28 



• KNOWLEDGE . 



[Jdlt 11, 1884. 



confidence that the same useful servants place it in man's 

 power to outvie in like manner the swiftest of winged 

 creatures — the swallow, the pigeon, and the hawk. 



THE TRICYCLES OF TO-DAY. 



THE "CHKYLESMOKE CLUB." 



T 



" Cheylesmoie Club " is a very well-known type of 

 double-driviug, rear-steering tricycle, and was, a 

 season or two back, the general favourite of the London 

 and large provincial clubs. It has, moreover, been largely 

 supplied by the makers to many distinguished members 

 of society. The frame is made of light steel tubing, 

 and ball bearings are fitted to the driving and steering 

 wheels, as well as the crank shaft, while the reputa- 

 tion of the Coventry Machinists' Compsuy is a sufficient 

 guarantee of the workmanship and high finish of the 

 machine. The swan-like curved backbone, with little 

 steering-wheel behind, gives it a very graceful appearance 

 when in motion, causing it to contrast favourably with 

 many front-steerers, which often put one so much in mind 

 of perambulators and bath-chairs. 



The machine, however, of late ha.s lost some of i's 

 original prestige, which is traceable to two jirincipal causes. 

 The first reason uiay be readily accounted for by the great 

 love of cycling novelty which is the inherent, ruling spirit 

 of so many wheelmen, who are never satisfied unless they 

 possess the " latest out," fancying, because there has re- 

 cently been such a superabundance of animated discussion 

 in numerous journals relating to improvements in tricycles, 

 that the latest types of machines must of necessity po8se.ss 

 great additional advantages over the older one?. The other 

 reason, which has niilitiited to a very great extent against 

 its continued popularity, has been the frequent warning 

 raised on all hands — " Don't, my dear fellow, have a rear- 

 steering tricycle unless you wish to break your neck ! " 



Now, undoubtedly the great majority of rearsteerers in 

 the hands of careless or inexperienced riders are highly 

 dangerous in descending hills, but the " Cheylesmore " is 

 by no means to be classed in the same category. Not but 

 what also there are other important exceptions of equally 

 well-know rear-steerers which are in every way as safe as 

 the " Cheylesmore," and with which I hope to deal in 

 future papers. I may here state that I have ridden the 

 " Cheylesmore " down e.icceedingly steep, stony, and rutty 

 hills in Derbyshire, and on no single occasion have I come 

 to grief. T remember quite well when first I rode the 

 machine several friends of mine who ride front-steerers 

 warned me to be very careful in descending hills, since the 

 little wheel of rear-steerers was veiy apt to tip up, some- 

 what after the fashion the rear-wheel serves bicycle learners. 

 But my machine has never served me so, although its back- 

 bone is several inches shorter than they are made this 

 season, which alteration should certainly make them still 

 steadier. 



The makers now attach when specially ordered a patent 

 sliding-seat to the machine (see illustration), the position of 

 which the rider can alter backwards or forward.s at plea- 

 .sure, thus giving him the twofold advantage of being able 

 to place his saddle directly over his pedals for hill climbing, 

 or far back on the backbone when going down bank, in this 

 manner preventing more than ever any slight tendency on 

 the part of the machine either to swerve or tip up. 



To my mind, one of the most pleasureable features of the 

 machine is the patent automatic clutch action. The clutch 

 gear, which is exceedingly simple, and never liable to get 

 out of order, is fitted to the pedal-cranks, being connected 



by cogs and chains to the driving-wheels. It consists of a 

 small toothed box, through which the crank end passes 

 without even coming into contact with it. The box, through 

 which the crank passes, contains a small metal disc, which 



CS 



THE 



COVPriRrMACHIMIST 



PATENT 



SLIDING SEA' 



has four hollows cut in its circumference, round at one end 

 and angular at the other. In each of these ca^-ities rides a 

 small steel roller, which, on pedalling the crank forward, is 

 jammed in the angular portion of the cavity, and thus 

 pressed against the box, causing the wheel to rotate ; but 

 on pedalling backwards the ball is released, and runs round 

 freely in the circular portion of the cavity. Its 

 action, however, will be clearly seen by a reference to 

 the accompanying illustration. By means, therefore. 



of this simple contrivance the pedals remain perfectly 

 stationary in descending hills, thus forming excellent 

 footi-rests. It is decidedly advantageous to be able 

 to use the pedals as foot-rests, since it enables the rider 

 to cease pedalling on the smallest incline, his feet being 

 ready for action when required, and no fear, as on other 

 machines, of getting his ankles severally rapped in trying 

 to replace his feet on swiftly-revolving pedals. It also 

 empowers him to obtain a full leverage of the crank at any 

 time he requires it, which proves very useful in climbing 

 steep hills, by taking half-strokes. Some cyclists consider 

 it a disadvantage, I know, at times not to be able to liack 

 pedal ; but I have never found it so. 



The machine is supplied with an excellent spoon break, 

 which is sufficiently powerful to bring the machine to a 

 dead stop on almost any incline, while the steering arrange- 

 ment is everything that can be desired. On a good level 

 road there are but few machines which can pass it, and it is 

 by no means a slow or bad hill-climber. In fact, take the 



