The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-09-03
WOMEN'S WHEELS HEAVY.
COMPLAINTS THAT VACATION TRIPS
WERE NOT ENJOYABLE.

BtCycllng over country INoauh
Increased BY the 1899 Whecis-Plea For
Lighter Machines Next Year-some I'm
pleasant Country Experiences of Women.
Since the return Of many New Workers from their
vacations there has been much discussion Of what
next year il likely 70 bring forth in the way Of
bicycles and bicycle appurtenances Some OF
the young people have been spending their holi-
days where they could make everyday use Of the
wheel, and where they have had opportunity
TO test the quality Of machines on nearly all sorts
Of roads Little but praise of the 1899 models is
heard from persons who have visited nearby re-
sorts where they have found cycle paths and
hard smooth highways but those who have been
soiourning in the country. and particularly in
mountainous regions express themselves as not
altogether pleased with what they call the "con
duct Of their bikes
Remarks Of dissatisfaction have been heard
frequently among wheelwomen who took their
light roadsters" along with them n anticipation
of showing rural inhabitants how the bicycle
girls of the metropolis could distance their four
footed steeds with nothing but gravel road or
cowpath TO ride From the tenor Of their
conversation II appears that. in many cases, the
shortskirted scorchcrs got the worst Of IT, and
they are explaining 10 their friends how il hap
pened OF course the wheels were responsible
for the results The following conversation.
which took place the other evening in one Of the
whcelmen's rests" the west side will give an
idea as to how the wheelwomen felt
Unless some important changes are made in
the bicycles of next year" said well tanned
cycle woman, you needn't expect me to take my
wheel into the country. Even the offer Of free
trip TO the Exposition wouldn't induce me to be
bothered again with bike that weighs 80 pounds
went up 10 the Catsks with the impression
that could gain health and strength by taking
five mile or ten mile spins around the mountains
and could perhaps make a century or two before
l came away What was the result? Look at
me! But am in the pink Of good health now
compared with what was two weeks ago II
had kept up cycling should have been 80 thin now
that you wouldn't know me
Generally speaking am not one who has
TO dsmount at every other turn in the road To rest
but confess that never rode for more than ff-
teen minutes at a time up in Sullivan County
without getting off TO quiet my nerves and take
long breath OF course the roads there not
macadam, yet do not think they are much worse
than country roads elsewhere. The fact il that
my wheel was entirely too heavy. When bought
it told the dealer II weighed more than my last
years machine but he assured me that in this
years models, the additional weight would be
more than Offset by the superiority of their mater
ial and the workmanship upon them. PERHAPS
his statement was true. but believe if had had
my 81 wheel with me this summer il would have
given much better satisfaction than | got out of
my one"
Where was. said another young wheelwoman
who had returned from her holiday a few days
before, none Of the girls had wheel that weg he'd
less than % pounds Nearly every day they IN ade
up party and went out for a tour Of the neighbor
ing villages but their experiences were very SINH
lar tn b,,aa pf, frin III.
wheels were much too heavy and cumbersome for
them to push on rough roads and that the little
fun that they got out Of their rides did not repay
them for their excrtion. As a last resort they
hired cart with two horses, to go along with them
and when they tired Of pedalling they lifted their
machines into the cart and allowed the horses to
draw them along until they regained their am
bition to revert TO their wheels
AS for myself, | have used the same wheel
for three years because haven't been able TO buy
another. The old thing looks somewhat anti
quated but | think more depends on how ma
chine runs than on how IL looks II weighs lust
81 pounds and can lift il and carry il almost
any distance with ease. My friends said il would
be dangerous for person of my weight l52 pounds
to ride such light wheel over roads that were soft
and full Of ruts, but il you will believe me- did
not have breakdown all the while was away.
distances than any one Of the party, and the old
wheel behaved so well that unless those of next
year present some very striking advantages over
the models Of 1899. shall have no desire TO give
up the one haze"
"Of course, the roads Of New Jersey are in every
way superior to those up in the Catskis observed
another member Of the group, but my rides about
Long branch and Asbury Park convinced me that
the argument against the increased weight of this
years wheels is thoroughly Just Manufacturers
seem TO think that difference Of four or five Mound
in the weight Of bicycle is a worry trivial matter
too trivial in fact for their serious consideration
They apparently believe that the women who ride
do so for the purpose Of exhibiting their strength
not for the purpose of acquiring strength: and
there's where they are wrong. OF the wheelwomen
in this city venture 10 say that nine out of ten
ride more especially for the sake Of hardening
their muscles and increasing their physical yigor
than for any other reason. But with wheels so
heavy that their rides become positively fatiruinc
except on the best Of roads. how can they hone to
derive the benefit from cycling which would come
from the use of machines which were lighter and
more easily propelled
The contention OF makers may be true that for
men who make a practice Of touring here there
and everywhere. thirty pound. and even thirty
five pound wheels are prefcra BILE but il should he
remembered that an exceedingly small percentage
OF the wheelmen are tourists and that the number
ri touring women cyclists is still smaller In nv
the experiments with light weight
machines in 1896 fully justify the manufacture of
light wheels in the future, at least for women
And, according To reports, several Of the large
makers have already signified their intention Of
reducing the weight OF their models for 1900 Let
us hope that their intention will be carried out and
that after this year the wheewomen' $ plea for
lighter mounts will become unnecessary"
Not Enough Troops to Conquer the Yaquis.
FL PAso, TEX. Sept. 2.-John McNauRhton,
who has been in the heart OF the Yaqui coun-
try reached FL Paso yesterday He reports
that the Mexican troops in the field are inade-
quate to cope with 1.-THE hosties and that
Gen. Torres withdrew his command from the
Jungle through necessity. as his soldiers were
exhausted from the effects OF the intense heat
and forced marches.
DIunar and RaoantIou F,,r AIt~.tJ