The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1893-05-09
WANT TO Be WHHELMEN
Athletes Have Abandoned
the Field to Become
BiCyclistS.
CATHOLIC CLUB CYCLERS.
Miss Gerndt's Capital Target-Peo-
pies Palace GYmnasts-Yacht-
ing and Bowling Notes.
CATHOLIC CLUB CYCLERS

Wheeling will be the popular outdoor
amusement this season. 1t has ecilpsea
field sports. The athletes who bave bikes,
have abandoned jumping, running and
the other branches in which they were
proficient. They are now ambitions 70
become experts in driving the bicycle.
All that are left to keep up the other
old features of athletics are a few who
have not taken kindly to the bike,
and those who are restrained from
purchasing a wheel because OF the heavy
tax tor a first class article. TIL install
ment plan introduced by many
dealers will influence those with
small incomes to try and own q
s.was been" This wheel excitement
will benefit athletics ultimately. The
number of competitors will be reduced
and this viii be an incentive for those
VIII yearn for medals and honors to enter
the arena. Now they are deferred by The
large fields of athletes and the prospect or
winning places is so dubious that there
IL little announcement to practice and
develop their talent. l know of q dozen
local athletes who would have in q few
seasons become prominent as runners
or Jumpers, had they trained a~ssIduousiy,
but repeated defeats had q denlorallZing
fact. They failed to realize That they
were Just at the beginning OF their career
and would improve. They enormously
regarded themselves at their best ana
Fad no chance of finishing outside OF The
ruck. When it becomes easy to win
lonors there will De Il revival in athletic
events.
The wheel, however, will not lose its
popularity because of its utility. 1t Is
now used by many men for business pur-
poses as we'll as for pleasure. Even IN
cities a vast saving of tune can be effected
as an ordinary wbeelman eau easily dis
lance a street car. Where they have
good roads the bicyclis5 can cover more
ground than a feet horse. Wheelmeu
are now so numerous that these appeals
Tor better roads cannot be ignored, ADD
with properly graded and paved avenues
the number of wheels will increase rap
idly. This is destined TO become Il nation
OF bicyelisUs.
The Catholic Club Cyciers have now
fifty enrolled. This shows the popularity
of the pastime for the club Is only a week
old. Ga Sunday they had the Initial
run. Ten participated. but Two went
astray. They were nisled by the au.
nouncament in o local paper That South
Beach was the destination. They Went
TO thai resort but looked in vain for their
eight clubnates who were having a happy
time Ia the vicinity of Fort Wadsworth.
One of the octette unfortunately broke
the tire of his wheel and be had to carry
the machine home. The seven returned
by way of Bergen Point. The
club had a business meeting last
night aud talked wheel, as those
not now supplied are eager
to procure them and asked for opinions
about the best wheels and where TO buy
them. A sample wheel was sent them.
The scheme to form Il club and purchase
on the most favorable terms from one
dealer or manufacturer has been ADAM
doned. 1t WAS too slow for the enthusi-
asts, and il is predicted tha5 when che
club meets on Monday night that a dozen
bikers will be added. The Road Com
lnil6ee announced that the run neXI Sun
day would be to Coney Island. The club
decided Co take a run on Decoration Day
to Milburn to witness the twenty-five
mile road race.
Fifty per cent. of the members of the
Merry Six Bicycle Club took part in the
clubs first run on Sunday. They visited
Bloomfield. The riders We're r. Dorsey,
George Van Ripper and ID. Kittson.
The Hudson County Wheelmen will
leyae the club house on Saturday after
doom for a run to Riverside Drive. The
Sunday I'll will be to Boonton. N. D..
and the START will be made at eight A. M.
sharp.
Considerable interest is being mani
tested in the intercollegiate bicycle race
this year. George Banker, the old Man
haitian A. c.. racer, Will represent Prince
iou, u J. Weston Allen will ride for
Yale. 1t is thought that Princeton will
have a walk over on May 81.
Tn ousands of wneelmen will be on the
Iryington-MilburD course on Decoration
day. All the local clubs, i'll fact every
bicycle organization in this vicinity. has
made Milburn the destination for the
club men OH the holiday. 1t is predicted
that over 200 wneelmen will participate
III the twenty-mile road race. This city
will be represen ted by d dozen or more.
Among them is Charles E. Kluge, who
won the honors in this event for two
seasons. He is now training hard, and
is ~sanguine of winning again and estab-
llsning a new record. His run was
beaten two seasons ago by Murphy. The
Jersey City rider began Training last
season with the determination of lowering
Murphy's time, but Illness forced him to
retire Just as he was getting in form.