The Wheel. - San Francisco Chronicle, 02 May 1887
See also WHEELING SOUTH. - Oakland Tribune. 07 May 1887.
The Wheel.
[Official Organ L. A. W.]
CHIEF consul, Robert M. Welch; representatives, John W. Gibson, J. D. Arkison, R. C. Woodworth, C. C. Moore; secretary and treasurer, N. A. Robinson.
Chief Consul Welch arrived at Los Angeles last Monday evening at 8 P. M. and left for San Francisco Saturday, getting in last evening. His total mileage was as follows: Saturday, to San Jose, 40.25: Sunday, to Gonzales, 73.25: Monday, to Jolon, 46.75; Tuesday, to El Paso Robles; Wednesday, to Arroyo Grande, 43.05; Thursday, to Los Alamos, 50.60; Friday, wheeled 40.80 and stopped at a mountain house in Santa Barbara mountains: Saturday, to Carpenteria, 28.30; Sunday, to Cameria [Camarillo?] ranch, 30; Monday, to Los Angeles, 60.50; total, 465.10 miles from Oakland to Los Angeles. Mr. Welch is considerably tanned from his trip, the latter part of which was rather hard, being mostly mountain-climbing, and where the country was level it was of sandy nature. He reports having met some very congenial wheelmen in Santa Barbara, who were much interested in his attempt. He lost his way twice, which practically put him back a day, but the scenery was grand enough to amply repay the loss of time.
On the plains near Los Angeles vast bands of horses would follow him and Mr. Welch had to several times charge at them with the bicycle's little wheel in the air. This he found a very effectual way of keeping them at a distance. This was the first time this trip has been made and possibly some of the other wheelmen of a touring disposition may be induced to undertake it as its practicability has now been established.
The Bay Citys now number over sixty active riders, which is a larger average than Eastern clubs.
The Pacific Wheelman has now passed into the hands of Crandall & Co., who propose to issue it every Tuesday and distribute it free to all wheelmen on the coast.
The Bay Citys are to have a home trainer in their gymnasium. Their rooms on Van Ness avenue are looking very fine. The bay City boys evidently have an eye to beauty as well as to hard work.
A match between three bicyclists and a Russian trotter took place April 12th in Vienna. The prize was 2000 francs and the distance 10,000 meters, being forty times around the course. Three bicyclists took part in it, a Mr. Duncan from London, M. Jules Dubois from Paris, and M. Paul Medinger from Bordeaux. The Russian trotter, a bandsome grey, belonged to Herr Stefan Tupan of Vienna. After a second round the bicyclists took the lead, and finally, after a nineteen minutes' race, the horse was easily beaten, the result being a dead heat between the two Frenchmen. The second race, in which the three previous competitors ran again, was won by Mr. Duncan, who cleared a distance of 1000 meters in 1 minute 52 seconds.
Professor Erni, the champion one-legged bicyclist, who is now exhibiting in Wisconsin, will start from Boston, Mass, about June 1st, to travel by bicycle to San Francisco.
The chief consul returned to the city yesterday afternoon from Los Angeles. He has made a careful record of the through route from this city, selecting the best roads and accurately measuring the distance between points with his cyclometer. The table of distances, with other road information, will be published in an early issue of Bookmaster Gibson's road-book. Pending this publication intending tourists can obtain any desired information concerning the route from the chief consul or Mr. Gibson.
The chief consul reports having enjoyed the trip immensely and says he met with only the most uniform courtesy and kindness on the road. At Los Angeles he was given a reception that Stevens might have envied and everything possible done to render his visit enjoyable. Friday last was announced as "Wheelmen's Holiday." The members of the Los Angeles Wheelmen, under the command of Captain Percival, escorted him to Santa Monica, where the day was spent. In the evening an elegant banquet was given him, of which speeches were made and the greatest enthusiasm prevailed.
The Los Angeles Wheelmen are a very active and prosperous club and have felt the effect of the southern boom. It numbers among its members some of the most prosperous and influential business men of the city. Wheeling is decidedly popular in the city of the Angels. Great interest is felt in the approaching league meet at Santa Cruz, and the southern wheelmen will be largely represented. R. C. Woodworth, the champion of Southern California, is already in training, and his friends expect him to carry everything before him.
A trip of this kind is of incalculable value in demonstrating the utility and possibilities of the wheel, and the chief consul feels that it has been of great benefit to the cause of the league in this state. He has met personally many wheelmen who were before only known to bim by correspondence, and has interested many who were not heretofore league members. He rode a Columbia light roadster weighing only thirty-five pounds. By many it was supposed too light a wheel for so hard a trip, but it came through without breakage of any part, and its light weight was a great advantage when it had to be pushed up mountains or carried across streams.
