The Wheel: Journal of Bicycling, Vol 10, No 18
Articles in this issue
- Regular short-news department covering the Orange Wanderers' upcoming Eagle Rock hill-climb on August 14th, the Brixton Ramblers' Crystal Palace race meet, formation of the new South Wheel Club in Birmingham, Alabama, and the forthcoming presentation of the New York–New Jersey inter-club road racing trophy in Brooklyn.
- Major editorial arguing the L.A.W. should retain full jurisdiction over racing but seize the moment to reform its rules, proposing to abolish Rule H and adopt a new liberal amateur definition—limited to barring racing for gate money, stakes, or public backing—as the only sound path to keeping fast men within the League and defeating the rival A.C.U.
- Detailed account of the preliminary libel hearing of Renton vs. Beckwith and Hill at Port Richmond, including testimony from Dr. Beckwith, John Gulick, and plaintiff D.H. Renton, ending in an adjournment to September 22nd after the prosecution failed to secure the stenographer Downs.
- Results from the Gennessee Club's fourth annual tournament at Rochester Driving Park on July 22nd, with E.P. Cochrane of Le Roy winning the mile 3.10 class and two-mile Western State championship, and Wilford S. Barber breaking the unicycle mile record at 3.51.
- Report on the Wheeling Wheelmen's thirty-mile road race and hill-climb over the Wheeling–West Alexander route on July 13–14th, with W.D. Banker of the Allegheny Cyclers winning both the road race (2h. 52m. 30s.) and the Fulton Hill climb; L.A. Beall subsequently broke his arm in a fall.
- Editorial rebutting British cycling journalist G. Lacy Hillier's dismissive treatment of American achievements—specifically Hollingsworth's 281-mile road record and Hendee's mile record prospects—diagnosing the malady as 'Yankeephobia' and welcoming Hillier's rumoured visit to America as a possible cure.
- Report on the special meeting of the New York State Division Board at the Grand Union Hotel on July 25th, where the board unanimously adopted resolutions opposing all proposed amendments that would withdraw the L.A.W. from racing jurisdiction, and sustained President Beckwith's removal of the Massachusetts Chief Consul.
- Letter from Charles S. Luscomb arguing that the pending mail vote on racing and amateur rule amendments lacks statutory authority under Section 1, Article VIII of the L.A.W. By-Laws, and would be void even if it prevailed.
- Report on G.P. Mills of the Anfield Bi. Club completing the Land's End to John o' Groats record ride in 5 days, 1 hour, 45 minutes—beating the previous record by 1 day, 6 hours, 40 minutes—through successive downpours, wind storms, and freezing July weather.
- Results from the Troy Bicycle Club's annual meet at Rensselaer Park, including H.S. Kavanaugh winning the mile handicap from scratch, W.J. Morgan (champion of Wales) winning the half-mile horse-vs.-bicyclist heats, and trotter Kittie F. narrowly beating W.M. Woodside in the five-mile match race in 16.32.
- Article describing the American Cyclists' Union's completed organizational structure, with the country divided into five racing districts (Eastern, Atlantic, Central, Southern, Pacific) and three principal committees—membership, Board of Review, and executive—with revised membership fees.
- Announcement of the Missouri Division L.A.W.'s grand illuminated parade and interstate meet in St. Louis, October 1–3, with an invitation letter from parade secretary W.M. Brewster urging all American wheelmen to attend.
- Notice from the Orange Wanderers announcing a hill-climbing contest up Eagle Rock Hill on August 14th, open to all L.A.W. members, with the fastest-time prize plus trophies for every rider reaching the top without dismounting; entries close August 10th to E.P. Baird, Brick Church, N.J.
- Editorial comparing The Wheel's July 23rd issue against the same date's Bulletin, Cycle, and Bicycling World, demonstrating that The Wheel published more timely and broader news—including Scottish championship, Illinois Division meet, and National Cyclists' Union reports absent from rivals—while keeping its price at one dollar a year.
- Notice from A.B. Barkman, Chairman of the N.Y. State Division Touring Committee, urging every Division member to send immediate road reports to complete the forthcoming N.Y. State Road Book, with particular need for Clinton, Franklin, St. Lawrence, and Ulster counties and routes west of Albany.
- Announcement of the Connecticut Bicycle Club's two-day race meet at Charter Oak Park, September 8–9, listing all events including A.C.U. championship mile, L.A.W. state five-mile championship, professional races, tricycle team events, and a two-mile tandem tricycle race.
- Humorous poem from the Wheelmens' Gazette, signed 'Subscriber,' satirically predicting the impossibly distant date when a long-awaited cycling book might appear—only when tandems run a minute to the mile and Blaine rules Ireland.
- Comic editorial riffing on a scientist's publication about animal longevity—horses twenty years, elephants 300, swans over three centuries—and turning the findings on boarding-house cuisine, speculating that the 'spring chicken' and sirloin served to New York lodgers may date from the time of ancient Troy.
- Regular short-news department including Thomas Stevens' letter from Suez dated July 3rd en route to India, F.W. Perry's new amateur road records of 1h. 12m. 35s. for twenty miles and 1h. 24m. 46s. for twenty-five miles, Capital Club race results in Washington, and a Kreiger–Mayland road tour from New York to Greenlawn, Long Island.
- Brief humorous notes column with items about G. Lacy Hillier being called a 'cad' by fellow English editors and his forthcoming visit to America, and St. Louis wheelman Lowry Whittemore's reported reluctance to wear knee pants.
- Calendar of upcoming cycling events from late July through October 1886, including the Weedsport Bi. Club tournament (August 19th), Scranton Bi. Club meet (August 24th), L.A.W. grand tour from Niagara Falls to Harper's Ferry (September 6–18), Hartford races (September 8–9), Springfield tournament (September 14–17), and the St. Louis illuminated parade and interstate meet (October 1–3).