The Bulletin And Good Roads, Vol 27, No 23

Articles in this issue

• Screwing on Pedals Correctly: The Thread Rule

  A mechanical note reminds cyclists that the left and right pedals have opposite thread directions to prevent them from unscrewing during riding, and explains the simple rule for remembering which is which.

• Aerial Cycle Experiment at Crystal Palace, London

  An English inventor displayed at Crystal Palace a balloon-supported bicycle mechanism intended to allow a rider to pedal through the air, which observers found more entertaining than convincing.

• Fluted Roads Near Bar Harbor, Maine

  An unusual road-surfacing experiment near Bar Harbor uses parallel ridges cut into the surface to channel water runoff, and a touring cyclist reports that the fluting actually improves traction for pneumatic tires.

• Comparing Old and New Wheels: A Fair Testing Methodology

  A reader proposes that any comparison between old and new bicycle designs should involve at least 500 to 1,000 miles of mixed-surface riding before conclusions are drawn, to avoid misleading short-term results.

• American Cyclists Seized by Spanish Vessel off Florida

  A remarkable incident is reported in which a party of American cyclists touring the Florida coast by boat were briefly detained by a Spanish naval vessel, before being released without incident.