The Wheel: Journal of Bicycling, Vol 13, No 4
Articles in this issue
- Detailed report of the League of American Wheelmen Board of Officers meeting at the Grand Union, chaired by President Kirkpatrick, covering the rejection of John A. Wells' appointment, treasurer and secretary-editor reports showing the League near insolvency, and debate concluding with adoption of a Luscomb resolution declaring that L.A.W. members and especially officials should refrain from road racing.
- The Elizabeth Wheelmen (NJ) held an October 12 meeting where Mr. Wetmore's resolution opposing the L.A.W. Board's road-racing stance was adopted; century medals were presented to Berry, Runyon, Bonnett, Leary, Bowman, and Gilbert, and a gold-headed cane to ex-Captain Martin, with Captain Barry announcing a Chinese lantern parade for October 29.
- Results of the October 13 team road race from East Haven Four Corners to Branford and return, with H. C. Backus posting the fastest individual time of 42:30; officials included starter and referee W. M. Frisbie and timers G. R. Coan, J. A. Dockendorff, and S. C. Sperry.
- Reader letter from 'Jack' recounting how G. L. Warner and J. W. Schoefer of the Ilderan Bi. Club rode a 103-mile century on October 9 from Brooklyn through Queens, Hempstead, Babylon, and Islip, completing it in 9 hours 35 minutes actual riding time despite getting lost on the return near Newbridge.
- An appeal urging each of L.A.W.'s 11,624 members to send 17 cents to J. C. Willever in Newark to rescue the New Jersey Cycling and Athletic Association's $12,000 Roseville track, threatened with loss over $500 in unpaid rent.
- An editorial presenting a motion submitted to the N.C.U. Council calling for amateur cyclists competing in open road races under 100 miles to forfeit their amateur status, arguing road racing endangers public safety, infuriates public opinion, and will invite restrictive legislation harming the broader cycling public.
- Full report of the Fall Race Meet of the Associated Cycling Clubs of Baltimore at Arlington Driving Park on October 15, covering ten events; Washington riders Brown and Crist beat Baltimore's H. L. Kingsland in the open mile, the Baltimore Cycle Club won the two-mile team event for a marble mantel clock, and Atwater of Washington won the steeple chase.
- Summary of cycling events at the Piedmont Exposition near Atlanta on October 12–13, with W. W. Wendell of Boston dominating the amateur programme and William A. Rowe of Lynn and H. C. Crocker winning the professional races; Homer Reed of Atlanta won the five-mile amateur state championship in 13:43.
- The Wheel draws attention to an article in The Globe (reprinted in Bicycling News, October 8) arguing that manufacturers' financial support for 'Makers' Amateurs' has driven out genuine amateurs and is killing cycle racing; the piece advocates class-racing as the most workable remedy.
- A letter from C. H. K. of Cincinnati describes finding bicycling entirely dead in Columbus, Ohio—150 wheels rusting, no club, dealers quitting—and argues manufacturers must allow dealers to carry multiple brands and supply cycling papers, contrasting Columbus's collapse with Pittsburgh's growth to 250 wheelmen under the enthusiastic Banker Brothers.
- Miscellaneous notes: G. P. Mills and Tingley reportedly rode 301 miles in 24 hours on an Ivel tandem at Crystal Palace; A. L. Bower beat all tricycle records from 51 to 150 miles there; Wells and Synnestoedt of Philadelphia broke the American 20-mile tandem road record at 1:23:30 on a Quadrant No. 15 on Lancaster Pike; the Victor team returned from Crawfordsville without records due to bad weather.
- New Orleans correspondent reports on the Louisiana Division L.A.W. quarterly meeting of October 10, where a five-man committee was appointed to raise funds for a New Orleans cinder cycle track (over $160 pledged on the spot) and a letter from Governor McEnery endorsing road improvement was read; Chief Consul Harry Hodgson received a gold scarf pin from fellow Louisiana Cycling Club members.
- Correspondent 'Alert' previews the upcoming inter-club road race, names the K. C. W. team (H. J. Hall and others), corrects a false report about the Ilderans attending in a coach, and reviews the L.A.W. Board's retreat from a strong anti-road-racing amendment to a mild non-interference resolution.
- Correspondent 'Art' describes autumn Facile rides through Darien, Noroton, and Sound Beach, notes two local riders' cider-mill tour to the York State hills near Bedford on a 42 Facile and 54 Expert, and reports Stamford wheelmen absorbed in Company C military activities.
- Brief NJ items: the Elizabeth Wheelmen's Chinese lantern parade set for October 29; S. J. Berry Jr. elected EW captain replacing E. Martin; club teams practising daily over the inter-club road course; and an antique bone-shaker sold at Newark auction for 65 cents in perfect condition.
- Minneapolis correspondent L. B. G. reports on races at Mitchell, Dakota Territory, where Grant Bell defeated Percy Stone in a five-mile contest; notes bicycle instructor R. H. Spear convalescing near Dakota after over-work; and celebrates Frank Dingley's now-verified Lynn record performances, noting Dingley is 'really a Minneapolis boy.'
- Correspondent 'Verax' publishes John A. Wells' private letter explaining his dealings with the discredited Aaron: Wells lent Aaron $2,000 on a fabricated inheritance story and only discovered the fraud by examining the Surrogate's records in Trenton, N.J.; Verax concludes Wells was guilty only of misplaced loyalty and urges the cycling public to bury the matter.
- A comic poem from Punch parodying 'Ye Mariners of England,' prompted by Henry Sturmey's new edition of his Handbook of Bicycling, celebrating English cycling's growth, naming champions Woods, Howell, and Jack Keen, and hailing Coventry manufacture.
- A vivid descriptive essay by 'Free Lance' (reprinted from The Cyclist) tracing the famous Ripley Road cycling pilgrimage from London through Richmond Park, Kingston, the 'Angel' at Long Ditton, Cobham, and the 'classic ten miles' to Ripley's 'Anchor' inn, describing the Saturday dinner for sixty cyclists and the social fellowship of leading cyclists on Surrey roads.
- Practical advice from 'Obadiah' (reprinted from Wheeling) on navigating cycle customs duties across Europe: France is unpredictable; Italy often rates cycles as four-wheeled carriages; Norway and Sweden charge nothing and are courteous; Belgium and Holland pass used machines freely; Spain yields to patience and tact.
- Reprinted from The Cyclist, argues the high-wheel ordinary is not doomed despite the safety bicycle's rise, urging makers to improve rider safety through larger rear wheels, more rake, longer cranks, and footrests—changes that would win back utilitarian cyclists who have abandoned the ordinary for fear of 'croppers.'