BICYCLING. 



'99 MODELS. 



Bicycle manufacturers seem each year to 

 begin designing and making their new 

 models earlier in the fall. For the past 3 

 months they have been discussing the '99 

 models and at least a dozen firms have got- 

 ten out new ones embodying features that 

 are expected to distinguish next year's 

 machines from all that have gone before. 

 The greatest departure in these machines 

 from the bicycles of 1897 is in the use of 

 wheels of 30 inches diameter, instead of the 

 standard 28-inch wheels that have been in 

 vogue for the last 4 years. The advocates 

 of the larger wheels claim that their in- 

 creased diameter causes them to roll over 

 obstructions in rough roads with less jolting 

 to the rider than the smaller wheels cause, 

 and that, as the distance between the points 

 of contact of these wheels with the ground is 

 several inches greater than with the old 

 style, the rider does not sit so nearly over 

 the rear wheel as formerly, hence feels the 

 rise and fall of the wheels less than in the 

 present type of bicycle. By the use of 30- 

 inch wheels the axles are raised one inch 

 farther from the ground and this permits the 

 crank-hanger to be dropped an additional 

 nch, making it 4 inches lower than the wheel 

 centres. It is not recognized by mechanics 

 that there is any advantage in this, except 

 that it brings the saddle closer to the ground, 

 makes mounting and dismounting without 

 the rear axle step more easy, and brings the 

 centre of gravity lower. One very strong 

 objection to the combination of 30-inch 

 wheels with the very low 20 and 22-inch 

 frames now in vogue is that the head of the 

 machine is very short — often only 3 inches. 

 This offers such a short leverage to resist the 

 increased side strains on the larger front 

 wheel that twisting of the frame will be a 

 common trouble, the machine will get out of 

 " true " and will have a strong tendency to 

 run to one side. This is not an uncommon 

 fault with this year's bicycles, but it is not 

 recognized by the average rider, who, while 

 he feels that his machine does not run so 

 easily as formerly and cannot be ridden 

 " hands off " any more, does not know 

 where the trouble lies. As soon as one dis- 

 covers that his bicycle has a strong tendency 

 to run to one side and that in riding " hands 

 off " he has to lean to one side to preserve 

 his balance, he may be sure his machine is 

 out ,of true and that the wheels do not 

 " track." By observing other riders from 

 the rear he will often see in other wheels the 

 fault which he cannot see in his own. As 

 it is a somewhat delicate and difficult job to 

 accurately true a bicycle, the rider will in 

 most cases save time, trouble, and expense 

 by taking his machine to the factory or to 



a repair man, telling his troubles, and having 

 the work done for him. 



The tendency toward the use of 7-inch in 

 place of the standard 6^-inch cranks is 

 growing, and it is not impossible that longer 

 cranks in combination with larger sprocket 

 wheels will be a feature of next year's 

 models. The increased size of the driving 

 wheel will make it possible to use a larger 

 rear sprocket without increasing the gear, 

 because the machine will travel more than 

 6 inches farther with every revolution of the 

 wheels. Aside from these, there will be few 

 superficial changes to distinguish the '99 

 models from those of the present season and 

 of '96. Whatever others there are will be 

 mostly in improved construction in the 

 minor but vital parts, such as the hangers 

 and hubs and their contained ball bearings, 

 handle-bar and seat-post fastenings, con- 

 nections, etc. 



THE SCORCHER'S ADVICE. 

 She was a female " scorcher " 



And she scorched to beat the band, 

 She struck a hump and — bumpity bump! 



Of course she had to land. 

 She seemed to light all in a heap 



And couldn't find her " talk," 

 She lay so mum nor chewed her gum, 



Nor never squeaked a squawk. 



To rub her hands one said would be 



The proper thing to do. 

 Another said to rub her head 



Would promptly bring her to. 

 Another who had seen her scorch, 



Beheld the sorry wreck; 

 He heaved a sigh and passed her by 



And murmured " rubberneck." 



— L. A. W. Bulletin. 



Friendly Visitor (to little boy) — Why, 

 Coxey, what nice looking trousers you have 

 on! 



Coxey — Yes, ma'am; I got them off a 

 young lady friend of mine. — Life. 



Sly Cupid lights a blissful flame 



On every tandem ride; 

 Two wheels with but a single frame, 



Two gears that coincide. 



What else can you give a man for a 

 Holiday present that will give him so 

 much pleasure, at so small a cost, as a 

 yearly subscription to Recreation? 



The boy stood on the burning deck 

 And cried " Bring on vour torch! 



I'm what they call a ' rubber-neck ' 

 And think it's fun to scorch! " 



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