The record-union., 1899-07-03

| Ten wears ago a bicycle rl0eF Was
considered a crank, or at least NUS
ance. To-day, as a class, they are one
of the powerful factors of our natlonai
The stcranks or NUS
ances," have proven to everybody tnal
cycling is productive of health, because
of its exercise and recreation; that II
facilitates travel; that it is economical
| (the poor mans carriage), and that IL
enables people to see something of the
vicinity in which they live. But in ad-
dition they have awakened the country
to THE knowledge. that our country
roads are in such disgraceful condition
as to be almost impracticable Tor the
purposes Of transportation. They nave
shown that millions of dollars are vast
ed every year because of trying to run
wheels over surfaces not intended Tor
| them.
ut has often been a puzzle to me-,
SAYS a veteran wheelman, why the trl-
cycle is not more popular than it Is.
There, was a period from 1884 to lS9o
when the three-wheeler was powerful
rival to the bicycle. NO doubt that
was due to some extentTto the risk at
tending the riding of the high bicycle,
and to the fact. that the tricycle. was
1.-THE only cycle Gin addition, of course
Ito the tandem tricycle) which was
available for women. But though the
invention of the safety by Starley was
the reason for the decay of the three
wheeled machine, I am still of opinion
that on it's own merits 1t deserves still
to be popular In it's latest and most
up-to-date form, though it entails more
work than the bicycle, it is an ideal
machine for pottering around, for rid
ing through traffic, and for touring"
l. The claim is made that Buffalo is the
greatest cycle town in this country.
Every summer day on which there Is
no rain from $4,000 to 10000 wheels are
ridden. Every day on which the rain
| falls steadily from morning to even
| ing the receipts of the street car lines
are said to be increased from $500 to
81, 200. There is one wheel to every
eight men, women and children, in
! Guiding the poorest. There are more
men dealing in. bicycles than in drugs
| or bread.
| Wheelmen arriving in France will be
relieved by the decree of M. Blanc, Pre-
feet of Police, exempting them from
the metal badge required by the new
law. Any foreign rider will, on appli-
cation at the Custom House, receive a
Government permit, on stamped paper,
available for three months. After this
! date the machine will have to be reg,
| istered.
Services for wheelmen are not uncom-
mon in country churches in England,
now that so many riders take advantage
of the only day open to them to make
a journey out of town. The rector of
Fyffeld, near Ongar, has, however, de-
termined to make such services addi-
tionally attractive, first, by limiting
them to half an hour, with a five min
utes' sermon-short enough in all con-
science-and next by throwing open the
rectory grounds, which cover seven
acres in this pretty part OF Essex, to
the wheelmen, who will be able to get
, tea for sixpence in the parish-room.
The first Of these parades, as they are
termed, was held last Sunday.
/ A German manufacturer of chainless
| bicycles has introduced the old pr:n-
ciple of oval cogwheel gearing The
principle has previously been used in
various machine tools and finely adj
| justed machinery, but nowhere is the
principle Of greater value than in the
bicycle and the same principle has
been applicable the chain. and sprocket,
I;but itssappllc zion IN ~ snaps is-hew.
TIA chief value lies ii the fact that the
rotation Is made slower when the foot
power is applied and faster when there