The Bicycling Times and Touring Gazette, Vol 6, No 9
Articles in this issue
- The editor anticipates the 1880 season opening with the Stanley Exhibition in February, and urges the Bicycle Union to acquire a permanent ground where riders and supporters could gather, proposing life memberships at £2 2s. to fund it.
- Gossip column noting that Jas. Challis, captain of the Alert B.C., plans to resign; reporting a dispute between the Alert B.C. and the Bicycle Union over unanswered correspondence; and observing that Terront and Cann's return from America will challenge Waller's long-distance championship.
- Reports from multiple clubs including the Dewsbury B.C. annual meeting (where W. Dawson won eight firsts in twenty-five races), the Speedwell B.C. Birmingham ball, and the St. George's annual dinner at Holborn Restaurant.
- Reports the first monthly race meeting of the Sociedad de los Velocipedistas de Madrid on 4 January 1880, with results across four races on a 500-metre track, noting that all members are now mounted on English machines.
- Publishes the BTC January monthly circular including details of the half-yearly meeting at Anderton's Hotel on 7 February 1880, instructions to members on road enquiries and touring companions, hotel directory tariffs, and a prospectus of the club's objects and advantages.
- Full report of the Stanley B.C. annual dinner at the Woolpack, Hart Street, chaired by J.W. Beningfield, where vice-captain W. Turner delivered a lengthy speech arguing that racing has been the chief driver of bicycling's growth and urging the Bicycle Union to adopt a revised handicapping system based on Cortis's Cambridge mile time of 2 min. 48 sec.
- Report of the second annual dinner of the Yarborough B.C. at the White Hart Hotel, Great Grimsby, where president Frank Long presented a silver cup to H. Holdershaw and a silver medal to Jennison for their racing performances.
- Short gossip column noting that the Palmer v. Derkinderen matches appear cancelled, that Palmer's race record stands at 20 firsts from 38 races, and that the Touring Club is progressing well.
- Longer midlands column reporting on club dinners at Banbury, Redditch, Kenilworth, Stratford-on-Avon and Alcester, and giving a lively account of the Speedwell B.C. ball at the Royal Hotel Birmingham on 6 January attended by nearly 180 guests.
- Letters to the editor including a proposal to keep the 100-miles list open until after the coming season, a request that the Stanley Exhibition be extended to include Friday so country members can combine it with the BTC meeting, and a detailed scheme by 'Nemo' for raising nearly £1,500 per annum for the Bicycle Union through capitation fees from clubs and unattached riders.