The Wheel: Journal of Bicycling, Vol 3, No 16
Articles in this issue
- The editors' weekly notes — the Kings County Wheelmen's first sociable and a 25-mile Prince–Woodside race with a 26-hour Police Gazette championship at the American Institute on Jan. 26th — closing with sympathy to Elliott Mason of the Citizens' Club on the death of his father, Professor Benjamin Mason, in Milwaukee's Newhall House fire.
- Biographical sketch of George R. Bidwell of the Kings County Wheelmen, from his start on a Duplex Excelsior in Buffalo and founding of the Buffalo Bicycle Club to his work as the Pope Manufacturing Company's general agent and his organizing of the Brooklyn Bicycle Company.
- A Bordentown rider ("L. W. W." of the Owl Bicycle Club) praises the American Star bicycle's safety from headers and its hill-climbing after nine months' use, describing its independent levers, swinging spring and flat felloe.
- Henry E. Dicker explains that the Springfield Club's track was measured two feet from the pole by two civil engineers, defending the validity of the September 20th race records under either the two- or three-foot standard.
- A Middletown, N.Y. correspondent ("Hal") asks riders to compare first-class machines, faulting the Expert's loose spokes and saddle spring, and proposes reversing bicycle springs to absorb the forward-and-downward shock of road jolts.
- A Nashua, N.H. writer ("Nashoonon") urges Washington as the site of the next L.A.W. Annual Meet, praising the Capital Club's well-run November 1882 meet that was spoiled only by the weather.
- Club notes: the Citizens' Bi. Club adopted dark-blue knee-breeches, raised a piano fund and nominated Dr. N. M. Beckwith for State League Consul, while Washington's Capital Bi. Club announces its fourth annual anniversary banquet at Harvey's restaurant.
- Report of the Bicycle Touring Club's New York members' meeting under State Consul F. G. Bourne, which elected F. A. Egan (President of the Ixion Club) City Consul by acclamation and resolved to query the Chief Consul about the lost constitution draft and the B.T.C. badge die.
- A scathing notice (from H. T. Round in the 'Cyclist) denouncing S. H. Ineson, the late B.T.C. Treasurer who absconded to Charters Towers with about £255 of the club's money.
- Lead editorial lamenting that many New York clubs hold aloof from the L.A.W. — only 37 of some 250 state members voted last time — and urging members to pay dues and elect active Consuls at the March election so a State Branch can be formed.
- Report of the Racing Board's first meeting (Jan. 10, Metropolitan Hotel) with S. A. Marsden as chairman and Fred. Jenkins as secretary and Official Handicapper, covering amended amateur-eligibility rules, an eighteen-inch track-measurement standard, and endorsement of the Board's action in the Prince–Frye matter.
- A column of satirical questions about local wheelmen and clubs — aluminium machines, the Citizens' blue uniforms, Woodside turning professional, a brutal 26-hour race, and President Egan as the new B.T.C. City Consul.