The record-union., 1899-07-10
OF INTEREST TO CYCLISTS.
THE RENO RACE q ADVICE
ABOUT TIREs-GEARs.
The "Mile = Minute'-Test Of
Wheels-Eating and Riding
Long Cranks.

y -
Long Cranks.
The victory of the Capital City
Wheelmen over the Reno wheelmen an
a fifty-mile relay track race on the
4th instant proves anew what inteil-
gent handling of team will accom-
plish. The race was neatly contested.
One the side Of the Sacramento team
the disadvantages were heavy, strons
gale of wind to which the men were
unaccustomed, high altitude, an all
night ride the night before and Iore-
noon parade in which the Reno team
did not participate. Nevertheless the
C. c. w. won out handsomely OH &
track that is ill-adapted for the sport
and in climatic conditions to which the
group of visiting riders was unaccus-
toned. That the Renoites won in the
two sprint races is not surprising.
Their man Keddie Is a whirlwind short
distance rider, and he won fairly, hands
down. In the half mile sprint Eaton
fouled Eldred, whether ignorantly or
purposefully makes no sort OF differ-
ence. Having the pole he should nave
kept it. He>swayed out of it and back
again, and thus prevented Eldred COM
ing up to pass. But according to the
sReno papers Eaton has been given the
sprize despite the protest OF Eldred. Had
THE protest been allowed H. Noyes
Fwould be the winner of the sprint, as he
was clearly second. Too much cannot
be said for the hospitality and manly
conduct of the Reno wheelmen and the
Renoites generally toward their guests.
1T was all it should have been, with the
single exception that they did not turn
'out in the Fourth of July procession
after inviting their guests to do so
and placing themselves on the program
as feature.
Fresno Democrat: Some fellow in
the East almost killed himself trying
ito demonstrate to the world that BIZ
lcycle may be ridden at a speed of one
fmile a minute. If he had died in the
attempt there would have been small
loss for his foolhardiness. To what
practical purposes the bicycle may be
put to use is pretty well known. No
man on any sane and practical errand
will run bike one mile minute. The
practical world will not be benefited by
the demonstration, nor by any Of these
marvellous and idiotic speed tests. The
energy that is wasted in these efforts
might be put to much more beneficial
and practical use.
New York Tribune: Riding a bicycle
mile in less than minute seems on
the face of it marvellous achieve
ment. AS matter of fact, when we
come to consider how it was done. it is
no such thing. The wheelman who per-
formed the alleged feat is without
doubt a fine master of the silent
steed." He may be the best wheelman
in the world; certainly he is one of the
best. But it is a great srror to sup
pose that he actually propelled his BIZ
cycle at any such rate of speed. He
did ride mile on his wheel in less than
minute. But it was not his pedaling
that accomplished it. It was the rail-
road train by which he was paced .
He rode between the rails, close be-
hind the train, and the rear of the train
was provided with a sort of hood, un-
der the very brim Of which he rode.
Thus he was not merely screened from
any head wind, but he was placed and
Kept In tremendous wind, or current
OF air, travelling in the direction in
which he was going. He was riding in
a current of air moving a mile min
ute. Any one who has ridden bicycle
IN wind knows what that must have
meant. More than one rider has
coasted" along a level road and even
up moderate hill before three min
ute breeze. How fast could he go in
a mile minute hurricane such as that
in which Murphy rode? It hardly
seems extravagant to think that the
latter might have made his mile a
min11ta without
simply drawn along by the wind or the
suction of the train
That is not bicycle speeding in the
true sense Of the term. 1t may ad-
vertise the performer and secure him a
lucrative engagement among trained
dogs and skirt dancers in a music hall.
but 1t does not set record for the
emulation OF wheelmen any more than
an oarsman would set q record in
scuiiing by pulling downstream where
the current ran like millrace, or a
sailing yacht being towed behind a
thirty-knot torpedo boat.
1t has often been noted that women.
even when their means are ample. are
inclined to spend less money for their
bicycles than are men. Yet the ad-
vantages Of high-class construction
are relatively greater in the wonan's
wheel. The less rigid drop frame
with its accompanying complications
OF chain and wheel guards, can be
Sighted only at the risk of much SUBJ
sequent annoyance. and possibly dan
ger, to the rider.
1t is an admitted fact that the gears
OF cycles still continue high this year.
but there is certainly. a decline in the
use of extremes. Most amateur racers
and large number Of professionals
are riding slightly lower gear this sea-
son. The average racing mans gear
Is now about eighty Even A
Chase. the Englishman. who is noted
Tor his extraordinary high gears, has
come down from 12G to 105.
New York and Connecticut now have
laws requiring police officials to accept
bicycles as security in case of arrests
Tor violation of bicycle ordinances
dealer gives this recipe for the
care of tires: Heat causes expan-
sion, and there is just the possibility,
well to be avoided, OF sudden burst
So, though it is excellent to have the
tire tight. watchful eye must be cast
NO y