Omaha daily bee., 1898-10-09

Ing club and a race track association. There
Is the same difference between the vast ma
jority of wheelmen and the professional
racing men,"
The cut in New York to s25 Of a crack
foreign made wheel is regarded as an in
dication OF lower prices for hrst-cl bicy-
cles next season. This Is further foreshad.
owed, says the Boston Transcript, in this
announcement that the wheels are to in
crease in diameter from 2S to 30 inches, the
purpose. of course, being to tempt those who
aim to be always up to date and at tb.
height of fashion. 1t is evident enough that
to cut big prices for their manufactures
the bicycle makers must hit upon something
different from the chainless device. 1t Ia
said that the concerns that put out chain
less wheels this year are satisfied with tn.
result OF their experiment; but anybody who
had his eyes open this season must have
noticed that comparatively few of the chain
less wheels are in use. II Is not impossible
that there will be larger demand for them
IN 1892 but most of the riders appear to
be satisfied with the chain machine. IT, how
ever, the chalnless bicycles are offered at
more attractive prices they may become
ter machines than 1t was generally predicted
they would turn out to be.
are Wheelwomen more careless than
wheelmen are reckless? This is a question
that is suggested by the report that an
eastern accident insurance company has de-
clared discrimination against women rid
ers on the ground that they have more
accidents than men and are more likely to
be injured. No authenticated statistics have
been gathered on the subject, but the testi-
mony OF those who have been riding for
years and are close observers is to the effect
that more men are hurt in cycling acci-
dents than women first, because more men
than women ride and, secondly because
men take longer chances; but the same OBJ
servers declare that, in proportion to their
number women riders are more often the
victims of mishaps, which is a vindcation
OF the attitude assumed by the insurance
company, 1t is argued that women are less
keen in discovering danger and not so quick
in getting away from it, but it is admitted
at the same time that most of the accidents
which befall wheelwomen are due quite as
much to the reckless behavior of some
wheelman or other as to the carelessness of
the women.
One city has been found in which there
is no bicycle craze, and never will be. 1t is
Alden, on the Red sea. Chicago maker
having written to the consul there, asking
a statement of the conditions and chances,
has been told that the roads are hilly and
quilted; it is always too hot to ride in the
daytime; the natives are all to poor to own
wheels; there are not more than twenty-five
DiCycleS nf
Alden, Steamer Point and Shaik Othman;
there is no demand for any more there is
no demand for repairs.
Tunis, however, which Is almost as hot as
Alden, II not quite has been invaded by the
wheel. French makers sell them on easy
monthly payments, guarantee them for a
certain length of time, and keep them in re-
pair free OF charge. To do this they have
been forced to establish a general repair
shop. The Italian and Maltese residents
are too poor to buy, and the Arabs regard
bicycles with fear and contempt.
Vineland, N. j., boasts a novelty It is a
bicycle club, and among it's kind is unique
not because Of its great numbers, for 1t has
but four members, not because OF its CEN
tury run survivors nor its brilliant club
nights, for this club never meets and one Of
its unwritten laws is that no member shall
ride over twenty miles per day.
This clubs claim to distinction Is based
on the fact that it's members are the four
Oldest cyclers in the business, and UP to
date the claim has not been contested.
The club-it has no name-s of recent
growth, and Notwithstanding the advanced
age Of its members not one of them took to
the sport until after he had passed the
three score year and ten mark
The membership of this odd organization
is made up Of four we'll known citizens of
Vineland, namely: B. V. Goe, who con-
fesses to "A years; w. A. Warriner, 70, and
who by virtue of his years is president; r.
lngraham, IA years, and F. S. Hall, whose
next birthday will make him 76.
These gentlemen, with one execution.
have retired from active life and find the
bike" source Of pleasure as we'll as an
aid to digestion.
The Massachusetts division of the League
or American Wheelmen has already begun
the movement for legislation for the free
carriage Of bicycles on railroads. Candi- |
dates for the legislature will be asked as
to their standing upon the question, and
their answer will probably be made a test
VI hsHSSeS W thOSo VIM lLluh lHdL bicycles
as baggage" is the dominating issue of the |
day.
A wood rim manufacturing concern which |
wanted to know how much popularity the |
S0-inch wheel was likely to have next year
has collected statistics from bicycle makers
whose financial rating is $1,000 up to !
million and over. The tabulated report |
shows that SO-inch wheels will be treated as
a novelty next season, the same as they |
were this year, but that many more makers |
will treat with them. Some twenty or !
thirty manufacturers are preparing to fur !
nish cycles with this size of wheels, and ,