The Wheel: Journal of Bicycling, Vol 9, No 17
Articles in this issue
- The weekly news column covers cycling personalities, club events, and racing matters, including Prince's defeat of skater Jake Small in a five-mile race at Scranton, the Chicago B.C. annual election of officers, the Society of Cyclists meeting in London, Elizabeth N.J. Wheelmen mileage records topped by D. B. Bonnett's 3,442 miles, the Minnesota six-day race entries featuring Woodside, Eck, and Armaindo, and notes on amateur versus professional standings including the Van Sicklen–Whittaker ranking dispute.
- Boston correspondent column covering the Boston Club vs. Massachusetts Club dispute over management of the upcoming L.A.W. meet, a Boston dealers' plan to end overpayment of 'makers' amateurs' by agreeing not to poach each other's riders, ice cycling on frozen Dorchester Bay, and news of J. T. Williams planning to ride a Rover Safety for Massachusetts club records.
- Letter from Stoddard, Lovering & Co. outlining their 1886 Rudge line: no changes to the Light Roadster and Racer, a markedly improved Rudge Safety, a new Rover-style safety at higher price, a combined Cripper-Quadrant tricycle with large front wheel and bicycle steering, and the Coventry Rotary and Genuine Humber tandems now made by D. Rudge & Co.
- Mileage totals for five Citizens Bicycle Club of New York members for 1885, led by Philip Fontaine (3,205 miles) and Elliott Mason (3,025 miles), with a general average of 2,702 miles per rider despite New York's poor roads; Mason made the club's first century run on the Clerical Wheelman's Tour.
- Letter from 'Enthusiast' describing the Independent Wheelmen's January 1st, 1886 tour from Brooklyn to Babylon, Long Island, covering 46 miles through Jamaica, Hempstead, Merrick, and Amityville, with the novice secretary taking a header over a frozen rut as the chief incident.
- Report on the 26-hour bicycle race at Washington Rink, Minneapolis on January 15–16, in which Mile. Louise Armaindo defeated Fred Shaw of Dakota, covering 182 miles to Shaw's 162, both riding Columbia machines; Armaindo led by sixteen miles at the fifty-mile mark after Shaw was repeatedly sidelined by cramps from the twentieth mile onward.
- Wm. M. Woodside's bid to break the world fifty-mile record at Washington Rink, Minneapolis on January 13th, riding a 24-pound 58-inch Columbia racer; he set new records for 41–46 miles and at 51 miles before a loosening spoke at mile 44 ended his attempt, with intended pacemakers T.W. Eck and Fred Shaw both absent.
- Detailed account of H. E. Ducker's plans as Chief Consul of the Massachusetts State Division for the L.A.W. meet in Boston, May 27–29, including a 2,000-wheelman parade through the Back Bay, championship races at Beacon Park mile track prepared by Justin Sackett, and a grand free banquet for all League members.
- Results of a fancy riding contest at the Fifth Avenue Skating Academy, Brooklyn on January 15th, with George Hutchinson winning the fancy bicycle and cartwheel events, Harry Tufts winning the unicycle, Harry Farr of the Ilderan B.C. winning the one- and two-mile amateur races in 3:27 and 6:55, and Wm. Marshall winning the two-mile professional in 8:05.
- Letter from John S. Rogers of the St. Louis Ramblers defending the accuracy of St. Louis race times, explaining that the outdoor three-lap board track at the Fair Grounds where Hendee, Rowe, Whittaker, Prince, and Eck set their records has been surveyed three times and certified by Racing Board Chairman Bassett.
- Letter from Berkshire County Wheelmen reporting on their new constitution, a midwinter entertainment at the North St. Rink on January 6th, newly elected officers including President E. H. Kennedy and Captain C. C. Kennedy, and the club's pride that Wm. A. Rowe rode his first race at their third annual tournament.
- Club election results from Buffalo B.C. (President J. S. Danelson), the newly formed 24-member Bristol County Wheelmen of Warren R.I., Weedsport Bicycle Club, Yale B.C. of New Haven (President C. P. D. Townsend), and Nonantum B.C. of Newton, Mass.
- Profile of L. D. Munger of Detroit, holder of the American 24-hour record of 259¾ miles set near Boston in November 1885 on a 57-inch Apollo wheel, now touring the South to promote cycling, with plans to make road records in New Orleans and tour Texas before returning to Boston for the spring racing season.