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CONTENTS.CHAPTER I.EVOLUTION OF THE BICYCLE,1816 TO 1899The Year 1898 a Memorable One in Its History; Improvement in Quality, Reduction in Price, the Reincarnation of the Chainless, and the Abolition of the National Cycle Show—Tendencies Toward Fixity, and Reversion to Type—The Earliest Creations in Bicycle Construction and the Steady March Toward Improvement—A Brief Sketch of Development—Marked Characteristics and Changes Adopted with the Season of 1898.Pages 1-9CHAPTER II.THE CHAINLESS WHEEL.Its Advent Upon the American Market, After Long and Costly Experiments—The Various Methods Employed to Transmit Power—A Single Successful Foreign Wheel of This Type—The Bevel Gear, Spur Gear and Pin-Roller Gear—A Study of the Chainless Type, with Illustrations and Descriptions of Popular Models.Pages 10-27CHAPTER III.CHAINLESS VS. CHAIN.The Advantages Claimed for Each Compared—Summary of Early Attempts in “Safety” Types—Modes of Power Transmission—Demands Upon Chainless Construction—The Problems of End-Thrust and Side-Thrust—The Question of Strain Upon Bearings and Gear Teeth—Charges Brought Against the Chain Wheel—Effect of the Chainless Upon the Trade.Pages 28-36CHAPTER IV.FRAME AND FORK CONSTRUCTION.The Frame, Essentially a “Bridge Upon Wheels”—Evolution of Shape in Frames—Drop Forgings and Stampings—Flush Joints—Drop Frames—Juveniles—Styles of Forks and Crowns—How Tubing Is Made—The Adoption of Sheet-Steel Parts.Pages 37-52CHAPTER V.CHAIN PROTECTION.The Gear Case an English Device—Its Improved Construction in America—Its Practical Advantages—Various Styles Described.Pages 53-57CHAPTER VI.THE CHAIN AND ITS FUNCTIONS.A Greater Knowledge and Care of Chains Desirable—Evolution and Operation—Attempts to Reduce Chain Friction—Roller Sprockets and Roller Chains—Various Points and Kinds of Friction—The Several Types of Chain Now in Use—Improved Sprockets—Results of Actual Tests—Chain Adjusters—Chain Bolts and Repairs.Pages 58-66CHAPTER VII.HUBS, SPOKES AND RIMS.Improvements in Construction—The Suspension Wheel Described—Construction of Hubs and Spokes—The Strains to Which They Are Subjected—The Different Styles in Use—The Wood Wheel—Steel Rims and Wood Rims, with Some Popular Examples.Pages 67-73CHAPTER VIII.EVOLUTION OF THE TIRE.The Tire from 1888 to 1898—Solid, Cushion, Inner-Tube and “Hose-Pipe”—The Various Makes of Tire and Rim—Early Methods of Repair—Modern Repair Methods and Kits—Plugs, Patching, Strips and Vulcanizing—Some Valuable Hints to Riders.Pages 74-81CHAPTER IX.THE BEARINGS.The Great Improvement in Bicycle Bearings—Points of Contact—The Evil Results of Careless Construction and Assembling—Ballmaking—The Cup Adjustment and Its Advantages—Lubrication and Dust Exclusion—Methods in Bearings as Made in 1898.Pages 82-87CHAPTER X.CRANKS, PEDALS AND AXLES.The Early and Modern Hub—The Divided-Axle Mania—“One-Piece” Construction—Crank Throw and Variable Gear—Gear Ratio—Crank Drop—Shapes of Crank and Sprocket—Evolution of the Pedal and Axle—Ankle Motion and Its Advantages—The Ramsey Swinging Pedal.Pages 88-94CHAPTER XI.THE SADDLE.Until Late Years a Knotty Problem for Makers and Riders—Some Recent Improvements—Saddles and “Seats”—Use and Misuse of Springs—A Strictly Universal Saddle Impossible—Various Types and Makes—Wide Range of Choice—The Seat Post.Pages 95-102CHAPTER XII.HANDLEBARS, GRIPS AND BRAKES.Successive Modifications—Long vs. Short Bars—Wood Bars—Grips of Various Sorts—The Question of Brakes—Rear and Front Brakes—Back-Pedalling and Rear Brakes—The Spencer Brake.Pages 103-108CHAPTER XIII.LAMPS AND LAMP BRACKETS.Evolution of the Lamp—Excellence of the American Kerosene Lamp—Description of Various Makes—Electric Lamps—The New Carbide Illuminant—Descriptions of Carbide Lamps—Lamp Brackets.Pages 109-117CHAPTER XIV.CYCLOMETERS AND OTHER SUNDRIES.Early Cyclometers—Dial and Barrel Types—Various Styles of the Latter—Bells, Ringing by Tire Contact and Otherwise—Bell-Brakes—Toe-Clips—Luggage-Carriers—Children’s Seats—Pumps—Accessories and Novelties.Pages 118-125CHAPTER XV.FREAKS AND USELESS DEVICES.Constantly Recurring Fallacies—Weight for Obtaining Perpetual Motion—Some Examples of Vain Contriving—Examples of Patents Applied For—Building “To Order”—Cutting Down Frames—The “Drop” Craze.Pages 126-131CHAPTER XVI.TANDEMS AND MULTICYCLES.Increased Use of the Tandem—Tandem Evolution—Various Makes Described—Tricycles, Multicycles and Juvenile Tandems.Pages 132-138CHAPTER XVII.MOTOR VEHICLES.Bicycles and Tricycles—Evolution of the Motor Carriage—Air as Motive Power—Electricity in Actual Use—Various Electrical Vehicles Described—Gas Motors.Pages 139-143
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