The Bicycling World, Vol 10, No 10
Articles in this issue
- The editors review E. R. Shipton's article in The Cyclist calling for systematic reform of cycle-race timekeeping, summarising his six recommendations including an official N.C.U. records register, a standing Records Committee, and the mandatory use of Kew Observatory-certified watches. Editorial notes follow on Central Park cycling access restrictions, a subscription fund for champion road rider Jack Keen (H. L. Cortis's mentor), Col. Heubner's improved hub patent, George D. Gideon's new Philadelphia cycling establishment, and Wilcox's new speed gearing for the Facile.
- Sanford Lawton of Springfield replies to a critical letter from a correspondent signing as "Boston," defending the Springfield Bicycle Club's race meetings as clean and honestly run, noting the 1883 meet lost money fairly and the 1884 meet drew thousands without pool-selling or hired amateurs. He objects to the implication that racing cyclists are socially inferior and objects that the Springfield Wheelman's Gazette is independent of the club.
- Pre-departure notice for the cycling tour of Bermuda: party members are invited to dine at the upstairs cafe of the Astor House, New York, on Thursday 22 January before sailing together on the steamer Orinoco from Pier 47 North River; tickets available at Leve & Alden's, 207 Broadway. Organiser F. A. Elwell of Portland, Maine advises cyclists to crate their wheels carefully and have luggage aboard before dinner.
- A Buffalo correspondent reports on a November 16 road run by Messrs. George, Ehrlich, Bull, Haynes, and Adams from Buffalo through Batavia to Rochester (74 miles, actual riding time 6 h. 20 min.), described as the fastest known time for that route. The letter also covers the new Bull & Haynes cycling establishment at Hersey Hall — including a novel home trainer with cyclometer and bell — and Buffalo wheelmen's unanimous desire to host the next League meet.
- Results of the six-day professional safety bicycle race at the London Aquarium (closing 20 December 1884), conducted over a narrow elevated course eight feet above the floor. T. Birt of Northampton on a Rudge Safety won with 630 miles 5 laps in 48 hours of riding, ahead of Weston (627 miles) and Vale (616 miles 5 laps); J. Keen retired the first day and R. James the second, while the Kangaroo did not enter.
- First instalment of Julius Wilcox's technical history of safety bicycle design, tracing origins back to the Facile (c. 1877) and surveying ten now-defunct designs including the Coventry Machinist Company's Pony (1879), the Safety and Sultan, the Bicyclette and Flying Dutchman (both 1880), the Otto, Devon, Little Shielty, Sun and Planet (1881), and the Atlantic Special (1882), with commentary on the Star and 'Xtraordinary as the surviving representatives.
- A St. Louis cyclist recounts nine club members — including Lin Gordon, J. S. Rogers, and Percy Stone — attending the Chicago Christmas races, where a plan to seize the lead on the seven-lap Casino track ended with Webber crashing his Star machine in a spectacular pile-up on the back-stretch while Van Sicklen won the mile dash for Chicago. St. Louis took first and second in the half-mile, and the letter describes a lavish post-race banquet at the Leland House hosted by the Chicago Club.
- Review of the 1884 Christmas number of The Cyclist, published by Iliffe & Sturmey, featuring an illuminated cover uniting the English and American flags and a satirical millennial cycling-camp narrative written by Faed (A. J. Wilson) and Titanambungo. The number is illustrated throughout with cartoons carrying portraits of dozens of leading manufacturers (Harrington, the Starleys, Hillman, George Singer) and racers (G. Lacy Hillier, George Smith on a Kangaroo, Henry Sturmey, H. J. Webb).
- Miscellaneous running-commentary column opening with a verse from the Xmas Cyclist on Sandy Sellers's defeat of George Hendee and the visiting English amateurs; followed by notes on the Italian wheeling union's forthcoming Turin track, Rudge's safety challenge accepted by A. P. Engelhart on a Facile, the Racing Board reinstating Cola E. Stone of St. Louis after an inadvertent contest with a professional, and the Big Four tour management meeting at the Genesee Hotel in Buffalo on 18 January.
- Reports on a 1 January race at Institute Rink between Stumcke on a bicycle (3:15) and Skinner on rollers (3:25), with Thomas Holden as referee; Woodside's published challenge to Prince for five races at 10, 15, 20, 25, and 50 miles for $500 a side and the championship; and Prince's victory over Woodside in a 10-mile race at the Chicago Casino rink on 30 December.
- Club notes led by the Kansas City Bicycle Club's 24 December weekly meeting at Sixth and Broadway, attended by 19 members including President Dr. G. L. Henderson and Captain Chas. Ellis, with an oyster supper and toasts. Additional items cover the Citizens' Bicycle Club's planned "ladies' night," the Massachusetts Club's mileage survey of members, the Louisville Club's first annual hop on 14 January, and the Connecticut Club moving into new quarters on Central Row adjacent to Merrill's Cafe.
- American Division of the Cyclists' Touring Club notice listing state consuls across ten states (Connecticut, Illinois, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Wisconsin) with Frank W. Weston as Chief Consul in Boston. Includes new membership applications, fresh consul appointments for Orange N.J. and Rutland Vt. and Chattanooga Tenn., and a reminder that annual renewal blanks appear in the January Gazette with 75-cent dues for 1885 payable to the state consul or Chas. H. Potter in Cleveland.