Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1919-05-17
BICYCLES COMING
BACK INTO FAVOR
Increased Sales Indicate Two
Wheeled Vehicles Are
Returning.

! The days Of real sporti How the
hearts of men tingle with pleasure
when they haTk back, say, twenty
years ago to the days when they, too,
bOwled along with the wings Of the
wind, on their trusty old "bikesl"
viii you ever forget that menor-
able morning when you wheeled that
ghstening new Columbia, or Cresent,
or Cleveland, or Rambler, or Barnes
"White Flyer or whatever it may
have becn-out for the first glorious
spin over the bounding rOadsa
Million Made Last Year
More than one million bicycles were
manufactured last year and the riders
Of today are every bit as enthusiastic
nd proud of their mounts as YOU used
to be. And as a rule, they re getting
good deal more out of their invest
ment.
Twenty years ago, the bicycle was
at the height of its glory and popular
ity. Nearly everybody rode wheel I,
il seemed. 1t was more Of a universal
proposition than any other kind Of We
lhiele-much more than the automobile
or the motorcycle which stole many of
its devotecs away, and caused slump
for a time.
The fact is, in recent years there
has been a considerable revival Of its
popularity. During last year, for ex-
ample, bicycle sales almost doubled and
the utility Of the machine was expand
ed along a number Of new lines.
10000 in A. E. T.
There were nearly 10000 bicycles
in actual service with the A. E. +.
in France. Many deeds Of heroism
stand to the credit of the bicycle
corps which rendered such exceptional
service in maintaining the lines OF
communication under fire.
Many new uses have been found for
the bicycle in business life. As mat
ter Of fact, people have just been wax
ing up 20 its possibilities as a practical
and economical means of locomotion.
Congested conditions, poor transpor-
tation service, the long distances in
cities, are problems which the eyclist
loses little sleep over.
Good Reads Help
Vast sums of money have been ex'
pended upon good roads. These new
arteries of commerce are opening up
vast field for the motor truck ex'
press and other transportation enter
prises-and incidentally extending the
range of the bicycle TO degree unheard
of in the old days.
The revival of "century runs IN
various parts Of the country is an IN
dieatiou Of the cyclists appreciation
Of their new opportunities in this di-
rection. And by the way, bicycle rae
ing is again coming into wide popular
ity.
Big Year Predicted
"Our bicycle tire sales, says Har
ry w. Scott, local Fircstone dealer,
"havc surprised our enure organiza-
tion. For the last two or three months
they have been almost double Hle sales
Of the same months year ago. In
fact, the Firestone 'Non-skids are in
such demand that we have had to en-
large hour f(,ailities 'tonsidoralbly to
keep pace with il.
81 look for a big year for the BIZ
cycle trade generally. It is not hard
to figure out why the bicycle is again
becoming popular. 1t meets distinct
need in our modern life--as the only
really practical self propelled vehicle.
In proportion to the investment, its re-
turns are maximum in convenience,
economy Of operation and useful ser
vice-not overlooking the rare oppor.
tuntics for hcalthful exercise and
recreation it affords. -