The Wheel: Journal of Bicycling, Vol 12, No 12
Articles in this issue
- Editor F.P. Prial criticises the American Wheelman for pre-emptively nominating George R. Bidwell as next L.A.W. president before Kirkpatrick has even started, decrying League wire-pulling and caucus politics; also laments the impending collapse of the Massachusetts Bicycle Club amid internal factional disputes and a $949 debt.
- Editorial urging new L.A.W. president Kirkpatrick to appoint a Roads Improvement Committee and establish a Road Improvement Fund, citing Col. Pope's call on the St. Louis train for the League to hire a paid road-advocacy agent and work the press to secure better American highways.
- Reprint from Harper's Weekly recounting the late Henry Ward Beecher's failed and comical attempts to master a tricycle on the gravelled slopes of his Peekskill estate, and his 1867 prediction that 'the coming man would ride a bicycle.'
- Report on the Eastern Road Racing Club's first semi-annual 25-mile race over the Dorchester course on June 11: T.A. Woodman of Chelsea won in 1h 35m 30s, with Doane and Bates of the Dorchester Club taking the club trophy with ten points to the Boston Club's nine.
- Results of the first Brooklyn Bicycle Club road race at Bath Beach, L.I. on June 11: B.J. Kellum won the Novice two-mile event in 7m 48s after remounting from a fall, and G.E.D. Todd took the Championship in 6m 53s when leader Hawkins was thrown in the homestretch.
- Report on the June 6 formation of the St. Louis Cycle Club with 46 members, adopting the old Ramblers' constitution with a $5 initiation fee, and unanimously electing Geo. H. Lucas as president over the temporary chair Mr. Belden.
- Race report from the Boston Herald: Lewis A. Miller of Meriden won Hartford's 25-mile road race on June 9 in 2h 7m 51s, overtaking early leader William Harding in a clay section that forced a half-mile walk near the finish; prizes included a gold watch, diamond pin, and revolver.
- Summary of English racing: at the Birmingham Championship Meeting on May 30, W.A. Illston won the one-mile bicycle title in 2m 45 4/5s and F.J. Osmond won the 25-mile tricycle in record time with new intermediate records by Mecredy; J.H. Adams won three events at the Norwich sports.
- Results of bicycle events at the Memphis Amateur Athletic Association Spring meeting: S.W. Hampton Jr. won the three-laps race in 2m 7s; C.H. Maydwell won the half-mile championship final in 1m 47s; H. Williams won the boys' half-mile in 1m 49 3/5s.
- Letter from Karl Kron dated June 6 from West Springfield, Mass., reporting he has dispatched 580 copies of 'Ten Thousand Miles on a Bicycle' in five days — 135 abroad, 128 to San Francisco, 53 to Portland, and 90 each to St. Louis and Indianapolis, with signed autographed labels on each.
- Second letter from Karl Kron dated June 13, announcing New York distribution of his book: 212 copies sent to the N.Y. Bicycle Club, Citizens Bicycle Club, Harlem Wheelmen, and K.C.W.; 256 copies available at 12 Warren Street; total output now 1,732 copies shipped to cities across the US and Canada.
- Travel narrative by G.W. Nellis Jr. recounting a muddy June bicycle tour from St. Thomas, Ontario through Detroit and across Michigan to Sturgis, battling ankle-deep clay, sand roads, an overzealous Detroit customs officer, a rural school picnic, and inaccurate L.A.W. road book directions.
- Boston correspondent's extended analysis of the Massachusetts Bicycle Club's June disbanding vote (24 to 20 in favour), attributing the collapse to factional disputes, election grudges, a $949 club-house debt, and poor fiscal oversight; also notes the Boston Club's generous offer of its facilities; reprints CTC Gazette tips on rubber handle covers, rubber step pads, and brake-spoon rubber.
- Regular department of brief cycling news: Fred Wood rode a mile in 2m 40.5s in Adelaide and captured a world grass record; Ralph Temple badly thrown on the Coventry track; John S. Prince's Omaha tournament on June 25-26; George Pressy's patent suit against Star manufacturer Sen. H.B. Smith of Smithville; Vassar superintendent and Wellesley undergraduates took to cycling.
- Report on the June 6 formation of Mobile's first cycling club with 13 members, electing journalist J.W. Thorp president and planning to contest in court the city's ban on cyclists using the shell road; also notes a poor fancy-riding exhibition by self-styled champion 'Victor Friend' at the Princess Theatre.
- Minneapolis correspondent's column: Mr. Leland of Leland & Waring broke his arm (later found to be a sprain) in a crash near Minnehaha Falls; several Baptist Convention clergymen praised cycling after taking long runs; a Star bicycle was criticised in a city newspaper's advertising columns; the correspondent road-tested the New Rapid bicycle over 13 miles including a headwind.
- Correspondent 'Norb' reports milkman B. Drinkenberg deliberately steered his horse into wheelmen A.M. Watcher and Charles Croninger on the Lexington Pike near Erlanger, destroying Watcher's bicycle; the Kenton Wheel Club retained attorney W.McD. Shaw to press charges and a civil suit, arguing the League must do more than send typewritten advice.
- New Jersey correspondent 'Jonah' announces his new Manhattan Wheel Exchange at 49 Cortlandt Street for second-hand cycles on commission; reports on the July 4 New Jersey Division race meet at Roseville with the Union County Wheelmen's mile championship; and describes Blake Bonnett of Elizabeth converting a sociable tricycle into a farm produce cart.
- Report on the Elizabeth Wheelmen's club-house opening at which Thomas 'Around-the-World' Stevens made witty impromptu remarks to great applause, Chief Consul Cooley spoke on the N.J. L.A.W., and Mrs. D.B. Bonnett presented a flag bearing the L.A.W. emblem; 50 copies of Stevens's 'Around the World on a Bicycle' were sold.
- Account of Ilderan Bicycle Club members W.F. Miller and E.L. Hall riding a tandem 125 miles from Brooklyn to Patchogue and back over June 11-12, with six club-mates; the outward journey via Merrick was plagued by sand holes and took until past midnight; the return via the Jericho Pike was considerably better.
- Report on the June 15 N.Y. State Division officers' meeting: a State camp was abandoned as too costly (a $1,200 guarantee required); the annual Fall meeting was slated for Cooperstown in September; the Rights and Privileges bill expenses and road book publication costs were approved; and the Board of Aldermen's new lamp-and-bell ordinance was referred to the R. and P. committee.
- Notice of the Citizens Bicycle Club's 60th monthly meeting and 5th anniversary celebration on June 20, with Secretary Knight L. Clapp noting a remarkable coincidence: the number 13 pervades the club's entire history — 13 charter members, meetings at addresses whose digits multiply to 13, and total membership of 169 (13×13).
- Detailed report on the Albany hearing before Governor Hill: J.B. Potter argued bicycles should be recognised as vehicles with equal highway rights on public thoroughfares, while Corporation Counsel Scott and Park Commissioner Crimmins opposed with a 7,000-signature petition including Chauncey Depew and Roscoe Conkling; Senator Parker presented 30,000 signatures in favour; decision reserved.
- Special dispatch from the Boston Herald: W.A. Rhodes of Boston won the 100-mile world championship road race at Crawfordsville, Ind. on June 13 in 6h 57m on a Victor; H.G. Crocker was sunstruck on the last quarter; Crocker also won the separate 50-mile race in 3h 34m 55s, two seconds ahead of Rhodes.
- Calendar of upcoming cycling events: Vermont Division Meet (June 17-19, Montpelier), Maryland Division Meet (June 20-21, Baltimore), Kings County Wheelmen's Race Meet (June 25), Canadian Wheelmen's Association Meet (July 1-2, Brantford), Illinois Division Tour (July 2-4), New Hampshire Division Meet (July 4, Manchester), and Ilderan B.C. Canadian Tour (July 9-22).
- Regular tennis department with brief club news: the Philadelphia Club, Passaic, Meadow Club (Southampton), Brooklyn Heights, Iroquois (Elizabeth NJ), Prospect Park, Portland (Me.), Toronto, Morristown, Westchester, Rye and Marine & Field clubs announce tournaments and elections; R.D. Sears and Fred Mansfield resume Longwood practice; U.S. National Championship at Orange set for August 22-25.
- Two-day New England Championship report: Slocum and Thacher advanced in singles; F.G. Beach and Yale's Thacher caused the tournament's major upset by defeating champions Sears and Slocum in doubles 6-4, 6-4; Professor Ripley of Yale defeated champion R.D. Sears in an exhibition match 6-5, 6-5, 6-4.
- Report on the New York Tennis Club's opening tournament at Washington Heights on June 4: C. Hobart and W.N. Whitman won the men's doubles in five sets, and Miss Hobart and W.N. Whitman won the ladies and gentlemen's doubles; the men's singles final between MacMullen and Hobart was scheduled for the following Saturday.
- Results of the Elizabeth Lawn Tennis Club's first tournament on June 4: Glazebrook and W. Smith won the doubles final over Elliott and E. Smith 6-5, 6-1; singles play was too close to finish (Elliott and S.W. Smith tied at third trial) and was postponed; the tournament drew large crowds with an orchestra.
- Boston Herald report on English visitors C.E. Farrer and S.D. Winkworth playing at the Longwood courts: Winkworth lost to Fred Mansfield twice (6-2, 6-3 and 7-5, 6-3) and to Champion R.D. Sears conceding half-thirty; Farrer, rated comparable to Sears in England, was out of form and declined to face the champion until he had more practice.