Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-05-05
A CYCLE RACE TRACK
No Decision Yet Reached by the
Wheelmer.
EFFORTS TO BUILD UP THE l. A. ".
News Of tho Local Bicycle Or
CARNATIONS.
MONG THE CLUB MEN

Of their own. but in this event little interest
Is manifested among the racing men gener-
ally, as 1t Is to be strictly club affair.
The Victor Cycle Club may have a race
meet similar to the one held last year, and
there may also be a twenty-mile club road
| race
There has been any amount of race talk
INDUCED in this season by the membe- of
some of the younger clubs. but whether
there will be any club challenges or not is
thing to be decided in the future. The
Arlington and old Columbia Club were in
the habit of making the twenty-miie road
race the cycling event of the season, but
since the Columbia Club disbanded no club
has seen fit to challenge the Aringtons, and
therefore there has been no such races in
recent years. The Arlingtons. however, are
waiting to hear from the other clubs end
will make road event of this kind inter
esting for the other riders. There seems TO
be little certainty concerning cycle races
here but the wheelmen in other cities are
making great preparations for race meets.
Decoration day, May 30, generally opens
the racing season, and, as usual, the Irving
ton-Miiburn race will attract general at
tention. The annual race meet OF the Cliff
| ton Wheelmen (Baltimore) Will also take
place on this day.
In this event the fast riders in this city
always participate, and seldom 90 they Taii
TO bring home several prizes. This year
will be no exception SO the partici-
pants are concerned, and the wheeimen
nope TO Keep up their prize-winnng records.
ihe events announced are: One-mile now
Ice. one-mile handicap, one-mile Maryland
DIVISION, l.. A. W., championship half-mlle
open, half-mile handicap. quarter-mile open,
quarter-rnile Maryland Division, l.. A. W.
championship ana two-mile handicap.
The list OIL prizes for this meet includes
Sentieman's solid gold watch. diamond
| ring, pair of diamond link cum buttons,
a sword scarf pin with diamond and ruby
setting, doubie-barrel shotgun and a sill
yer water service. The winners of the
Mary land Division CHAMPIONSHIPS Will re-
| ceIVe handsome and valuable gold medals
a special prize will be given TO the man
making the fastest mile against time This
contest VIII be open to all who have en-
tered one or more of the races, but no fee
viii be charged.
this meet and a great amount OF searching
on the White Lot circle is being done.
building Up the l.. A. w.
Although Washington has by far a larger
number OF bicyclers than almost any other
| city In the country in proportion to its
population, IL has not as many prosperous
clubs of other cities. There are quite a
number of clubs here. but none of them
have membership OF which they boast.
and only one of them enjoys the benefits
or a regular club home. although several
| OF them have rooms in which they meet.
The l.. A. W. membership is also small
and that. ii is thought, is because the
wheelmen are in ignorance OF the real bene-
hts OF being a member. Chief Consul French
Is enoeavorinS TO puiid up the league mem
bership and put II on a solid basis
Ihis weeks Outing reminds the chief CON-
SUI that not only should he try 10 increase
.ac membership by adding new names, but
that ne should also devise some means to
Keep IN the fCld those already there
Not only ought this organiza lion IN have
three hustling representatives. but it should
nave three hundred-every member of the
Dlstffct dlVision, says Editor harry Park
The trouble in getting new members does
not lie in the mere fact that the league is
-Eot1a good thing 10 belong to, inasmuch as
II is but II Is our opinion that IL lies IN its
ufattractiVeness. The recruiting officer
gets mold or a non-member and tells him of
the advantages of being one because he gets
league rates at certain hotels while on the
ROAD; ne has an organization of strength be-
hind him to emphasize his rights as wheel
man in case il need be, and other good rea-
| sons"
The reason why there are so few
members OF the league and so few to assist
IN cycle events, so many wheelmen think
is the fact that the wheel is used SO extern
sively for business purposes and not SOLELY
FOR pleasure as Is the case in most cities
where the rider is obliged to go to the coun-
Try ROADS IN order to enjoy ride, because
of rough stone pavements.
This IS undoubtedly true and hundreds of
persons who use their wheels only for BUSH
ness purposes never see them after business
hours or on Sunday. They, therefore are
not interested in what interests the racer or
pleasure seeker. For this reason the con-
tributors to wheel enterprises are not as
numerous as they are in most other cities
That. it Is thought, has been the great
drawback in the matter of getting a suita-
Bile track for cycle racing exclusively.
Bicycle Records.
The question of the holding Of the records
has been discussed in certain quarters re-
Gently, particular attention being given to
the records of Mess-s. VAIL and Yeat-
man. Wahrs twenty-mile record of 1.0i
was all right when he made 1t, says Yeat-
man. ard no ore disputed ii, but since then,
he says, Messrs. Clapp and Hutchings of
the Arlington Wheelmen made 20 1-2 miles
in 1910. Then his ten-mile record of
$50 for the District of Columbia and
Maryland was lowered during the Balti-
more Cycle Clubs Thanksgiving run, when
the distance was made in twenty-eight
minutes.
Concerning the twenty four-hour record
Mr.. Yeatruan says:
Il would also like to say in regard to my
twenty-four-ho record that 1t was just
as official, and as well timed, and as
honorably done as his, IL rot a great deal
the upper end on my first lap, put only on
that one. and then L met my timers a mile
from the turn on the return trip With the
exception Of the first lap, had PAGERS and
timers throughout, and they were all we'll
known cyclists.
Had M. Wahl wished to do so he could
have seen my record papers, although l
did not have them printed and hung
around i'm the several bicycle stores.
II think Mr.. Wahl in claiming his
records, forgets that there are other BIZ
cyclists who have made just as good and
authentic time as he has, but have not had
ii so widely circulated.
1.-The only thing l see for Mr. Wahl to
do" concludes Mr.. Yeatman. lis for Mr..
Wahl to ride again"
'. G, Cycle Notes.
The Arlington Wheelmen will soon ap-
pear in new uniform, something entirely
new in this city The new uniform was
decided upon at the last meeting of the
club, and it is to consist of a fun bioomer,
with crimson sweater and black caps and
stockings. Fred Stcne was elected to MEM
bersldp, and the resignation of E c.
Bowen was accepted.
The Arlingtons will so to the Anglers
club house tomorrow.
Tomorrow the Capital Bi Club will make
an interesting trip to Fairfax Court House
trip that is always enjoyed by wheelmen.
and Capt. Writ expects a good attendance.
A ParlOr Cycle.
Another curious contrivance brought out