The herald., 1893-09-25
WHEtLMEN WHO WORK TO WIN.
Training Hard for the Coming
Local Races.
Debut Of the Southern California
Division of the League.
How the Organization Was Perfected
Display That Ought to Be Well
Kecefved-Gossip About
the Contestants.

bno OOutobtdutbs
On next Saturday there will be inau-
gurated at Athletic park series Of bicy-
Gle races lasting for three days.
While all Of the crack riders OF this
section and some from the north will be
in attendance, and the races will be done
in fast time. the most important feature
OF the whole affair is that it is the debut
of the Southern California division OF
the League of American Wheelmen be-
fore not only Los Angeles audience but
before the entire cycling organization OF
America.
Previous to this year there was but
one division OF the league for the entire
state. As result all of the meets were
held in the north, and only few OF the
riders in the southern part of the state
could compete, as the expenses ef such
trip were considerable. The northern
riders thus had everything their own
way. except in certain instances when
crack racer from the orange belt would
drift to San Francisco in time to COM
pete.
The pleasure of seeing these meets
was, however, denied to the wheeling
admirers in this section.
A number of the riders of this city got
together this year and decided to pre-
sent petition to the national conven-
tion of the league asking that south
ern division be created.
John s. Thayer WAS sent east to
Philadelphia to present the claims of
Southern California for formation OF a
new division. His efforts were success.
ful and the division created.
The present three days of racing is
the fret annual meet of the division. 1t
is distinctively and entirely an affair of
the Southern California wheelmen and
only through their earnest and success
ful efforts in breaking loose from the
domination Of the north is the meet pos
sible.
1t is worthy Of the support of all this
section even thought nothing but very
ordinary attraction was offered. The
wheelmen, however, are desirous of
keeping up their SUCCESS in the new
creation, and have prepared to show to
the public that they are in every way
worthy OF entire and earnest support. 1t
is Southern California affair origin
ated and completed by Southern Cali
foynia riders and should receive the
support OF the Southern California
people.
In fact, the meet can we'll be called
Southern California Day in the wheeling
world.
The opening of the meet will be on
Saturday Of this week. On Sunday the
wheelmen will take trip over the Mt.
Lowe railroad. The racing will be Ye-
sumed on Monday, which will conclude
the track events for the meet.
On Tuesday a novel and exciting event
will be held at Agricultural park. 1t is
the 25-mile team race for the challenge
trophy cup. presented by the East Side
Cycling club to the Southern California
division OF the l.. A. w. There
are three teams entered thus far
the LossAngeles wheelmen, the River
eide wbeelnen and the East Side club,
the donors Of the cup. Each team con-
sists Of six riders, who are scored at the
end of each mile, the team having the
highest score at the end of the race re-
ceiving the cup.
This is about the first event OF the
kind ever held on the coast, and will at
tract oreithan passing interest: The
race Is held at the Agricultural park in
order to accommodate such large num-
ber Of riders on the race track, which is
not afforded by the quarter-mie track at
Athletic park.
The wheelmen have been training
very hard for the coming races. Ath-
letic park is the scene OF much speeding
nearly every day.
Jenkins has not been in the best of
health the Last week. but will be In good
condition by next Saturday. Fox, Cas-
tlemen and Shoemaker of Riverside are
in the city preparatory to entering the
races. Fox Is in first-class condition.
and If present expectations are realized
he will do some speedy work before an
other ten days. He is expected to ride
in Pals or less. The other day he rode
practice mile In 2:lS, with Castleman as
pacemaker.
Dave Burke, the eretwhile Pacific
coast champion, has entered several of
the events. and expects to make it
mighty interestin'" for the swifts
Fox and Jenkine. He will arrive from
the East within few days.
Among the other local riders doing
unusually good track riding at present
are Gatensbury, Houston, w. A. Burke.
Mclaughlin and Kitchen.
AS to the condition of the team ridsrs
no a whole, it 10 hard to speculate with.
the slightest hope Of being correct. The
members of the Riverside team have
probably done more and harder riding
lately than either of the other teams
but there is such thing ae over-train.
ing. The local teams-the East Side
and the Los Angeles--are in fine condi-
tioM, which will make the race one of
the most interesting races ever seen in
California.