The pedals are uncle in several varieties, the chief forms being known as " rubber " and " rat-trap" ; they are mounted upon pedal-pins bolted to the cranks, which are in Inrn fixed to the axle of the driving-wheel. The rubber surfaces tend to absorb it great deal of the vibra tion, and also afford it good grip for the rider's shoe ; the roughened steel plates in the " rat trap" type excel in the latter particular, but lack the lamer of taking the vibration. A corn Idned "rubber" and "rat-trap" pedal, constructed with rubber on one side and serrated plates on the other, is largely used, and found to give the advantage of both varieties. Two square blocks of milker, serrated upon their surfaces, and pivoted within the pedal-frame, are also favorably known as affording, adjustment to the curve of the foot. Foot-gripping devices are also used with pedals in various forms.
A peculiar and popular type of bicycle is found in that called " The Star." It has a large driving-wheel driven by pedals, which in their alternate up-and-down motion actuate ratchets formed upon the driving-axle. The rider's seat is over this wheel, slightly in front of its center, and the backbone extends downward in front, where it is forked over a small steering wheel. The frame, including the backbone, is practically triangular in shape, with a branch for the seat-support, and this frame is so pivoted that the front wheel—besides moving side wise in steering—may be raised from the ground at the will of the rider by correspondingly moving the handle-bar. This machine is often used for the unique purpose of playing the game of polo. The contestants. mounted upon "Star" bicycles. follow the ball to and fro between the goals, and use the small front wheel as a bat, in driving the ball in the desired direction as well as for checking it in its course.
Another ratchet-pedal action is found in the "Eagle" machine. Here the wheels are situated as in the ordinary bicycle, hut instead of a rotary motion being imparted to the pedals, a simple up-and-down movement in the are of a circle is the result of the rider's efforts, and this operates through ratchets to revolve the driving-wheel.
The accessories and fittings of bicycles, such as tool-bags, lamps, bells, lubricators, distance indicators, etc., are too numerous in form for description ; their manufacture affords employ ment to many artisans of different trades, and involve the investment of large amounts of capital.
Before proceeding to consider the next important form of bicycle—the "Safety"—it is necessary to look briefly at the type called " Dwarf " bicycle, this being the immediate fore runner of that successful and desirable cycle which permits the use of a small driving and steering wheel.
In one class of the " Dwarf " machine the power, instead of being applied direct to the driving-w•heel, is transniitted to it through a pair of endless chains and sprocket-wheels from a divided pedal-axle carrying a crank. placed below and slightly in rear of the driving-wheel
axle, so that the rider's feet are much nearer• the ground, and his seat correspondingly lowered. This construction permits of gearing-up, so that the wheel may be equal in speed to any desired size of did h eel, and also allows the use of long cranks, independent of the length of the rider's legs. This accounts for its ease of propulsion, and consequent speed, for it is admitted that the internal friction in this uua•hine is greater than in the ordinary ungeared machine, and its weight certainly no less ; therefore the theory must be that the low speed of pedaling does not produce so much exhaustion as is experienced from a more rabid movement of the legs.
A machine of this class may be adjnsted, within certain limits, to suit riders of any height, by raising or lowering the pedal-axle brackets and altering the length of the chains. By having the louver end of the fork pivoted to the upper branch at the center of the wheel, and by turning the brackets to an angle and then tightening-up, the height of the pedal-axle from the ground may be varied without altering the length of the chains.
" Dwarf " bicycles are also propelled by a lever-action, and this type is commonly known as " Kangaroo," and frequently as Grasshoppers." The fork of the front wheel is extended below the driving-axle, and on the ends are pivoted two pedal-levers, worked at their free ends with the feet ; these pedal-levers work the cranks or the wheel-axle through connecting-rods so arranged as to increase the leverage. The action of the feet is a reciprocating one, the path of the pedals being simply the are of a circle, of which the radius equals the length of the lever, and the reciprocations of the rider's feet are just equal in number to the revolutions of the driving-wheel.
Another type of lever-action " Dwarf " machine has the pedal-levers suspended from links pivoted high up on the branches of the fork, and the pedal-levers are themselves connected direct to the cranks, and curved backward to bring their free extremities properly under the rider's feet. The path or travel of the pedals is elliptical, or a mean between the are of the reciprocating and the complete circle described in the purely rotary machines. The front fork is made to rake backward, so that the curve of gravity is kept well behind the axle of the driving-wheel ; and, owing to the consequent safe position of the rider•, a larger driving wheel can be used without seriously curtailing the safety of the machine. On account of the lowness of the seat, the rider can not use the handle-bar as a rest for his legs in `coasting," as is done with the ordinary wheel. The "Dwarf'' machine has usually a pair of foot-rests extending forward of the axle on extensions of the fork.