Vol 1, No 2
Articles in this issue
- Hon. Sec. C. R. Hutchings announces that the Committee will continue the Gazette and that A. Ogier Ward now assumes the editorship, followed by the Editor's plea that members contribute rather than stand aside to criticise, arguing the paper "ought to serve the purpose of a dozen general meetings", the monster-meet question would have been settled at one Committee sitting had members been able to express themselves freely.
- The Union's Racing Committee has fixed the Amateur Championship for Stamford Bridge on 11 May 1878 over 2 miles and 25 miles, the winners to be styled short- and long-distance Amateur Champions and take a gold medal; the Gazette regrets that the Surrey B.C. meeting clashes with the L.A.C. April tournament on the 27th.
- Meetings of March 19 and April 2 elected Langmore, Parker, Des Vœux, Trollope, Johns, Bishop, Densham, Bacon and Henry; resolved that the Club attend the Hampton Court Meet provided the police arrangements satisfy; extended entries for Messrs. Millar and Groom's prizes to 14 April; and closed the Bath Road Trial entries on 31 May with the Race Meeting at Stamford Bridge on 15 June.
- Explains how the Club came to attend the Hampton Court monster meet, the Pickwick Club's preliminary meeting resolved to hold one, and the delegates made it conditional on police arrangements preventing last year's block and breakdown, and urges members to turn out in full uniform, without "such monstrosities as white knickerbockers," since neatness impresses spectators more than numbers.
- District reports for March 16, 23 and 30: 23 N.W. men to tea at the "Essex Arms," Watford, then the "Guinea" at Ridge and the "Red Lion" after a snow squall on Golder's Hill; the West to Ockham (where the Gazette's misprinted rendezvous made them miss the S.W.) and a circular run to the "White Horse," Willesden; the S.W. and S.E. combined at the "Glyn Arms," Ewell and rode to the "Grapes," Reigate; and the N.E. to the "Bell Inn," Upminster and to Waltham Abbey.
- Theo. Godlee's account of setting out alone from Walthamstow on 19 August on a "Special Challenge" bound for Edinburgh, warning readers off the "Red Lion" at Hatfield, recommending the bathing boat at the Half Moon, St. Neots, losing himself over Alconbury Hill out of Huntingdon, and halting for the night at Norman's Cross beyond Stilton. To be continued.
- H. V. Cleaver describes a 95-mile day with Muller, Marchant and Freeth from West Drayton by Colnbrook, Slough, Maidenhead and Reading to dinner at a small inn by Wallingford bridge, back through Henley, whose hill beat all four against a hurricane, Cranford Bridge, Hanwell and Ealing, on a 56 "Bill Keen," a 58 and a 55 "Stassen" and a 50 "Challenge."
- Captain M. D. Rücker, jun. proposes no organised Club run over Easter, but invites members to ride down to Bath in small detachments by various routes, spend Sunday there together and return in company on Easter Monday, writing to him so he can arrange accommodation.
- Members' sale notices: H. F. Hirsch's unused Johnson's mileage indicator for a 56-inch machine at 25s., a 53-inch "Timberlake" at nine guineas through F. M. Williams, and W. Wyndham's 56-inch Keen's "Eclipse" racer, to be seen at Lillie Bridge, at £10.
- Surrey B.C. five-mile scratch and four-mile handicap at Kennington Oval and the L.A.C. four-mile handicap, both on April 27; the Bicycle Union Championship Meeting at Stamford Bridge on May 11 over 2 and 25 miles, entries to G. W. Beningfield; and the Cambridge University B.C. four-mile invitation race on May 24, with a note that members riding in unlisted sports must observe rule 15.
- An expanded Club list, the White Lion at Bath, Red Lion at Banbury, New Ship at Brighton, George at Crawley, Albion at Eastbourne, Railway Hotel at East Grinstead, White Hart at Guildford and Maidenhead, Pier and Sea Side and "Green's" at Hastings, White Horse at Haslemere, Belle Vue at Malvern, Shakespeare at Stratford-on-Avon and Woolpack at Warwick, closing with a note that Wyndham, Beck, Whiting, Williams and Turner are already in training at Lillie Bridge and Stamford Bridge.
- K. and W. ride from East Grinstead by Felbridge to Crawley, warning of the puzzling Horsham exit just above the "George"; on through Horsham towards Worthing, where a missed signpost lost them in lanes one local called "too bad for carts," before the wind hurried them into Worthing at 15 miles an hour. To be continued.
- Under the head "Hotels," a correspondent signing FLORIZEL answers Mr. Rücker point by point, a single tariff cannot fit hotels of varied character, the Club uniform is not yet well enough known to command respect, and members may not stay at the appointed houses, concluding that "the first thing we have to learn is 'where not to go,'" with an editorial note inviting names of hotels regardless of charges.
- Replies to X. Y. Z. that a contributor's name need not appear in print but must be sent as a guarantee of good faith, and to "Lost Sheet" and C. J. that their letters are now out of place or cannot appear.
- Contributions must go to the Editor at 35, Eastcheap, E.C., bear the author's name, be written on one side only and arrive by Tuesday morning; copies are 4d. at Goy's, Leadenhall Street, or 4½d. post free, with a 10s. 6d. annual subscription open to non-members on Committee approval.