The sun., 1898-01-10
CYCLING.

in America are strange to the Americans,
who fail to shake hands upon meeting
the foreigners and forget to shake hands
upon leaving their company. Taking off
hats at meeting and departing is also
strange, and the Europeans bad to have
the customs OF this country explained to
them before they could understand that
the offenders against their home customs
were not Intentionally y SO.
Jimmy Michael gained six pounds
within five days after he lct up on his
training. The champion was down fine
when he quit his season, weighing but
81 pounds. lie will now 60 up to ia
without much trouble,
Tom Butler, the cyclone of the season
of 1896, whose sensational fight ior the
championship, which he nearly won
within three months OF steady work, is
now employed in Boston Office and is
not thinking OF racing for months to
come. Tom will be in the field this COM
ing season, but does not intend to start
his training until fully recovered from
the indisposition which prevented his
best work being shown in 1897.
Bike-makcrs are giving some attention
to the idea of giving increased rigidity to
tandcms, and it is expected the frames
will be much better stayed than III for
lner years. Tubing will doubtless be az
ranged to strengthen the frame in order
to facilitate comfortable riding when rid
ers are Of different sizes and weights.
England threatens to shake the bicy-
Gle trade with a wheel constructed with
ont brazing that is, one with the many
joints joined by means of pins, etc. The
idea, which originated on the other side,
has met with much favor there and is
beginning to make itself felt here. No
particular improvement is apparent flom
such complicated ideas, and it only goes
to show what a bewiIdcring variety of
machines can be expected in the next
few years.
/ A wheels appearance depends largely
on the care that is taken Of the nickel
and enamel, and the enamel is the more
susceptible to damage. This il especially
true after muddy ride. The mud
should be taken off the enamelcd parts
before it is dry. But if dry it should
never be knocked off, but loosencd by
applying henzine or Kerosene with Il
piece Of cloth. The result will be clean
enamel while if the mud is knocked off
marks will remain which can never be
removed except by applying Il new coat
of enamel.
1t has all along been conceded that soft
tires are comfortable and hard tires fast
Just how soft or how hard they should
be has been and il a matter Of personal
choice. Tests have been made, however,
which are claimed to indicate that the
proper air pressure is 27I pounds. At
this pressure the tires reach the limit OF
their lcsiicncy and nothing is gained
when greater pressure is added
1t is reported that many Improvements
will be made in the bicycle track 1T the
Philadelphia ball grounds. Charley
Ashinger is being consulted in regard to
tie alterations Of the track.
'Tcddy' Goodman, known far and
wide as the "king OF lTarIem,' is one of
the most erratic performers among the
first class riders each season. Goodman
cannot be controlled by a trainer He
will ride brilliantly for q time and will
then disappear from the track tired, as
he terms it, Of the sport. On his reap
pcaIance his work will again be Of the
brilliant order, when he will again dis
appear. Goodman, in the hands Of
trainer who c nd comlH.nd him sue
cessIully. would make a brilliant record.