Page 10 - SUSQUEHANNA TIMES
Complete line of Columbia & Huffy bicycles
and bicycle supplies available at Columbia
Hardware at reasonable prices.
Service man available.
Large selection of accessories.
Top Model 10-Speed
Lug Frame 27” Racers (
16 MX—Super
New large
parking lot—
FREE Parking in rear of store.
American
Hardware
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Our Newest Addition
Convenient
Credit Available
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We’ve Got It Now At Western Auto
Complete selection of other styles in stock -
the girls’ style 10-speed is back.
Bike Accessories & Parts
in Stock
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7 TIRE
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49°
rompt bike repair service on our styles & makes.
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} On 6’ rod: For added riding
= safety. 33-7555 ....... ees 518
Plastic Water Bottle Pint.
' Metal clamp. 33-7485 .... .. 1.29
June 22, 1977
All about bikes
Bikes are great for children of all ages.
Bone-shakers and High-wheelers
The forerunner of the
bicycle was the ‘‘walk-a-
long,”’ invented in 1790. It
had wooden wheels, no
pedals, and couldn’t be
steered. Its purpose was
merely to coast down hills.
As the 19th century wore
on, the walk-a-long was
followed by the “wooden
horse’’, the ’boneshaker’’,
and the ’’high-wheeler”’
(the type with a huge front
wheel and tiny back wheel
-a triumph of fin-de-siecle
engineering from which
riders constantly toppled).
The big breakthrough came
in 1890 with the so-called
‘“‘safety’’ bicycle, so named
to contrast it to the
high-wheeler: you didn’t
have to worry about falling
off.
The safety bike had the
basic features of today’s
models; pneumatic tires,
chain drive, spoke wheels,
and tubular metal frame.
Most advances in bicycle
technology since then have
come from new materials
and racing bikes, proto-
types of the common ‘‘ten-
speed’ of today.
Racing ten-speeds were
developed for European
bicycle racing, which is a
mania in France and other
countries (French bike rac-
ers, like American football
players, earn huge incomes
from TV ads as a result of
the popularity). While dis-
count ten-speeds can be
bought for about $100,
genuine racing machines
can cost thousands.
Although occasional in-
ovations appear, such as
ellipsoidal sprocket gears,
the bicycle hasn’t changed
much in the last fifty years.
Like the auto, it seems to
have either reached a
plateau or fallen into a rut.
Bike operation and safety
As a bike rider, you will
find that autos tend to treat
you in two opposite ways.
Either they will slow down
to a crawl at the sight of
you, and pass at least ten
feet on your left, or they
will totally ignore you.
Many people will open car
doors in your path or pull
out in front of you at
intersections - they don’t
seem to even see you. You
must drive defensively on a
bike.
On busy highways, a
bike is at a disadvantage,
especially if there isn’t a
smooth shoulder. A less
direct route along little-
used back roads is better.
Alleys in town are safer
than streets.
Weather can present
problems. If it’s raining
out, a car is more comfort-
able. Heat and cold are no
obstacle, if one dresses
properly. Don’t overdress
in chilly weather - you’ll be
soaked in sweat by the
time you’ve ridden a mile.
For night riding, get a
light. The kind that straps
onto your leg in the best,
as it moves up and down
while you pedal, attracting
attention. For peace of
mind, a bike lock is a must.
Fasten the chain or cable
through the bike frame and
the front wheel, and
around something high and
solid, like a street lamp.
To become a proficient
and safe biker, learn to
pedal without your hands
on the bars. This will give
you good balance and
prevent the erratic path
that can put you under a
truck. You should be able
to stay on the yellow line
without wavering: if you
can’t, practice,
Maintain your tires and
brakes. Bald tires have
poor traction, which is just
as important on a bike as it
is on a car, if not more so:
you don’t have any metal
cage around you.
In addition to the light,
which is essential after
dark, there are some other
safety devices which are
good ideas. One is a
helmet made especially for
bikers, with openings to
conserve weight and air
your scalp. One of these
could save your life if you
get thrown onto a curb. For
greater visibility, get the
kind of reflectors which
spring onto the wheel
spokes - they really attract
attention at night. For
daytime visibility, buy the
orange flag on a pole (you
won’t have to wave it
constantly; it attaches to
the frame). It will give you
a comfortable feeling when
a truck is overtaking you
from behind the crest of a
hill.
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