The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-05-07
HEALrHFULNEss OF CYCLING.

Few people IN this country know the
history of the bicycle, or who first intro
duced that now universally popular We
hicle into this country. Space Will not
permit complete description OF the eV-
oIution of the new speedy, perfectly con-
structed and handsome Safety, from
the crude affair on which English gen
tlemen were accustomed a quarter OF
century ago to beSport themselves. Pres
ent-day cyclists owe debt or gratitude
to F. M. Smith &; Bro, 32l, S25 and 52o
Wabasha street, st. Paul, Mimi, to whose
untiring energy, pluck and large outlay
of money the American people now en-
low the most pleasurable, hcalth-giv1ng
means Of locomotion the ingenuity of man
ever devised in their celebrated Gopher
Bicycles, and today we have in this bicy-
Gle, as in the day 1t was 1rst put on the
market, a machine that Is the acme OF
beauty and perfection.
The Gopher wheel has ever stood up
| to the head ofistne list. It has today
many rivals, but none that can rob 1t
| of it's well earned honors, or detract from
| it's long established popularity. Other
machines may apessess many features
| which commend them to the public, and
many bicycles are deserving OF the high
| est praise and are. probably worth all
that is asked for them, but the Emperor
| of them ALL and the best known and the
| most popular Is the Gopher. This bi-
| cycle was one of the first in the field,
and always the first to embody the latest
| improvements. 1t Is constructed of the
| very finest materials and is made by the
| most skillful workers. 1t has an eccentric
| rear fork and chain adjuster, which will
| adjust the chain and line up the rear
| wheel instantly, besides no wrench or
screwdriver is necessary, as single turn
| Of ones fingers does the entire business.
1t Is constructed with patent lock nut,
so that felt washer may be inserted in
the groove which prevents any dust from
| getting into the bearings. The sprocket
is so accurately milled that the chain pos
| itiyely does not touch the face of the
| teeth until after entering, consequently
| there is no loss of power from the chain
sliding down the teeth of the sprocket.
The crowns of the forks are followed
out, which makes them much lighter and
| at the same time stronger than the old
style of crowns. A steel lug passing
| through the crown into the stem, for a
distance of more than an inch, will cause
the forks to be the last part OF the wheel
to break or give out. The manufacturers
of the Gopher bicycle guarantee their
wheels from all .mperfection or defect In
material and poor construction for a
whole season, while the other makers of
wheels usually guarantee only from thirty
to sixty days.
In our opinion the Gopher wheel holds
the lead against all other competitors. 1t
speaks for itself, sasfit has record sec
ond to none. 1t has more than held Its
own against violent competitors, and to-
day it's popularity IS, ever increasing. We
do not fiatter; truth needs no fiattery.
Facts are stubborn things, and those who
will take the trouble to carefully investi-
gate the mater, will not be long in find
ing out what we have said Is an unde-
niable fact. We do not wish in any wise
to detract from the good opinion our read
ers may have concerning other bicycles
our only object is to give due credit
where the facts will bear out all we have
said. u.sttt
The Gopher sisonot low priced ma
chine. In every line of production there
are always poor, medium and fine grades
The finest grades always command the
highest price. If the dealer tells you
that another machine is just as good as
the Gopher. although 1t sells for less
money, satisfy yourself first concerning
their past record: and second, what is the
consensus of opinion of professional and
expert riders throughout the country. OF
one thing be assured, and that is that YOU
are not paying high price CONSIDERING
the intrinsic value and merits of this ma.
chine.
We take great pleasure In being able
to give this bicycle our strongest editorial
endorsement as wheel that is par-excel.
lence In all respectA