Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-06-18
THE BICYCLE IN WASHINGTON.
Our City Wheelmen-They Beat tho
WOrld-An About the ssMachine,'-
Remark able Growth OF Bicycling
Here and ElSeWheres

Here and Elsewhere.
The use Ct the bicycle all over the U1lted
States has been rapid. Its progress In Wash.
ipgton has been notably SO. In 1879, little
less than two years ago, there were but seven
bicyclers In Washington Said one OF these
pioneers to TIE STAR reporter: "People used to
make fun Of me. My friends ridiculed me, and
INTERCEPTED their remarks with references TO
monkeys or wheels / contented myself by
saying, Wait Now they laugh No mora:
neither 90 they say monkey to me. Many OF
those who were go apt at ridicule now stride
machines OF tEeir own. It IS. perhaps natural
that they have forgotten all about their former
Jibes-"
TIE ORIGINAL SEVEN.
From the seven bicycle riders in Washington
two years ago there are now $50. The increase
takes something OF the form OF aritametical
progression. Thus, from the seven riders OF two
years ago year back they had increased to
fifty, while this year the city has $50 young
men who propel themselves around on a big
made By an Old bicycier that within eighteen
months there will be In the city o. Washington
between four and five hundred machines" as
the craft call their steeds. While the bicycles
have Increased In hunters, the skill In riding
them has kept pace There are some OF Ihn
best riders, or ''wheelmen," IN the country in
Washington.
OUR CRACK wHEELMEN.
The city boasts OF the best fancy riders that
can be produced. There has been great m
provement III the time made. TAe riders this
year can cut coed many seconds from the
time that mile took them last year. Tn
Washington riders have everything IN thefr
favor. They Go not have to bump along until
they get 70 country roads, making lie miser-
aoie over cHpDieSJone pavementS- Ga the CON-
trary they glide and ''coast" along very nicely
until they get TO the splendid roads On the out
skirts, when they begin to work. In most other
cities the blcycler has no fun until he gets to
the suburbs In Washington the suburbln dis.
trfct Is just where he commences to work, Unttl
he gets there he practically savings on tine
rider the man who passes him must draw the
reins over the back Of pretty rapidly steppln
orse.
WHAT VISITORS SAY
Visiting wheelmen after q tour around the
city Invariably pronounce Washington the
best place for the sport In the country.
Another point In favor of the Washington
wheelmen is that the authorities have had the
coed sense not TO interfere with them In their
innocent, healthy and exhilarattng sport. In
other cities they are prohibited to ride here or
there or to do this or that for fear of frighten-
Ing horses or doing something else equally
dreadful. The Washington authorities have
had the good judgment TO allow the horses to
ger used 10 the bicycle as they have become
accustomed 70 railroad and street cara.
WHY TEE wHEELMAN DOES NOT TIRE.
Some people are surprised that the bicycle
4
is because Of the small amount OF force ex.
pended. Ii has been computed down fins by
mathematlcans that man can ride five miles
on good bicycle by the exertion OF no more
ply sleal energy than Is required To walk a
nile.
THE MACHINES
In use in this city are principally OF American
manufacture. 1t has been found, however by
experience that the machine OF English manu-
facture is tighter more durable and-if the
term may be ailowed-more mettlesome For
this reason The latter machine Is rapidly super
sedlng the American built wheel. A day or SO
sgo lot OF six splendid wheels were received
ty members OF the Capital City Bicycle Clue
from the maBufactory at Coventry, England
They have all the latest improvements aud are
as thoroughly appointed as any now made
They are all nicdel-plated. The largest one Is
owned oy Fred owen. The diameter OF the
large wheel is IS inches.
THE WASHINGTON CLUBS.
There is tendency among Washington
wheelmen to unite In clubs. This should be
encouraged. There fs mutual profit, enjoyment
and improvement In club membership, The
two clubs In the city are doing very well. with
The Capital Bicycle Club at the lead. 1t embraces
membership OF thirty. The other club. the
Arlington; has twenty members. II the unat-
tacned riders should join either the one club or
the other bicycling In Washington would
through organization take another squirt
ahead. The young men who enjoy this sport
n
terest in II is Tot confined TO their own nun
Oers. IL Is widespread among all the AOpie of
the city. The races do much TO contribute 10
The advancement OF this interest. There Is ia
lhls community large Clement VIII CT, while
lot active" takes GPep interest III all ipgttt-
mate sports, and b.cy cling Is one or Tieln.
VIEWS or = wssHISGroN wHEELHaN
The exhibition CT bicycle orsa1iza1ons at
Iowa Circle this evening viii be an attractive
display OF skill attained In the use OF the lson-
deIful machine IL this connection. The STAR
reporter had quite an interesting c1uyErs3ifgn
91th DR.. Tidal, who has some experience In
tbs direction.
How 90 you Ike it?n was the first ones-
ton.
A.-"So far as ny experience goes. r. Ia the
most agreeable OF outdoor exercises Wnsn tbs
ilder has become accustomed &c its peculiari-
els 10 very difficult to Iearno"
NOT 10 arrive at moderate degree OF
Skill OF course, in 1t, as 10 every other ath-
Ietlc accomplishment. there are those who be-
come surprisingly expert. and great nerve. pa
OF such dexterity. But any one can learntt
with little Instruction, and a few days prac-
tce Will give confidence and control over the
falis?" ~ O~ns 0'ou'
A.-"Nearly every learner must have a few
la!is, out never knew or any one who was
seriously hurt Ia learning. The exercise of
great care may enable learner to get along
without any falls. but as the falls are So
lflVlal, hardly any one regards them seriously,
sometimes, those who have become experts
nave accidents while racing, bat / never knew
OF any VINO, even under those circumstances
was dangerously injured, although some have
peen a little deiac7d by sliding on their noses
cl the streets or roads, feH feet ahead of The
machine. from striking stone. rut, or other
obstruction. while reckleSsly going at full
speed. TO TIE moderate rider OF experience
horseback"
Q--"ls IL healthtul exercise?"
Al tnink Ii exceedingly so. The principal
eohSldefaJion that led Inc TO try it was a SAINT
tary one, and j have found the effects 10 my
case very beneficial. It has one advantage over
eVery other form Of exercise have ever tried
ana mat Is. The interest never flags until one Is
Iaugue1. Persons past the exuOerant period OF
NE, VINO feel the need OF exercise, find some
Clnlculty IL exciting enough eDtluSia 9In to keep
up the practice OF usual gymnastics. put there
is an incentive 70 exertion about bicycle riding
mat persists until the rider Is tired. There Is
something 10 De said even In favor OF the Weart-
less CT plcJ Gle riding over that OF horseback or
carriage riding, and that is that the rider suffers
ven little nom stirneS5 because the motion
CT the lower limbs precludes tue strain
ard congestion that result from their com
paratlVe inactlon while on horseback or 10
a vehicle "
Q-"Why Is the bicycle lot more largely
used by maturer persons?"
A.-"Several reasons occur to me. Frat As
men grow in years they are more thoughtful OF
thelr zones, and 1t requires mere nerve than
TIE mass OF such persons possess to make the
atlempt 10 Learn. Still there are those whose
powers aud nerve Keep pace with their years
ara WHO at quite an advanced age acquire and