The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1898-03-14
The CYCLERS' COLUMN.
SOME LOCAL MATTERS-STRE
AND WHEELWAY RIDING.
The l.. A. W.-Chainless-Ski q
and UnskiIIed Riding-Cycle
Racing Growth.

The opening and local race meet of
the Capital City Wheelmen is set for
the 10Th instant. To this date but thir-
teen entries have been made. Unless
there is better showing than that the
races cannot be pulled off. The c. c. w.
cannot afford to give a meet that will
not be a success. 1t is greatly to be
hoped that the fast men. the amateurs
and the novices will Immediately fill the
entries, that the race meet may come
off as scheduled.
A letter to the Record Union" from
New Orleans is from F. T. Dwyer of this
city, who, as Vice-ConSul of the North
California Division L. A. W., attended
the annual convocation of the L. A. w.
recently held at St. Louis Mr.NDwyer
writes of his entire satisfaction with the
session and its work. He says that he
secured the Endorsement of the conven-
ton for the De Vries Yosemite free road
measure, in which Californians take SO
much interest.
He writes also that the L. a. w. "Bui-
letin" will soon begin to publish the full
proceedings of the assembly and trusts
that they Will be generally read. He
announces that President Potter will
announce as a member OF the National
Committee on Highway Improvement
Frank Miller of the Capital City Wheel
men, and trusts that the friends of the
club Will see to it that Mr.. Miller ac-
cepts His experience in wheelway
management and his study Of good roads
questions eminently qualify him for the
place. Besides Mr.. Miller as q leading
citizen in all good works will represent
California on the committee admirably,
and in the highest sense. That goes
without saying.
The new ordinance regulating the use
of bicycles in Sacramento is now in
force. 1t is not observed as it should
be. Is this to be another dead letter at
fair? 1t is a simple, wise provision, not
nearly SO stringent as the New York
regulations, after which it is fashioned.
Wheelmen ought to take especial pains
to observe it to the letter and the police
should enforce it strictly. In brief, its
requirements are that the wheemen
must ride to the right and in overtaking
pass TO the left. He must turn corners
at least three feet from the curb. He
must pass from one street into another
intersecting il by keeping on the right
to the center Ct the intersection, and ten
turn into the right hand side. BY this
means he cannot surprise any pedes-
trian at a crossing, as he is in full view
in the center of the crossing,
before he makes the turn.
Next he may turn into the left hand side
if he stops on that side within fifty feet
OF the corner. Below Twelfth and be-
tween G and P streets he may ride be-
tween crossings eight miles an hour, but
ever crossings and intersections not
faster than six miles. Outside those
limits he may make ten miles on hour
At all times he must carry a loose bell
night and day that is agitated by mo-
ton Of the wheel, or by shake of his
hand, and it must especially Loudly, clear
~, ring on approaching crossings. He is
not required to carry a lamp. When
ever meeting a pedestrian, whether on
q crossing or not, he must ride with
care. He must keep at least one hand on
the handle bar and must ride in such an
attitude mot bent clear over) that he
can see clearly, and so as not to en-
danger any one. These are reasonable
provisions, and ought to be observed
The use of horns and police whistles
will not answer in place of the continu-
ally ringing bell which is easily slipped
on the finger and is no Inconvenience
The use of police whistles, by the way. is
complained of by the police. 1t is a
crime TO use police whistle except to
summon an officer in time of need The
c. c. w. are very anxious to have the
new ordinance rigidly enforced All ac-
cidents are charged to them, when in
fact their members are not offenders
There are 2,0C0 wheels in use in the
city, and there are but 300 members of
the club. Obviously it is unfair to lay
wheel-sins at their door committed by
outsiders.
The question of wheelways is bother
ing the c. c. w They have built one
fine one Of twenty-five miles and main
tain it, and it takes just so much mon
ey every week. A man is kept almost
constantly at work upon it. Some ST.
200 has been to this date laid out Oh
it. The complaint is that 1900 people
use it, at least LOO of whom con-
tribute nothing to it, This discoura ges
those who put up their money, and
keep up the club for this purpose
among others They want to build .
Auburn and to Stockton and up the
other side of the American, but unless
some one puts up money nothing can
be done. If the 2,0O0 wheelmen would
give so little as 80 cents a year each
the c. c. w. say they can build and
maintain the three new paths, with the
aid Of the club funds, and keep up the
old one. Surely, it is little enough for
such great conveniences. Suppose the
outsiders put up right off The c. c.
w. is about to address them a letter
on this subject, it is understood.
Still another chainless wheel has APP
peared that has not bevel gears This
time it is what may best be called a
tooth and roller gear The teeth are
triangular in shape with their sides cut
in q peculiar double curve-semi-cy-
clodial. On the front sprocket the
backs of the teeth are outward with
the edges facing inward On the rear
sprocket the position is reversed The
driving-rod runs outside the rear fork,
instead of within It, On each side of
the driving rod are about twelve round
pinions nearly as big as a lead pencil,
which engage with the teeth of the
sprockets. 1t is something decidedly
novel in gearing, and those VINO have
tried it pronounce ii good. 1t is the
product of a saddiemaker.
A skillful rider viii be able to take a
light safety over almost any obstacle,
he,