device, when the steering
head is turned, it is slightly raised by
means OF a special gearing. so that the
weight of the rider forces the front wheel
to the normal when the guiding force is
l~essened.
ONE BICYCLE Girl
Somerville Journal.
Before she got her bicycle she sometimes
used to make
The beds and wash the dishes and help her
mother bake,
She would even sUeep tho ma rlor and dust