The Bicycling World, Vol 4, No 23
Articles in this issue
- Poem by Wolivier Endell celebrating the bicycle as 'the ideal form we call the Bi,' contrasting its effortless speed with the laboured gait of the horse and the plodding pedestrian.
- Introduction to the new Portrait Gallery series, promising readers engraved portraits of distinguished American wheelmen recognised for skill, speed, or service to the sport, beginning with this issue.
- Editorial examining recent record-breaking times at the Fast Day race meeting in Boston and discussing what conditions and verification are required for a record to be officially accepted by the racing board.
- Report of the Fast Day (6 April) race meeting at the Institute Fair Building in Boston, where R. P. Ahl of the Massachusetts Club beat W. S. Clark's American mile record with about 3m 5s against George D. Gideon of Germantown, and J. S. Dean won the five-mile handicap from Underwood, Powell, Garrood and Ayer; also covers the accompanying makers' exhibition (Pope, Cunningham, Percival, Marine Bicycle Co.) and the Massachusetts Bicycle Club races of 8 April.
- Humorous fiction by 'President Bates' in which the members of a bicycle club turn out in full uniform to escort a fellow member's bride to her wedding, forming a guard of honour through town and accompanying the couple to the railway station amid the astonishment of spectators.
- Acrostic poem by Minnie F. Mosher of Pittsburgh, each line beginning with a letter spelling out 'Keystone Bicycle Club,' celebrating the club's fellowship, rides, and esprit de corps.
- Club news from Dunkirk NY, Milwaukee (one member's new full-nickelled 60-inch machine), Missouri, Cleveland, Albany, New Britain Wheel Club, Lawrence MA, and Chicago bicycle clubs, with officer elections and ride reports.
- Reader letters on beach riding conditions, Milwaukee club preparations, wheeling tactics in traffic, the professional versus amateur question, Manchester roads, the relative merits of dropped, cowhorn, and straight handlebars, and the practicality of various bicycle clothing styles.
- Answers to correspondents in Louisville, Peoria, Fostoria, Milwaukee and Bridgeport, a Poughkeepsie reader's query about the Burley adjustable skeleton saddle versus the Columbia suspension saddle, and news that I. P. Lord & Co., new Pope Manufacturing Company agents, are offering bicycles on the instalment plan.
- League of American Wheelmen section: membership applications from the new Rutland (VT) and Keokuk clubs plus unattached riders, consuls appointed in Baltimore, Haverhill, Shawangunk, Syracuse and Xenia, and Commander S. Arthur Marsden's General Order No. 1 for the League Meet at Chicago on 30 May.
- Short news paragraphs: the new American one-, two- and five-mile records, a bicycle club forming in the New York 7th Regiment, President Ayer of the Solus Club vowing to ride 5,000 miles this year, the Crescent Club's Fast Day run to Waltham, and two cyclists locked in Woodlawn cemetery who were mistaken for body-snatchers.
- News from the San Francisco cycling scene, including the officer list of the Oakland Bicycle Club and a report on Mr. H. C. Finkler's accident while riding in the city.
- Letter from Mlle. Louise Armaindo, Champion Bicyclienne of the World, formally accepting J. S. Prince's challenge to a 50-mile race with a 6-mile start, to be held in May, outlining her terms and expressing confidence in the outcome.
- Brief listing of the week's Boston entertainments, including Lester Wallack in 'Rosedale' at the Boston Museum, Rice's Evangeline Company at the Gaiety, Haverly's Minstrels at the Globe, and Buffalo Bill at the Howard Athenaeum.