Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1886-07-14
ON WHEELS.
THE ROAD RACES OFT THE NATIONAL
PIKE, YESTERDAY.
The Thirty-Mile Contest Quite Exciting, and
the Wheelmsn Have q Good Time
W.D Banker, Of Allsgheny, Comes
in hSt--Ths Hill Climb.

Taking all things into consideration,
the Wheeling Wheelmen's first road races
were grand successes, and the boys have
cause to feel proud of the anair so la.
While the races might have been made
oven more successful than they were, II
mnst be remembered that the Wheeling
Wheelmen are a comparatively new organ
ization and this is their first attempt at
ANYTHING of the kind, and hereafter they
will doubtless better understand the modus
operandi of working up Il successful road
nee or hill climb.
1t is the general opinion that If the boys
had secured the Fair grounds, charged a
small admission fee to pay the rent, anu
held the contests on the race track, II
would have been much more enjoyable all
around. The contestants in that case
would have had an excellent track with
no cause for taking headers, and the spec
tators eould have easily witnessed the
whole race. Besides the racers could have
developed some fine speed and at the same
time secured many other advantages not
obtainable yesterday. Such q contest
would be far more exciting and enjoyable
10 both contestants and spectators. The
fact of the matter is the National pike Is
not smooth and level enough for q
road race ON bicycles, and the only won
der is. that 50 many entered Yesterday who
wore not used to the road nor to contestlng
in n race of such q atu and number OF
miles As il was, however, both races, es-
nacially the thirty mile one, was very cred
table and good time was made, although
some of the boys were pretty we'll Jagged
ont when they arrived at the end.
shortly after one o'clock large numbers
oF naople BEGAN TO assemble on Sixteenth
street lining both sides Of the way, eager
10 see the bieyclers start out upon their long
ionrney. There were eight men entered
or the thirty-mile race, but two were I'M
avoidably compelled to drop u those
who started were G. +. SeidelL OF the
keystone Bicycle Club, of Pittsburg; W.
ID. Banker. OF the Allegheny Cyelers, OF
Allegheny, Pa, and Chauncey Dewey, L.
4. BealI, F. j. l.. Hupp and W. l.. Wright,
of Wheeling. At 1871 p m. the word
.,po'' was given by Mr.. Z. <. Tracy, and
the six men, who were ranged across the
street in q line with DIR. Billiards. resi-
denee, shot off with a rush, accelerated
somewhat by u strong push from those
holding their machines. Dewey got a
GOOD starter and came to the mont
midst wild applause from the crowd,
while the other boys kept up q pretty even
line. All the way out the street, the boys
were greeted with cheers, and almost In a
moment they were out of sight.
Dewey was still hustling along alta hum
ming rate of speed when be got oppo-
site the glass house where his wheel strueka
stone and he was thrown into a mud hole.
, This lost him the lead, but he soon re-
Gained his machine and took second place.
The BOYS all kept together pretty well I'M
iii they reached Fulton, where several
dropped behind. Dewey slipped n OF
his MEDALS and the crowd became
somewhat scattered. Banker and Beall
were now in the lead, and they maintained
If. As a as can be ascertained, Banker
made the turn at West Alexander at 2:33,
with Beall exactly = minutes behind him.
Seidell came next, but no account was Kept
of the Otherr.
About 4 O'Clock the crowd, which had
pretty we'll dispersed, began to assemble
again along Sixteenth street, and frequent
shouts Of Here they come" from the
small boy caused as many breaks by the
crowd for the center Of the street. How
ever. al last one of the contestants
eould be seen in the dis
lance sailing down the street
and pretty o a wild yell was set up,
"a Banker, mounted upon 4 53-inch Colum-
bia light roadster, sailed in over the line
at 4:233, with a white kerchief tied over
his head. He looked somewhat used
m. but was vet in fair trim. He made
the thirty miles in 2:52&, which IS pretty
GOOD time, considering the condition OF the
road. Just four minutes and a quarter
later Lucien Beall crossed the line on a 54-
inch Victor. He was in elegant condition
and did not look the least bit used up.
The fifteen mile race had been started
| from the other end by DR.. c.. f. Mason at
| 1903 o'clock, with l.. +. ShOup, of the
I Allegheny Cyclegs, and Drs. Morrison and
4 Macon. of Wheeling, as contestants. AT
1921 Shoup passed over the line mounted
on a 5O-inch Expert Columbia and at 4:3
Morrison came in on a 54-inch Victor.
He was but a quarter minute behind
Shoup, and had it not been for IN accident
he would have likely come in first.
The next one to come in on the 80 mile
raee was Seidell, who rode a 5l-inch Spe-
ciaI Star, the only n in the race. He ar
rived at 4:4S and was pretty badly used
up. Hupp next came in at 4:56f, having
onlymade "a miles. He also showed that
the run wss too much for him. Dewey
came next on o 52-ipcb New Rapid.
He was in excellent shape
aside from the header he had taken. The
last to come in were Mason and Wright.
The latter came first at 5:224 and the
former at 5:23&. This closed the returns,
and the boys adjourned for supper.
After this meal had been eaten the boys
felt pretty we'll braced up and n number
of them took short whirls on their ma
chimes. Later, q meeting was held in the
Mcclure House parlOr, where the prizes
were presented TO the various winners by
Mr.. W. L. Wright.
The hill climbing contest, which takes
place this morning, promises to be a decd
edly interesting One. i Is the intention OF
starting it at 10 o'clock promptly,
NOTES.
All the boys are pleased with the races.
The hill climbers are to go up oneat a
time.
Dewey had tough luck over the whole
course.
ShOup came in over the line on one
wheel.
There are ten CT twelve entries for the
hill climb.
There were not as many visitors present
as was expected.
Or. Mason INDUCED in a header just be-
fore reaching the city.
DIR. Morrison took a header and broke
the spring IN his saddle.