The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-07-09
THE WITHDRAWING BUSINESS.
It Has Been Damaged by tho Present
Cheapness of Bicycles.

theaHne" OF BicycleH.
Complaints Of poor business In the bicycle
trade have been fewer this year than last year
and the one before. but that doesn't signify
that some OF the wheel shops have not found.
80 t. speak. rather bard sledding" Those
referred to are the shops whore bicycles are
rented to permanent and transient customers.
In this city there are scores OF such places, and
on the upper weot side they are very numer-
Gus Before this year many OF them did an
extremely profitable business. They we're
advantageousIy situated and were we'll known
to tho wheelmen. aud. as n rule. their man.
ayers gained reputation for courtesy and fair
dealing which made them popular among
riders. Their machines we're carefully looked
after by good mechanics. and customers could
depend upon securing wheels that would give
good service.
This year no fault, apparently. has been
found with the quality OF the machines to be
let. and certainly there has been no decrease
in the number Of cyclists but the renting bust.
ness has fallen away and hundreds OF the
wheels that were formerly kent for renting
purposes have been sold That such is the
case is admitted at some OF the shops where
last year ana tho year before two and three
men were regularly employed reparing the
wheels that were kept Tor rental;
IL IL nor difficult to understand the cause OF
the present dulness IN the renting business.
IL is due simply 10 the fact that the demands
Of iilers have been met in another way. In
stead Of hiring wheels at so much a day or so
much u week, a large number have taken ad-
vantage OF the greatly reduced prices 0. BIZ
cycles and have bought machines outright
Those that could not do that have bought on
the plan OF easy payments or have con-
didn't need for a wheel that they could call
their own. OF course TINS refers to wheelmen
with whom the ownership OF bicycles was
heretofore regarded as impossible on account
of the higher prices at which they sold.
some idea Of the way man; Of the renting
methods among the bicycle dealers may be
had from the statement of wheel renter on
Eighth avenue. He said:
Probably no one connected with the bicycle
business has been more discouraged In the
last three months, than the man who let's
wheels. Not only have most of our old Gus.
toners deserted us. but the few we have ex-
pect to hire wheels ior loss than Is required TO
never let a single wheel 20 out OF the shop
for less than 80 cents for the first hour and 70
have been obliged to come down in my fig.
ures. If / find that a rider Ia not willing to
| pay what ask. l make price to suit HIN, II
he or che is disposed to be reasonable about
Cone thing, though" he continued. has
! has never been so great as II is now; 1t has
been more active since last March than ever
chimes is sufficiently hgh to mako up, to some
extent. fol, what We lose on the single wheels.
The rate however. is lower even for tandems
thought Of letting out sl3O tandem at less
| than - dav. and frequently we got ST and
| 81. The machine was always kept in fine con:
| diton. was thoroughly cleaned and oiled and
| polished after every trip. and we had no trou.
| ble in getting the price We asked Tor 1t. At
! present II get II n day Tor the best tandem
| In my shop | consider myself lucky. Three
| dollars and $3.50 are nearer the prices l usu-
| ally get, and | have rented tan for whole
| dav for a. little ns s..
But aside from the present cheapness OF
| bicycles. there are other considerations which
| have injured our business by influencing
| riders to buy wheels for themselves. 1t Is
natural for u ueisOn to become 80 attached to
| a bicycle as to find little pleasure in riding at
| all unless he can use the same machine every
| time he goes out. or course. IL is posi- BILE to
! do that in tho case OF rented wheel, but IL
| often happens that the one d certain customer
| has rented regularly Is out of tho shop when
! he calls fer il. and 1t is very difficult to find
| another machine that will suit his fancy. II a
! wheemau is arrested for scorching or any
otner reason and 10 taken to the station house
! almost the first question asked OF him Is wheth-
| er the bicycle ishis own. II IL isn't. tho rider
| sometimes hnds himself In an uncom Portable
| predicament. | am sorry to say, also. that
! by far too many OF the wheels rented are UNFIT
| to offer to any one. They are constantly
| breaking down and causing their riders an
| noyancs. Every machine hired at this place Ia
| thoroughly inspected before 1t goes cut. and II
| should be SO in all shOps.'