The Soldier Cyclist
feyerimeuts made with the bicycle in military service sliow tliat even in parts of the country wliere good roads are few and where streams must be forded and mountains crossed the steel norse is destined to become au invaluable aid. During 1800 the bicycle corpa of the Twenty-flfth United States infantry made a series of experimental runs and drills upon the whcel. One of the cyclist soldiers was a practical machinist, who could at short notice inake repairs. The corps made a trip from Fort Missoula, iu Montana, across the Eooky inountain divide to Yellowstone park. In 126 hours of actual riding they traveled 797 miles over execrable routes for the bicycle. Their . best time was 72 miles iu oue day of %% hours. The men carried their food, ammunition, camping outfit, etc. Nearly all waa fasteued to the bicycle in various ways. The average weight of the bicycles packed with ;he extra luggage was 79. 7 pounds. The fine athletic fellows did extremely well with tliis load. Rifles were strapped horizontally on the left sideof the bicycle. Even along roads where the men could not ride they found the wheel a great help, for the heaviest part of their luggage was strapped to it, and they could trundle it along tlms loaded easier than thoy could have carried the burdcn. Along marches with the army, the biycle corps kept np constant communiation with the rear and the advance, nd with the wagon train. In their ournoys they found brakes to be absoutely necessaiy. They also found that he pneumatic tire will not do for miliary work, and that a wood rim must be iveted as well as glued.
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Ann Arbor Democrat