Vol 1, No 3
Articles in this issue
- A leader examining why the pastime is so abused, pedestrians complain that machines are noiseless, too fast and dangerous to children, horsemen that they frighten horses, and blaming riders' "self-consciousness," which drives them to show off in dress or speed; it insists that "bicycling is not a sport," that road riding should be as distinct from racing as horse exercise is from the Derby, and that men who carry neither bell nor lamp invite the reproach.
- Reports the Union's full meeting settling the definition of an amateur, a professional being one who has ridden in public for money or taught any athletic exercise for money, and anyone competing with a professional without protest ranking as one, and records that Captain M. D. Rücker has been badly hurt, both wrists sprained, after dropping his feet to the treadles downhill and throwing the hind wheel up.
- Notices the Club's report and rule book, drawing attention to Rules 14–16 and Regulation 2 on the prize for most attendances at Meets, and prints a member's statistics: 188 members plus 4 honorary in six districts, 82 racing prizes, ten men over 3,000 miles in the year, ten road medals and the tally of 100-mile days by district.
- A full page of road distances measured from the south end of the Pond on the top of the Heath by H. Sharpe and J. W. Alison, tabulated by route, N.E. by Snaresbrook, N. by Finchley Road, N.W. by Hendon, W. and S.W. by Cricklewood, with mileages to Chipping Ongar, Hitchin, Hatfield, St. Albans, Uxbridge, Amersham, Windsor, Staines, Slough and Hampton Court.
- April 6 reports: a "cumulative" N.W. run of 38 miles to tea at the "One Bell," Hatfield with a stroll into Hatfield House park, three men riding on to Bedford; the N.E. to the "King's Head," Chigwell; nine of the West to Iver and back by Cowley Marsh and Thorney Mill to tea at the Club Depot; and the S.W. and S.E. joining at Dorking for the "Red Lion," Ockley, where a collision disabled the Captain's machine and W. Wyndham had to be part-carried to the inn.
- Theo. Godlee continues north from Norman's Cross in drenching rain over greasy roads through Stamford and Colsterworth to the comfort of the "Angel Hotel," Grantham, then on 14 miles to "The Ram," Newark, where he breakfasts with the Times 124 miles from London before pushing towards East Retford; a footnote corrects his start date to 18 August.
- Urges members to attend the first general Meet of the season, at Ockham's "Hautboy and Fiddle," assuring the doubtful that the Surrey gravel dries rapidly and will not be heavy.
- Lists the Surrey B.C. five-mile scratch and four-mile handicap at Kennington Oval and the L.A.C. four-mile handicap on April 27, the Bicycle Union Championship at Stamford Bridge on May 11, and the Cambridge Inter-'Varsity and four-mile invitation races on May 18 and 24, with notes on the standing rule 15, a pun on J. Keen's name, and Mr. Mackinnon's 14m. 7¾s. walk-over for the Amateur Athletic Club bicycle championship.
- The Captain's accident rules him out of the Bath meet, but the "White Hart" is named as the Club rendezvous in the city on specially favourable terms, with a fair number expected to ride up to London together on the Monday.
- Two sale notices: a 58-inch "Timberlake" at nine guineas through F. M. Williams of Great St. Helen's, and W. Wyndham's 56-inch Keen's "Eclipse" racer, to be seen at Lillie Bridge, at £10.
- M. D. Rücker replies to "Florizel" on hotels, arguing high-class houses would cut prices for the Club's regular custom, that the Club badge alone would serve as a pass, and proposing L.B.C. visitors' books, and appeals for members to send in run accounts so the Editor need not write all night; further letters come from R. Haberfield Shorb seeking a riding companion at Hampton Court, H. V. Cleaver proposing to ride through the night to Bath on the 20th, and "Anti-Sunstroke" asking for a cork or soft helmet in place of the Club straw hat.
- Brief replies to C. P., C. C., that Thursday publication is impracticable and the hotels will appear in the next list, and to H. F., that the attendance prize counts exact rather than computed distance, with a recommendation that competitors fit mile gauges.
- Standing terms: contributions to the Editor at 35, Eastcheap, E.C., bearing the author's name, written on one side only and received by Tuesday morning; copies 4d. at Goy's, Leadenhall Street, or 4½d. post free, and a 10s. 6d. yearly subscription for non-members approved by the Committee.