The record-union., 1898-01-27
THE CYCLER'S COLUMN.
NEW TRACKS-WHEELS SOLD
IN PARTS.
Is Reconciliation at Hand!-A
Matter of Prices-Cycle Trade
in Troub1e-Air Resistance.

Judging from the number of new
tracks which will appear about Greater
New York this year, a boom Oh pun
lie interest in cycle racing is being an
ticipated Outside of schemes winch
are still in the air, four new tracks are
promised for the metropolitan dlstrlci-
One Of the large branch stores IN New
York is selling its wheels at hxeo
prices without tires or saddles, Iellihs
customers take their choice OF THESE a.
ticles and pay accordingly. II refuses
TO sell ON any different terms ana othei
dealers are advocating the same meth
DDS.
A man who has been identified with
the cycle trade for ten years dares pre-
dict that unless prices do go up again
and unless the makers return TO their
former methods of advertising and sell
ing the entire trade will become dis
rupted and the industry of bicycle man
ufacture will disappear from America
Sydney B. Bowman of the New York
Cycle Board Of Trade declares that BIZ
cycles will never again be as cheap as
they are this year.
1t has been said that the S125 chain
less wheels were intended in their first
year to cater to only the more wealthy
and socially exclusive classes among
riders, on the theory that their adoption
by this class would make them popular
later So far as the sales now being
made in New York indicate, this idea
was not without foundation, as some Of
the socially prominent riders are al
ready using the high-priced chainless.
While the chainless at S12o may be
naturally expected to be chiefly wheel
for this class Of people, it is not prov
ing true that all of the best classes are
buying chainless cycles. Since the an
nouncement of chainless machines at
SEQ and So many of the fashionables
have placs d orders for other than chain
less wheels, and many are TO be seen
riding wheels having enclosed chains.
AS the soiling of the hands and cloth
ing has been with the swell set, espec-
tally, the most Objectionable feature of
cycling, this state of affairs is not sur
prising, and probably the representa-
tive social element will this year be
seen on either chainless or gear-cased
wheels, despite the fact that the price
the reach of the masses as of the class
es. The amount of riding being done
in New York now is Unprecedented for
this season of the year. The class of
riders and the number of women among
them IS wholly surprising also, notwith-
standing the general increase of Win
ter riding.
One of the greatest incoIveniences to
which the bicycler is subjected is the
great liability of losing the tiny bolt
which holds the two ends of the sprock-
ct chain. A very ingenious method of
securing this has been recently devised
The bolt is screwed into place in the
usual manner, one side being threaded
TO receive it and the other counter
bored to accommodate the bolt-head,
which conforms in size to the rivet-
heads. thin plate of clock-spring
steel is pivoted to the connecting link
and swings over the bolt head. The
spring is uniform in shape and finish
with the side links, one end being
swelled to snugly fit the bolt head, upon
which it presses with sufficient tension
to hold the bolt in place.-Philadelphi
Record.
New York Herald: The announce
ment in yesterdays Herald" that the
cycle trade would no longer support
cycle racing in this country created a
sensation in many quarters. 1t was
generally admitted by those who take
an interest in the sport that the pros
poets for the outdoor racing season are