The Wheel: Journal of Bicycling, Vol 3, No 21
Articles in this issue
- Short editorial notes: Dr. N. M. Beckwith appointed New York State Chief Consul in place of the resigned W. F. Gullen, an appeal to wheelmen to pay League dues and subscribe to The Wheel, news that J. S. Dean will edit the Bicycling World, and that Elsa Von Blumen (Carrie Kiner) has married and retired from racing against horses.
- A New York correspondent signed "J." with plating experience explains why imported bicycle rims are seldom nickel-plated: most plating baths are too small for the front wheel, emery-wheel burnishing risks cutting spokes, and properly plating the felloe requires removing spokes few wheelmen will risk.
- Correspondent "C. A. P." argues the American Star is inferior to crank machines — harder to handle, with a tiring racking motion and a tendency to slide outward on sharp curves — and rates the Expert, among the Standard, Special, Columbia and Star he has ridden, the finest wheel made.
- The Louisville correspondent (signed 2757) reports the Kentucky Club losing both its outdoor track, bought by the Southern Exposition Co., and its indoor track, to be razed for a new Custom House, praises the Columbia ball-bearing and the Expert as the best roadster, and notes the Falls City Club now has 14 members.
- A Haverhill correspondent (signed "869") recounts the Thorndyke Bicycle Club of Beverly's first annual ball on Feb. 8: a club drill by six Lawrence men, fancy riding by Tufts of Attleboro, double riding by Scott of Lowell and Tufts, and dancing to the Salem Cadet Band.
- "Percy" reports the Massachusetts Club's annual dinner at the Hotel Vendome and previews Washington's Birthday races at the Institute, where Young runs an exhibition mile and Prince attempts Moore and Frye's two-mile records, having posted $200 forfeit to race the horseman Leroy for $1,000.
- The Washington correspondent (signed "Oliver") gossips about the Capital Club's rainy-evening pool championship series, Secretary Moses pushing Portland roadsters, McK. Borden's medals at the banquet, and a Washington's Birthday club run of 50 "Caps" to dine at Cabin John's Bridge.
- Club department: the Meriden Wheel Club's exhibition featuring D. J. Canary's fancy and double riding, plus officer elections and notes from the Boston Ramblers, Cornell, Forest City (Ontario), Hermes (Chicago), Oberlin College, Elmira, and Rochester clubs, the Elmira club enrolling its full membership of 21 in the L.A.W.
- New York theatre notices — the last week of Gilbert and Sullivan's Iolanthe, the Boston Ideal Company at the 5th Avenue, "Fritz" giving way to "Old Shipmates," and a benefit for Miss Emma Bobbitt, who has many friends in cycling circles, at Steinway Hall.
- An editorial tracing the dispute between the League of American Wheelmen and the National Association of Amateur Athletes over championship races, and welcoming the agreement that the N.A.A.A.A. will provide medals for two- and five-mile races at its June meeting while the League gives its own one-mile championship.
- Account of the Massachusetts Club's annual banquet at the Hotel Vendome on Feb. 17, where President Henry T. Williams recapped the club's 36 runs and 64,500-mile record and toasts were answered by L.A.W. treasurer Gilman, Chief Consul Weston, Boston Club president Hodges, and Rev. Gracey for the clergy.
- The new New York State Chief Consul N. M. Beckwith's inaugural address, urging representatives, local consuls and lapsed Leaguers to pay dues, recruit members and resign if they cannot do the work, and pledging vigorous organization of the state division.
- Department listing forthcoming fixtures, chiefly the L.A.W.-sanctioned five-mile handicap at Industrial Hall, Philadelphia, on March 10, where Woodside and Morgan ride a 25-mile race and Miss Maggie Wallace rides five miles against time in her first American appearance.
- N. M. Beckwith's short letter to L.A.W. President W. H. Miller formally accepting appointment as Chief Consul for New York State.
- A Landisville, Pa. correspondent (Davy Derby) complains that the best machines like the Club and Sanspareil are sold with painted felloes at over $135 and urges makers to nickel the felloe, citing the Marietta Bi. Club's twelve full-nickeled Experts.
- "Geesee" writes from Marblehead disputing a claim that the Marblehead Club appropriated the name of a supposed Salem "Atlantic" club, and describes the Marblehead boys' entertainment by the Hawthornes of Salem and a Christmas drill by eight Star Club men of Lynn under Frank Faulkner.
- "Namelos" reports the Cleveland club's new riding quarters at the Roller Rink, praises winter snow-and-ice riding, and notes Mlle. Louise Armaindo lowering the 100-mile record (under nine hours) at the Rink on Dec. 23, plus a maroon-versus-dark-green dispute over the club uniform.
- A Louisville correspondent (signed "H.") who learned on a 46-inch Harvard testifies that he never knew cycling's delights until he rode a Star, praising its safety and downhill coasting over crank machines on runs of 30 to 75 miles.
- A Noblesville, Indiana rider (signed "S-v-t-e") of a 54-inch American Star praises its safety, comfort and speed — recounting riding unhurt over a fence post laid by crank-machine owners — and credits Mr. Pressy's clutch mechanism, reporting a mile in three minutes.
- "O." describes a reception given by the Newton Bicycle Club of Newton, Mass., on the 23rd, with waltzes, quadrilles and galops to the Boston Cadet Band and representatives of the Massachusetts, Boston, Crescent and New York Citizens clubs present.
- Theatre notes reporting J. K. Emmet's success in his new play "Fritz Among the Gypsies," with little Peggy Miller and the $2,500 dog "Baird," bought from Col. Pope's brother, drawing crowded houses.
- A reprinted Herald appraisal of The Wheelman, the Boston monthly devoted entirely to the bicycle, praising its well-written stories, magazine-quality verse and capital illustrations.