The Bicycling World, Vol 5, No 5
Articles in this issue
- The editor analyzes the disputed vote at the L.A.W. Chicago Annual Meet, defending the Boston and Crescent clubs' good faith in allowing Crescent proxy votes to be held by Boston Club members, while criticizing the Massachusetts delegation for publicly impugning their colleagues' honor. Newly elected President W.H. Miller of Columbus, Ohio and Vice-President A.S. Parsons are warmly commended as the League enters its third year.
- Reports the formation of new bicycle clubs in Battle Creek, Michigan (10 members, Frank F. Bock president), Marietta, Pennsylvania, Binghamton, New York (14 members, scarlet-and-gold colors), and Kalamazoo, Michigan; Chelsea Bicycle Club rode to Salem on Decoration Day with 16 riders under Captain Whiting, meeting the Somerville and Roxbury Clubs at the Essex House.
- E.A. Thompson of the Lenox Bicycle Club won the N.Y.A.C. spring meeting two-mile in 7m. 16 2-5s.; George D. Gideon of Philadelphia won the Manhattan Athletic Club one-mile handicap in 3:15 2-5; R.G. Rood took the Williamsburg Athletic Club two-mile handicap in 7m. 16.25s. The L.A.W. Chicago Meet parade of 294 wheelmen along Michigan Avenue is described, followed by the banquet at which Mayor Harrison praised bicycling and wished he were young enough to ride.
- Two letters debate L.A.W. amateur racing rules: "B." argues the mandatory standing-start rule is unfair because starter errors can decide races, and advocates for the flying start as the fairest and most popular American method. "f.m." continues the argument that bicycle riding teachers should not be excluded from amateur competition, calling the League's position a "wretched and meaningless verbal quibble."
- The official L.A.W. section invites amateur bicyclers to join the League (admission $1.00, or 50 cents for members of clubs whose entire membership joins) and lists the newly elected Chicago Meet officers: President W.H. Miller of Columbus, Ohio; Vice-President A.S. Parsons; Corresponding Secretary K.N. Putnam; Recording Secretary A.S. Hibbard of Milwaukee; Treasurer Wm. V. Gilman of Nashua, N.H.; with a full directory of state directors.
- Short items on the League Meet aftermath: Milwaukee sent the most riders to Chicago (18 in line), Boston Club had the largest Eastern contingent (10 riders in line), and Commander Marsden was entertained in Washington by the Capital Club. Upcoming events include the Massachusetts Bicycle Club's first championship race at Beacon Park on June 10, with Ahl, Claflin, and Corey contesting first position.
- W.M. Woodside, late of New York but now in Ireland, won a silver tea service in the two-mile race at the Templepatrick A.A. Club sports and beat C.D. Vesey by 70 yards in a Belfast handicap. Also covers the six-day horse-versus-bicycle race at the Casino, where horseman Le Roy covered 736 miles against the bicyclists' 717, with the editor contending the result was arranged unfairly against riders Prince and Rollinson.
- "Bicycling in France before the War" traces French cycling from its start in 1868 through the landmark Paris-to-Rouen road race of November 7, 1869 — 76 miles, won by Moore in 10 hours 45 minutes, with 31 of 100 starters finishing within 24 hours and prizes up to 1,000 francs on offer. The article records how French cycling was booming with clubs, weekly Sunday races, and rapid machine improvements until the Franco-Prussian War of 1870 brought the sport to a complete halt.