The Bicycle. - The San Francisco Examiner, 11 Apr 1887
The Bicycle.
The lovers of the wheel have increased largely during the past winter. The climate of California is particularly favorable for the sport. Now that the lovely spring days have come, the roads will be alive with wheelmen. Many bicyclists contemplate making extended tours of the State during the coming summer, and wheelers in the South, North and West will be given an opportunity to display their hospitality.
H. C. Finkler of the San Francisco club is visiting Los Angeles. He was entertained by the Los Angeles wheelmen last week, and reports cycling as having quite a boom in that part of the country.
Harrison Houseworth, captain of the San Francisco Bicycle Club, met with a rather painful accident last Sunday while on a club run to Haywards. While riding at a fast pace over the San Leandro bridge, he slipped a pedal and took a header, spraining his arm and scratching his face. He is getting along well and expects to be riding again soon.
Bert W. Moore of Stockton has been taking in the southern counties on his wheel, and has just returned home. During six days he traveled 300 miles. His right ankle was lamed during the trip, being very much swollen, so much so that he had to turn back at Templeton and take the train for here. He reports the road rough and a great many streams to cross. In many places he was obliged to wade, carrying his wheel on his back.
Frank Blinn of Oakland, after a two months stay in Nevada, has returned home. It is hoped that he will be seen on the road soon again.
Tandem-riding is getting quite popular on the other side of the bay.
R. M. Welch, B. H. Patrick and J. D. Ruggles Jr. start next Saturday for a tour of the southern counties. Messrs. Patrick and Ruggles will go as far as San Luis Obispo, and return by steamer. Mr. Welch will continue to Los Angeles. The late rain will put the roads in fine condition for touring.
Messrs. Letcher and Gibson of the San Francisco Club intend making a trip to the Oregon line early in May. From all accounts this is considered a very hard trip.
This evening the votes will be counted for the league division election, and the fight for Secretary-Treasurer will be over. By the way, it is whispered that Biederman has captured the Los Angeles vote solid.
A wheelman received a letter from Thomas Stevens during the week and the world-renowned cyclist sends greeting to all California wheelmen, and says as yet he has had no reception that equals the one given him by the California wheelmen.
The first volume of Thomas Stevens' book will appear in May. It will consist of the trip from Teheran to San Francisco, and be composed of 400 pages.
N. A. Givovich of the San Francisco Club sailed from New York April 2d for his home in Australia, where he intends staying two years.
Mr. Lamson, the manufacturer of the league pins, at last accounts, was receiving attentions from the Los Angeles wheelmen. Mr. Lamson is on a visit to the Coast to test our beautiful climate.
R. C. Woodworth of Los Angeles is training for the races of May 30th and the league races of July 4th. Elwell Larzelere and Woodworth would make a great five-mile race.
Consul Radke of Santa Cruz is in the city.
Some young roughs on the San Bruno road have been amusing themselves stoning riders as they returned from trips down the bay, until it became positively dangerous. As there is no police protection in that portion of the city, the riders have taken the law into their own hands and handled some of the offenders severely.
The century run of the Bay City Wheelmen has been postponed on account of the unsettled condition of the weather.
Bob Tittel has a record of 20 seconds for a quarter-mile on the home trainer.
Percy Macscorcher Haslett rides the lighest wheel on the Coast, a 34-pound semi-racer.
Barmeister, [Burmester?] the unattached heavy-weight, will accompany the Bay City Wheelmen on their century run
Captain Donnelly of San Mateo knows the weakness of the Bay City members for good milk. On Sunday last he provided the boys with a full supply after a hot run on the roads.
The sight of a lively youth racing in and out of Tyler street is explained by the fact that Browning is riding a geared up safety bicycle at present,
One of the local riders on being asked if he would train for the races in May. responded: “What is the use of my training when I know that such men as Davis, Larzelere, Elwell, Fahrbach and Beiderman will ride and take every first and second prize? I am eligible for a novice's race, but the committee has not given the novices a chance, as we cannot ride in the maiden race, although the two are almost identical. The handicap races were made to fit just such a case as mine, but the committees on this coast seem to use no judgment and would probably not give me a chance to win, so I do not see what inducement in the shape of a prize there is for me to train for."
