The Wheel: Journal of Bicycling, Vol 11, No 25
Articles in this issue
- Editor F.P. Prial apologizes for errors in the previous issue—including dubbing George Hendee 'the Springfield Rat' instead of 'Pet'—and reports on a successful Boston trade visit, observing the season looks prosperous despite a proliferation of short-lived new wheel journals.
- Brooklyn correspondent 'Bon' reports on expanded Park road privileges for cyclists, rival election tickets in the Kings County Wheelmen (Loucks/Bridgeman vs. Hegeman/Pettus) and Brooklyn B.C., and anticipation of Thomas Stevens's April lecture and informal reception hosted by the Brooklyn club.
- Reprints two remedies from the C.T.C. Gazette for cyclists suffering from watery eyes while riding: wearing riding goggles, and applying a cooled ivy-leaf water solution to the eyes morning and evening.
- Karl Kron of New York challenges the Cyclist's Touring Club's credibility, citing the Secretary-Editor's court-proven literary forgery of Joseph Pennell's signature before Mr. Justice Wills in November 1886, and urges American members to withhold fees; also announces his forthcoming 657,000-word cycling book to be sold at $2.
- Reprinted from the Irish Cyclist and Athletic and Tricycle Journal, this article surveys four tandem types—Humber, Cripper, loop-frame (Centaur), and Invincible rear-steerer—detailing breakage problems in Irish use and advising on axle strength, spoke thickness, braking, and frame stays.
- Brief news notes covering a threatened Philadelphia six-day race, Thomas Stevens's Brooklyn lecture on April 16, Fred Wood's five-mile professional win in Australia before 15,000 spectators, Charles Stenken's winter gymnasium training, and LAW Division officer nominations in New Hampshire and Connecticut.
- Minneapolis correspondent L.B.G. reports on the anticipated Springfield Roadster sample through Kennedy Bros., long-distance rider Shock's Victor wheel on display at his Nicollet Avenue restaurant, and the Mercury Bicycle Club's annual meeting where dues were reduced and new officers including Captain S.F. Heath were elected.
- Pacific Coast correspondent covers new asphalt paving on Golden Gate Avenue in San Francisco, F.D. Elwell (1886 California champion) joining the Star agency, Thomas Stevens's honorary membership in the Oregon Bicycle Club at Portland, the Los Angeles Wheelmen's Japanese lantern parade under R.C. Woodworth, and the Oakland Ramblers' negotiations for a Centre St. race track.
- Chicago correspondent 'Kid' reports on Kennedy-Child's western tour for the Pope Co., Burley Ayers's surprise resignation from the Illinois Division and Van Sicklen's appointment, and a Decoration Day handicap road race to Pullman with Columbia and Champion bicycle prizes—Joe Crennan and Geo. Kluge already in training.
- Reprinted from The Republican, this report covers the Scranton Bicycle Club's annual meeting where Thomas Stevens accepted an invitation to visit on April 12 and new officers were elected including President George A. Jessup, with plans for a reception, evening lecture at the Academy of Music, and banquet at the Wyoming Hotel.
- Pittsburgh correspondent 'Keystone' describes the spring revival of cycling—a busy riding school with over twenty pupils daily and favorable reaction to the New Mail and 1887 Columbia Light Roadster shown by Agent Grove—and expresses frustration at the League's ongoing delay in settling the uniform question.
- Club report on the Orange Wanderers of New Jersey summarizing a busy 1886 season—indoor entertainment, a tri-county ten-mile road race, a hill-climbing contest at Eagle Rock, and the opening races at Roseville track—and announcing consolidation with the East Orange Wheelmen, bringing combined membership to fifty-five.
- Letter signed 'Pioneer' describing the Fort Wayne Bicycle Club's series of grand promenade concerts featuring the Fort Wayne City Band and a fancy bicycle drill that compared favorably with the King's County Wheelmen squad, attended by about 300 society people and netting the club roughly $350 profit.
- Reports on property-owner meetings in Long Island City and Jamaica petitioning for macadamization of Greenpoint Avenue and Myrtle Avenue, with committees appointed to consult engineers and gather signatures—improvements that would directly benefit local cyclists.
- Southern Department editor N.L. Collamer, writing from sickbed with bilious fever, urges the League's uniform committee to hasten its decision before the spring season opens, and mourns the suicide of District Wheelmen member Wilbert S. Clary, who shot himself on March 8 while mentally incapacitated by catarrhal fever.
- Washington correspondent 'White House' gives a detailed account of District Wheelmen member Wilbert S. Clary's death by self-inflicted gunshot on March 8 while delirious from fever, the club's memorial resolutions and funeral attendance in a body with a crown of calla lilies and white roses, and notes on Capital and Cycle club runs.
- Baltimore correspondent 'Chesapeake' discusses the spring cycling revival, opposition to J.K. Bartlett's candidacy for Chief-Consul, and corrects correspondent 'Fish's' erroneous report on the East Baltimore Club—now called the Centaur Cycle Club, with C.C. Gaskins as president and a dark-blue uniform already chosen.
- Macon, Georgia correspondent G.W. Ribrle reports on the season-opening one-mile race won by Brantley over Taylor in 3:35, an upcoming three-day team match between Macon (Brantley, Taylor, Horton) and Atlanta riders including Polhill, and the favorably but under-utilized cycling conditions across Georgia.
- Norfolk, Virginia correspondent V.P.C. describes evening cycling on City Hall Avenue under electric lights, a planned but weather-thwarted ride to Suffolk, O'Neil and Carpenter's plans to open a cycling business by buying out Goodbridge, Field & Co., and a newspaper man using a Facile bicycle for his daily rounds.
- Training advice attributed to an amateur champion for cycle racers: build baseline fitness through road-riding before track work, train methodically on a weekly schedule with thorough rubbing-down after each session using Costalinn, avoid over-training and alcohol, and maintain mental resolve for race day.
- Health article discussing the vulnerability of wheelmen and athletes to strains, sore muscles, and colds when resuming outdoor riding in spring, citing athlete testimonials and recommending Benson's Capcine Plasters by Seabury & Johnson of New York as the most popular remedy among nationally known riders.