2 
. 
and there is but one tube connecting the curved tube to the post. This connect¬ 
ing tube is in two parts which are hinged and covered by a small overlapping 
tube provided with a handle, and clamped by three independent rings, there being a 
tool supplied for the purpose to avoid the use of the eternal screw spanner. 
Special braces are supplied to which the folded bicycle is attached, and the 
machine is said to be lighter than a knapsack. 
The introduction of this bicycle has led to the framing of the following 
formula or principle :—“ The machine should be carried in all cases where it is 
unable to carry its rider.” 
50 seconds are sufficient time for the folding of the Gerard machine, and 
rather less for putting it together again. It is perhaps needless to point out 
that a bicycle is a much smaller object than a horse and therefore less liable to 
be hit; moreover when wounded the machine is more easily and infinitely more 
quickly repaired. It requires no forage and no water, only a few drops of oil, 
but these are now all acquired facts, mere trite truisms. In the night bicycles 
move with less noise than either horse or foot, but they must be very liable to 
accidents when circumstances forbid them the use of their lamps. 
All their advantages were well shown by Captain Richard of the 87th with a 
company trained by himself for the manoeuvres of a brigade last year at St. 
Quentin. At first the company, small enough for mobility but large enough not 
to be stopped by a few patrols, started, not on the road towards the enemy, but 
making a long detour, felt for the enemy on his flank; observed, then hurried to 
another point with rapid pedals and re-appeared, harassing and surprising the 
bewildered enemy who was unable to discover the strength of the forces opposed 
to him, the weakness of the cycle contingent being masked by the use of smoke¬ 
less powder. Meanwhile the little company intercepted couriers, took prisoners, 
alarmed villages, and generally spread havoc and demoralisation through the 
ranks oi its foe. 
Another important use to which this cyclist company was put was that of 
cavalry support. They acquitted themselves of this duty in such a manner as to 
astound every one, following or preceding cavalry at every pace, supporting it by 
their fire at the decisive moment, stopping the advance of the hostile cavalry and 
discovering even the position of the enemy’s infantry. 
Napoleon requisitioned country carts and waggons to carry his Imperial Guard 
from the camp at Boulogne to the banks of the Rhine on their way to his triumph 
at Austerlitz. Just fancy how much easier that job would have been done with 
folding bicycles ! 
All the foregoing is a short precis from an article by M. Georges Dubose in 
the Journal de Rouen, 12th Sept. It would have been interesting to have had 
exact weights and measurements of Captain Gerard’s bicycle. It may be inferred 
from the faulty mechanical construction which has been forced upon him as it 
were by the necessities of the folding adaptation, that the tubes are of great 
strength and of corresponding increased weight. On the other hand the smaller 
wheels are lighter than ordinary bicycle wheels, but they are much more difficult 
to drive through mud than the latter, as anyone knows who has driven a Bantam 
and also a rear-driver. The saddle of Captain Gerard’s bicycle is not well placed 
for the exertion of a man’s full power; it is too far behind the axis of the pedal 
cranks. Taking all these points together it is probable that the folding bicycle 
is inferior to the diamond-framed safety, so far as pace is concerned. I noticed 
when in Normandy a few days ago that Frenchmen generally ride rather higher¬ 
geared bicycles than we do. I cannot believe liigh-gearing to be good in any 
case for a military machine, and I am convinced such a machine should be pro¬ 
vided with a stiff metal gear case. Such a contrivance would also be of advan- 
