The globe-independent. (Hagerstown, Md.) 1943-19??, 1950-12-14


corner and many youngsters hop
ing that Santa Claus will bring them
a bicycle, / thought you might be
interested in some news about BIZ
cycles back in 1904, when they were
much more the general means OF
transportation then, than they are
in this modern age.
Prizes for the 18-mile bicycle road
race held here on WHIT Monday
of 1904, were exhibited in Shafer
Bros. Window. The prizes were Civ
en- by S. w. Kent Miller, L. M. Rine-
hart and Daniel Strife.
No doubt more than one reader
of this column will recall the BIZ
cycle club which existed here in
1904 and the big meets which were
staged, with a monster parade and
visiting wheelmen from everywhere.
The large high-wheeled bicycles
were used, the riders perched high
in the air, in natty uniforms and
with many decorations on their
wheels.
One particular make of bicycle
was known as the "Star," which
had the small wheel in front instead
of behind, and was propelled by
pumping up and down with the feet,
causing the bicycle to shoot many
feet ahead, instead of being pedaled
in the regular way.
Any of the high-wheeled bicycles
were o. K.-if you did not take a
header. The later model of safety
bicycle greatly lessened the liability
of tumble and minimized the pos
sibility of receiving severe injuries,
if not indeed a broken neck.
But notwithstanding the dangers
attending the riding of the high
wheeled bicycle, it was a great in
novation, and to have one and wear
your uniform of knee breaches and
cap was source of much pleasure.
1t gave you prestige and you at
tracted as much attention as did
our fathers and grandfathers as they
made their first appearance in their
splinter new buggy, drawn by one,
or perhaps two, spirited and we'll
groomed horses. The modern
youngster of today, speeding along
in his new car, has nothing on father
and grandfather 40 or so years ago.
Time moves on.
1t is believed that Solomon Slime
had the first bicycle in Hagerstown.
1t was homemade, but ran all the
same, and Mr.. Slime attracted no end
of attention, to say nothing of excite
ment among the populace, as he
peddled along on South Potomac
street. The bicycle was made of
wagon wheels, one wheel little
larger than the other. It was not
much for beauty, but indeed was
novelty and one of much curiosity.
However, it may be said here that
this first local bicycle was not very
far out of line with the modern two
wheeled bicycle of today, which by
the way, returned to considerable
popularity during World War II,
when restrictions on gasoline and
tires made pleasure driving by au-
tomobile almost impossible.
We generally think of the high
wheeled bicycle as having come first
and of then being followed by the
low, two-wheeled one, known as the
Safety" And it is not hard at all
to understand why this modern BIZ
cycle was given that name. 1t was
probably SO named by some one who
used to ride the big high-wheeled
affair and had fresh in his recollec-
ton more than one tumble from that
high elevation. But it would seem
that Mr.. Slime was the pioneer, at
least in Hagerstown, of the two
wheeled or safety" model.
Here are two other interesting
items of 1904:
About 80 members of Pen Mar
Council, Royal Arcanum, were ban
quoted at Hotel Hamilton. w. w.
Slower, who had been secretary for