Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-09-25
AGAIN ON THE WHEEL
AGAIN W The WHEEL
Resumption Of Road Riding With
Cool Weather.
TOPICS DISCUSSED BY WHEELMEN
Preparing for an Annual Road
Race.
PROPOSED RACE TR ACK
TOPICS DISCUSSED BY WHEELMEN
PROPOSED RACE TRACK

During the hot summer months little in
| terest was taken in cycling, but now that
| the severity Of the weather is over and
the showers are putting the roads in bet
| ter condition. the wheelmen are turning out
and they will soon take possession Of the
roads.
| The season for watermelon runs Is about
over and the clubs will soon make arrange
lnents for smokers and oyster roasts
which were so greatly enjoyed last year.
These trips are inexpensive where a dozen
or more are in the party and there is little
| trouble attached to making arrangements
for them. The chief thing for the wheel
| men Is to know just where to hold them
and then the arrangements are no trouble
whatever. There are so many places about
the city that the selection of a good spot
| Is merely a matter of a moments thought.
| Years ago 1t was generally conceded that
| to have successful Out-of-doors enter
| tainment a place on the Conduit road had
| to be selected. but such is not the case
| now. In almost every direction there are
| suitable places and the roads In some in
stances are as good If not really better
| than the Conduit. Along the Conduit road
| between here and Great Falls there are
! several road houses. as we'll as attractive
spots along the river and canal, where
| oyster roasts may be held without fear Of
/
| The same may be said of roads leading
in other directions. A popular place for
oyster roasts now is at Benning bridge on
| the bank of the Eastern branch. Fishing
parties are also made up of wheelmen and
! they are especially enjoyable along the
Potomac river between the city and Great
| Falls. At no point Is the river much of
a walk from the road and restless fisher
/, men failing to catch fish at one noint do
rot mind mounting their wheels and riding
a mile or two. for such ride only requires
a few minutes, and it is not much trouble
| to carry bait and tackle.
| Then, too, there are some wheelmen who
| enjoy a days shooting in the woods, and
| they find wheel much better vehicle
| than horse and wagon 1t does not take
| the time and trouble of feeding and har-
| Messing and bundle carrier on a bike will
| hold the ammunition and eatables, and a
change Of clothing If necessary.
| This Is also the season for a trip through
| the Shenandoah valley, over the fine lime
| stone pike. This is not only one of the
best wheel roads in the country because of
| Its smOOthness, but the color of the stone
| makes The road plainly visible on the dark
| est night and rObs it of the dangers of SO
| many roads.
In the 2i-hour rides of past years the
| trainers Of some of the men have allowed
| the riders to eat and drink what they want
| ed. and it Is stated that one rider stopped
for water several times on each trip. and
| another ate some green fruit. A member of
| one of the clubs said that the rider in such
| n CoHtcSt SHOuiu De more CLOSELY WdtcneU
| than participant in a prize fight walk
| ing match and his trainers should decide
upon what he should should not have.
Annual Road Race.
Beginning with this year Washington Is
| to have an annual road race over the
Conduit road course. and 1t is thought that
prizes of sufficient value will be given
to attract some Of the best riders from
other sections of the country. This years
race, as heretofore published in The Star
| will take place on the 18th of next month
| As heretofore stated. Harry w. Higham
| promoter of the event He expects that it
| will assume as much Importance as the
| 1rvington- Milburn race, where all the crack
riders In the country assemble annually
| The entries close ten days before the event
| and this early Mr.. Higham has received as
| surances from clubs and individuals that
| there will be at least seventy-five entries
| in the 2O-mile handicap Fifteen entries are
| expected from the membership of the
| Georgetown Cycle Club. while the Arlington
| Wheelmen, Washington Road Club and
Potomacs will send a good representation.
| The race will be open to ALL and many
| outsiders Will no doubt compete for the
| prizes. Among the outsiders will be George
p: Williams. the winner of the Buffalo
pittsburg race, who rode % miles in 2
hours and 81 minutes. Among the local
| wheelmen in training for the event are
| some of the fastest riders, such as Sandoe
Terry, Bringle. Rhine, FIster. Ball, wrenn,
| The Associated Cycling Clubs approved
the race at last Thursdays meeting, and a
committee was appointed to wait on Mr.
Hlgham for the purpose of arranging
| further details Next Thursday night the
officers OF the event will be chosen.
Mile Posts and Sign boards.
The Associated Cycling Clubs have been
instrumental In marking distances on the
Conduit road with mile posts. These posts
were put along the road over the course
where races are usually held and were so
placed with consent of Col. Elliot, who has
charge of the water works.
This movement suggests to the wheel
men the necessity for sign boards at cross
roads for the benefit of drivers as well
| as wheelmen and pedestrians. In some
| states the wheelmen have succeeded in
convincing the authorities of the necessity
for such boards and they have been erected
| at the expense of the state.
Particularly is such the case i'm some
parts of West Virginia and states farther
north. In Maryland there are some few
boards of this kind. but only a few,
while in Virginia along the line of the
Shenandoah valley pike some guides of
this kind are found.
The Proposed Race Track.
what has become of the race track
question: many of the wheelmen are ask
ing. Are the Washington wheelmen to
have a track or not?''
given by some who ought to know Just
what is going on. The matter, Of course,
| is in the hands of the Associated Cycling
Clubs. Funds are short and the wheelmen
| ir terested in the track question seem to
be making no more Roadway toward in
| creasing the fund, and unless this is done
there will not be much show for a wheel
track 1t certainly looks as IL there will
| be no track this fall and perhaps not next
| year, unless there is some active work
done between now and next spring.
A track is certainly badly wanted by the
racers here. for they attend race meets
at other places and sometimes carry off
| the lions share of the prizes, and yet they
are not able to invite other wheelmen here.
The first move made toward the fund.- as
| Is well known to wheelmen, was by the
| Georgetown Cycle Club when a fair was
| given last winter. Following this some
other clubs gave excursions down the river
and 1t is likely that these events will be
repeated during the coming season.
| Coming Race Meet.
Today and tomorrow the second cir
cult meet will be held at Baltimore, under
the guardianship Of the Maryland Club, a
sufficient guarantee Of the quality Of the
sport and the prize list. The same riders are