The Bicycling Times and Touring Gazette, Vol 6, No 21
Articles in this issue
- The editor condemns 'false entries' at race meetings — riders joining obscure clubs purely to deceive handicappers — and criticises the exclusionary practices of certain metropolitan clubs that bar competitors by social class rather than conduct.
- Complete fixture list for Saturday 10 April 1880 runs for Metropolitan and Provincial clubs, with upcoming open amateur race meetings at Crystal Palace, Kennington Oval, Stamford Bridge, Coventry, and other venues through September.
- Gossip column by 'Woodcutter' covering handicapping controversies, mixed professional and amateur race meetings in the Midlands, the value of stating prize money in prospectuses, and anticipation of a new machine claimed to cover a mile in under two minutes.
- Easter tour and opening run reports from over thirty British clubs including Athenæum (Portsmouth with 36 riders), Belgrave, Brixton, Clifton, Comet, Camberwell, Forest Hill, Highbury, Lombard, Star, and many others, with road and hotel recommendations.
- Letters to the editor including the Surrey Bicycle Club's resolutions on amateur status for their 24 April meeting, a warning from a Lewisham rider about the dangerous condition of Silver Hill near Hastings, a grateful note from John Brittan of Temple B.C. praising the Railway Hotel Crawley, and a correction from H. Dunkley of Guildhall B.C.
- Full heat-by-heat results of the one-mile bicycle handicap at the London Athletic Club's opening festival at Stamford Bridge: J.T. Griffits (Surrey B.C.) won the final from W.T. Thorne jun. and H.L. Cortis, with R. Rogers as official timekeeper.
- Report of the Kildare B.C.'s first monthly badge race at Ham Common — two miles on the road — won by J. Roach (100 yards start) from W.J. Harvey and F. Thompson.
- Results of a three-mile road race on 1 April: G.A. Bramwell first (10 secs.), W. Hunt second (10 secs.), time 9 min. 55 secs.; scratch man E. Windle would have won but suffered a severe fall.
- Detailed report of the Newcastle six-day professional race for £160 in prizes: W. Cann (Sheffield) completed an unprecedented 1001 miles, while G.W. Waller rode 200 miles in under 14 hours; the amateur championship was led by T.E. Jobling (Newcastle) at 189 miles 7 laps.
- Race results from the Irish Champion Athletic Club: H.M. Wright won all three bicycle events — the one-mile novices' race (3 min. 26 sec.), the two-mile club handicap, and the four-mile handicap (13 min. 56 sec.).
- Second annual meeting of the Border City B.C. in Carlisle's Agricultural Show Field over Easter Monday and Tuesday, attracting 3,000–4,000 spectators; R. Dover (Penrith) won the five-mile handicap final and the one-mile handicap, J. Oldcorn (Penrith) took the two-mile inter-club scratch race.
- W.H. Burrow won the Leeds B.C. 10-mile championship for a silver medal at the Horticultural Gardens on 3 April, beating four other members after a well-contested race.
- Report of a three-mile handicap race in New Zealand won by W. Brown (72 yards, 53-inch wheel) from E.C. Farr after a plucky chase, with times of 4 min. 4⅖ secs. for the mile and 13 min. 11⅕ secs. for three miles.
- Description of a new touring saddle-bag designed by A.P. Trotter B.A. of Trinity College, Cambridge: a modified multum-in-parvo with a screw clamp, extra lower bag, and tool pocket, already in use by Cambridge University Bicycle Club members.
- Report of the second annual dinner of the Westbourne B.C. at the Holborn Restaurant, with about fifty members and guests; toasts proposed by Captain W.H. Tufts and C.N. Rosenfeld, with C.J. Fox jun. of the Bicycling Times responding to the Press toast.
- Notice from Hon. Sec. Lamartine C.B. Yeoman requesting clubs to return forms confirming attendance at the Hampton Court Meet and to remit 8s. towards expenses before a committee meeting on 9 April.
- The Star B.C. of Hackney entertained retiring captain W.J. Dodds to supper at Headquarters on 31 March, with new captain W.D. Taylor presiding and an evening of songs and recitations.
- Committee resolution of 6 April: the Temple B.C. will not deviate from its strict amateur definition (excluding mechanics and labourers) and will hold no open race meeting in 1880; the Hon. Sec. is empowered to convene a metropolitan conference on the amateur question.
- Easter tour account by George M.L. Kellham: eight Lombard B.C. men rode to Hindhead, Bedford (via Digswell Hill), and back over four days, with road notes and hotel recommendations including the White Lion at Godalming.
- Report of the Civil Service B.C.'s concert at Steinway Hall on 5 April — described as the best amateur bicycle-club concert of the season — featuring piano duets from Rossini and Meyerbeer and solos well received by a large fashionable audience.
- Five Bradford members rode 215 miles to Newcastle via Harrogate, Knaresborough, Thirsk, Stockton, and Sunderland to attend the North-eastern meet and Waller's six-day race, returning by Durham and Darlington with detailed hotel recommendations throughout.
- Formation of 'The Liverpool Wanderers' at the Angel Hotel on 18 March 1880, with sixteen founder members and officers including President D. Ritchie jun. and Hon. Sec. George H. Jones.
- Theatre notices by 'Bruto Currie' reviewing Gilbert and Sullivan's The Pirates of Penzance at the Opera Comique (pronounced equal to H.M.S. Pinafore) and the new piece The Naval Cadets at the Globe with Selina Dolaro in the title role.
- Continued touring narrative (from p.300): the author rides from Thirsk through Masham, Middleham, Aysgarth, and Hawes toward Kendal, describing hill climbs, terrible roads near Hawes Junction, and reaching Crooklands after 54 miles on a cold, windswept day.
- Brief editorial replies to several correspondents on club news submission rules, advertisement charges, and a note that club news must arrive by first post Tuesday morning to be included.