Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-05-14
THE RICYLE ROOM.
immense Progress Of the League of
American Wheelmen.

immense Progress of the League of
American Wheelmen.
AN INSTITUTION THAT IS TO BECOME NATIONAL
AND IMPORTANT.
1t Is a fact that bicycling took root SLOWLY In
THIS country. Doubtless It's growth was at
nrst retarded by the widespread impression
MAT gained ground that sklll 10 the use OF
the wheeled horse could never become heredl-
tary. a belief that was encouraged by family
physicians. IT is an equally sure thing-per-
maps because icycling has become useful as
well as sporting institution. and because the
prejudice alluded TO has largely disappeared
that the art OF riding the two-wheeled horse Is
friends say that unlike base ball, roller skat-
Ing, or other mere sports. 1t has cone
% porta aes a ana gr1T Into natonsI Inv
the fact that the League OF American
Wheelmen." which is to have s'meetn and
convention at Boston en- the 30th Of this month.
were CHered the exclusive use for a day OF
Paramount and Central Parks by the park com.
respeetively After the delays; embarrass
any new organization, the League 10 now. Ave
months from the date OF It's formation fairly
on It's 1eet, with over eight hundred members
widely scattered over the country, from the At
lantic to the Pacific, from Canada to Tennessee
and the Carolinas, and many distinguished
bicyclers In England and Scotland are members
OF the American League, 1t now has code OF
"
usefulness COnsus are rapidly being ap-
pointed by the directors, and by early spring
the member OF the League who, for business
or pe;S1Ssure, VISITS almost any CITY In the com
ready to take him by the hand az brotnar
wheelman to guide his course or give aim any
desired Information.
The Cincinnati Bicycle Club is yet in is In
fancy, but has some fine riders, aud m,le
practice facilities at Its club rooms, the north
wing OF Exposition Hall. It ts Differed as
follows. President IO7pnh T..
taTy, a G. Wiltshire; captain, VIM. Reed. The
club has made several successful tours to Ham
1lton, Hartwell. and other neighooring towns,
and Is hopeful OF achieving a great success.
Cincinnati takes hold of such things slowly.
and Indeed, the roads hereabouts are not so
favorable as In the East but nevertheless the
felt In the League. Through the active acting
secretary, H. s. Livingston, the club has beea
Invited to participate IN the Fourth OF July
celebration at Chattanooga, and is considering
Its acceptance.
Bicycling Ia this country has already a
weekly journal OF considerable ability devoted
to its interests, which does not hesitate to
claim future usefulness for the 'wheel," not
only In mail carrying and mercantile travelling,
as already proved In Europe, but even in war
fare. But its main argument seem to be
pleasurable, innocent outdoor exercise. There
Is an immense bicycle factory at Hartford
G Come The Eastern roads are ful OF
r1de1S, and 1.-THE Wheef Is undoubtedly destined
to become as familiar here.
The London Times, Of a late date. says:-''A
curious question is coming on. Jis not SUBJ
stantially new one, for Il Is as old as all In
yention and all novelty. The bicycle has come
to the front, and Is fighting for existence
Dlmly prehgureG In the mythical Centaur and
then In the HOBBY horse OF medieval games, at
tempted In the Velocipede now halt q century
ago; and long prejudiced by the evident suoe-
T1ority Of wings to wheels, the bicycle has now
surmounted the difficulties OF construction, aud
adapted itself to human Capabilities it aug
mentS at least threefoid the locomotive power
OF an ordinary man. A bicycllst can perform a
Journey OF one hundred miles IN one day with
less fatigue than he could walk thirty; fifty
1niles-that is. from London to Brighton-as
easily as he could walk ten; and daily Journey
to ard fro between London and the distant
suburbs with just the usual results OF mod
crate exercise. Not only is the gain 10 tne
btcyclist himself unquestioued but II IS even
feared that all mankind will sooG appear on two
wheels; and If they do, OF course Womankini
viii follow. Scarcely an objection is heard from
the rlder's point OF vieW-that Is II rider he can
be called who is himself his own steed. Slxt5
years ago, On the appearance OF the vetocipede,
there was talk OF internal complaints, strains
and heart affections; but there is none now.
Bicy clists are become power. They run races
with many starters. on our less frequented
roads, and assemble occasionally In imposing
numbers and military array at Hampton CourS
and other quiet localities. procession OF a
thousand bicyclist5 Is something for the imagi-
nation TO fssten upon. why, indeed, should We
not nave bicycle regiments to steal silently AMI
rapidly on an unsuspectihg foe ten or twenty
miles eff? To the ignorant beholders it some.
times looks "a IL the addition OF physical power
was dearly purchased at the cost OF Overstraned
effort and the two continuous attention reouts-
lite. B1cycl1sts are aware they run dangers and
suner per centage of casualties but they have
counted the cost and found 1t WORTH While run-
ming the risk"
Without going into the details OF any OF the
voluminous arguments for the bicycle. those
VINO are peculiarly interested ia speed may like
to know that the fastest bicycle rate ever re.
corded was In Boston In May last, quarter
lille IN 3Ss seconds, Or at the rate of 2Sh miles
an hour; the best mile has been done 10 2 min.
uteS 43 seconds, which Is at the rate of ABOUT
one mile an hour less than this. Three miles
nave Deen done In minutes X seconds; ive
miles in 15 minutes 13 3-5 seconds; ten, In 32
minutes % seconds; twenty, hour minutes
seconds. The bicycle has run % niles against
Wo trotters, relieving each other, and has won:
he short distance English champion, but
lenge (unaccepted) TO run twenty miles against
any horse, or single mile, provided that he
should select the course In the latter case. and
should have ODDS In his favor, Which might be
set against the difference recorded In favor OF
the best mile trot. So much for speed, but Ii Is
not to be assumed that the bicycle has doae its
pest, or that it may not yet beat the champion
horse On a single mile, On his own track
AS 10 distances accomplished, the following
are instances out Of many:-I00 miles in IL
hours; 100 miles In ca hours, without stop;
200 miles In Is hours 40 seconds; 404 miles Ia
days. These are performances In halls. on
I he road are the following:-12 miles In 1917
mouse; 100 miles In II hours cumming time {
hours ~ rO1nuteS); PIP miles In "a hours; ~
miles In hours SO minutes, without stop: 90
miles In l hour &c minutes; 14O miles Ia 49,
hours, OF Which stoppages took hours; 800
miles In days; no, IA and los miles In 8 con
secut1ve days: 100 miles In 10 hours.-Cin, En-.
quueT.