The Angling Cyclist 329 
outing and an enjoyable day, the association 
with my German friends being not the least 
of its attractions. OLD FIn. 
The Price of a Wheel. 
Many of our friends are telling us that they 
are deferring the purchase of wheels until next 
year, when they willbe cheaper. Feeling con- 
fident that they were mistaken, that wheels 
of established and long accredited manufac- 
turers would maintain their prices, we made 
our assurance doubly sure by writing to the 
most prominent makers. One and allof them 
informed us that they would make no reduc- 
tion in price during 1896. This should settle 
the matter, as certainly the wheel manufac- 
turers know better than the outside public 
what they intend to do. Thebest wheels have 
a standard of value produced by superior 
mechanical skill, best material and improved 
patterns, and this standard will always com- 
manda high price. It is unquestionable that 
the market will be (is now) flooded with low- 
priced wheels, and the tendency is always 
downward in price in any article which is 
sought for by great crowds of buyers—compe- 
tition comes in, and a good looking article on 
the outside—but only so so in wear—finds a 
ready sale at a lower price. But the public 
soon learn to discriminate, and the best wins 
in the long run. More money has been 
wasted in the manufacture and advertising 
of poor articles, than has been sunken in Wall 
street on speculation. The bottom drops out. 
Winter Care of the Wheel. 
‘This is the season of the wheelman’s discon- 
tent. While the weather, for the past two 
weeks, with few exceptions, has been all that 
could be desired, all riders are prepared to dis- 
mount for the season at a moment’s notice, for 
they know how uncertain the weather is. To 
those who have not already stored their wheels 
away for theseason, 7he Wheelman’s advice 
is to put them in proper shape before doing so. 
First clean the wheel thoroughly. Wipe off 
every speck of dust, and if there is any rust 
on the nickel parts, rub it off with some good 
metal polish. Pay especial attention to the 
spokes, the pedals and the rear hub in the 
neighborhood of the sprocket. ‘Take the chain 
off by removing the bolt that holds the two 
ends together, and put it tosoak in a dish of 
kerosene, while the rest of the machine is be- 
ing doctored. Then, if you want to have an 
easy running wheel in the spring, fill a small 
oil can with kerosene, and run it through all 
the bearings until it ceases to run black and 
dirty, but comes out as clear as water, This 
removes all the old gummy oil and dirt, and 
clears the way for a dose of fresh oil, which 
need not be applied until you want to use the 
wheel again. The hub bearings are best 
cleaned through the regular oil holes, but the 
sprocket bearing is easily reached by remov- 
ing the saddle post and pouring a pint or so 
of kerosene down the hollow cross brace of the 
frame. 
After the bearings and chain are thoroughly 
cleaned with the kerosene, wipe off all super- 
fluous oil, and then proceed to bedaub the ma- 
chine liberally with vaseline. Spread the 
vaseline freely and thickly, taking care that 
the nickel parts are thoroughly covered. The 
chain should be thickly coated, and it will not 
harm wood rims. Tires, saddles and cork 
handles, however, are not improved by vas- 
eline. 
If the wheel is going to stand on the floor all 
winter, the tires should be left inflated to pre- 
vent the rim from cutting them. A much bet- 
ter scheme is ta suspend the wheel from a 
rafter by a couple of ropes and deflate the 
tires. A wheel thus treated and kept in a 
place where the atmosphere is not positively 
reeking with moisture, will be found in the 
spring to be in perfect condition, and a few 
minutes’ work with a woolen cloth will remove 
all traces of the vaseline and bring out all the 
beauty of the enamel and nickel. 
Economy in Buying a Wheel. 
Buying a bicycle is very much akin to buy- 
ing a horse. When you buy a good horse you 
pay a good standard price, and not only get a 
good animal, but one that can be depended on 
for strength, comfort, speed if necessary, and 
safety in emergencies. There are good horses 
and bad horses, just the same as there are 
bicycles that are built and bicycles that are 
thrown together and made of old iron. There 
is no economy in buying a cheap horse, no 
matter how fine he may look on account of 
having been brushed up well beforehand, or 
because he seems to be ‘‘jyst as good’’ as the 
animal which costs a little more. Experience 
has shown that a horse that comes from the 
best stock farm in the country, with a pedigree 
and the reputation of being from famous stock, 

