Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-01-02
NOTES0FT THE WHEEL.
GOSSIP OF INTEREST TO THE MANY
CYCLE ENTHUSIASTS.
The GOOD ROADS MOVEMENT.
1t Is Not Dead But sIeeping-It VIII
Probably he Made N Factor I'm the
Municipal Election Next SPRING
The New Wheels Are Coming.

Though the ground is frozen hard. and
the winds are razorliks in their keen.
ness, bicycling seems not 70 have abateC
much in Richmond, and every afternoon
the streets and boulevards best suited
for wheeling are %thronged with wheelmeu
and whcclwomen, who speed over the
earth, and return home with ears ting
Ing, and an exhilarating flush upon then
cheeks.
Cycling at this season Of the year has
its drawbacks. however. and especially is
this the case around Richmond-or rather
In Richmond. Around the city there are
many good roads upon which the wheel
men may enjoy a spin, but within the
city limits the streets are in a. horrible
condition, and there is hardly a tho
%roughfare on which some of the blocks
are not almost impossible to blcyclists.
The Richmond League of Wheelmen,
alive to the interests Of wheelmen. and
anxious that the great army of cycle
enthusiasts In Richmond should be shown
some consideration by the city fathers.
some time ago started a movement.
which had as its object the construction
Of a concrete bicycle track out Grace
street from the Capitol Square westward
10 Richmond College.
a resolution memorializing the Council
to construct such a track was drawn up,
and 1t was arranged that a public meet
ing should be held. at which time this
resolution should be endorsed. In the
mean time, however, the Council refused
TO supply the money necessary for the
continuance Of the city schools. and the
wheelmen realized that it would be use
less for them to make any application
Tor an expenditure of the city's money
for a bicycle-track. so they dropped the
matter for the time being. 1t will. how
ever, be revived before the spring cleo
sions, when IL is understood that the
whselmen will combine and support only
such candidates for the Council as will
pledge themselves to provide at least one
suitable street in the city for wheeling.
The meeting to consider the resolution
Will probably be had some time in Feb
ruary next.
Bicycle instruction halls are doing such
an unusually good business at this time
OF the year. when selling is poor, that it
is becoming a question If the bicycle
hating truckman is rot helping the
academies by keeping beginners off the
streets.
Christmas bicycle-buyers are funny GUS
toners, when they come back with a
wheel they had trundled home, and ask
to get their money refunded. because the
person for whom the cycle was intended
preferred a "Hosannah" to a "Hallelu-
JAN One tried to cancel an order and
get the cash returned, because "the iani-
tor two doors below" where the wheel
was sent for temporary keeping, locked il
up. and went away over Christmas. It
spoiled the surprise, and after Christmas
the intended victim wanted a different
make.
One thing that seems sure I'm his tran
sitional period is that buyers must be
keener in mechanical sense than hereto
fore In order to tell the worthy from the
pretentious. There will be many forms
OF chainless wheels, and many forms OF
chain wheels offered for choice. In type
or frame they Will be alike. but the "con-
will vary greatly. There is a
growing tendency toward diversity of
method among ENTHUSIASTICALLY In
braZing, in he fashion of bearings,
cranks. crank-axles. and in the fasten-
ing of handle-bars and ~seat-posts.
The chief question in 1898 will be:
What price," but the secondary ques-
regarding make, style, and details,
will be more troublesome thar ever they
were when they came first. VIII Il be
the old, exposed chain wheel. with new
equipment, a gear-cased chain wheel, a
oevel-gear wheel, or some new form Of
'hainless cycle? THE ills we have or
others that we know not Of" will be
The problem with r'any a rider. Some
cry beyel gear, others improved chain,
others inclosed chain. and all cry. "The
of the future"
The first has the advantage Of novelty
With the disadvantage OF high price. and
II being experimental; the second has the
OF Ii in price. but Is handicapped by
Lge; the third has an advantage i'm both
rice and novelty, but has some pre-
udice TO overcome. Each form is a
eader and each has it's followers. At
resent the ranks OF the old style-ex-
'osed chain army-are thinning out. En-
losed driving mechanism, gear cases.
nd bevel gears. seem to be gaining
round. That there can be no such
hing as gain of power is becoming bet
er understood, and the demand is for a
waste of power in transmission
Trough extra friction due to accummu-
ited grit.
President Potter, of the League OF
-merican Wheelmen, is sticking pins in
is map. Pennsylvania calculates thai
has the key to the situation, and is '
by New York politicians to be
gliding for a bull market. Sterling FL
OFT is said to have "seen his finish" g
eforehand. 1t is believed here that
ideon. If he runs, will do so on the
option" platform. Potter men
opposition men can both prove a vic
Try on paper.
Richard Croker has not been appointed
investigate Tammany Hall. but the |
Cycle Racing Association, Of