R. L. Long
Robert Lee Long 4 May 1873 – 21 June 1947
Clubs
ROBERT L. LONG, HOLDER OF THE COAST RECORD FOR ONE-THIRD AND TWO-THIRDS OF A MILE.Robert L. Long, although only in the cycling circles two short years, has covered himself with much glory aad broken a few Coast records, besides a world's record. He was first brought conspicuously before the public on August 26, 1893, when, in the races of the now extinct Alameda Bicycle Club, he won his novice race handily. This was only his third trial. In his first and second trials he was unfortunate, receiving severe falls each time. Even on the day of his winning the novice, in the next race, he was overturned and so badly bruised as to be unable to do any other racing that day. At San Jose November 27, 1893, he succeeded in winning second and third in scratch events against such men as Edwards, Wells, Davis and the rest of the local cracks. He did not again make his appearance until T. H. B. Varney, who was looking for good material, stumbled across him, and arrangements were soon made whereby he became one of Varney's celebrated team. On May 29, 1894 on the track of the Oak Leaf wheelmen at Stockton, Long distinguished himself by [[breaking the then-existing world's record for one-eighth of a mile. His time was 0:16 2-5. When one remembers that this speedy performance was made on a flat track, with no steep banks, the performance is all the more remarkable. The Olympic Club Wheelmen, of which club he is a member, appreciating his efforts in landing a world's record, presented him with a handsome diamond fob, bearing the time and the club's emblem.
On the Fourth of July, in the Acme Club's races at Alameda, and on the same track on which he won his novice, he succeeded in riding a dead heat with Wells in the half-mile, afterwards beating Wells, and in the finals winning second place and a gold watch fob as the prize.
At the Garden Citys' track meet at San Jose on July 27th he also won third prize in the one-and-a-half mile against Zeigler, Foster and Wells. His riding time is comparatively short, yet he has been unfortunate in almost every race he has ridden, having received no less than seven falls, and some of them he still remembers by the numerous scars on his body.
On the fourth relay from San Mateo to Mountain View in the recent 100-mile relay race he rode seven miles on his saddle-post, his saddle breaking when only three miles out. His riding weight when in condition is 168 pounds, and he is only 20 years old. He holds the Coast record for one-third of a mile at 0:43 4-5 and the two-thirds of a mile at 1:28 4-5. Long is entered at the San Jose meet to represent the Olympics in the one-half and one mile handicap Class B races.
