The Wheelmen. - The San Francisco Call, 20 Jul 1895
THE WHEELMEN.
Many Runs and Road Races Scheduled for To-Morrow.
CLUB EVENTS TO-MORROW.
California Cycling Club - Blind run around the City.
Eintracht Cyclers - Road Race at San Mateo.
Golden City Wheelmen - Run to Palo Alto.
Golden Gate Cycling Club - Run to Haywards.
Liberty Cycling Club - Run to Crystal Springs.
Outing Road Club - Run to San Mateo.
Pacific Cycling Club - Run to Woodside.
Reliance Club Wheelmen - Races at Oakland Trotting Park.
Royal Cycling Club - Road race at San Mateo.
San Francisco Road Club - Road race at San Mateo.
There are four road races and a number of club runs on the cards for to-morrow, so that the wheelmen will be on the move all day. The racers always chose the straightaway stretch of road from San Mateo to San Carlos when competing in five-mile races, and there will be four run off there to-morrow, by the Eintracht Cyclers, the Royal Cycling Club, the San Francisco Road Club, and the last by the employes of various establishments at Butchertown who have the cycling fever.
With the departure of Charles S. Wells for the East, where he will compete on a National circuit with the crackerjacks, the coast loses for the time being one of the fastest class B men we have ever had here. Since Bald, Ziegler and the other flyers went East about the 1st of May, Wells has had things his own way, there being no one here who could give him half a race. He lowered the colors of the much-talked-about Allan Jones with ease, and even Walter Foster was afraid to race against him, Wells had developed such marvelous speed. He has many friends on the coast, who all wish him the greatest success on his Eastern trip.
In an evasively worded article the Pacific Cyclist attempts to answer THE CALL'S statement that Allan Jones and Clarence Davis did not join the Olympic Club Wheelmen of their own volition. It claims to produce sworn statements of these men that "not a single member of the Olympic Club has ever approached them in regard to joining that organization. But on reading the "statements" (of which there is only one, by the way), I fail to find the sentence quoted, and still stand by my previous assertions. Robbed of its ungrammatical verbiage, there is nothing whatever in the Cyclist's article, and space is too valuable in this paper to waste it answering such trash. C. S. Wells, H. F. Terrill and W. A. Terrill are still ready, if called upon, to swear that they were approached by members of the Olympic Club Wheelmen and urged to desert their own club. Frank M. Byrne of the Imperials, Floyd McFarland of the San Jose Road Club and S. B. Vincent of the Bay City Wheelmen were also solicited to wear the "flying O." Foster, Ziegler, Jones and Davis fell prey to the importunities of the Olympics, but the others named had more loyalty for their clubs and would not desert the colors they were proud of.
A prominent wheelman of this City puts it thusly: "Supposing the Olympics do secure all the best racing talent it will kill the sport on this coast. But with the different clubs each having fast men whom they work hard over and cheer on to the victory there is still some excitement and rivalry left. Of course we know the Olympics have never developed any racing men of their own, but is that any excuse for them to try and get them away from other clubs? Why, only last Sunday Captain Thornton called a run to Mill Valley - a nice, short, easy jaunt with the prospect of an excellent lunch at the end. Out of a membership of over 250 but seven or eight attended. On the run to Santa Cruz, June 14, there were but three members with the captain going over on the boat. The question is, Where were all the others?"
With the many advantages offered the Olympic Club Wheelmen should be the leading cycling club on the coast.
President Charles Albert Adams, Captain J. J. B. Argenti, Byron D. Bent and H. C. Owens, of the Camera Club Cyclists, have returned from their tour through Lake County. These gentlemen made the trip not only with a desire for the present enjoyment, but with a view of ultimately presenting a narrative of the trip to the members of the California Camera Club in the form of an illustrated lecture, and the notes made by them are so copious that not only will they prove of interest to the members of the club when elaborated and illustrated with the many views secured, but are of especial value to wheelmen who may contemplate a two weeks' tour on the wheel.
In addition to the usual baggage carried by wheelmen upon such a tour, each member of the party carried in knapsack fashion strapped over the shoulders a compact camera. As they are experts in its use, it is needless to say that the many views they secured are perfect and will prove of great interest when the illustrated lecture is delivered before the Camera Club.
The total time consumed in making the trip was fourteen days and the total expense to each member of the party (including railway fares) was $25 40.
President Adams read an exceedingly interesting paper before the Camera Club Cyclists last Thursday evening, entitled "The Bicycle and the Law." The rights of wheelmen were thoroughly discussed and the listeners were advised of many points regarding the law of the road with which they were not familiar. At the conclusion of the reading Mr. Adams was loudly applauded.
The following, just received, explains itself:
H. W. Spalding, the Cycling Editor of the Call -
DEAR SIR: On leaving the ferry July 3, we were approached by a member of the Imperial Cycling Club and informed that we were misappropriating colors belonging to them, viz: Royal purple sweater and royal purple racing suit with gold triangle.We beg to state that these have been our colors for the past three years, before the Imperial Cycling Club was thought of being organized, and were worn by Charles F. Lemmon and C. C. Gilbert, our crack class A racing men at that time. These are our representative colors and are known up and down the Pacific Coast as such, have been on a score of racetracks and will be, for years to come, the insignia by which the racing of the Oakland Young Men's Christian Association Cycling Club will be known. These colors will be worn by our ten racing men who will appear at the Garden City Cyclers' meet at San Jose on September 9.
Trusting that this will satisfy our Imperial friends and others of the cycling world I remain, sincerely yours,
Secretary Oakland Y. M. C. A. C. C.
The association will hold a series of three five-mile road races on August 2, 16 and 30. Also a half-mile handicap and quarter-mile dash at Oakland Trotting Park Friday evening, July 26. A racing team of ten men has been organized under the management of Frederick Brock and E. C. Brown. B. H. Elford, formerly of the Acmes, has joined the Association Cyclers.
The racing board has issued its bulletin, No. 19, dated July 18, 1895, as follows:
Sanction granted, Imperial Cycling Club, San Francisco, October 7.
For competing in an unsanctioned race at Sacramento, July 7, after being warned, Jacob Hirsch, J. Tremoureux, William Budle, W. A. Hubert, J. Franconetti, B. J. Millney, M. L. Perkins and -- Elkus, all of Sacramento, are suspended until January 1, 1896.
Riders who attempt to compete while under suspension are subject to further suspension. Riders who knowingly compete with suspended men, and race promoters who permit such men to compete, are punished respectively by suspension and withdrawal of sanction privileges.
Representative National Racing Board.
The Liberty Cycling Club is about to form a ladies' annex. The club will have a theater party to the Tivoli next Monday evening, and a hop at the clubrooms July 25. C. Meyer, O. St. Denis, C. Armbruster, N. A. Robinson and W. E. Bouton have charge of the latter function. The club will hold a run to Crystal Springs tomorrow, which is a very pretty ride.
There was no intention on the part of the Elite Cyclers of San Jose to copy the emblem of the Bay City Wheelmen, a maltese cross. The Elite Cyclers belong to the Epworth League, and as the maltese cross is the insignia of the league, they adopted it, putting the letters "E. C.” on the cross. It is also of somewhat different shape from the B. C. W. cross.
The Elite Cyclers are progressing finely. They now have a membership of forty-six, ladies and gentlemen. The officers are: A. L. Brower, president; Frankie Rider, vice-president; Lillie Koerber, secretary; A. E. Barr, treasurer; A. G. Bennett Jr., captain; Asher Naramore, first lieutenant; William Tiffany, second lieutenant; Carrie Brower, bugler. The club colors are pale blue and old rose. The club has some fast road riders among its members. In the thirty-mile race with the Association Cyclers recently Captain Bennett rode five miles unpaced in 13:08 4-5.
The Outing Road Club has a run called for to-morrow to San Mateo and San Carlos to witness the five-mile scratch road race of the San Francisco Road Club. A number of other clubs will also ride down and there will be a swarm of unattached riders.
The Golden Gate Cycling Club are now occupying their new quarters in Mission Parlor Hall. After the first meeting the other evening, an impromptu housewarming was enjoyed. Refreshments were given, and music, vocal and instrumental, served to make the evening pass pleasantly. To-morrow the club has a run to Haywards, leaving on the 8 A. M. boat.
The San Francisco Road Club will hold a five-mile scratch road race to-morrow over the San Carlos course at 2 P. M. The entries were published in last Saturday's CALL, Captain L. L. Korn has called a run to witness the event; members are to assemble at the clubrooms at 8 A. M. There will be seven prizes given in all, and a hotly contested race is assured.
Misses Rose and Frances Zeile and Jeanette Clabrough, accompanied by George Zeile and George Edelman of the Golden City Wheelmen, made a very fast ride to Berkeley last Friday evening. The young ladies are very fine riders. (And so are the young men, for that matter.)
Captain George H. Strong of the Reliance Club Wheelmen and daughter have returned from their wheeling trip through Lake County. They started about the first of July, which accounts for Captain Strong's absence from the league meet at San Jose on the Fourth. As it was the first one he had ever missed, much anxiety was expressed at the time lest he be ill, particularly by the members of the "Ladies' Cycling Club", with whom "Pop" Strong is very popular.
This afternoon at 3 o'clock the races of the San Francisco Young Men's Christian Association Cycling Club will be run at the Central Park track. The entries and handicaps were published exclusively in yesterday's CALL.
George A. Nissen, whose picture is presented this week, is a class B racer of considerable note on this coast and a member of the Acme Club Wheelmen of Oakland. He is a team mate of W. A. Burke and Casey M. Castleman on the popular March team. Nissen has won many hotly contested finishes at various times in the past two years, and is ranked very high as a rider both on the track and road.
The Reliance Club Wheelmen will hold a series of club races at the Oakland Trotting Park track to-morrow morning at 11 o'clock for the purpose of developing new racing material.
Next to the league meet on the Fourth, the principal event in July will be the ten-mile handicap road race of the Acme Club Wheelmen over the Fruitvale-Haywards course, Sunday, July 28. It has been some time now since a road race was held over this straightaway stretch. The riders decided the course from San Mateo to San Carlos was a good five-mile ride, so they took to that distance for road racing. But the Acmes are believers in long-distance races as the true test of a man's ability as road rider, and next Sunday's race is but one of many of these events which the popular Oakland club holds from time to time during the year.
In the coming race Burke, Nissen and Castleman, the March team, all Acme men, will start from scratch. This of itself looks bad for the ten-mile record if the roads are good. Then there will be Kitchen, Vancourt, Schleuter, Neece, Mott, Hardie and a score of other fast men with small time limits, who will make the pace hot for the scratch men. Altogether it promises to be one of the most exciting road races of the year, and the various clubs will all call runs to witness it.
The Royal Cycling Club will hold a five-mile handicap road race from San Mateo to San Carlos to-morrow at 2 P. M. The entrants and handicaps are as follows: Joseph Lubin, 2 min.; Manuel Lafee, 2 min.; Alfred Meyer, 2 min.; George Rosenberg, 2 min.; Alva Posner, 1-3/4 min.; M. Harrison, 1-1/2 min.; Jules Getz, 1-1/2 min.; Julius Posner, 1 min.; R. Fogel, 1 min.; J. S. Klein, 1 min.; A. W. Frost, 30 sec.; M. Friedman, 30 sec.; I. Silverstein, 30 sec.; H. Sternberg, scratch. There are a dozen prizes offered for time and place and the race will be close at the finish. Sternberg looks to be the most likely candidate for time prize, although some of the others may make him work hard for it.
The San Francisco Bicycle Track Association met last Thursday evening at the Olympic Club. Officers for the ensuing term were elected as follows: Judge F. H. Kerrigan, president; E. C. Douglass, vice-president, Joseph Sims, secretary; J. W. Mullen, treasurer. Some routine business was transacted, and the proposition of holding a race meet was discussed. The association will meet again on August 9, at the Young Men's Christian Association.
The California Cycling Club will be led on a blind run round the City to-morrow by Captain Burk, leaving the clubhouse at 9 A. M. The proposed run to Napa is postponed.
The Golden City Wheelmen will have a run to-morrow to Palo Alto, where the members will be entertained by Mr. and Mrs. Howse. An enjoyable run is anticipated. Last Sunday two members of the club, D. Wessenberg and S. Domeniconi, made a century around the bay.
The Y. M. C. A. Cycling Club of this City will hold a five-mile road race in August. Many of the members are now away enjoying vacation, Samuel McKnight is at Vallejo, William Ede is touring the northern part of the State, J. A. Kuykendall is in Los Angeles, as is also A. P. Chipron, who thinks of locating there. Captain Joseph Sims is camping in Mill Valley. The association will send a team of three riders to Los Angeles to compete in the championship races at the State meet of the Y. M. C. A.
There is a proposition on foot to establish a sort of country cycling clubhouse somewhere in the vicinity of San Mateo, together with fine grounds and a fast three-lap cement track. The required capital has been secured, and if it is properly managed the scheme should prove very profitable and a great boom for cycling. The location talked of is this side of San Mateo, and the project will be backed with sufficient capital to insure everything being first class. The promoters are not yet ready to give full particulars, but they will appear through THE CALL'S columns shortly.
The Eintracht Cyclers have a five-mile road race scheduled for to-morrow over the San Mateo course shortly after 2 P. M.
The Pacific Cycling Club will hold a run to Woodside to-morrow, starting from Twenty-first and Valencia streets at 7 A. M.
How Bicycles Will Modify Fashions.
If the women who wheel did but know it they would undoubtedly be influenced by the fact, patent to all men, that all the compromise garments for bicycle wear are hideous, says the editor of the Philistine. There is no beauty in and of any of them. The more cut off they are the worse. There is only one element of grace about drapery, and that is in its flowing lines. The cut-off Russian blouses are no lovelier than a high hat or a hydrant cover. By and by, when Philistine good sense shall have won dominion over the ladies who bike, it will be discovered by them that there is no essential impurity in dress. The woman who does masculine things should wear masculine covering. Why not? Is it to be assumed that the peda! branches of the human form divine are by any natural law under the ban? Or is it custom that makes the difference? If so, it will be deemed indecent one of these days to drape the arms now hidden in balloons, in the tight sleeves of our elder sisters.
It may be guessed at a venture, there being no authority except that nebulous tyranny that controls all matters of feminine custom, that the difficulty would be met in some measure if the fair wheelers did not have to get off the machine in public view. Even a man is apt to be embarrassed when he walks the pavement with a clamp around his nether drapery, both looking and feeling as if he had been through burdocks and come away loaded. It is of easy recollection how one feels on the broad walk with clinging garments that were all right in the water a moment ago.
The ladies might be willing to wear knickerbockers - and they ought to be told that in nothing else would they look so well - if by some contrivance a fall of drapery sheltered the too-freely evidenced pedestals of beauty when off the wheel. What Felix will invent such a curtain and a way of keeping it out of the way when not wanted? Here is an opening for genius - and a beneficent one, for by such devices is civilization advanced.
On what ought to be very good authority I am told that if the women who wheel adopt knickerbockers there will be more care of the female infants of the next generation. Some of the ladies who most strongly object to the advanced and advancing style are said to have good reasons in the matter of physical conformation. I know parents who are very careful not to let their boy babies stand alone too early fearing bowlegs. Perhaps the parents of the future will be equally careful about girls, in view of the changing fashion in nether drapery.
