The Wheel: Journal of Bicycling, Vol 13, No 20
Articles in this issue
- The Wheel's editorial commentary on the L.A.W. reorganization committee's Buffalo meeting, praising the merger of the Bicycling World into the L.A.W. Bulletin under editor C.W. Fourdrinier and commending the committee's plan to make roads improvement the League's primary object and to decentralize power to self-governing state divisions.
- The L.A.W. Reorganization Committee's official statement signed by chairman Charles H. Luscomb with Butler, Dunn, and Bidwell, proposing a new National Assembly of state delegates, state divisions fixing their own dues, a Committee on the Improvement of Highways, and simplified membership by moral character and age limit alone.
- Philadelphia correspondent 'Avis' reports on South End Wheelmen's thousand-mile medals, the new Association Cycling Club uniting six Philadelphia clubs, Richard Dallett's 2,502-mile season championship and C.S. Liesen's 103-mile single-day record from the Tioga Wheel Club, and the Pennsylvania Club's Washington's Birthday house-opening.
- Baltimore correspondent 'Ralph' reveals that a senior L.A.W. official plans to fix the League Meet date for May 28 without consulting the host Maryland Division and to eliminate the business meeting, reducing the Baltimore gathering to a 'general jollification'; the Maryland Division insists on a full League Meet with business on June 18-19.
- Brooklyn correspondent 'Bon' covers the Long Island Wheelmen's ladies' night and planned entertainment series including a mock breach-of-promise trial with Captain Luscumb on the bench, the Kings County Wheelmen's nearly-completed four-storey club house with gymnasium and bachelor apartments, and the Brooklyns' upcoming stag meeting.
- Trade description of the 1888 Victor Light Roadster by Overman Wheel Co. of Boston, detailing all-forged construction with no cast metal, true tangent spokes tied and soldered at each crossing, the swing saddle with removable leather seat that acts as a wheel lock, square rubber ball pedals, and a price of $125 for the 50-inch standard-finish model at 38 pounds.
- Pittsburgh correspondent 'Keystone' comments on the YMCA gymnasium's plan to lay a quarter-mile track on the old Exposition grounds, and reports that S.G. Whittaker — admitting he gained only 'experience' from the recent race-fixing scandal — visited the Bicycle School before heading to Philadelphia's projected six-day race.
- Report on the Troy Bicycle Club's fourth annual tournament witnessed by 1,000 people, featuring Professor Zahn's parallel-bar gymnastics, a four-round boxing bout between Simmons and Connor declared a draw by referee James Killoran, a fourteen-man bicycle drill under Captain Thiessen including a figure-eight evolution, and a tug-of-war victory over the Albany Wheelmen.
- New Orleans city letter from 'Bi.' covers the Louisiana Cycling Club's vote to pursue a spring tournament, January mileage led by R.G. Betts at 303½ miles, the approaching Chief Consul election with A.M. Hill (the 1885 C.C.) emerging as candidate after C.H. Fenner withdrew, and a visit by Texas champion T.L. Monaghan of the Dallas Wheel Club.
- Denver correspondent 'Ragde' describes the Ramblers' January 29 run to Golden with twenty members, visiting Castle Rock and a coal mine 775 feet underground; January cyclometer totals led by Peck at 368 miles and fifteen-year-old Geo. Kennedy at 360; Harry Gordon's solo 75-mile ride from Colorado Springs on February 1 completed in 9 hours 45 minutes.
- Regular department of short news items: Thomas Stevens to lecture at Buffalo March 13 under Unitarian Church auspices; Stanley Show preview with Pope Mfg. Co. exhibiting a 56-inch racer and three Columbia models; W.E. Crist to join the Manhattan Athletic Club and tour England; California Inter-Club Road Racing Association's Washington's Birthday 25-mile road race.
- Report on the Citizens' Cycling Club's ladies' reception featuring a concert with readings by Miss Fay Davis brought from Boston, legerdemain by E.W. Johnson of the Harlem Wheelmen, and dancing for 150 guests including Thomas Stevens; bachelor apartments of Dr. Beckwith and Mr. Clapp were opened to guests, and supper was served by Mazetti.
- Report on the Calumet Cycling Club's closing reception at Knickerbocker Hall, Brooklyn E.D., with dancing to Schneider's orchestra; the evening concluded at the Wall House on Bedford Avenue, where members voted to consolidate the Calumet Club with the Kings County Wheelmen.
- Announcement from 'Alta' of the Universal Cycling Club's February 27 reception at Rivers' Dancing Academy, Brooklyn, with over 500 invitations sent to clubs across Brooklyn and New York; also reports W.F. Weaver's recent bicycle tour over snow-covered Long Island roads and across frozen lakes.
- Report on the Capital Bicycle Club's ninth anniversary banquet at Willard's Hotel, Washington D.C., with toastmaster Dr. Gabriel F. Johnston presiding over toasts by A.P. Smith ('Club life'), Capt. E.A. Demaray ('A summer outing'), and Warren Seely's metrical narrative 'A desperate deed'; a floral centrepiece was voted to Mrs. Kauffmann, wife of club president Rudolph Kauffmann.
- Humorous reprinting of the rules of a club in a Russian town in the Tchernizeff district, prohibiting greased boots, green neckties, use of window-curtains as handkerchiefs, flirting during quadrilles, indecent drunkenness, striking a partner in the face, and hitting a billiards opponent with a cue.
- Calendar of upcoming cycling club events: Citizens' Club dinner at Mazetti's and Kings County Wheelmen opening (both Feb. 14), Brooklyn Club reception at club house (Feb. 15), Kings County Wheelmen house-warm (Feb. 21), L.A.W. Board of Officers winter meeting at Grand Union Hotel New York (Feb. 22), and Cambridge Cycle Club summer tour (Aug. 13).
- Report on the Manhattan Bicycle Club's first reception at the Lexington Avenue Opera House on February 3, attended by 1,000 guests; the evening's highlight was Nash performing graceful pirouettes on his Victor bicycle, assisted by professional skatist George Jackson; dancing to Schwab's orchestra continued through eighteen numbers until dawn.
- Letter from Henry E. Ducker of Buffalo clarifying that although he could have packed the Boston L.A.W. meeting to carry his reform proposals, he chose not to on principle; he declares himself willing to see the needed League reforms come by any road and indifferent to whether they follow his own plan.
- Unsigned editorial, prompted by a squib in which 'Gentleman John' described the editor as 'mild-mannered,' turns the tables by sketching how editors might write up their own visitors — satirically portraying 'that thick-lipped sensualist' who unloads salacious stories and 'doddering dodo Simkins' who carries a record book and a photo of Billy Rowe close to his heart.