The Wheel: Journal of Bicycling, Vol 5, No 11
Articles in this issue
- An unsigned opening column of New York and Boston cycling notes: the American Institute to open as a skating rink with a raised bicycle track, Burt Pressy riding his Star up and down a flight of stairs, the neat new C.T.C. Consuls' badges, a proposed Thespian Cycling Club, and novelties promised for spring by Cunningham, Pope and Overman.
- A first-person Thanksgiving-week account of travelling by Fall River steamer and train to Dorchester, near Boston, to visit Frank W. Weston, United States Chief Consul of the Cyclists' Touring Club, describing his art-filled drawing room with twin wood fires overlooking Boston harbour.
- A letter from Elliott W. Johnson of the 150-member Jersey City Athletic Club describing efforts, with R. V. R. Schuyler and Mr. Furman of the Board of Aldermen, to win the right to ride in Jersey City, where bicycling is presently barred by ordinance.
- An eight-stanza poem by Will Sawyer commending the wheel to all who love health, country air, nature, quiet reading nooks and honest living.
- A St. Louis correspondent (signed "51") surveys Missouri cycling: five clubs, the Manchester and De Soto roads, a 104.5-mile Missouri Club ride, the rapid rise of the Star bicycle, and a proposed five-lap track at the new Sportsmen's Park.
- Practical maintenance advice reprinted from The Wheelman covering tires (gray Para rubber), lubricating the bearings with a four-to-one sperm-and-paraffine oil, polishing nickel, storage, repairs, and transporting machines by rail.
- Results of the club's second fall race meeting at Power Hall, Exposition Buildings, on November 27, 1883, with J. G. Kitchell winning the one- and two-mile club races, E. F. Landy the three-mile free-for-all, and N. L. Pierson the five-mile Enquirer-medal race over W. E. Galway in 17:48.5.
- "Whomsoever Will" calls for a properly judged open road race between Prospect Park and Coney Island, where Stults and Pettus have lately traded the record near 20 minutes, and inveighs against professionals.
- A report signed "Mercury" of the Seventh Regiment Athletic Club's December 8 indoor meeting at the armory, where F. E. Davidson off a 75-yard handicap beat scratch man J. N. Stearns Jr. in the two-mile bicycle race on a nine-lap board track, 6:29 1-5 to 6:38 1-5.
- An account of a benefit evening for Mr. Crawford Mason featuring club drill, double-riding by Mason and Bush, single riding by Bloodgood of the Kings County Wheelmen, and fancy, roller-skate and unicycle riding by Prof. D. J. Canary.
- The Brooklyn Bicycle Club's lamp-lit evening parade and banquet honouring the Kings County Wheelmen, with sixty riders from the Brooklyn, Heights and Kings County clubs performing cavalry-style bugle-drill on Montague Street before supper at Glass's Hotel.
- From Sporting Life: Philadelphia plans a three-day bicycle tournament next June offering $5,000 in prizes, including a $500 world-championship match between Robinson of England and Frazier of America, on a new half-mile track.
- Club news: a new thirty-nine-member Nashville club with A. E. Howell named Tennessee League Consul, the founding of the fifteen-member Harrisburg Cycling Club under Chas. S. Small, and progress on the Citizens club's new club house and sixty-foot wheel room.
- Geo. W. Brooks reports the Massachusetts Division L.A.W. mail-vote accepting Secretary F. P. Kendall's resignation, naming Brooks of Worcester his successor, and authorising 300 guide boards from E. F. Tolman and printing of the Division Hand Book by James P. Burbank.
- A seven-stanza poem signed H. E. R. picturing two cyclists gliding silently through a moonlit night and musing that the wheel might even elude Death's steed.
- A standing C.T.C. notice from Chief Consul Frank W. Weston of Boston giving dues, badge, handbook and uniform details, announcing the Eighth Annual Meet at Harrogate, Yorkshire in August 1884 with reduced steamship rates in progress, and listing two new applicants from Bethlehem, Pa.
- An editorial announcing that The Wheel will henceforth decline to publish correspondents' articles praising or condemning particular makes of machine, arguing that road conditions vary too widely across America for any one wheel to be judged best.
- L.A.W. President N. Malon Beckwith dismisses an anonymous Baltimore circular attacking the Corresponding Secretary, identifying it as in the hand of R. F. Foster and noting Foster's membership case is already before the Membership Committee.
- Brief notes: the spring Board of Officers meeting likely in New York about February 22, the Cattaraugus County club renamed the Randolph Bi. Club, the new seven-member Chester Bicycle Club, and Mr. Moxley's denial of any part in a Prince–Keen match.
- The editor's replies to readers by League number and name, noting the actual League membership now stands at 3,352 and promising Karl Kron publicity for his forthcoming book.
- The official League list of seventy-seven new applicants for membership, with large additions from the Cheyenne Bicycle Club of Wyoming and members from New Haven, Nashville, Chicago, Baltimore, Detroit and Bordentown clubs.