The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-05-09
BICYCLING.
History OF the Sport Here
and IN Europe.
AMERICAN AND ENGLISH CHAMPIONS
The Coming Contest at the Rink-Stanton
and Buffers Practice.

most prominent men In that country, where tho ma
chimes used considered great mechanical aids
peoples locomotion. Aside from this consideration
business utlity--the bicycle has grown to occupy
prominent place the turf since D. Stanton has taken
to measuring speed with horses many Of which he has
beaten in long runs say Of from six to ten miles EACH
Besides min, however other great bicycle riders in
Europe, such as Keen, Markham Moore, ThdilIct and
others, who are all good men, able do ity miles in
good time They have, however, succumbed TO stan
ton from time to time IN contests which attracted
nearly as much attention In England at the time of
their occurrence .1he Derby" For some years
back this interest in tho peculiar sport has been
gaming ground Ia Fri gland and in Franco. In the
former II has become established among the
betting men OF tho best risks Tor their
money; IN tho latter polite society has long
since taken It up pastimc and In Paris there are
bicycle clubs, tue members of which mako long jour-
neys OF pleasure from end Of the country to the
other on their machines in fine weather, often riding
from eighty TO hun inbred miles a day The custom
is TO travel along the highways from town to village
and from village to town. pausing lunch, sup and
sleep wherever tho hours for these refreshments find
them Bicycling has therefore become u sort Of line
art In these countries and It is astonishing what speed
can be attained by experts. For example, time
Stanton accomplished tho extraordinary feat ef riding
bicycle ESQ miles consecutive days, and
at another time he rode log miles in 7h 5Sm and
4hs Hts fcats and those other we'll known riders
IN the Old World have become old stories, but now
there is new interest awakening among Americans in
this amusement which bids fair TO command largo
share OF popularity Years ago NIL our young people
anxious to become expert velocipedi but the
vehicles clumsy and tho thoroughiares not
adapted to them that the keen desire this species
OF iocomotion died revived by the introduc.
O inn ovcd Eupt ish md Erau ch
bicycles and the achievements transatlantic cham
pions. Our own riders, Messenger, Mcclellan and
Harding have acquired distinction by their efforts TO
arouse enthusiasm in bicycling; but their achieve
mcns have not been OF character TO kinde any very
great flame in the popular heart. They have however,
laid tho foundation for good excitement which II is
beloved will blaze forth almost Immediately.
THE FIprY-MILE RACE.
Just now, Of course, the coming contest at tho Rink
next Wednesday night between Mcssrs. d. Stanton tho
famous bicycle rider OF Great Britain and Mr. William
Butler the champion Of Kentucky engrosscs the alton
ton Of lovers OF athletic sports. The latter gentleman
IL not professional rider, but Is nevertheless ono OF
the most expert vclocpcusis in tho country. Ho is
very young and we'll known best social cir
clcs He was member OF the Bicycle Club in Paris.
and rode from that city to Brcsl his avorc vehicle
He has made journey Of l32 miles in Franco between
sunrise and sunset and took silver medal In race
with the champion OF that country Tor expert riding
He is tall and slim, not weighing than $50 10
and is In very good condition Yesterday as
former occasions, both the men took a training
ride at the Rink on Third avenue. A HERALD reporter
who happened IN there about three o'clock, found Mr.
Stanton making preparations Tor what he called
short hours spin on HIS machine.n Ho rs about 1--WE
feet eleven inches high and weighs about pounds
He Is IL excellent condition. ana looks as iron
Ho was chaIkng out rack, the entire circuit OF tho
Rink, with the aid Of line ana whiting. This some
what tedious operation occupied his attention Tor
more than an hour, because II necessary
that the obl0ng should be perfect us posi-
bio, and as nearly the size OF the course 10
be travelled Oh Wednesday night as il
could be made Tho reporter addressed Mr. stanton
asked hun what he about to do On replied
Mr. stanton " am Just going to take spin on my
machine for practice. You see have not been able
ride for the last few DAYS. owing tho circus that
here last week, and feel little Of condition
his practice in this kind OF thing the eve race
Tor he needs all his skill TO successfully 70 lengthy
a course as that we are about to travel Fifty miles
will try mans powers I"
What do you think Of bicycling in this country"
said the reporter.
..wcll / hardly know what to think Of H." re-
Piled he, "becanse have not seen much oi your
country Abont New York, II seems to there Is not
that keen interest felt in IL that might be expected 10
exist In such large sporting centre Perhaps this is
because your streets and roads sadly against bicycle
riding. They are rough stony and thronged all tho
time ny cars and vehicles. II you had track prac-
tice ground IN ono Of the parks perhaps gentlemen
would take pleasure In the exercise sports matches
and displays might bc more frequent. You SEQ
how popular bicycling Is 10 England when tell you that
the shops ia Woverhumpt0n all closed on the dav
oil Inst that ncighbOril0od. Tho
such an interest IN the contest that they Hooked by
thousands to witness Bicycling has become pcrma-
nenlly established IN the Old Country. and commands
as much attention there nowadays most OF the
horse races You, doubt have heard the effort to
tram postmen 10 ride bicycles that they may use
them ON their routes In some places | have been
gwen understand that effort has proved success
full and II Is hoped that ~ will be generally adopted.
TINS Is feasible in England especially In the ncghbor-
hood oil the metropolis wncre the roads nacalan-
ized and hard, aordng tho very imaginable
for this kind travel IL Is said that the government
going W experiment with these vehicles The army.
In my judgment, infantry soldier with all his
coutremcnts, could mako journey OF fny sixty
miles aay quite lastly Therefore you SEQ wha. an
when forced marches nci essary aud railways
torn up In these days The roads OF France Germany,
Austria ana other countries are very good ones, Us
know BY having travelled on my bicycle over many OF
them"
1.-THE PRACTICE spixn
Having completed his courfa to his ction.
Mr. stanton called his attendant and ordered
him 10 bring his riding costume, which consisted
OF pair OF short buckskin breaches and light Jersey
snlrt He then rctrcd 10 his dressing room. and n
few minutes afterward appeared with what he styled
MS small machine. ~ had large wheel fifty .lour
inches in diameter, with small bchi md TO steady IT,
and he whole affair built In England by Keen As
the Rink flooring OF pine boards had been waxed by
somebody who = short time since hired II for a hail
room, very slippery and dangerous TO ride over
Therefore Mr.. Stanton had tho machine wheel shod
with rubber, which he fastened on 10 the tires
with spun yarn to prevent its yielding being twisted
on About ten minutes TO four Mr.. stanton lcapcd
INTO the saddle and went away at a rapid gait Iio
gradually Increased his speed lap after Ian until about
sixteenth seventeenth when the rubber tire Of
the larger wheel slid OF and the machine swervcd sud-
denly. Before any one well knew what had happened
Mr. stanton was thrown several feet from tho bicycle
and rolled over and over on tho floor The workmcn
and spectators rushed 6his side once, tho belief
that he had been seriously hurt; the hardy follow
was on his feet In an instant dusty and bleeding but
rs cooi as a cucumber. lie had really sustained
severe shock. for he going the Of fifteen or
sixteen miles hour when he fell moreover the fail
broke the handle OF the vehicle The rider brought t
70 the side Of the Rink and repaired damages
WORK.
While be was thus engaged Mr.. Butler came In and
aid:-"Stanton that heavy fall Are you hurtg y,
mot much SAID the other, whose arm was bleeding
copcusiy from deep cash tho elbow. '.Ths
rubber played mo false. have MOI had such q mslap
for long, long time. IL shakes Fellow" ~ aon't
think that rubber tire Is SALE said Mr. Butler "you
had better take my advcc--get another You may in
jure yourself seriously through using it, Mr.. stanton
thanked his rival heartily Tor ms suggestion aud
continued repairing damages using before
spun yarn and waxcnds. Amer the lapse OF fifteen
or twenty minutes no was ready again as