The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1898-04-04

on the hundredmile rides under their
direction. The wheelmen of the large
organizations view this position with
expressions of considerable indiffer-
ence. They say the smaller clubs,
most of which are anxious to increase
their membership, have taken such &C
ticn to assist them in recruiting, ana
that when they arrive at the age and
size Of the older clubs they will adopt
other views
New York Times: 1t seems to be the
consensus of opinion of cycle racers,
cycle race promoters, League of Ameri-
can Wheelmen racing officials, and last
and most important, of the majority OF
wheelmen who take pleasure in watch
ing spirited contests between wheelman
and wheelman, that cycle sport this
season will be the most extensive as
well as the most interesting presented
since the advent of the cycle and the
attending introduction of a new sport.
At least three large concerns or feder-
atoms are in the field, strongly backed
with capital, with the avowed intention
of providing the best cycle sport OBJ
tainable, and of supplying the general
public with a good value for the money
spent to witness their entertainments.
=
Another new idea in wheel construc-
tion has just appeared in the West. Its
appearance, however, is not as clean
looking as either the uncovered chain
or bevel-geared bicycle. The chain IS
inClosed in the rear stays, which are
made especially large for this purpose.
The driving mechanism is a comblna-
ton of the internal gear, chain and
sprocket, and the internal gear travels
around the external piniOn gear, eccen-
trically, on its bearings. The front
sprocket is placed on the driving shaft
between the bearings of the SHAFT.
There is no side friction or foot press
ure on the sprocket shaft. For hlgh
gear the front sprocket is reduced TO
nearly the same diameter as the rear
sprocket This is accomplished by pro-
viding for having the front SprocKet
make two revolutions to one OF the
pedal crank or foot. The crankS are
is inches longer from the center OF
the sprocket shaft on the downward
stroke than they are on the rear OF
upward stroks. The momentum from
the rear or driving wheel has lever
age of 2 to l against the crank, COM
pared with the usual sprocket and
chain.
AS our lives are made up of trivial
ties. so. in a large measure, the comfort
and pleasure in cycling depend on the
oh vY1n are
considered minor details. While it is a
comfort to know that the wheel one
rides is strong, and that the tires are
resilient, there are other smaller things
which go far toward contributing to
the real pleasure of riding. Not the
least of those is the brake. This ac-
cessory is receiving a vast amount OF
attention this year, and many riders
who WOULD not think of having brake
a year ago, now have their wheels
equipped with one, and some with two,
even. In a large number of cities there
is a law compelling all bicycles to be
thus equipped. Several new devices for
controlling the wheel have been offered
to the public this year. One becomes
accustomed to a brake in a short time,
and those who have once become accus-
toned to one will not ride without it.
The rider actually becomes unaware
of its existence, while. all the time he is
enjoying it's efficiency, and only when
he mounts a wheel not so equipped does
he realize what the brake accomplishes
for him.
Zimmerman and Bald are distinct
types of champions who are always
popular and who retain the respect and
confidence of the public. In his day,
and there are some who say that time
has not yet passed, Jimmie" was the
marvel of his time. He was not like
the talking champions of the short
haired fraternity, for he was always
ready to meet any one, at any time and
at any place. Zimmerman is touring in
the South at present, and his friends
say he has about made up his mind to
follow the circuit this year and take
his chances with the younger cham
pions of the day. He has done no COM
petition work for a long time, and
many think he will not be able to get
back to his old-time form Last year
Zimmerman gave exhibitions occasion
ally, but he did not show the speed
NillCD was Ills anu Ills dIOuG Lew
years ago.
Buenos Ayres is the latest city to set
about building bicycle track. Soon
there will be no civilized or quasi-civ-
ilized place on the face of the globe
that will not possess facilities for path
racing
Rumor has it that J. w Stocks. the
veteran English racer, has been offered
fabulous sum to come to America,
but Englishmen seem to be of the opin-
ion that it is merely talk
Samary is said to be the name of the
young rider who is training sedulously
for the Paris Roubaix race Knowing
! ones say he will figure in the front
rank among distinguished stayers the
coming season.
Secretary Walter Wardrop of the Ma
tional Board of Trade of Cycle Manu-
facturers predicts that more wheels
viii be made and sold in the United
States this year than in 1896. when
the product was $50 600 and the high
! water mark was reached.
A tip to those who do much riding
in their ordinary attire is to have a tag,
similar to an umbrella fastener, under
meath the ends of the trousers. 1t is a
most useful adjunct, and. being under
meath, is completely hidden from sight.
When wanted for use, the trousers
should be turned up at the bottom, and
the usual fold made when, if the but
ton is at the proper distance from the
tag. a neat fold is secured.