The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-07-17
INCIDkNra oE cYCLEDOM.
To Keep Out Professionals in Hill Climb
ing and CoastinE.

To Keep Out Professionals in Hill Climb
ing and CoastinE.
The decision of the Associated Cycling clubs
OF New York to make their annual hill-cimb-
ing and coasting contests closed events this
season Is one that Is hoped to aid In filling
large entry list and restoring TO these inn
mensely interesting features OF the sport the
popularity that was lost through holding open
competitions. 1t is not generally appreciated
that there arc what might be called profess
SIGNALS in these lines. especially In coasting.
They are men associated with or hired by
some manufacturer and they enter In every
contest. One or another OF this class
OF men has won 30 regularly In
the open contests that the general run OF riders
have ceased to take any interest. realizing
that they had no chance. and 1t has become
hard OF late to get a respectable sized entry
list As there is no body like the l.. A. W. that
takes cognizance OF hill climbing and coasting.
there has been no way to stamp az profess
SIGNALS men who undoubtedly we're such. and.
the one that is to be tried by the Associated
"nS that some ct the
through club mem bershippe' Pro T en ea
srnnse tn Ss %haO the Is great
ole is considered. The men, employed BY
,Eheelmnakers have reduced the knaek q max;
that Is amazing. They have experimental and
trained daily us hard as would a track racing
covery of many facts which are OF much i'm
portance in coasting. and which go TO show
that success IN coasting is as much matter Of
the man and his management as it Is OF
the wheel. Supreme attention is paid to
t %p ~" p6 dstrs especially those relating
These coasting experts, through constant
learn to he ractGn O az inch
particular wheel to the greatest advantage.
The amateur has extreme difficulty in main
tanning fixed position of the cramped charac-
GELS him In this. as well as in having learned
the best position and the most advantageous
| equipment and adjustment of the bearings.
| The slightest wabble from direct line in such
contests means loss OF headway. and there is
| TO deal with the wind conditions. One thing that
has been learned by the experts is that the
amateur idea CONCERNING tires is wrong one.
| The inexperienced coaster thinks that heavy
tires will increase the momentum Of q, wheel
al the conditions of climbing hills and coast
fF Is II no oa TSh ss OF %hs %
corning the bicycle that is valuable ana that
climbing steep hill the man and the machine
are sternly tested for their strength: in coast
Ing the free-running qualities OF the wheel
under the most favorable circumstances and
| the judgment OF the rider are up for trial.
A story illustrating the advantage to be
gained through being polite as well as portIy
and OF impressive presence Is told concerning
Il. Jefferson Stevens. treasurer OF the Brooklyn
Good Roads Association. 1t came out through
| his own telling Of IL because he thought 1t too
good to keep 1t harpencd recently, during
active arresting riders who did not carry bells,
| that Stevens was riding on the Coney Island
cycle path. He heard voice behind him say
where's your bell on that wheel"
he called back good naturedly: "Oh. that's
The next moment, the owner Of the voice
came alongside Of him and he saw that it was
IIll have to take you in for not having q
Wt VI Ia show Of great surprise Stevens looked
BELL, Oh, that's funny. / thought had
sbdRe sows S MmsF Nth great
and the officer. paying attention to his stylish
dress and dignity of person. remarked with
Sorry. sir. but I'll have to arrest you. It's
nv orders"
They rode along together slowly until they
reached one of the cycle repairing shops that
line the Boulevard, and then stevens said:
md h hs es sSme IN nay the heTs
no harm for me to stop and attend to it, Ell 2"
The officer was not inclined to be harsh with
specially waited outside for stevens to reap
pear The latter, was not long and the pair pro-
p9@ehed si . rd is put his Ead
behind him and rang a bell that was fastened
under his saddle. The policeman started and
y thought you said you did not have bell"
| Oh' no. ulun say mat, answered Ste
vens was confused when you spoke to me
| and didn't know Just what to say. ! forgot
where my bell was when you looked at my han
| die bars, you know"
The cop gave him hard look. but Stevens
| maintaincd his suavity OF manner. and the
| can't do anything. GOol-day."
Stevens rode on, as he says; subtractinR 80
| cents from 81. and thinking how wise he was
| to pay that repair man 80 cents for the bell, in
stead OF paving So fine in CONT. The police
man knows the story now and admits that he
was neatly fooled.