HINTS FOR CYCLISTS,

Otago Witness, Issue 2319, 11 August 1898, Page 41

HINTS FOR CYCLISTS,

Before oiling any part of a machine, all dirt bhould bo wiped away. A little French chalk applied lo the hinges of a lamp will stop any squeaking. Don't apply oil. Sprains and fractures should be treated with hob water, and not with cold. It is surprising how hot applications relieve pain. Do not ride too near the curb when passing a publichouse, as there is nearly always broken glass lying in the road. The best thing to use to fasten cyclo handles is a little shellac dissolved in naphtha, procurable at the chemist's for a few pence. This sticks cork, felt, sponge, horn, or rubber.

When riding any distance, tako a French nail and a small file with you. They Weigh nothing, just nothing at all, and may coin© in very handy to repair a chain should the rivet suddenly quit its lodgings.

To replace the balls in a bearing, place a small portion of pure lard round the inside of the ballrace or cup, and insert 1 lie balls in their proper position, when the lard ■will keen them from rolling about. It is as well to make sure in detaching a tyre that the rim has not been jagged in- 1 places in consequence of having come into i contact with stones, etc., as should tho airtube bo dragged over these noints it is almost certain to bo torn*

"Well-adjusted cone 3 should allow of a just perceptible amount of play when tried from J,he rim of the wheel. In adjusting the brake of your bicycle, take care the lever doe 3 not touch the handle-bar when pressure is applied. Tho lamp should not be filled to overflowing. If by any chance a few drops of oil should fall on tha tyre it may mean a new puter tube. In adjusting the chain of your machine, be suro that the wheel is not fixed crooked in the forks, as this may cause tho chain to ride the cogs. A feeling of utter listlessness and fatigue in the Mother limbs uubsequent to a short rid? denotes a gear too high for health and .thorough enjoyment of the pastime. A few broken spokea do not disable a machine. Twist the broken ones round the remaining spokes to prevent them catching in the forks ; you can then ride without discomfort.

Among the contents of the tool-bag the rider will do well to include a couple of elastic bands and a piece of string ; such details occasionally prove invaluable when a hitch occurs to a minor part of the machine.

On first venturing out for an early vide in the sharp morning atmosphere commence by riding slowly. Breathe through the nose until the lungs are accustomed to the sudden change of temperature ; this is a necessary precaution.

An easy way to renew a valve tube is to dip it into the French chalk, when it will be found to work over the metal part of the valve quite easily. Stretch the piece of valve tubing before slipping it on to ascertain that there arc no holes in it, us if there should be the tyre might fail to hold air.

Riders whose machines are fitted with leather gear cases which have a transparent panel fixed into tho front, should occasionally examine their case to see that the stitches havo not become undone and the leather 'become separated from the celluloid panel, as if the crank in its ascent, should catch in the leather an accident may happen.

A common cause of valves going wrong is a speck of dust which may have been blown into the valve by the inflator, and lodged in such a position as to prevent it closing pToperly. This dirt may often be removed by squirting a small quantity of water, about a tablespoonful, into the valve with the aid of the inflator. Should thi3 fail to stop the leakage, it would be as well to look for a puncture in the tyre. Nothing takes the life and elasticity out of a pneumatic tyre &o much as keeping ifc permanently in bright sunlight. It should be good for cyclists to know th»t one who pays a wrongful demand, merely because of the threats of a civil action, cannot maintain a suit to recover the repayment.

To remove specks of rust from the bright parts, cover the rusted parts with twee' oil, and let it remain on for a day or two. Then rub it we]] over with powdered whitening until the rust is removed.

A hinl as to the polishing of nickel plating on a machine after cleaning with oil, is well worth attention. A little Goot applied •with a soft cloth will give an excellent polish. It is aHo useful to clean the lamp reflectors and glass.

An easy way to enamel a machine is to saturate a piece of soft material in the enamel and pass it lightly over the tubes. This will give a highly satisfactory result, and is not sn tedious as using a brush. The enamel should be applied warm. When a cyclist finds that his wheel is out bf truth, it is high time it was put right. A /wheel never trues itself, but, on the contrary, becomes rapidly more and more sprung, until at last the over-strained &pokes begin to break. Long before this happens, however, a sensible- cyclist will have taken bis machine to a repairer. Find a place in your tool-bag for a bit cf an old-fashioned tallow candle; miiid you, not one of those new-fangled waxy imitations thereof, but tallow — that's what is needed. iWhen rain, or fog, or mist threatens you, use the candle and give all the bright parts of your machine a coating of tallow, and you can laugh at rust and the thoughts of ruined nickel.