The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-04-23
WHEELSARE HEAVIER NOW.
THE LIGHT BICYCLEs OF TWO YEARS
AGO ARE MISSING.

So Many Repairs Were Needed That Makers
and Riders Agreed That Heavier Wheels
Should Bo Made A woman's Quest
for n Light Wheel and Its Result.
When It was announced last year that the
bicycles OF 1899 we're likely to be heavier than
those OF 1893 many riders expressed surprise.
They argued that q good deal OF dissatisfac-
tion was found with the wheels then in use be-
cause they were heavier than those OF the two
years Just passed. But it appears that the re-
port concerning the purposed increase In
weight was we'll founded. According to the
statements OF some persons who have visited
the wheel shops. 1t Is extremely difficult to find
n machine OF this years model that weighs.
when fitted with a brake. tool bag. coasters.
and O tire OF ordinary size. less than twenty
seven pounds, and several OF the new wheels
are from two to five pounds heavier than that.
Twenty eight-pound or thirty pound wheels
are complained Of less by men than by women.
The women as q rule. are not disposed to
accept the explanation OF dealers that the run
ming qualities OF q wheel have little to do with
its weight and depend chiefly upon its general
construction. They say that the light machines
OF 1896 have never been excelled. so far as ease
In pedalling Is concerned. and the fact that
machines at the present time are several
pounds heavier than the old patterns is caus-
ing no little discussion. An example OF the
difficulty which women have in obtaining a
light" wheel. as that term Is understood by
riders. was furnished by the experience OF a
wheelwoman last week. who visited over a
dozen large shops in the downtown district.
Tho machine l am now riding" she ex-
planned to the salesman OF q large shop. us
heavier than | like: 1t weighs twenty-five
pounds all on and is a DS model"
"Twenty-fve pounds. all on!" exclaimed the
man. why. bless you. it Is next to impossi-
bic to find Il new wheel lighter than that.
The lightest we have weigh twenty-six pounds
without brake or saddle. and We think
those ought to be light enough to suit
almost any one. Bicycles are considerably
heavier this year than they were during
the past three or four years. and people who
desire machines weighing less than twenty
six pounds. when equipped for the road. will
have to ride old ones"
At another store tho inquiry for q light
weight wheel elected the following reply:
None OF our V3 road wheels for ladies
weighs less than twenty-seven pounds when
fitted out with its attachments. Experiments
in 1896 and 1897 with wheels OF twenty-five
and twenty-three pounds proved unsuccessful.
They required 80 much repairing and SO many
Of their parts had to be replaced before one
season was ended that both riders and manu-
facturers became convinced OF the need OF
machines more stanch and rigid: and the out
come was that thereafter stronger and heavier
material was used in tho machines construc-
ton. But il is a great mistake to suppose that
the new models run harder than the old ones.
On the contrary. less exertion Is needed to
propel them than was required to propel the
lighter machines.
1.-THE reason is this: In tho last three or four
years the mechanical skill necessary in max
ing frst-class bicycles has been developed
wonderfully. Bearings are now much more
perfect than they used to be: Joints are made
Chances nsW in r4 thee SHARING anS OF T't ira Kies'r render dtfe ~
machines OF the present much easier OF pro
fact that less of the riders power is wasted
than formerly. and many other notifications
have taken place which go to make the cues.
more or or, less demand for, tweqty-two and
ers who desire them look about they find that
their wants cannot be satisfied unless they are
Here's a v wheel that weighs Just twenty-five
pounds as 1t stands" said the salesman at an
you ~ se sao and has no tool Gag attached. With
tires OF ordinary size it would weigh TWENTY
SIX sEs pounds; perhaps Pc Tho ~ tW EN- 70 It is one Of
why; 1t seems to me that wheel weighs
more than twenty-five pounds" said the
that hat S wsiSht; and our catalogues are always
".Doyou mind taking = It over to the scales and
weighing 1t. for curiOsity's sake Z" asked tho
woman.
Certainly not. il you are inclined to doubt
my word"
The scales were fastened to the wall about
five feet from tho floor and the. wheel was sus-
pended from them by means of a narrow leath-
err strap. which weighed perhaps three ounces.
Now you will have proof that our statements
are trustworthy" said the salesman. with an
air OF confidence.
At the twenty-six-pound notch the lever OF
the scales failed to drop. At twenty seven
pounds 1t still rested hard against the top Of
the beam. Attwenty-eight II didn't move. At
twenty-nine its position was unchanged. At
the thirty ponnd-notch the lever moved
slightly. but the balance weight had to be
pushed further along over three ounce notches
before the correct weight Of the machine was
registered.
stead OF twenty-five! How do you account for
that?' asked the woman.
II can't understand that. But you will OBJ