VELOCIPEDES.

Evening Star, Volume VII, Issue 1966, 24 August 1869, Page 2

VELOCIPEDES.

Wishing to afford all the information in our power regarding what appears to be a new branch—or more properly speaking, a newly-revived branch—of athletic exercise, we preface our remarks by giving the names of our authorities, from which we quote indiscriminately—viz., “ The Engineer,” “ The Scientific American,” “ London Society,” “ The Illustrated London News,” and a few other leading journals and magazines. We have been further assisted in our researches by the inspection of local experiments. It is scarcely necessary to explain that the word itself signifies “ pace by foot (power).” “ The whole world has evidently gone mad after the velocipede, after letting it rest in peace in lumber rooms for nearly a century.” At one period there was a rage for the hobby-horse, similar to a rocking-horse on two wheels, the movement being given by the feet striking the ground on either side. Modern science has, however, made many improvements on the crude original, and vehicles with three or four wheelshave occasionally made sensations, and again disappeared like comets, until within the last twelvemonths, when a new era has commenced, and the four and three wheel has given way to the two wheel or bicycle, and even (as is at least proposed) the one wheel or unicycle. The same principle of foot power is also being applied to propelling boats, but the result has not as yet created

much excitement. The three and four wheeled carriages were usually worked by treddles from a crank or bended axle, sometimes assisted by hand power, and a speed of upwards of fifteen miles an hour has been obtained on a level road, with no risk of an upset. The tricycle or three wheeled velocipede is easier to guide and safer to use than the bicycle : its speed is, however, less rapid, yet it can be made to pass a carriage with horses going at full trot. As the fair sex largely patronise this vehicle, the seat is more commodious, having sides and back of wickerwork. The hind wheels, though large, are light, and revolve with facility. The fore wheel, which is smaller, serves to guide the machine, being acted on by the handle, which causes it to turn instantly in the direction indicated by the rider. The movement required on the treddles is perfectly natural, and analogous in fact to walking. Safety, however, does not appear to be the order of the day, and Sensation, not altogether satisfied with riding on two wheels, must even emulate “ Sol" himself, and endeavor to roll on its own axis.

We will now endeavour to give an explanation of the bicycle or twowheeled velocipede. “Of the various kinds, this is at present supposed to be the most artistic. At first sight it would be supposed to be a formidable undertaking to mount and steer one of these two.wheeled articles, but a short practice will make the student quite a master of the ceremony.’’ That of the American make professes to be more simple and cheaper than the French or any other make. “ The reach or frame is made of hydraulic tubing, its bearings are of gun metal, the hub of the hind wheel is bushed with metal, and the axle constitutes its own oil-box. It differs from the Frencli veloce in the arrangement of the tiller, which is brought well back and sufficiently high to allow of a perfectly upright position in riding. The stump or crack pedals are three sided (or of a prism form) with circular flanges at each end, and as they are fitted to turn on the crank pins, the pressure of the foot will always bring one of the three sides into proper position. They are so shaped as to allow of the use of the fore-part of the foot, bringing the ankle joint into play, thus relieving the knee and rendering propulsion much easier than when the hollow of the foot is used. The connecting apparatus differs from others, in that the saddle-bar serves as both a seat and a brake, and is not attached to the rear wheel, the coupling being from below the guiding bar. By a simple pressure forward against the tiller, and a pressure against the back of the saddle, a spring is compx*essed and the brake brought firmly down on the after wheel. The driving wheel should not be more than three feet in diameter, though for ordinary use thirty inches is a good size, while for boys from twenty-eight to thirty inches is sufficient,” The three-sided foot-bearing is made so as to be altered to different lengths, and its coupling Avith the axle is bent outAvards so as to prevent collision Avith the rod supports from the saddle-bearer. The folloAving directions may be useful : —“ Run beside your bicycle, leading it as it were Avith your hand, so as to familiarise yourself with its movements, then commence practising on a slope, and after mounting let it move fonvard of its oavu accord, occupying yourself with studying the effects produced by the inclination given to the balancing pole or handle. When this is thoroughly understood, place one foot on its pedal or crank, folloAving the movement Avithout assisting it. Next repeat the experiment on level ground, having both feet on the pedals, and Avorking them alternately Avith scrupulous regularity, and Avith a steady grip on the saddle. The difficulty Avith beginners is to restrain the unnecessary expenditure of muscular force, they ordinarily performing ten times the labor that is requisite. A machine of moderate height is the best for beginners.” A short description of the oneAvheeled velocipede may at least be interesting. “The rim is of wrought iron, intended to act as a fly-Avheel and to steady the motion, is eight feet in diameter, with an axle three feet six inches in length; tAvo heavy bosses at each end, and four steel spokes on each side. These latter are slightly curved outAvards, so as to act as springs, and to give room in the centre for the driver. The axle is round, Avith two cranks five inches deep. In the centre there is a heavy weight hanging freely from the axle to within a few inches of the. ground. On a bracket attached to this weight the driver sits, with his feet in stirrups,” This invention is described as being “ so simple, so cheap, so poAverful and speedy, so little chance of getting out of order, so easy to retain, and best of all, so safe” {we. might say with Touchstone, it can be only so so) “ that you cannot hurt even if it falls, as the axle strikes the ground (first), and you are as safe as if in a wire cage,”- not perhaps altogether an enviable position.