The Washington times., 1908-02-23
Cycling Notes


there were still a good many people
who believed that its popularity would
revive later, says the Saturday Evening
Post of February Is. Nevertheless, the
sport of riding the wheel seemed pretty
dead. the collapse being at its worst
in 1901. In 1861 only 5000 bicycles were
manufactured in this country. But in
1897 the number rose 10 10000, and dur
ing the resent year 10 fewer than L.
.50.000 new wheels will be turned cut in
American factories.
There was more than suggestion Of
Ole times IN the striking display OF BIZ
cycles at the recent motor show in Buff
falO, and also in the interest which
they evoked. Some six or seven leading
manufacturers displayed their wheels,
ard one of them showed no less than
tWenty-three different models Of Di-
cycles, To was plainly evident that
those who examined the cycle displays
did so as enthusiastic riders or pros
pective buyers. In this connection il
was noticed that the better grades Of
wheels attracted tine most attention, in
diCaJing that the reaction in favor Of
wheels having substantial worth. is
mere than mere theory on the part
of the manufacturers.
Milwaukee has a motorcycle police
squad. organized primarily to stop reck-
less automobile scorcheTs. Each motor
cycle is equipped with a speedometer.
and thereby hangs a tale. Tine first
man to be taken in the police drag net
was the enterprising agent who sold
The speedOmeters 10 the CITY. As lac had
guaranteed the accuracy OF the ma
chimes which caused his arrest. nc could
not put up any argument in his own
defense. and paid mis- line without
murmuT.
The name bicycle" dates from about
1865. though first so spelled in a patent
of April 8, 1859 and elsewhere called
''bysicIe, ''bicircle." "bicycular veloci-
pede." etc. but prior to 1870 the form
Of the machine was usually called a
vclocipcde a French name dating from
1779.
Tie pedomotOr itself goes back per-
Iaps 10 Egyptian and probably at least
10 classic times. winged figures astride
Of stick connecting two wheels being
found I'm the freScOcS of POmpeu. In the
seventeenth century il suddenly appears
with surprising frequency; there is q
picture or bicycle i'm Il stained glass
window at Stoke Pogis. England. Sew
eral mentions of the idea are made in
years later, bur the direct prOgenitor
of the modern bicycle was one builc in
lSi6 by T;srou Won Drais, Freiherr Won
Saucrbronu O7S}-iS5D. chief forester TO
the Grand Duke Of Badeu. To Won
praiS' memory tu 1891 the Sicyclers
erected monument at Calhruhe.
Milwaukee has young inventive
genius who claims 10 have perfected an
ice bicycle which viii enable 4 man 20
get around on the ice just as fast and
with Just as much safety as though
he were riding on a cement walk.
The Young man who made the ma
chine Is George smith. lie is a we'll
known bicycle rider and speed skater
smith gave a demonstration Al the ball
park ice ~ink and took the corners aucn
sharper than an zee skater coulc Co
Iustead If having r. wheel on the
front fork Smith has o. crpsreut-shaped
skate. on the year rim tnere are q
number 81 small picks. they Do not
rrotrude very far and DO not cut up
fn- tee Tsrr ruurh. he is car Nsth =
eaaslsnga e Hset Any skals- u 4 Ekss
kraQ eas Eails ~.