The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-07-31
THIRTY INCHES DIAMETER
BICYCLE OF 1889 MAY HAVE
LARGER WHEELS

There VIII BE Opposition to the
Change, However, on Account of
the Extra Weight Necessary to
Secure PropOrtiOnately the Same
Sfr2ngth-News of CycIedOm for
Week at Home and Abroad.
Although 1t is yet early in the sea-
son, manufacturers have already begun
to plan their models for next year. The
various improvements which have been
effected in the wheel during the past
two seasons have not left very wide
room for improvement in the product
of 1899. Although the bevel gear has
attained limited popularity, the old
style of crank, sproclSet and chain will
still characterize the wheel. The gen.
elal frame lines of this years models
viii be maintained, although there
may be reaction on the part of GER
tain makers against the excessively
short head. The short head, it is claim
ed by some, has been the cause Of
many frames getting twisted out Of
Alignment because the lower tube run
ming up from the bottom brackets at
such a sharp angle there is more sway
in the rear section of the machine.
The rear wheel does not follow so
quickly, and in turning corners sharp
ly or steering through sand the twist
on the frame is apt to be serious. This
proposition, though, is not generally
considered TO be of much Importance.
and, as a rule, the dropped crank hang
ers ard low heads will be retained.
The complaint on the part Of some
riders against the increased weight Of
roadsterS and their efforts to bring
wheels back to a pound or two nearer
the scale of 1895 will pass unheeded.
for the reason that, with the reduced
prices prevailing, manufacturers can
not afford to take such risks on their
guarantees as formerly. Lowering the
weight of bicycles would mean a slight
" increased cost of production and
decrease in the factor of safety. The
lighter the Wheels the more liability
to breakage, and necessarily an in
crease in the claims upon the produc-
ers fer renewals of parts. AS a matter
Of fact, the 1899 product IS liable to be
a half to one pound heavier than this
years. D-shaped rear forks and back
stays will be retained.
Half a dozen makers, 1t Is now
known, viii make up part Of their
stock with thirty-inch wheels, which
annoys a few of the others, because
with wheels thirty inches in diameter
frame lines should have to be so al
tered that it means a complete change
of patterns, with the consequent ex-
pense of new tools. This annoyance
rs felt because of the bare possibility
of1the thirty-inch men creating de-
man6A and finding a market not open
to the Eest. AS cycles with thirty-incn
wheels &re necessarily bigger and
heavier, and, being more costly to
make, are he'd at higher prices, they
are not likely to appeal to the scorch-
ing element or 10 the great middle
class of buyers who. want medium prl-
ces Large-sized riders who have also
large purses and exclusive ideas are
apt to furnish the chief market for
this type of cycle, and it is in recogni-
ton of these conditions that the ma
jority Of makers are holding aIoof from
the experiment. The fact that the
larger the wheel the less vibration
there is for the frame and the rider
is about the strongest virtue in the
thirty-inch wheels, although it is true,
also that the increased size of the
frame permits Of a greater drop at the
crank hanger.
President Potter, Of the L. A. w,
says that there has been some mis-
understanding about the mission of the
special committee on racing that was
appointed at the St. Louis assembly.
1t has been reported that it was 90 in
vestigate and make returns upon the
adVlsabiIity Of the L. A. w. abandon
ing the government of racing, whereas
the committee was assigned simply to
discover whether or not there is in ex-
istence any organization that is equip
ped and competent to take control Of
cycle racing. Under such circumstan-
ces the committee might report in the
affirmative, and yet the assembly
would not be called upon to vote rae
ing control out of the hands of the
league. According 10 Mr. Potter thnra
has been no discussion between the
members of the committee, and will
not be until the racing season is over
Each member of the committee, which
Is composed of the president and two
vice presidents of the league, has been
doing his own investigating and form
ing his own conclusions, but no one
knows what the other thinks on the
subject.