The Wheel: Journal of Bicycling, Vol 5, No 19
Articles in this issue
- The Owl's opening miscellany covers cyclists' night at the Olympian Club's Rink, the Ixion Club's temporary relocation, Hale of the New Haven Bi. Club's trick of riding at full speed while performing the musket manual-of-arms, and a short comic poem about a disastrous coasting descent with a young lady on Riverside Drive.
- Secretary H. G. Rouse of the Peoria Bicycle Club reports that a fire on January 31 destroyed a quarter-block of buildings including the club's riding hall, club room, and gymnasium, burning ten bicycles including Columbias, Rudges, an American Star, and a Victor Rotary Tricycle, with uninsured losses to club property of $300–$400. E. W. Pope of Pope Mfg. Co. visited personally and offered liberal terms to replace the burned Columbia wheels.
- A correspondent describes a pre-snow winter ride from Stamford to Port Chester on a Columbia, during which he explored an old colonial manor house on the former stage-coach route between Boston and New York, contrasting its antique spinning wheels and hand-made ironwork with a modern fifty-inch bicycle leaning against its weathered siding.
- Fen R. of East Rochester, N.H. reports on the captain of the Star Wheel Club completing a six-mile snow ride and announces that the 'Star Rider's Manual'—written by E. H. Corson, the Mt. Washington coaster—is nearly ready, noting that cycling has spread from zero to seven riders in their village since Corson introduced it.
- Ben E. Melvin of Winona, Minnesota writes about the Winona Bicycle Club, where Columbia Experts are the favored machines, and promotes the upcoming Niagara Falls-to-Boston tour of the Chicago Bicycle Club in July, organized by B. B. Ayers, urging Minnesota wheelmen to participate in greater numbers than on the Canada tour of 1883.
- Correspondent '51' reports on a zero-degree Sunday ride by two Star riders and 'Sixty' to Manchester (20 miles), includes a comic poem by Sixty about the outing, notes the Eclipse Club captain's resignation and the Missouri Bi. Club's new president, and describes Rex Smith's exhibition riding in a 10x10 space plus the construction of a tandem bicycle using two 50-inch wheels.
- Correspondent '737' provides detailed route descriptions for cyclists arriving in Brooklyn via five different ferries and the bridge, routing from each landing through asphalt streets to Prospect Park and the Eastern boulevard to Coney Island, with notes on surface quality at each junction.
- Captain E. H. Corson of the Star Wheel Club, East Rochester, N.H. extends the deadline for guessing his cyclometer reading to March 1, clarifies that his 1883 road season total was 2,601.47 miles, and explains that his McDonnell cyclometer only registers up to 1,000 miles so all guesses must fall in that range.
- Secretary Frank R. Miller of the Bay State Wheel Club rebukes a previous correspondent who claimed the club was 'perfectly dead,' asserting that the club is lively but that heavy winter weather has halted runs, and that most members plan to appear in spring on new mounts.
- The Heights Wheelmen held their first social entertainment, featuring piano, guitar, banjo, humorous recitations, and a collation in the pool room; T. G. Condon was elected Captain to fill the vacancy left by Mr. King's business-related resignation, and several members purchased new machines ahead of the coming season.
- Nick L. of Rutland, Vt. reports on a successful public fancy-riding exhibition by Wilmot and Sewell, who performed double riding including Sewell standing on Wilmot's shoulder atop one wheel, and single tricks including a mount from the machine lying on its side and riding without saddle or backbone; the club presented the pair with gold medals and voted a new season of renewed activity.
- A detailed account of the New Haven Bicycle Club's annual reception and ball at Union Armory, decorated with nickel-plated wheels and ivy, with Thomas' Orchestra playing from 9:30 p.m. to 2:30 a.m.; delegates attended from Meriden, Hartford, and Bridgeport, and the club's prize bugle won at the Springfield tournament the previous September arrived that same evening.
- President N. Malon Beckwith announces the appointment of G. B. Winslow of the L. I. Wheelmen and E. K. Austin of the Kings County Wheelmen as additional L.A.W. representatives for New York State, and publishes the full completed list of twelve N.Y. State representatives from Buffalo to Brooklyn, urging other states to forward nominations ahead of the February 22 board meeting.
- Bulletin No. 53 lists thirty new L.A.W. membership applications including additions to the Kingston Bi. Club (Ontario), Peoria Bi. Club, Washington Cycling Club, Stamford Wheel Club, and Cambridge Bi. Club, spanning divisions in Connecticut, Indiana, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Ohio, and Pennsylvania, along with five new Cyclists Touring Club applications.
- Editor Fred. Jenkins writes a detailed editorial defending his proposed amendments to the L.A.W. Constitution, arguing for raising membership fees from $1.00 to $1.50, consolidating the offices of corresponding secretary and treasurer into one salaried post, and abolishing the recording secretary role, drawing comparisons to the Cyclists Touring Club's structure; he also discloses that he has been suspended from the League following a protest by the Springfield Club.
- The Springfield Bicycle Club, signed by President Henry E. Ducker and other officers, formally notifies all wheelmen that Fred. Jenkins was protested by 69 L.A.W. members on January 23 and is therefore no longer an active member, and demands that President Beckwith enforce Rule 29 by immediately suspending Jenkins from his office as Corresponding Secretary; the editor appends a note that both Ducker and Fennessy have themselves been protested and suspended.
- Karl Kron of New York reports that nearly $200 in subscriptions have already been pledged toward his proposed road book 'Ten Thousand Miles on a Bicycle' within one week of his appeal in The Wheel, and suggests the abbreviation 'X. M. Miles on a Bi.'; he clarifies subscription procedures, asks that no cash be sent in advance of publication, and states he will commit to publishing if 500 more names arrive by the end of February.
- Reports the Ixion Bicycle Club's newly elected officers for the year, including President Frank A. Egan, Secretary Ben G. Sanford, Captain W. R. Pitman, and a governing committee comprising the president, vice-president, treasurer, and Marion G. Peoli.
- Correspondent 'Lewee' describes unusually good mid-winter wheeling conditions around Boston, booming January cycle sales with dealers placing large spring orders, and reports that Lieutenant Chandler of the Massachusetts Bicycle Club tallied aggregate club mileage of over 60,000 miles for 1883 with President Henry W. Williams riding 3,453 miles; he also covers the Harvard College Bicycle Club's new quarter-mile cinder track at Holmes' Field, the Charlestown Bicycle Club ball, and Boston Bicycle Club preparations for its largest-ever annual dinner at Young's Hotel.