Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1899-12-11
SIZES OF spRockETs.
From Small to Large and Now Smaller
Aaain.


II is on the card that big sprocket
wheels have had their day; and while
this is meant to apply mainly to ex-
tremes, it is by no means unlikely that
reaction will shortly set in that viii
once more bring in smaller and posi-
bly, small chain wheels. The evident
desire for somewhat lighter machines
is likely to do much to bring this
about.
With the coming of the safety ma
chine, and the consequent necessity
of gearing up to obtain even a moder-
ate degree of speed, the bicycle sprock-
ct wheel made its appearance. AS at
first fitted it was neither large nor
small. Weight had not become a burn
ing question at that time, and makers
naturally pursued the happy mean in
the matter of sprocket-wheel sizes.
They were too much occupied with
other problems of pressing nature to
descend to such trivialties as the prop.
er number of teeth sprocket wheels
should contain.
After most of the problems had been
settled-a process which took some
years-the weight question assumed
great importance. In looking about
for ways to tighten machines. the
sprocket wheels and chain could not
long be overlooked. Widths of chains
ran the whole scale-from five-eighths
to three-sixteenths, and even, in a
few cases. to one-eighth: thus cover
ing the two extremes and finally set
Ting at about one-quarter inch. At
the same time the number of teeth in
the chain wheel was cut down. In
stead of nine and ten-tooth rear sprock-
cts that formerly ruled. They came
down to six and even to five. while the
front chain wheels underwent only
slight alteration, for the demand for
higher gears partly kept pace with the
increase that resulted from the use of
small rear sprockets.
The craze for light weights and
small sprocket wheels reached per-
iod at practically the same time.
Straightway both began to retrace
their steps, but sprocket wheels cut
a much faster pace than did weights.
They climbed steadily upward, until
nine and ten-tooth rear wheels became
customary once more. AS gears had
been climbing also, the front spockets
had to be increased in proportion, I'M
til twenty-five teeth ceased to be un-
usual, and even larger sizes than this
were not abnormal. On freak" ma
chimes thirty teeth were not at all un-
common.
The additional weight necessitated
by the use of such chain wheels was
considerable. Chains were much mar
rowed, of course but the additional
length--four and one-half feet being
required in some instances-almos
counterbalanced this gain. AS to the
sprocket wheels themselves, there
was nothing to set against the addi-
tional weight, and had it not been for
the complacence of the riding public
In the matter of weight the use of such
large chain wheels would not have
been tolerated. This apathy as regards
weight and the advantage, real or sup.
posed, obtained by the use of large
sprockets, made it possible to fit them.
Once more the time seems ripe for a
change. Extremely large chain wheels
are no longer in favor, and there is
some danger that even the medium
ones-say nine and ten-tooth rear
and twenty-three to twenty-five front
will have to go. They have been in
use so long that they have lost their
novelty, and many riders would hail
drop with reclamation. At the same
time it should be borne in mind that
this Is a matter which depends very
largely on the question of weight Any
considerable reduction in this respect
must be brought about partly by the
use of smaller sprocket wheels.-Bi-
cycle World