New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-04-29
BRINGING OUT THE WHEELS.
SPRING THRILLS THE CYCLING WORLD.


ATILETEs GETTING INTO TRAINING-BsIGHr OUT
LOOK FOR BUSY SEASON g.,
Welcome the Joyous season OF the tricycle., tho
bicycle, the cno. net the cclc the season LOT ehat
fortunately s past, but the earliest result OF the
sparse spring sunshine fs tho temperance OF the
soyclcrs on his rubber-shod wheels, making a COD
web Of the sparks as he lits along the park roads
One hundred and seven cyclometer-measured miles
were covered on a recent Sunday in Central Park by
Manhattan Club member In the first rush OF spring
time enthusiasm, and everywhere machines are being
taken out Of their wntor storage quarters repaired TO
Vanished. re-oiled and made tit for the summers
travel Tho sport IS maEing rapid strides to%aru
general popularity the number OF whecimen' IN TINS
State alone amounting TO about 10000, according TO
the testimony Of people who ought 10 know. ana
they are making their weight felt in some quarters
particularly In the matter of improved public roads,
Tho League of American wheelnhen IS TO be credited
with a revival OF public opinion in favor OF the en-
forcement of a law that has been practically a dead
letter. with regard to placing proper sgnDoards al tho
crossroads throughout New-York State Through inc
cousuis of the League the road masters of the various
d,strsots have boon induced to promise to foot the
bills for procuring signboards and putting them In
place IL the wheelnen VIII see that the boards arc
msde and marked properly. This IS now berg oono
by George r. Bidwe, the ndefatigaDle consul OF inc
I1axue In this State who is daily receiving reports
from his vceconsuls and having neat enameiied Iron
viii result In noticeable change in the landscape OF
tina country roads which, though Insignificant In APP
psarsnce will bs OF more use, and more frequently
looked st and admired than many more pretentiouS
objects. r~-l..: '.-.
ONLY THE. THIN EDGE OF THE WEDGE
But this is only the thin edge of the wedge and the
wheefmen are this summer busy organizing Ter a
moro sweeping reform in the matter of road improve
mont. This contemplatcs no less than an entire
change In the present system of statute labor SUD
shutting therefor all over the State money tax,
which VIII favor fund under control OF commission
consisting Of the Governor, acknowledgements,
Secretary Of State and newly officer, state
superintendent of Highways. who VIII lay out tho
money TO tho best advantage and have The WORK aohe
in a business like manner, which, It Is hoped VIII
differ widely in effect from the easygoing, supshoa
methods which seem inseparable from statute labor
whsslmen do not feel competent to undertake tho
task unsitbed and so are forming an Organization,
without fees assessments, open to any INDIVIDUAL ~
the State who favofs the proposed change and already
spplcations for membership arc pouring Ia ron AL
silss and professions from farmers, merchants anu
particularly horsemen, and it is hoped to haye some
prominent lover OF horsefesh at the head OF the
movement whose name viii DO guarantee thae inc
methods and objects of the body as set out In The
prospectus shall not be exceeded or perverted 10 any
Improper END
Tho man ere already looking forward to the big
meet of this year, at Buffalo, 10 September, whom
mighty tournament Of "cyclers" will take place IN
connection with the State Fair The annual conven-
ton Of the League will be held In Baltimore, In June,
when the election Of president vice president, treas
uror and executive committee will take place. Wheel
mon arc iHfbblng an ambition for handsome and even
luxurious club-houses. The beautiful one put up by
the Kings County Wheelnen last winter, In Brooklyn,
the hsndsonest Of its kind probably in America and
therefore In the world has resulted in great
In it, membership. The New-York Club Is now fol-
lowing suit. and is building handsome home in West
End-aye, near seyenty -thirdst which viii cost
$4,000, will contain bowling alleys bathrooms,
restaurant etc, and wiz be ready for occupancy by
the fall
A HEALTHY FORM OF RIVALRY
The Harlem wheelmen putting up an addition
IN ther club house In One hundred fourth
at near Sixth ave, aud when II is finished viii have
dne yarlor and bllliard-room. The Manhattan Club
too Is moving into quarters In seYeRty- thrdst,
which they have rented and expect an increase the
membership roll accordingly The Citizens, too, is
making internal improvements In It's handsome quar-
ters At No 20 West six,iethst In Brooklyn the
sport Is advancing rapidly. The Brooklyn Bicycle
Club Is having plans drawn for ne" mouse 10 cost
-. 600 near tho Long Island Railway depot and the
1onk island wbceluen are talking of building new
house IN bedford. ave Many OF the men are now In
rs5nins for the first meet OF any consequence Of tho
season at Orange, ~ j., on Decoration Day The
interstate Road Race will conc Oh then, for which
1000 athletes are expected 10 enter, and the Orange
wanderers viii DO the honors of their unequalled
roads.
zks active manufacturers, too. are keeping UP with