The Bicycling Times and Touring Gazette, Vol 6, No 10
Articles in this issue
- Argues that bicycling must establish itself as a fully independent sport by securing a dedicated ground in London, proposing Willesden Junction as the most suitable site with rail connections from all directions. Notes that a six-day bicycle race and exhibition is planned for the Agricultural Hall, Islington, in March, with Terront expected to challenge Waller for the world championship.
- Short column covering Mr. Coombs's departure from the Tower Hamlets B.C. committee, the Brixton B.C. split producing the new Brixton Ramblers B.C., Jack Keen's open-air challenge to Waller, and brief notices on the Heywood Phoenix and Rovers clubs.
- Lists runs, dinners, and balls arranged by London bicycle clubs for the coming days, including the Atalanta, Athenaeum, Clarence, Guildhall, Highbury, Kildare, Belgrave, Pickwick, Owl, Croydon, Middlesex, and other clubs.
- Reports from individual clubs: the Alert B.C. resolves to defer joining the Bicycle Union and elects James Challis jun. as captain for 1880; the Brixton Ramblers B.C. is founded with F. Hutchins as captain; social evenings are reported for the Arion, City, Crichton, Happy-go-Luckies, Highbury, Metropolitan, Redditch and District, Rovers, Saturn, Star, Stanley, St. James's, Surrey United, Temple, and West Kent clubs.
- Reviews 'Riding Rhymes, or Every Club its Own Music Hall' by A. J. Wilson ('Faed') of the Canonbury and Star Bicycle Clubs, published by Etherington & Co. at 1s., praising its parodies, rhymes, and caricatures of riders including H. L. Cortis, K. M. Yeoman, and G. L. Hillier.
- Reports the Lewisham Bicycle Club's second annual dinner at Anderton's Hotel under Dr. Charles Chittenden, and the Hornsey B.C.'s annual dinner at the Holborn Restaurant with Mr. Littler Q.C. in the chair, at which toasts were drunk to the Bicycle Union, Bicycle Touring Club, and the press.
- Reports the Rovers B.C. ball at the Cannon Street Hotel, attended by 200 persons including members from the Pickwick, Surrey, Stanley, Touring Club, and Tynemouth clubs, with supper presided over by honorary member W. R. Marsh.
- Describes the Romford Bicycle Club's second invitation ball at the Corn Exchange, attended by 180 persons, with the room decorated with the Prince of Wales' feathers in 128 coloured lamps and dancing until 4.30 a.m. to Mr. Byford's quadrille band.
- Announces that the list of riders who have completed a 100-mile day closes on 31 January 1880, covering back years as well as 1879, and specifies the format for submissions: rider name, club, date, road, time, and distance.
- T. F. Barrett of Sutton and H. Revell Reynolds, hon. sec. of the Oxford University B.C., publish monthly riding totals for 1879: Barrett rode 2,796 miles in 102 days, Reynolds 6,061 miles in 223 days with a longest ride of 105 miles.
- Reports the funeral of Charles Davis, a member of the Hastings Bicycle Club and eldest son of J. Davis of Grand Parade, attended by club officers including Vice-President A. T. Lovett and Captain E. Gilbert, as reported in the Hastings Observer.
- Describes J. P. Jones of Adelaide riding a 54-inch bicycle from Saddleworth to Auburn ahead of Hill & Co.'s coach, beating it again from Clare to Watervale, and covering seventy-eight miles in a single day ending in Adelaide.
- A meditation by 'Observer' of the London B.C. on winter cycling, contrasting muddy macadam roads with summer evenings, and noting sixteen wet Saturdays experienced in 1879.
- Quotes the Philadelphia paper 'Progress' on the continued growth of bicycling in America, noting that Professor Rollinson covered five miles in eighteen minutes twenty-two seconds at a Philadelphia rink and plans a tournament at Horticultural Hall.
- Lists two recent patent applications: John Bonner of Coventry for improvements in bicycles and velocipedes (14 January 1880), and Thomas Warwick of Aston for improvements in bicycles and their manufacture (16 January 1880).
- Publishes letters including 'An Unattached Rider' praising 'Nemo's' defence of the Bicycle Union; J. B. Turner of Newton Abbot proposing a Cycling Recreation Ground Company in Devon; Captain E. Seymour Paul explaining the Highbury B.C.'s use of Canonbury Station; Arthur L. Raston reporting on cycling progress in South Australia including an upcoming annual ten-mile race meeting; and '52 in. Timberlake' urging the Union to petition for bicycle access to London parks.