New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-01-16
A CHAMPION OF THE Low WHEEL.
AFTER AMPLE EXPERIENCE WITH THE OLD HIGH
WHEEL HE GAVE Up RIDING UNTIL THE
NEW TYPE CAME INTO USE

AFTER AMPLE EXPERIENCE WITH THE OLD HIGH
WHEEL HE GAVE Up RIDING UNTIL THE
NEW TYPE CAME INTO USE.
Il read with much interest in last Sundays Trb-
une.' said an enthusiastic wheelman day or two
ago. THE account OF the experiences Of the man
who still clings Ia the high wheel. which used
to call the ordinary but which Is certainly an ex-
traordlnary object at the present time. I would
like 10 present the point of view of one who like
thousands Of his fellow -wheelren abandoned that
type upon the advent OF the safety machine
ITO 90 back 10 the beginning. ! was at board
ing-school in 1873. when the first pattern Of az
available road machine put upon the market.
1t came 20 be known the 'bone-shakc-.' from It's
lack Of spring and elasticity. having heavy wooden
spokcs and metal tires. ] learned TO ride I'm A
large hail. and on the smooth floor the machine
ran well enough and with comparative ease; but
when undertook road-riding there differ
once, and ii practically impossible TO up
any grade unless the rise very slight. re-
call how tOiled up the approach OF bridge and
then started gayly down the other SIDE only to
catch the heel OF my right boot in the spokes of the
front wheel to which the cranks were attached
and take an ingorous header the wheel coming
calmly down upon
with that early experience | was inclined to
hal the advent Of the high wheel few years later
with delight. but time and lack Of money pre-
vented my indulging my tastes until the machine
Hdd become popular Ndu 10 uoupt tDdt 'ou'h
ride. after my early experience when procured
my wheel and began eX perimenting on the grounds
al the rear Of my house. where there was cir
cular drive. l had no difficulty in getting on the
machine. but TO stay there was another story; In
fact. seemed to be entirely too far up In the
world There "A soft spot In the surface or
the drive at one point and invariably on reaGhihg
circular drive and resOrted straight road with
hard surface. rode without diihculty.
But soft sand or earth and an obstruction, no
hoy al
header. so long as | confined my riding to the the
park paths then OPSn to b and ie lsw
| essayed "A country road the narrow. nara tre
would cut in, or stone would be encountered ana
overbalanc!ng II the wheel met the least obstacle
inc off few times and the delight Of riding
more than counterbalanced by this draWoacki
began also to fear that In some OF my fails might
be less fortunate than / had been thus far and re-
ceive serious injury and break bones.
wheel before the safety appeared upon the market;
remcInber how odd and uncouth the first one I
saw looked in contrast with the light and graceful
first pneumatic tires seemed; But when had tried
the rev style of machine had no desire to return
70 the old type l still own my old machine ana
II any one would like to learn for himself how It
feels 10 be mounted upon a periphery OF > leei
3 inches diameter. with the prospect OF rapid ana
headlons descent at any moment he IS welcomo
IN this connection am reminded Of what my
little boz said 10 his mother one day When nc
saw mar on a high wheel go by amid many
low machines. He remarked in awe-Struck tones:
looking up TO the i4der 80 lar aoo'c h'iH' ne 81
down. never.
II soon became an habtua rider Of the modern
type Of machine. and IND it vastly pleasanter and
~ sier than its predecessor. notice that the man
who c,ings to the Old machine SAYS he can ride
twenty miles on il in comfort. That about
my limit with the high wheel. but can average
fifty sixty miles day over all sorts Of roads on
the present popular type Of wheel. and rode
1--WE thousand miles in the last two years. making
trips from this city to Montauk Point. into the
Catskills to the Delaware Water Gap. and through
the Berkshire Hills without resort to railroads.
\ new Inspiration is added to life by the Of
the wheel Already this year ! have ridden over
one hundred miles the pleasant holidays.
business prevents my riding other days