The Canadian Wheelman, Vol 1, No 1
Articles in this issue
- The editors introduce the first number of the journal, the only cycling paper published in Canada, promising portraits of prominent Canadian wheelmen beginning with Perry Doolittle and disclaiming any connection with the defunct Hamilton Bicycle.
- A correspondent traces the history of the Ottawa Bicycle Club from its 1882 founding under President G. A. Mothersill through its officers, badge and uniform, runs to Aylmer and Chelsea, and its fleet of Hillman, Herbert & Co. 'D.H.F. Premier' machines.
- A humorous narrative poem, signed 'Swiz,' in which an overindulgent cyclist dreams he is carried off to Hades on a phantom wheel as punishment for stealing the solitary oyster from a church-social stew.
- A news note reporting the Ariel Touring Club's debut on the London streets on 14 September in suits made by A. B. Powell & Co., riding Special British Challenge machines bought from Wm. Payne, ahead of the Western Fair bicycle races.
- A St. Thomas correspondent, signed 'Crank,' gives club gossip about Captain Hepinstall, Secretary Harry Scott, Morley the '60-inch man,' and a ride by Scott and Lindop from Niagara Falls to Queenston.
- An account of the Toronto Wanderers' outing with the Hamilton Bicycle Club on 13 August, including a run to Burlington Beach led by Captains Domville and Robinson and an evening ball at Mr. Domville's residence.
- A reprinted poem (from Our Continent) celebrating the pleasures of riding through woodlands, meadows and down hilly roadways on a rubber-tired wheel.
- A programme of the open cycling events at the Western Fair on 3-4 October, listing the one-mile dash, three-mile race, consolation race, club drill and parade with their gold, silver and badge prizes.
- An editorial urging every Canadian wheelman to join the Canadian Wheelmen's Association, citing the success of the first annual meet held in London on 22 July and the prospect of the next meet at Toronto.
- An editorial advocating that bicycle clubs take up club drill, practising first on foot during the winter, and urging the C.W.A. to encourage it by awarding silver badges on its prize list.
- An editorial hoping Canada will be well represented at the Springfield Tournament on the 18th-20th and that Ross of Montreal, the Canadian champion, will sustain his reputation on the new half-mile concrete track.
- An editorial on the rapid growth of tricycling, recommending the Columbia tricycle as equal in finish to the Expert Columbia and predicting American ladies will soon rival England in numbers of lady cyclists.
- An editorial announcing plans to start a column describing Canadian roads for tourists and appealing to readers across the country to send in authentic reports of roads they know.
- The scrutineers' official report (signed Brierley, Hepinstall and P. E. Doolittle) of the C.W.A. ballots, declaring Chief Consuls and representatives elected, including W. G. Eakins of Woodstock, T. H. Robinson of Toronto, G. A. Mothersill of Ottawa and H. S. Tibbs of Montreal.
- An editorial note explaining the paper has written to a member of every Canadian club asking for monthly news, and urging clubs to appoint a competent correspondent to send spicy letters of bicycling news and personals.
- A note on the prize list of the Toronto Bicycle Tournament held on 17 September during the Industrial Exposition, with prizes valued at $210, promising a full account in the next issue.
- A note that the Wanderer Bicycle Club of Toronto has secured club rooms at No. 75 Yonge St. where visiting wheelmen are assured a welcome, with thanks to H. S. Tibbs for the Montreal Bicycle Club race records.
- A detailed history of the five-month-old Woodstock Bicycle Club, from Jas. Hay Jr.'s pioneering 1879 riding and J. G. Hay's championship gold medal to the club's 1883 founding under President A. Pattulo, its thirty-six members and the poor state of local roads.
- A Montreal correspondent, signed 'Kanuck,' reports on the Montreal Bicycle Club's preparations for Springfield, the C.W.A. election dispute in No. 4 district, and a hundred-mile ride by Captain J. H. Low (with Tibbs and Lane covering eighty miles on a Premier Sociable), claimed as the first century in Canada.
- A report of the Montreal Bicycle Club's third annual races on the Lacrosse Grounds on 1 September, with W. G. Ross winning the one-mile and five-mile open events and J. H. Low taking the three-mile club cup race.
- A report on the new Ariel Touring Club of London, formed 9 August for touring and drill, listing officers President G. D. Cameron, Captain J. A. Muirhead and others, its limited membership and grey uniform, and its drilling in the Drill Shed.
- A correspondent (J. R. C.) reports the newly organized Galt club of eleven riders including R. McMillan and J. T. Cochrane, its medal races, long club runs, and intention to join the C.W.A.
- A London correspondent, signed 'Backbone,' laments the split in the Forest City Bicycle Club after twelve members left to form the Ariel Touring Club, urging Captain Burns and the officers to re-organize once Secretary Maclean recovers.
- A Belleville correspondent (J. F. W.) reports the city has fifteen wheels and a sociable trike, lists the club members under President Henry Corby, and notes Dean's 105-mile ride to Kingston and back in one day.
- A column of personal notes on wheelmen, including Perry Doolittle of Aylmer completing 10,000 miles on a bicycle, A. T. Lane's injury at the Montreal races, F. J. Leys's fast twenty-mile ride at Leicester, and various tours and visits.