National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1881-03-07
OUR RWYCLISTS.
GLIDING OVEN SMOOTH ASPHALT.
The Capital City Wheelman's Paradise-The Sea.
Son Of 1881 Opened Something About Our
Clubs-The Coming Meet of the
American League.

Inc past winter, almost unprecedented
in its severity, has had its chilling effect upon
bicycling as well as all other out door sports.
Usually the enthusiastic wheelman cares not
whether the sky above is tinted with the Hinlnte-
bLaH e midsummer or the neutral tint denoting
the death Of the year. The clear bracing air of
midwinter only spurs the wheelman to quicker
life, and the quick beat of his pulse keeps time to
the rhythmic whirl of his wheel as he flies over our
concrete as swiftly and silently as hawk in mid
heaven. But the labor of forcing wheel through
four inches of snow makes toll of sport and the
riders have deserted the avenues, except n few
brave spirits, who defcd all weathers, and those
who use the wheel for business.
With the approach of spring and the disappear
ance of the snow from The pave forth come the
wheelmen, rejoicing i'll The prospect ola hong sea
son of sport and healthful exercise The miles of
smooth concrete make this city wheelmans para-
disc. For those who scorn the street, although it
affords miles of the finest riding in the world, and
long for pleasant country roads, where the way
side will soon be bright and pleasant with spring
flowers and the saft russell and green of bursting
buds and leaves, there are many rides i'll the en-
virons Of the city. The trIe wheelman does not
gauge his enjoyment by the number of miles his
cyclometer registers at the dismOunt, for such q
one can derive more genuine delight from mod
crate run of forty or fifty miles, by way of some
interspersed with hills and gentle swells, afford
Ing opportunity for coasting, dear TO every wheel
mans heart. To start IN the flush of morning,
everything in perfect unison with the mental and
physical nature, cOursing over level, with may
hap the meadow on the right stretching green and
flower strewn, and Bob-o-link hanging over it,
struggling with chain of tinkling music tangled
with his wings; on the left the wood just putting
forth itsleaves-e noblcst type ofhe resurrection
alive with the housa nd birds that love
the shady hooks; to climb the hill that calls every
muscle into play and forces the blood into quicker
action and enlivens every nerve with the joy of a
strong man overcoming a difficulty; the breathless
rush down hill, legs over, express train speed
does wheelman need description of the delights
of that?-the quiet lunch at some little inn where
fried chicken and milk and country bread and
butter are still things in cSsc-al these 10 the rider
who loves nature and loves his wheel afford the
purest and most rational delight With every phys
zeal, mental, and moral sense gratifed, man is
what the good God created him, but little lower
than the angels
The coming season promises TO show gratifying
increase in the number of wheelmen in this city.
With our magnificent streets it is to be expected
There is something fascinating in the sport that
no one who has succeeded in mastering the wheel
gives it up willingly II is true that the tourist
does not find the roads good as in England; but
can find miles CT track where the riding is per-
feet, and many miles more where it is toerable.
1t may not be amisS TO mention the long trips
taken by various wheelmen III different parts of
the country. The long run of Mr.. Rollins from
New York to Chicago in 1879 every wheelman re-
members. In 1850 Messrs. Coe and Wood, of the
University Of Michigan Club, ran from Detroit to
Niagara Falls and Buffalo, and had delightful
trip. Another member Of the same club ran from
Ann Arbor, Mich, TO Terre Haute, Ind, via To-
ledo. \ trip was also made last year by some
| gentleman, whose name escapes the writer's
memory, from indianapolis 10 New York. Tours
| have been made from Boston up through New
! Hampshire and Vermont, and the run from
Boston TO New York is a bagatelle; SO that the
| bilious wheclman need not confine himself TO
narrow round of fifty hundred miles, but can
| branch out and spy out the land. On good roads
the capacity ofthe wheel for shorter distances far
exceeds that of the best horse ever foaled. Captain
Conger, Detroit Bicycle Club, ran from Detroit to
bennington, Ont, and back, a distance of seventy
miles, in seven and half hours. Anothermember
of the same club made the fifty miles to Pontiac,
Mich. and return in five hours. English riders on
England's magnificent highways have done still
better. Think of one hundred miles in six hours
Turpin's famous ride on Black: Bess was snails
crawl to that And still better, the same rider it
was, if l mistake not, who covered two hundred
Here in the Capital City the history of bicycling
Is but recent. The Capital Club was organized
January 81, 1879, and has now a membership of
| twenty nine. The other club, the Arlington, is
| younger, having been organized April so, 1880,
and has q membership Of seventeen. The present
road officers ofthe Capital Club are: Captain, H.
s. Owen senior sub captain, J. NJ. Borden junior
sub captain, C. G. Allen. Ofthe Arlington: Cap
| tain, F. T. Rawlings; guides, Falls and Dent. The
first club run of the season occurred on Washing
toms birthday, when some thirty riders were out
Some of the Washington riders have quite repu-
tation for skill in the management of their wheels
Mr. Owen, of the Capitals, is claimed to be master
Of more ways ofmounting and dismounting than
can be enumerated in this article; and in the mat
ter of standing still the Wheel that IS nlain-
tanning upright position while at rest, several
of THE men are experts. In various feats of fancy
| riding our clubs can make creditable showing,
and have invented several of their own.
The meet of the i. A. w. (which, be 1t said for
the benefit of the unintiated, means the League of
American WheeImen) occurs May 81. 1t is hoped
to secure its location here. The Eastern clubs
favor New York, though itwould be difficult to I'M
derstand what pleasure there can be in meet
where the pig headed authorities prohibit riding
Whereverit is possible to drive wheel within the
| limits of New York. The Western clubs, with
more common-sense, desire to come here and en-
! joy the luxury of gliding over a pavement as
smooth as a floor and as hard as granite. Should
Washington carry the day, as it is hoped she will,
our citizens will enjoy splendid sight. Hun
dreds of athletic young men, with their shining
wheels, silently gliding in solid phalanxes down
Pennsylvania avenue, will make show to be re-
membered.
Club runs occur on each Saturday. Unattached
| riders are welcomed by the clubs.
There is some talk among the members of the
two clubs about consolidation. 1t would be wise
to effect this, strong club would be the result
which rnnld give q new imnuIse 10 this noble