The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-04-24
NEWS NOTES
FOR WHEELMEN.

A., The signing OF the Good Roads Bill
by Governor Black. OF New York, is an
event OF great Importance to the cycle
trade. particularly of New York state,
and generally TO the trade throughout
the country. IL has been charged by the
leading spirits OF the l. A. w. recently
that the trade is not interested In good
roads. This IS not a fact, although the
trade has not shown itself deeply inter
ested in the agitation by the l.. A. w.
organization. II Is possible that the lack
Of interest shown may be to some extent
explained by the fact that the l.. n. W.
itself has not shown an extraordinary
amount Of interest in the subject
Every dealer throughout the country
should consider II part OF his business
10 preach the doctrine OF good roads,
I'm season and out OF season, should hang
I'm stores or outside thereof, placards
I'VE Want Good Roads" IL might be
better though. TO have them read You
Want Good Roads" as the average ciu-
zen is apt TO be interested rather In what
he wants than I'm what anyone else
wants. Tho argumentum ad hominem
would bc more likely 10 carry cOnvic-
ton. or II il did not might lead 20 the
inquiry as to why such a statement is
made. thus giving renewed opportunity
TO spread the doctrine. The trade wants
good roads and ought not 10 forget 1t
for a moment.
Cycling has its styles and changes just
the same as everything else that comes
before the public gaze. II il quite right
and proper that this should be the case
SO long as the styles do not degenerate
into inelegance and unhardiness. The
various changes i'm the mechanical con-
struction Of cycles have been 50 marked
that all who have followed the pastime
are thoroughly familiar with them.
They have for the most part been inn
provements and whore they have not
been improvements they have been quick
y dropped. But in the minor details OF
construction there have been changes
for which there Is no accounting except
by attrbuung them 10 the whims OF
fashion. In the matter Of handle bars,
or example we see this year the same
Identical STYLES that were used and dis
carded years ago. A slight change in the
curve of the steel tube which governs
the steering OF a bicycle may make 1t In
style or out Of style as the case may be,
and no one can give any plausible reason
why anyone Of a dozen different styles
is not as good as any OF the others.
What IS true OF the handle bars Is also
true OF various other portions OF the
BICYCLE.
What applies to the details Of construc-
ton applies with equal force 10 the rid
ers. At one time a certain position on
the wheel is considered an fait and the
same position a year later is decidedly
passe. and then comes the subject Of
dress. Naturally it would be expected
that the fair sex would have its styles
in cycling costumes the same as i'm an
other costumes, that long skirts should
be followed by boomers and bloomeres
by knickerbockers. and knickerbockers
by short skirts and that every possible
kind of variation I'm shirt waists and
jackets should be tried and discarded
only 10 be tried again another day. but
II really would seem that styles i'm men S
dress awheel would approach steadfast-
ness. Such, however. is not the case
Mems styles change with the seasons
almost as much as their sisters do. Full
length tights were just as proper for a
man on a bicycle al a not very remote
period as hoOpskrts once were for a
woman in a ball room.
A curious effect of hard cycling IS
reported from France. Out Of the last
batch OF conscrpts no fewer than eight
widely known cyclists were rejected as
being physically incapable Of military
duty. Diseases OF the heart were the
chef reasOrs for their rejection. This
causes profound establishment. all class
es thinking them az least fl to be accept
cd as military cyclists.
Pavements made Of graduated cork
mixed with asphalt have proved sue
cessIul after two years trial in London