158 



RECREA TION. 



Pulverized, pure graphite, mixed with 

 benzine to the consistency of a very thin 

 paste, and applied to the chain with a tooth 

 brush, is recommended by a correspondent 

 of the L. A. W. Bulletin. He says " such 

 a coating will successfully resist mud and 

 rain, and so far as simple dust is concerned, 

 a chain so treated should require no further 

 attention for at last 150 to 200 mi]es." 



" What's on the menu to-day? " asked 

 the cannibal chief of the royal commissary. 



" Haven't anything but that young wom- 

 an, from Boston, your royal chops." 



" Well I suppose we can worry along on 

 cold shoulder, for a while," sadly observed 

 the chief. 



Novice cyclists who try to keep their 

 wheels in order are given some timely ad- 

 vice by an Englishman. " When making 

 your weekly inspection," says he, " do not 

 overlook testing all nuts, bolts and screws. 

 This should also be done before each long 

 ride; for the loss of a single nut may cause 

 a walk of many miles, or a return trip by 

 train. Use a good wrench, with square 

 jaws, and as soon as the jaws become 

 worn or mutilated throw the wrench away 

 and get a new one. Otherwise you will 

 destroy the corners of the nuts and they 

 cannot be securely tightened. Lock all 

 bolts and nuts firmly, and with gradual 

 pressure, but do not use your full strength 

 or you will surely twist them apart. Keep 

 the enamel free from mud and dirt and the 

 nickeled parts from rust, and your bicycle 

 will look fresh and new until it wears out. 



" Lack of cleaning will make a machine 

 dingy and old-looking in a short time. 



" Ordinary furniture polish will keep a 

 lustre on the enamel, and will also brighten 

 up an old finish, dull from neglect. For 

 the nickeled parts use putz-pomade, pow- 

 dered pumice and water, whiting, or any of 

 the standard polishes. The best way to 

 remove rust is with cold water, cotton 

 waste and plenty of muscle. Always wipe 

 a machine dry, and polish the parts after 

 riding in rain or fog. Unless you thor- 

 oughly understand taking your wheel apart 

 and restoring the parts properly, let a re- 

 pair man do the job the first time and 

 watch the operation, so that you can do it 

 in the future. 



, The bearings should be removed and 

 cleaned after each 500 miles, or, say, once 

 a month. Soak the cones and balls in ben- 

 zine, and then wipe dry. Do not use kero- 

 sene for cleaning purposes, under any cir- 

 cumstances. It does not evaporate, it 

 causes rust, and once in the bearings will 

 cut them out like fine emery. When the 

 balls are placed back in the races, apply 

 several drops of oil before tightening each 

 cone. If you find any worn or broken 

 cones, balls or races, have them replaced 

 at once." 



The use of long cranks for tall riders is 

 advocated by a correspondent of the L. A. 

 W. Bulletin, who uses 8^-inch throw with 

 116 gear, and finds this combination easier 

 up-hill than 6J/2 inch cranks and y2 gear 

 used last year. His idea of suitable com- 

 binations is: 



Rider standing 5 ft. 10 in., 80 gear, 7^ in. cranks 



5 " n " qo " 7$ " 



4. 6 " o "■ 100 " 8 " " 



«« 6 " 1 " no '■ 8i " 



•« 6 «' 2 " 120 " 84 " 



6" 3 " 130 •• 81 " 



Miss Passe: " I have decided to appear 

 at the fancy dress ball in a costume of the 

 Middle Ages." 



Miss Cayenne: "Oh! how appropriate 

 for you, to be sure." 



The effect which the use of the wheel, 

 for business purposes, has on street railway 

 traffic is marked in cities where pavements 

 invite its use. In Harrisburg a count was 

 recently made of all persons using cars or 

 wheels, who passed a given point on Third 

 Street, in 2 days, and it was found that but 

 1,962 rode by in the cars, as against 4,116 

 who passed on bicycles. 



" Kitty has left the golf club." 



"What's the trouble?" 



" She says she won't countenance any 

 sport to which she can not take dear 

 Poodle." 



An English alderman is responsible for 

 the exclamation: " Gentlemen, I consider 

 it our bounden duty to degrade and pave 

 these streets. By putting our heads to- 

 gether we can, at least, construct a wooden 

 pavement, and by so doing our posteriors 

 will forever bless us." 



The Indian's opinion of his pale face 

 brother and his wheel is, " white man heap 

 dam lazy. Him sit on a chair to walk." 



" Wonderful — these chainless wheels." 

 " Pooh; I've worn a chainless watch for 

 years." 



Please send in all the notes and items 

 you can get for this department of Rec- 

 reation. 



" So you consider football educational? " 

 " Highly so; if it wasn't for football lots 

 of men would never think of going to col- 

 lege." 



Thomas O'Reilly has been elected presi- 

 dent, Robert E. Shaw captain, and C. Wid- 

 mer, Jr., secretary of the Harlem Wheel- 

 men. 



it. 



Worry causes indigestion — cycling cures 



