The Wheel World, Vol 3, No 15
Articles in this issue
- Debates the propriety of university riders joining metropolitan clubs like the London B.C. purely to gain racing eligibility, prompted by the inter-club contest between the Oxford University B.C. and the London B.C. at Stamford Bridge on 10 June 1881.
- By Lacy Hillier: a history and folklore piece on the ruined Priory of Newark near Ripley on the Wey, recounting the legend of Ruald de Calva and the drowned monks' tunnel.
- By Bab Yardley: argues that published touring narratives are of little practical use for route-planning since road surfaces and conditions change year to year, but are valuable for their instructive and entertaining value.
- A comic poem signed "Aout" on the endless taunt shouted at passing cyclists by urchins, rustics and even a benignly smiling bishop.
- Opens with a Salisbury County Court case in which Edward Peck won damages after his tricycle was smashed by a traction engine driven on the wrong side of the road.
- Chatty notes on the wet Whitsuntide, the 2,050-strong Hampton Court Meet of 21 May, the rained-off Ealing Common tricycle meet, and Kentish handicapper Mr Finn's eccentric race starts.
- An obituary of James Starley, "the old man" of the Coventry cycle trade, tracing his rise from a Sussex farm labourer and Lewisham gardener's inventions to founding the tricycle trade.
- By Henry Sturmey: a review of J. Stassen and Son's "Nonpareil" (the "Stassen") bicycle, noting its eccentric front-wheel brake and its record among L.B.C. Bath Road medal winners.
- A comic poem by "Choey" Sawtell of the Sherborne B.C. on a rider's day-long, temper-fraying battle to polish rust off his machine.
- Signed "Spectator": reviews the 1881 Midland Meet's entertainments, mourns James Starley's death and the Coventry trade's testimonial fund for him, and reports the Banbury B.C.'s mid-June dinner.
- By W. H. French, Chief Consul of the Bicycle Touring Club: a touring account of the Buckinghamshire countryside, including a climb of Piddington's "Bostoll" hill.
- Press digest praising bicycling's superiority over walking, cricket and rowing, and noting E. J. Sheriff's praise for the bicycling-friendly White Swan at Winchester.
- Racing gossip on Oxford's "flying Alsatian" Oeschager racing Harold Smith, John Horn's wins for the Lombard and Pickwick, and Hampton Roberts's deputation asking the new Alexandra Palace lessees to improve the track.
- A tabulated continuation of race results from late May and early June, including meetings at Birmingham's Aston Grounds, Leeds, Otley, Bristol's Stapleton Bridge track, and Dublin University.
- Club notes on the Belsize's Whitsun tour to Oxford, the new Dundee B.C., the High Wycombe B.C.'s annual dinner, and the St James's electing Mr W. Argent to the Bicycle Union Council.
- A reader's letter signed "J. Juggins" disputes "Nemo's" earlier article, arguing a university education does not make a tradesman a gentleman and that clerks and tradesmen occupy quite different social ranks.
- Reports the Tricycle Association's Ealing Common meet of 144 tricyclists and George Lacy Hillier's win of the Amateur Tricycle Championship over the wet Hounslow-to-Marlow course in 4h. 53m.
- Irish racing notes on the Dublin University bicycle races held during the England v. Dublin University cricket match, the General Bicycle Meet of Ireland at Phoenix Park, and a 100-mile club run from Newport to Cheltenham signed A. M. Watkins.
- Compiled by Hart and Co., Patent Agents: a list of new applications for letters patent covering bicycles, tricycles and cycling accessories, including W. Hillman's velocipede patent and G. Burt's bicycle lamp.