Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-05-06
THE WHEELMEN.
THE INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF IT'S PATRONS
THE MACHINE" Is USE By BUSINESS MEN
PLEAsURABLE RUNS ABOUT THE sUBURBs-THE
BICYCLE AND MRS. LOCKWOOD.

TLEAoohADlh hUNS ABOUT THE SUbVhbS-ThB
BICYCLE AND MRS. LOCKWOOD.
Legs, anatomcally speaking, are intended for
locomotion, and when every other means fail
can be so used. But legs are not popular as
method Of travel in this age. 1t is probably
because when man walks he is tramp, and
tramps are not in good odor in respectable
society. So other devices have been invented.
There are horses and carriages and steam cars
and horse cars and bicycles. The latter is
machine, although some people enormously
class 1t as sign Of the coming Of spring.
Modern almanac makers tell Us when the geese
begin to fly north and the note OF the blue bird
Is heard, and the bicycle is seen on the streets,
then look out for spring and shake the
camphor out Of your last summer suit.
But here In this city the bicycle Is
always with u.s. During the winter
the business man can be seen skfmming along
with his books slang over his back prOpels his
way to the lecture, and the health seeker bowls
along In the bracing air. The bicycle, like taxes
and other fmmutable attendants Of human ex-
istence. Is always with US, and like poor mans
family. Is very numerous and always multiply
ing. Ancient chrOniclers tell us that there used
to be time when the bicycle was
so RARE SIGHT
that people used to stop and stare with open
mouthed wonder when one Of the shining
wheels whirled past. But that seems almost
incredible in this age when the machine is one
OF the familiar objects in the street, almost as
common as street car The idea that
the bicycle is one of the signs of spring
Is not wholly incorrect, as when the warm
weather comes there is greater activity among
those that use this means of lOcOmOtiOn either
for business or pleasure. Just now the bicycle
riders are mapping out plans for tours into the
surrounding country and the members of the
CLUBS are preparing for the warm season. 1t is
relief for a bicycle rider to get out into the
country at this time of the year and view the
unfolding beauties OF nature In way which has
perhaps no superior. Some members of the
Capital club have already taken a trip to Fort
Foote, and prospective excursions to Laurel,
Rockville, Mount Vernon, the Great Falls, and
other points in Virginia and Maryland, afford
delightful anticipatiOns to enthusiastic wheel
ers.
LONG RUNS
are not, however, the climax Of wheeler's
bliss. One expert rider said to a STAR reporter:
''There is more work than fun in long run.
1t is just like walking. A walk of three or four
miles in the country, is very pleasant and
healthful recreation; but when it comes to
twenty-five or thirty miles then the bottom of
the pleasure drops out"
But still all riders are not of this opinion, as
the plans for the coming season evidence. Men,
ton has already been made in THE STAR of the
proposed trip of Messrs. Scribner and Sherman
to the Mammoth Caves in Kentucky. These
gentlemen are expert riders, and are accus-
toned to long runs and they expect to make
this trip in a short time without interfering with
business or health. With the exception of
long trip of this kind. there are but few
riders that attempt ride Of more than thirty
tn ycf,1 Lo~o
tent with spin about the city and an OCCASIONAL
run to the Soldiers Home and other points in
the suburbs. This fact does not prove lack of
enthusiasm for the sport, but simply that the
utility of the machine as q means of exercise
and business profit is fully realized. The vast
majority OF wheelmen here are what is known as
UNATTACHED RIDERS"
that is. they don't belong to any club If the
increase in the use of the machines was based
upon the membership Of the clubs in existence
the percentage of growth would show but little
advance. There are two clubs here and the
entire membership does not number So while a
careful estimate proves that there are at least
225 machines in use in this CITY The number Of
new machines ordered this year is far in excess
Of that of last year and the bicycle is evidently
growing in popular favor The two clubS-the
Capital and the ArlingtOn-serve a useful pur-
pose in bringing together men Of conyenial
and this adds to the pleasure of the sport. The
unattached riders in reality form clubs as they
generally selectcolnpaniOns to accompany them
on their runs
THE ANNUAL RACES
of the Capital Club will occur at Iowa circle
May 18th. and will attract as usual q large and
fashionable audience. The program comprises
variety of races which will enable the riders to
show their skill A delegation from New York
aud Baltimore club, viii attend and take part
in the races.
Any one who has heard horseman talk
''ilorse' and q base bali player talk bali" can
have very Lively realization of the way an en-
tiitlsastic wheenan runs on when he gets talk
ing about his nlac:iilc anG his runs. A machine
is combination OF polished steel and nickel
plated iron, and bY the way presents a very
handsome appearance when it is seen flashing
past in the sun light But to hear a veteran
wheelman talk, You would supposed that metal
lie combination was thing OF lie. A machine
behaves itself well. ;" or cuts up like the Mis-
chief" 1t runs into ruts and is very obstinate
about getting out. and as for tricks, why the
wheelmen can reel them OFF for you by the hour!
The astonishing things that machine can
do, the tricks that are vain and the
ways that are dark, that it is capable of, would
shame the most shameless Mong0l. 1t gets mad
and gives the rider ''header," of course it does
and when he returns covered with dust and dirt
from his tumble on the road the machine has q
wicked expression In the handles and o sly leer
about the treadles that seem to say, II did it
and am glad of it," But in spite of the natural
''cussedness" which every wheelman expert
ences the machine has never yet caused any
great loss of life and limb It's record is good as
far as the printed page Is concerned, but the
gossip of the club room tells different story
Still there are some experienced wheelmen who
sheer at these tales Of the depravity of the ma
chimes. and let drop sarcastic references to
awkwardness aud carelessness.
NOTABLE FACT.
There is one notable fact In the history of the
machine in this city, and that is its gradual
adoption by those who find it useful in their
business. That it affords pleasure and exercise,
has been generally recognized, but its practical
value in business aud professional life is gradu-
ally being demonstrated. Mr.. Scribner numbers
among his pupils not only young men, but
middle aged business men and others who realize
that there is a saving of time and money for
them in the bicycle. One prominent business
man can be seen every morning astride machine
skimming along down town to his store, and
after business hours there is no doubt but that
he takes quiet run along the moonlight streets.
and comes back as much refreshed as If he had