O. L. Pickard
Orson Leander Pickard 7 October 1866 – 30 January 1913
https://fastestslowguy.blogspot.com/search?q=pickard
Clubs
At the annual election of officers of the Acme Athletic Club's Wheelmen the following were elected for the ensuing year: J. J. Hanifin Jr., captain ; L. A. Lamory, first lieutenant; E. S. Dowdle, second lieutenant; O. L. Pickard, bugler; Charles Lutkey, secretary. The initial run of the club under the new management was held last Sunday to the Cliff House. There were 28 members in line, and on returning to Oakland they adjourned to a restaurant, where a fine dinner was served. The line was then re-formed and the run continued to San Leandro. The newly elected captain is one of the old-time members, and is very popular with the boys. He will no doubt prove a very efficient officer, and is ably seconded by his lieutenants.
The directors of the club feel proud of the record made by O. L. Pickard, a prominent Acme man, who takes a great interest in wheeling. Wednesday morning Pickard left San Francisco on a nineteen-pound wheel and made the trip around the bay. He tied the American record of 100 miles, making this distance from San Francisco to Oakland via San Jose in the remarkable time of 6h. 37m. 30s, During the trip he only dismounted twice, once at San Jose and again at Centerville. He rode from San Francisco to San Jose in 3h.14m. In order to be sure that he would cover the distance of 100 miles he rode through Alameda. The record is not an official one in any way, but it has been accepted as a club record and has been posted at the Acme Club.
THE OAKLAND CLUBS. - San Francisco Chronicle 05 May 1894, Sat Page 10
Broke a Record.
O. L. Pickard of the Acme club broke the bicycle record for the forty-three miles between this city and San Jose by covering the distance yesterday in 2 hours 13 minutes. The previous record was 2 hours 48 minutes and was held by Bedbury, also of the Acme club.
The San Francisco Call (San Francisco, California)11 Jun 1894
The Knave's recent article "Recalls Cycling Days," caused James M. Shanly of Auburn to dig into old possessions to uncover a picture of the times when the cycles had high wheels in front and the cyclists made imposing pictures in group formation and on cross-country runs. "On a typical run," says Shanly, one could see Lou Lamory on his big '56', bucking the Alvarado afternoon wind with Everett Dowdle, an athlete of marked ability, on his '42' riding on the lee side, both riding under the Acme Athletic Club's colors . . . a red-winged acorn on a black background . . . now used by the Athens Club, the dies for which were presented when that club came into being. On a recent Sunday those remaining of the Acme celebrated its 64th anniversary at which time the champions of their day reveled in stories of racing on ordinaries (high wheels), 'safeties', boxing, wrestling, fencing, rowing, swimming, gym work, track racing, field activities, handball and the 'parlor athletes' will have their inning. An 'ordinary' race, track or road, was always both fascinating to witness and a hard grind to the participants. The clubs participating usually being: The Bay Cities, Garden Cities, San Jose Road Club, Alameda Cyclers, Olympic Club Wheelmen, Sacramento Cycles, Reliance Club and the hard-riding Acmes. O. L. Pickard, Acme, was the first to ride the 100 miles from San Francisco to Oakland via San Jose. His record held for years. At about the height of 'ordinary' racing Bert Lund, unattached, entered the races held at the Oakland Trotting Park for benefit of building fund for the Fabiola Hospital. He had a cushioned-tired wheel and, in memory, some of those alive can hear the 'heluva protest' that went up. But it was a wheel to the judges and that was that.
1946 Acme Club reunion, great history, Oakland Tribune, 16 Jun 1946
