The Angling Cyclist 



77 



they are set true^between the forks, and the 

 frame is straight, they will do so. If the wheels 

 are both centred in the forks, are as far from 

 one side as from the other, then it is quite sim- 

 ple to try them for the trueness of the frame. 

 Turn the wheel upside down, getting the han- 

 dle-bars straight, and set both wheels spinning; 

 with a piece of string long enough to reach 

 from one end of the machine to another, see if 

 it can be stretched taut and be held so as to be 

 just a little above the centre of the tires. Bet- 

 ter still, because it does not allow of deception 

 by irregular tires, is to take two strings and 

 hold one on each side of the rims. 



If the spinning wheels bring the rims in con- 

 stant contact with the strings on both sides, 

 the frame is true. To ascertain whether or not 

 the sprockets are in line, a string can also be 

 used. Take off the chain, and, making a loop 

 in the end of the string, put it over a tooth of 

 the front sprocket. Then draw it taut to the 

 rear sprocket, and hold it so as to see if every 

 tooth of the smaller sprocket will touch the 

 string. If the rear sprocket is true, as it is 

 apt to be, a similiar test can be made of the 

 front sprocket. If the sprockets and wheels 

 are true to themselves, but out of line in rela- 

 tion to each other, it means that the frame is 

 out of true. 



Keep the Chain in Good Condition. 



In considering the various parts of a bicycle 

 there is none that conduces to ease of running 

 so much as the chain. Composed as it is of 

 about fifty links which work on little pins to 

 the number of about one hundred, the necessity 

 of keeping them absolutely clean and pliable is 

 at once readily recognized. They are exposed 

 to dust, accumulate dirt rapidly, and, too, are 

 liable to rust, making some of the many joints 

 stiff and hard. In Europe the gearing of a 

 wheel is in very numerous instances enclosed 

 in a casing of some light metal or celluloid, 

 and the time may come when this form of pro- 

 tection may be tised here. At present, how- 

 ever, it is not, and not a little trouble must be 

 taken to keep the chain in good condition. 

 During the period of riding it should occasion- 

 ally be thoroughly cleaned to be kept free from 

 dirt and dust. Now it should be similarly 

 treated to be kept free from rust. It should be 

 removed from the wheel, the dust wiped off 

 and soaked for a few hours in kerosene oil. 

 Then it should be wiped dry and each link 

 worked backward and forward to make certain 



that it is perfectly pliable. If any of the links 

 are found stiff a drop or two of lubricating oil 

 will make them work freely. The chain can 

 then be replaced on the wheel and revolved a 

 few times, and when ready to ride again it will 

 be found to work smoothly and quietly. 



A Glance at the New York Show. 



The Editor of The Wheel, has among other 

 entirely serviceable and practical notes, the fol- 

 lowing on some of the wheels he saw at the 

 New York Cycle show: 



The tendency toward some radical departure 

 is a plain handwriting on the wall. It is mani- 

 fest in the disappointment of the public at find- 

 ing so much sameness in the cycle show. It is 

 manifest in the restless seekings which have 

 produced triangle frames from two different 

 parts of the country New men, new ideas and 

 new forces are coming into play and meanwhile 

 the old makers are ploughing an old furrow. 



Beyond this most marked and most important 

 tendency toward some fundamental change 

 observable at the recent shows, there were oth- 

 ers of significance which will be permanent in 

 their effect whether there comes any new de- 

 parture in frames or not. It there is to be no 

 departure in the style of frames, and if, absurd 

 and unprogressive as it may be, the notion that 

 we have reached perfection in frame designs, 

 there are still minor modifications which can 

 be seen approaching. 



One tendency' particularly marked this year 

 is that to dispense with the cotter-pin. Manj?- 

 cranks are still keyed on and well keyed, too, 

 but an increasing proportion of the makers are 

 getting away to other ideas for fastening 

 cranks. Both cranks in one piece with the axle 

 is a method of obtaining solidity at the bottom 

 bracket that is gaining favor, not less than eight 

 makers appearing with the device this year. 

 Some of the manufacturers, instead of forging 

 these parts, are taking a piece of tool steel and 

 bending it. Others who do not make both 

 cranks and the axle in one piece, make the axle 

 one piece with one crank and fasten the other 

 on, while several have adopted the plan of 

 making the cranks and axle in two pieces by 

 having the axle joined in the middle by a sleeve. 

 The bottom bracket is a place where solidity 

 and unity is most to be desired ; this tendency 

 is wholesome. The idea of having as few parts 

 as possible at this point is obviously so good 

 that that form of construction can hardly fail 

 to spread, and eventually it may be expected 



