CHAT ABOUT THE CYCLE. - A Brief Sketch of the Capitol City Wheelmen. - The San Francisco Call, Aug 22, 1892

CHAT ABOUT THE CYCLE.

The Ten-Mile Race of the Pacific Road Club. Preparations for Track Events. The Association.

The history of the Capital City Wheelmen is the record of a successful organization of enthusiastic cyclists. It was the sixth club formed in the State, the first board of officers being elected on June 25, 1886, as follows: President, H. Bennett; secretary and treasurer, C. H. Oatman; captain, W. C. Hevener; first lieutenant, W. B. Flye; second lieutenant, C. S. King; bugler, H. G. Toll. Among the charter members still in the club are H. Bennett, H. A. Crocker, C. S. King and R. B. Flint. The club occupied rooms in Masonic Temple from the date of its organization until last September, when it moved to the Odd Fellows' building, where it is now located. The club has always had representatives at the racemeets throughout the State who have always held their own. On September 15, 1886, at the races given by the State Agricultural Society, H. G. Toll and John Breuner came out with flying colors.

On Thanksgiving day, 1889, at Stockton, H. A. Crocker won the one-mile novice and the two mile scratch race. On the same day H. G. Toll came first in the half-mile race. On July 4, 1890, at the State meet held at San Jose, Al Rivett won the one-mile novice and came in second in the three-mile handicap. On Thanksgiving day, the same year, Rivett won a road race on the Riverside road in Sacramento for the club championship, covering the distance, three and three-eighth miles, in 10:56.

On July 4, 1891, at Stockton, L. S. Upson won the three-mile handicap on a foul. This race being unsatisfactory, a meeting between Upson and Alcayaga, his principal competitor, was held in Sacramento on October 4, at Agricultural Park, Upson winning handily. During this year Upson, the pride of the C. C. W.'s, has kept up his good work. On Decoration day, ar Alameda, although in poor condition, he won the two-mile handicap and came in second in the three-mile championship. On the Fourth of July at Stockton he won the one mile championship (ordinary); came in second in the half-mile safety, in which the record was lowered from 1:18 2-5 to 1:15 1-5, and won the one-mile ordinary, lowering the record from 1:22 1/2 to 1:18 1-5, for which he received a special medal.

Among other events the club participated in was the relay race against the Oak Leaf Wheelmen of Stockton, distance 52 miles, which the local club won in 3h. 9min. The men comprising the team were: Upson, Wells, De Merritt, Hudson and Dexter. The club recently joined the League of American Wheelmen. The present officers are: President, M. S. Lavenson; secretary-treasurer, L. W. Ripley; captain, W. A. Hubert; first lieutenant, H. A. Crocker; second lieutenant, R. H. Jewell; historian, N. N. Kimball; bugler, George Hudson; color-bearer, Howard Martin.

The Pacific Road Club's 10-mile handicap road race took place yesterday around the San Leandro triangle before a large number of spectators, mostly wheelmen from this city, Oakland and Alameda. The start was on the lower road at 11 o'clock, with the following entries: E. S. Battles, 1 minute handicap; J. H. Hutaff, 1 minute; A. T. Janzen, 2 minutes; Charles R. Hazell, 3 minutes; M. J. Ballard, 4 minutes; G. Tregellas, 5 minutes; W. H. Price, 5 minutes; J. F. Hancock, scratch.

There were three prizes. W. H. Price won the first prize, a gold medal, in 37:17, with Hancock a close second, and Battles third. Hancock made the best actual time, 32:37, and Battles came next in 34:26. The race was a close one, as all the starters finished inside of 38 minutes. Janzen and Hutaff did not start. The officers of the day were: Jesse Hazell, judge; Captain Doane of the B. C. W. and V. A. Hancock, starters and timers; J. C. Luby, handicapper. The second race of the series will take place next month as the medal must be won three times to become personal property.

The quarter-mile running event at Alameda on Monday, September 3, will be a handicap. There has been added to the programme for the benefit of the athletic element a 100-yard dash, open to members of the Alameda Bicycle and Athletic Club only.

The prizes selected for the Alameda meet are very handsome, the silver cup for the one-mile safety handicap being especially attractive.

The Garden City Cyclers have joined the California Associated Cycling Clubs and expressed their willingness to have the annual parade of the clubs held at San Jose, September 9. The Garden Citys have chosen the following delegates to the board of governors of the association: J. B. Lamkin, J. L. Bothwell and C. D. Smith.

The clubs on the Alameda side of the bay have arranged for a special train to convey 300 persons to San Jose on Admission day. Those intending to go will leave this city by the 7:45 A. M. boat. Returning the train will leave San Jose at 6:30 P. M. The round trip rate, providing enough persons signify their intention of visiting the Garden City, will be only $1 25. Applications should be sent in at once to Fred White of the Alameda Cyclery.

The Bay City Wheelmen had a fine time yesterday. They took the 9:15 creek-route boat to Oakland, where they mounted their wheels and went down to San Leandro, where they witnessed the 10-mile race of the Pacific Road Club. Then the boys proceeded to Laundry Farm, where an elegant dinner was served. The return trip was made in the early evening.

The Bay Citys are to have "a quiet little smoker" next Saturday evening. After a brief entertainment a lunch will be discussed by the assembled members.

Our esteemed contemporary. the Nichi Nichi Jiji, received by the Gaelic yesterday, says that "following the example of western cities Tokio is adopting the bicycle as a message carrier. The headquarters of the gendarmerie arranged some time ago to adopt the machine for the delivery of urgent messages, and the central telegraph office has also decided upon its adoption, many of the telegraph messengers being now initiated in the use of the machine. Tokio for the most part is well adapted for the bicycle, and speedier delivery will, without doubt, result from its adoption by the telegraph department. The same remark, however, would apply to but few other places in Japan, for the roads as a rule in this country are totally unadapted for such a service." The Japs should organize a league and agitate for road improvement.

The Oakleaf Wheelmen of Stockton will have a race meet on September 16. The events will be as follows: One-mile novice, one-mile ordinary, half-mile safety (open), one mile for O. L. W. who have never raced, one-mile safety, two-mile handicap and five-mile safety. The club has some very good racing men. It will vote at the next meeting on the proposition of being controlled by a board of directors. It will also discuss the matter of offering gold and silver badges to members for track records; for every 3-minute man a silver badge, for every 2:50-man a gold one.

W. W. Needham of San Jose is now riding a racquet-frame Victor.

The Acme Wheelmen of Oakland took a run to Haywards yesterday.

Bicycle clubs have recently been organized at Santa Rosa, Petaluma and Healdsburg. They should all join the new association.

Stoddard and Melrose of the Bay City Wheelmen have lowered the time from Fruitvale to San Jose to 2:34.

The Riverside Wheelmen will hold practice races every Saturday until September 9, the day of the big meet. A good idea. The following records were made on their track a few days ago: Quarter mile - Tie between W. Ruby and W. K. Cowan: time. :41 3-8. Half-mile - Won by W. Ruby; time, 1:25. Fifty yards, slow race - Won by F. Hawes; time, 1:15. One mile - Won by W. K. Cowan; time, 2:56 2-5. C. Fox rode a couple of exhibition quarters in 36 seconds and 36 3-5 seconds respectively.

Joseph J. Bliss, chief clerk of the Quartermaster's Department, United States army, who started for Los Angeles on his wheel on August 13, has been heard from at Templeton, which place he reached on August 16 at 5:30 P. M., finding that the thermometer had reached 111 in the shade during the day. He has kept a careful record of his progress, with valuable notes, which will be given when the story of his long journey is complete.

Fred White now occupies the lower floor of the opera-house block in Alameda. As one of the founders of the strongest club in the State he has achieved an enviable reputation.

Tom Roe of Chicago.

Tom Roe of Chicago, whose portrait is given above, is now in Southern California. He has made many friends on the coast, for his reputation as a good wheelman and jolly fellow bad preceded him.

The board of governors of the California Association of Cycling Clubs should not fail to have a large attendance at the meeting on Saturday night. There is important business to be transacted. The outlook for the association is very bright, and with the combined clubs working in harmony it will be of great benefit to the wheelmen of California.

At the park cyclery several gentlemen over 60 years of age have recently learned to ride. Hopkins says that some of the old boys are the most frisky.

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Taylor Breaks Another Record.

BUFFALO, N. Y., Aug 21. - At the Buffalo Exposition yesterday G. F. Taylor of the Manhattan Athletic Club rode a mile in 2:21 3-5, breaking the world's competition record.