The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-10-01
NEWS OF THE WHEELMEN.
DEVICE TO BUNco FIFTY CENT PIECES
OUT OF CYCEIgTS.

The Dewey Festivities Bring Out Decorated
Machines rs Did the Spanish War-Free
Wheels and Coaster Breaks the Fnd-A
Referees Solomon-liks Racing Decision.
A new way to bunoo cyclists out OF half dol
lars IL being played. The victim leaves his
wheel to enter a etore and returning In few
minutes finds lock fastened to the sprocket
wheel and chain. presumably through the mis-
take OF some careless wheelman. Uron tho
advice OF q bystander. the cycllst takes his
wheel to the shop OF mechanic nearby, who.
is unable to pick the lock and so saws it In two
or appears to have done so when he reappears
from his back room with lock like the ono on
the wheel In two pieces. The m mechanic charges
half dollar. and as the victim does not care
for the useless two pieces OF tho lock they are
kept IN tho shop for future use. while the lock
that was really on tho wheel is handed over BY
the mechanic to his accomplice. tho accommo-
dating bystander. to be employed In catching
tho next rider.
Not since the late war have bicycles displayed
30 much red. white and blue bunting as they
have In the past few days. The riders. too.
have been gayly attired and have been out in
great numbers to attend the celebration. Where
they all slowed themselves In the crowd. and
how they managed to drag their wheels about.
is mystery. An individual solution OF the
difficulty was witnessed along Riverside drive.
whore an ingenious young man removed the
saddle from his wheel and braced 1t firmly In
the crotch OF a tree that could be easily reached
from the ground. Then he left his WI eel ing
against the trunk OF the tree. climbed to his
improvised grand stand and looked triumph
ant He had no fear OF his wheel being stolen
minus the saddle. but it began to be knocked
about before long. and then he showed that he
~aa taff n of IA tnn itv ua
man to hang 1t over his toes as they dangled in
tho air. and. drawing 1t up till he could hold 1t
on one knee. he proceeded to unfold the leather
st rSes q luggage e"tEber With which he
back looking happier than ever
One Of the most marked DEVELOPMENTS Of
larity OF the same kind Of free wheel and
coaster- brake devices that few years ago
to obscurity. 1t is the old story. OF rejected
Improvement coming to the front victor
rank as 6iiip to the sport with such innova-
tGns as ball pal 6eSrnG; or pnsnmato tires 1t is
and give fresh impetus to the trade. by supply
ing riders with change worthy OF considera-
tlon and diverting the sport from a groove
wheels and coaster brakes this season is
enough to impress their practibility.
There is ono reason why conservative riders
who advocate the general use OF brakes. will
welcome the Introduction OF the coaster device
possession OF a brake. The mere fact that OK
nerts could control their wheels ny back pedal
ana h. has had ens than 1 ese
| to do with the small vogue Of the brake. which
has resulted in many chapters Of accidents
| cycle accidents. and most Of them as usual
could have been prevented by the use O. an
| been wont to call brakes nuisances and think
Of them as the badges OF unprohciency. are
argument that the, coaster brake enables
| one to ride fiity miles and pedal only thirty
| seli-relant and it Ia probably just as wol that
| the treewheel appliances are not being adyo-
scofiers should deery them. Those who are 50
| independently about brakes are largely Of the
elias. who adopt IT., what becomes poPula th and II
portions promised they will be found in fine.
| 30 certain does this change seem to be, at
are, now working out way to apply coaster
brake to chainless wheels.
! Several racing men and others were dis
| GUSHING the trou bes that ari se over decisions
rendered on tho track. and relating incidents Of
don't believe any Of You ever heard OF one Of tn.
most remarkable and solomon. IKE decisions
e try race sor meet where Vent on i poihunt
| Doc Schwabach was referee and was late in
arriving at the track. The novice race had been
| there was a great clamor OF protest. There
were twelve youngster: from the country
| with steps on them The other six de-
| clared that 1t was against the rules
aud they would not ride in company with such
| wheels for fear OF an accident. When it hat
| been about decided to exclude the six men
| with steps the referee reached the track. He
| first decided not to disqualify the six men. and
| then re- arranged the race so that the six men
with steps rode in one heat and the six without
| etsps rode together There were two men to
| qualify from each heat for the final. Doc -
| was ask cd how he was going to arrange the
difficulty there. as there would be two men with
| haven't reached the final yet. Let us wait till
| tho trouble reaches u.s.. Tho two heats were
| run all right and then some more heats. In
| the meantime the referee worked out his
| scheme. He called two boys with steps on
| their wheels to him and told them to borrow
| wheels for the inal from the four men without
| steps who had failed to qualify. This was done
| and out OF the confusion OF tho twelve novices
| there was a clean final heat with no steps on
| any of the wheels"