The Wheel: Journal of Bicycling, Vol 12, No 4
Articles in this issue
- The editor corrects a misleading item in the previous issue's account of New York State Division finances (the debt was the Secretary-Editor's, not the Secretary-Treasurer's), and urges readers not to skip long articles, specifically recommending 'A Queer Adventure' in this issue.
- Thomas Stevens lectured at the Brooklyn Academy of Music on April 16th to a packed house of wheelmen in uniform under the auspices of the Young Men's League and the Brooklyn Bicycle Club; the review credits him with a genuinely interesting two-hour account of his world journey but recommends more animation, gesture, and vocal variety to relieve an at-times annoying monotone.
- Representatives from the Boston, Somerville, Chelsea, Newton, Brookline, Dorchester, Cambridge and Suffolk clubs met at the International Hotel, Boston, to formally organise the Eastern Road Racing Club, electing G.I. Haynes of Dorchester as President and W.R. Maxwell of Somerville as Secretary-Treasurer, with a first 25-mile race scheduled for June 17th.
- D. Rogers of D. Rogers & Co. (Newark) reports on two weeks in England finding Rover-type safety bicycles badly cutting into sales of ordinaries; he also closely examined a novel triangular tricycle with three 30-inch wheels just patented by Sydney Lee—steered by Gibbon's automatic steerer—which the firm may import to America.
- Correspondent L.B.G. reports the sudden spring heat drawing wheelmen out daily, Heath & Co. opening a St. Paul branch under trick rider R.H. Spear, sidewalk-riding arrests, and a chaotic 25-mile race at Faribault on April 9th between Tom Eck and Fred Straub for $250 a side, ending when a spectator ran onto the track causing Eck a terrible fall at the 21st mile—breaking his wrist and fracturing a leg.
- Results of the Illinois Division L.A.W. election: N.H. Van Sicklen elected Chief Consul, with district representatives chosen for Chicago, Rockford, Peoria, Galesburg, Paris and Springfield; only 173 of nearly 400 eligible members cast ballots.
- A letter by L.B.G. of Minneapolis in the Spokes department defends the Cyclists' Touring Club and its Gazette editor against Karl Kron's attacks, argues the C.T.C. Council understands its own affairs, and humorously suggests Kron take a brisk bicycle ride to cure the dyspepsia evidently underlying his vigorous English.
- Brief League of American Wheelmen financial statement for March 31st: cash balance $2,744.38, advertising accounts receivable $3,872.29, amounts owing to Divisions $4,352.58, and other accounts payable including printing $1,300.08.
- Southern Department editor N.L. Collamer (Washington D.C.) announces that a Washington hare-and-hound chase is being organised following the department's own fictitious account in the Bicycling World last fall, and invites readers to request the prospectus for a forthcoming Philadelphia-to-Staunton cycling tour.
- Correspondent 'White House' reports weekend club runs to Forest Glen, Rockville and Ashton; a planned Wheelmen-vs-Capital Club hare-and-hound chase; new camera enthusiasm among members; and the Capital Club's upcoming April 26th reception and dance at the Rifles' Armory.
- The New Orleans Bicycle Club's April 13th meeting debated compulsory League membership at length without resolution, tabling the matter a month; the Olympian Club has announced a one-mile bicycle race at its inaugural events, with local scorcher Guillotte expected to take first place.
- Correspondent 'Norb' reports that Charles Croninger was again assaulted and stoned by milk-dealer Hand; Easter Sunday drew large rides to Hamilton, Ohio and Walton, Ky.; the Kenton Wheel Club's Victor bicycle raffle sold nearly 200 chances at $1 each; and a Cincinnati man is causing a stir as the first rider of a Humber safety in the area.
- S.G. Smith announces the birth of the Pine Bluff Wheelmen, organised March 18th with G.E. Greenfield as President and Frank Fergus as Secretary-Treasurer, currently nine members riding Singer, Apollo, Victor, New Mail, Premier and Columbia machines, with the Citizens' Street Railway Company donating free use of a four-lap cinder track at the Fair Grounds.
- The Harrisonburg, Va. and Valley Wheelmen invite all wheelmen to join their May 12th run to the New Market Endless Caverns, which will be illuminated; lunch will be provided by the proprietors at a low price, with a 7 a.m. start from Harrisonburg.
- Correspondent 'Facile' reports the latest spring in years with most cycles just being dusted off; five Safety riders went to New Canaan while two ordinaries struggled on sand toward Norwalk; new tram tracks have added a novel header hazard to Stamford's streets; plans include a May tour to Cape Ann and Boston.
- Correspondent 'Jonah' surveys New Jersey's cycling boom: the Somerset Wheelmen have 21 members and plan a Somerville club house; Trenton Bi. Club elected C.T. Sutphen as President; D.B. Bonnett of the Elizabeth Wheelmen leads with nearly 1,000 miles to date; and 32 to 40 starters are expected for the Decoration Day team road race on the Irvington-Milburn course, with New Jersey now boasting more League members per capita than any other state.
- The Harlem Wheelmen were photographed by member Harry Cochrane at Riverdale Hill on a 15-member Sunday outing; the club voted to admit lady riders as associate members limited to one-third of regular membership, with Mrs. Elliot Mason among the first applicants; and the uniform will replace 'H.W.' with 'Harlem' in rolled gold plate.
- Correspondent 'Keystone' reports the April 11th quarter-mile track meeting failed, though a Spring racing meeting is hoped for June; a new geared Star bicycle (42-inch geared to 51) on display is attracting favorable comment; the Keystone Club plans a two-day Lake Shore road tour to Chautauqua on May 29-30.
- Correspondent '5678' corrects Jonah's road-condition report (macadam below standard due to sewer work on Prospect and Dodd streets) and reports that on April 17th Newark livery-stable keeper E.S. Lyon deliberately attempted to run down cyclists Reber and Kluge, but begged off so piteously at trial that the wheelmen agreed to drop the charge.
- Correspondent 'Dixey' defends his cycling assessments against the Philadelphia Press, backs Bart Keene over Richwine in a wager, argues Gideon's annual retirement declaration will again be rescinded, and calls on senior Pennsylvania Club members to restrain the Press cycling columnist before he stirs further strife with the L.A.W. Executive.
- Correspondent 'Prex' describes the Kings County Wheelmen's planned new four-storey clubhouse on Bedford Avenue, Brooklyn (brick, iron and terracotta with bay windows and a tower), to include bowling alleys in the basement, billiard and card rooms on the second floor, a ladies' room on the third, and a gymnasium on the fourth, all with electric lighting and steam heat; construction begins at once.
- An Albany correspondent reports canvassing for League votes in Troy, where Ira Coon of the Bi. Club polled strongly, and reproduces an Albany Argus clipping asserting that the knee-breeches reform has survived opposition, with many Albany gentlemen having already purchased the garments and pledging to wear them in May.
- Correspondent 'Bon' recounts the history of the Brooklyn Bicycle Club (organised June 21, 1879, the oldest in the city), now with nearly 80 members and no debt; the club logged over 56,000 total miles in 1886, with one member exceeding 8,000 miles and 14 others covering 100 miles inside 15 hours.
- The Montreal Bicycle Club's annual meeting on April 14th elected J.D. Miller as President and K.F. Smith as Secretary; the club successfully managed the C.W.A. meet—the finest bicycle meeting ever held in Canada—with F.W.S. Crisp leading the year's mileage at 330 miles and total club mileage at 615.
- A correspondent describes the appalling colonial roads around Grahamstown and the Cape Colony—mere rutted bullock-wagon tracks requiring 16 to 18 oxen for a loaded cart—that make cycling essentially impossible outside Cape Town; Grahamstown has just three bicycles, including one ancient 'Xtra' with an improvised iron-tube repair.
- A cyclist riding a Rudge along the Portsmouth Road accepts an innkeeper's five-to-one bet to visit the supposedly haunted Snaggert's Hollow farmhouse near the Devil's Punchbowl, and unwittingly stumbles into a séance conducted by London spiritualist researchers and medium Guillaume Eglise—the ghost of hanged sailor James Bristowe makes its farewell appearance, the landlord's prank is revealed, and the cyclist collects his winnings.
- Practical cycling health advice reprinted from The Cyclist: wear woollen garments next to the skin at all seasons (never cotton, which cools dangerously when soaked with perspiration), carry a light woollen or silk wrap to put around the neck immediately after stopping, and avoid draughts at inn entries or stable yards—precautions especially critical in spring when temperatures swing from summer warmth to icy east winds within a day.
- Thomas Stevens' lecture and banquet at 'The Wyoming' in Scranton were a decided success; the reception committee included Mayor E. Ripple, Colonel H.M. Boies and prominent cyclists George A. Jessup and Fred C. Hand; Rev. Dr. Spencer advocated Jessup for the L.A.W. Presidency, and Stevens told The Wheel's representative he was highly gratified with his Scranton welcome.
- Correspondent 'Alert' reviews Stevens' April 16th Brooklyn Academy lecture; reports the newly elected Brooklyn L.A.W. Board of Representatives (Bridgman, Schwalbach and Loucks of K.C.W.; Greenman of I.B.C.; Barkman and Potter of B.B.C.; Luscomb of L.I.W.); and notes that Brooklyn park paths are now open to tricyclists at all hours—a ruling expected to particularly benefit lady riders.
- J. Clay Combs of Nashville announces a July 4th cycling tour to Niagara Falls via Louisville, Lexington, Cincinnati, Dayton, Springfield, Cleveland, Erie and Buffalo, with some riders continuing through New York State to the Metropolis or looping via Canada to Chicago; roads in Nashville have been excellent since January 1st.
- Short notes: E.K. Austin moves to Flatbush; Thomas Stevens receives a gold badge from the German Cyclists' Union and is now honorary member of six clubs, with lectures booked in Washington, Auburn and Cleveland; Stoddard, Lovering & Co. have cabled England three times to duplicate their Rudge Bicyclette stock; and the Pittston, Pa. Bicycle Club opens new Main Street rooms after a successful two-day fair and festival.