The Springfield Wheelmen's Gazette, Vol 3, No 11
Articles in this issue
- Officers' meeting held Feb. 22 at the Grand Union Hotel, New York City; annual meeting to be held in Boston, May 27–29 under the Massachusetts Division. Committees named including Col. Albert A. Pope (reception) and H. E. Ducker (racing).
- Feature presenting portraits and brief biographical sketches of ten leading American cycle manufacturers and dealers, including Col. A. A. Pope, A. H. Overman, H. D. Corey, W. B. Everett, H. W. Gaskell, Samuel T. Clark, Thomas B. Jeffery, and A. G. Spalding.
- F. Cathcart is organizing an international bicycle tournament at Alexandra Park, London, May 21–22; NCU secretary Robert Todd confirms that L.A.W.-certified amateurs may compete without risking their amateur standing.
- A St. Louis correspondent criticizes the L.A.W. Racing Board's decision to disallow records made on board tracks, alleging Eastern bias and arguing the decision unfairly disadvantages Western and Southern riders.
- London cycling news: formation of the Racing Cyclists' Club at Alexandra Park; the 9th Stanley Show at Westminster Aquarium with 110 exhibitors; NCU–AAA dispute settled; death of H. L. Cortis in Australia; new amateur definition adopted by NCU. Signed 'Fakd.', London, Feb. 15, 1886.
- Philadelphia cycling notes: L.A.W. board meeting in New York; new Pennsylvania–New Jersey–Maryland Road Book; Penn City Wheelmen merge into Pennsylvania Bicycle Club; cessation of the Philadelphia Cycling Record. Signed 'Chris', Philadelphia, Feb. 22, 1886.
- Brief history of the Tioga Cycling Club of Philadelphia, founded July 1885 with 21 members; describes the prize structure for 1886 riding contests. Signed 'Jedediah', Philadelphia, Feb. 27, 1886.
- Department of brief cycling news items: new club memberships, new bicycle models, obituary of Dr. H. L. Cortis, trade news, and record of C. M. Goodnow's 5,056 miles ridden.
- Stamford Wheel Club notes followed by a narrative of a cycle trip from Port Chester to Glenville and back through Greenwich. Signed 'Stamson'.
- Detroit cycling news: formation of the Detroit Bicycle Track Association to build a race track; Lawyer Park's speed-increasing invention; President Bates moving to Lansing. Signed 'Detroit'.
- Letter from J. K. Hogg of the Tyne-side Bicycle Club arguing for an international tournament at North Shields rather than London, and urging leading American riders (Rowe, Hendee, Burnham, Ives, Weber) to participate.
- Karl Kron announces completion of the subscription list for 'Ten Thousand Miles on a Bicycle' (3,373 subscribers) and gives instructions for payment and delivery. University Building, Washington Square, N.Y., Feb. 26, 1886.
- Club news for its seventh year: membership of 32, four riding prizes offered for 1886, new officers elected including Captain J. B. Roy; Harlem Wheelmen's proposal for metropolitan road races discussed. Signed Edward J. Shriver, New York, Feb. 16, 1886.
- Letter from a Nashville lady reader describing how she became enthusiastic about cycling after seeing a club ride, attending a Nashville Bicycle Club social, and reading cycling journals. Signed Lidia Flemming, Nashville, Tenn., Feb. 18, 1886.
- Humorous narrative from 'A Kid' in Massillon, Ohio about two young club members attempting a 50-mile ride to New Philadelphia and back, then trying to beat the club day record of 72 miles.
- Charles E. Pratt (attorney for Pope Manufacturing Co.) corrects erroneous press reports about the Pope v. Overman Supreme Court case, explaining the decision did not throw the case out of court but only delayed the trial. Boston, Feb. 27, 1886.
- Multiple letters from readers responding to a previous article by 'Dash' on cycling on Sundays, with correspondents from Reading PA, Birmingham AL, and New York mostly defending the practice and discussing its compatibility with Christian observance.
- Brief notice that Pope Manufacturing Company will place a new Ladies' Columbia two-track tricycle on the market, weighing about 65 lbs with 44-inch drivers.
- A three-chapter romantic fiction piece by 'Chris Wheeler,' set in rural England, involving a clergyman cyclist (Robert Small), his fiancée Jessie Thompson, and a rival suitor Ralph Shackford; concludes with the couple departing their wedding on a Sociable tricycle.
- Brief cycling news items: H. B. Smith employs 375 hands; the bicycle name in Chinese ('Tye-shing-Cheh'); NCU–AAA settlement; Rev. S. G. Barnes' European bicycle tour; Fairmount Park visitor statistics; the Total Riding Record for 1885 compilation.
- Compiled mileage records for individual riders from clubs in England and America, topped by A. J. Wilson (7,021 miles) and J. D. M'Cauley (3,573 miles), reprinted from the Philadelphia Cycling Record.
- History of the Elizabeth (N.J.) Wheelmen, organized June 7, 1883 with 11 members and now 52 active; detailed breakdown of wheel makes, riding records, and club statistics for 1885. Signed '481.'
- Report on the Boston Bicycle Club's eighth anniversary celebration (Feb. 6), with a history of the club since its founding on Feb. 11, 1878.
- Statistics from President Henry W. Williams: 1885 total riding record of 142,442 miles (average 606 per member), member demographics, breakdown of wheel makes, and individual mileage records.
- Report on the club's fifth annual ball at its hall; highlights include a historical procession exhibition, fancy riding by Willie Haradon, and the trick mule bicycle; 1,200–1,400 in attendance.
- Two-page table comparing American and English amateur and professional bicycle records from quarter-mile to 50 miles and beyond, featuring W. A. Rowe, F. F. Ives, Geo. M. Hendee, and W. M. Woodside (American) against R. H. English, H. L. Cortis, M. V. J. Webber, and others (English).
- Multi-part biographical feature on ten leading American cycle manufacturers and dealers: Col. Albert A. Pope (Columbia), Albert H. Overman (Victor), Harold Dwight Corey (Rudge/Stoddard Lovering), Albert G. Spalding, W. S. Atwell (Royal Mail/Read & Sons), H. B. Smith (Star), Samuel T. Clark (New Rapid), Herbert W. Gaskell (Coventry Machinists), W. B. Everett (Singer's), and Thomas B. Jeffery (Gormully & Jeffery).
- Description of a new safety bicycle with lever propulsion invented by Yost and McCune, now to be built by Pope Manufacturing Company under royalty.
- List of cycling-related US patents granted through February 16, 1886, compiled by Shipley Brashears, Washington D.C.
- Extracts from Thomas Stevens's account of his journeyings in Turkey, published in Outing for January, describing encounters at a mosque minaret, the Adrianople plains, and observations on Turkish customs and treatment of dogs in Eski Baba.
- Poem describing a bicycle tournament race where two rivals compete for a maiden's favor; the white-rose wearer crashes and breaks his wrist, while the red-rose winner is forgotten as the maiden tends to the injured man; ends with a marriage proposal. Springfield, Feb. 5, 1886.
- Important decisions entered by the L.A.W. Racing Board: championship prizes may not exceed $50 in value; records will only be recognized if made in open competition with at least one week's notice; no records made on board tracks or under cover will be accepted.
- Comic poem parodying 'Casabianca,' depicting a novice cyclist left behind by expert companions on a club ride, riding on alone into the dark until crashing. Signed 'Fifty-Three', Nashville, Tenn., Feb. 5, 1886.
- Brief notices reprinted from exchange publications: the Canadian Wheelman on Neilson and Teck's championship claims; Gormully & Jeffery's new 'Champion' bicycle; proposed formation of a California L.A.W. state division; and praise for the Gazette from the Lowell Morning Mail and the L.A.W. Bulletin.
- Advance excerpt from Chapter XXXI of Karl Kron's 'Ten Thousand Miles on a Bicycle,' comprising introductory remarks on the difficulty of gathering personal statistics from cyclists, followed by biographical sketches of veteran wheelmen including Charles E. Pratt, L. J. Bates, and C. A. Hazlett, each describing their cycling history and mileage records.
- Review of Singer & Co.'s new 1886 tricycle and tandem models imported by W. B. Everett & Co. of Boston, including the Singer's Straight Steerer (S.S.S.), the 'Springfield' tandem, the Traveller tandem with adjustable rear seat, and the Ladies' Straight Steerer.