Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-06-18
TALE WITH A BIoYcLIsr.
A Man who has Wheeled Mile in 2;4l
The BicycIe as "A Means of Travel.

A Man who has Wheeled a Mile in S'4l
The Bicycle as a Means of Travel.
A MORNING NEWS reporter had an in
teryiew with a companion bicycler Of the
English champion, Higham-who pro-
nounces it Hi-am-in Savannah yester-
day. and learned some very interesting
facts about the mode of travel that mas
become so popular and widely introduced
during the past two or three years. Inc
~wheer' has not vet been extern
sivelv brought into Southern cities,
hut in time it is probable ii Will be used
in the South TO an extent, If not so widely,
as in the North and East, where II has
almost entirely superseded horseback
riding as a mode Of travel.
In reply to the question as to whether
he believed the bicycle would become
universally introduced. the wheeiman
said:
0sUndoubtedly. The American people
have hardly begun to use the bicycle yet.
In England there are already $4,000.
They are put TO every day use. We see
wheels there used by the postman, the
clerk. and tradesmen going on their
rounds to and from their places of busi-
ness. 1t is something the people have TO
become educated to-"
cling:"
ssThev are not the best. In places where
the streets are smoothly paved or macada-
mixed the wheel is used to the best adyan-
tage. The shell roads would offer one of
the best tracks in the country for wheel
racing"
sWhat is the best time that has ever
been recorded by a rider:"
1.-THE fastest mile, / believe. that mas
1oI froNaiod nv
Englishman. Mr.. COrlis, in 2:41. He is
considered the fastest amateur rider in
the world"
How long could you keep ahead of one
of our fastest express trains!
"Well.v replied the wheelman, who, by
! the way. had travelled through England
and Scotland by means of his machine,
.'that depends on how fast the train is
/ going. 1 did have a race with one of the
/ trains in Scotland. just at the time the
/ train from Edinburgh to Perth-4I miles
/ distant-started from the station L started
/ on a track to make the same distance.
! OF course didn't have to stop at stations
/ TO let off and take on passengers or trans
/ fer baggage. as the train did, and l beat
/ its time by over fifteen minutes. / have
ridden fifty miles in hours and Ola min
utes. That is my best time"
bicycling" the wheelman continued,
is what you might call an English institu-
ton. Americans have not become accus-
toned to the wheel yet, although it is very
largely used in the East and North. 1t is
| being introduced in the West, and will
| come South. the heavy, sandy roads here
being the only disadvantage that would be
encountered. In England the higher
classes of people take great interest in the
/ wheel races-almOst as much as in the
command Derby. The great races in that
Ascot try are, however, ridden under
cover in large halls. Outdoor
! tracks are not liked. One of my
| companion. Mr.. Highlands greatest feats
was when he made $50 miles in the Agri-
| cultural Hall in London during six days
contest. This exploit he performed in a
! minute and half over seventeen hours,
/ and after he had been riding for three
DAYS. He came in third in the contest,
| making one thousand one hundred and
forty miles riding eighteen hours day y
rs there any probability of marin BIZ
cycle becoming practicable" asked the
reporter.
'.PrObably not. At least l do not think
| so. They were tried in England several
wears ago and were a failure. They were
propelled by paddles and not by screw,
/ such as later inventions have introduced
| They have all sorts of bicycling schemes
in England, even to placing sail on the
machine, to get the benefit of stiff breeze
and for lacking when the wind Is unfa-
/ vOrable."