The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-03-26

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a MONG "
\ Our Wheelmen
That this will DO tho banner cycling
year in tho city OF Scranton is eyi-
dsnccd by the large 5lls5 that the deal
erS ara already making The season is
early yet. but large number Of sec
ond hand wheels have bean sold and
NV mounts are selling rapidly. Some
arc taking possession Of their wheels at
0uce and others have placed orIers with
tho agents of their favorte machine to
be delivered at later date Everyone.
young Nad old, seem to accep. tho uni
yarSal fact that the air tired steeQ has
come 10 stay, aud they are no longer
looked upon as r vehicle of pleasure
alone but in business life they are ac-
tullIy becoming necessity. Among
the working class OF people they are
very popular, 10 it extends the laboring
mans opportunity to rent comfortable
dwellings on tho outskirts at modtr-
ute rent and the bicycle gives him a
safe and rapid mods OF transit between
his suburban cottage and the work
shop Il is also u noticeable and a COM
maudaule fact that among the anthra-
cite region riders the extremely cheap
machine does not hold o favorable
place The desire seems 10 b, for
standard mount, no matter whether it
re second handed or not, and the ex-
pense creating rickoty monstrO3itias
that ara noticeable in other towns are
rarity in Scranton.
#@E
The cycling fraternity is all agog
over the curren. rumor tgat the great
zimmerman contempiatps entering the
professional ranks in France. Those
who claim to know, however. say there
iSnoautnenticity in the rumor so far but
that if the Inducements offered are large
enough the amateur class will loose
the king 0! cycIcrs.
as
TIE lates. uss to which a pneumatic
has been pu. is a means for smuggling.
Tho custom house officials, n short
time ago coniscatel an E1 .lishm ms
wheel whose tirA was inflated with
high grade f1e.cGt tobacco instend Of
air There was about 10 plun ls OF it.
The solldity Of the tire was what sx-
excited official suspicion Cycling.
go
One of the spaedsst riders In this
section ia George Gardner, an cmploye
OF the Farmers Dairy company, on
Spruce street. Last season witnessed
Mr. Garlners track initiation, but his
work was Of such good and promising
quality that it was commented upon by
the cycling journals Mr. Gardner is
u benedict. bnt spends n fow hours each
day at his tovorite sport His many
friends are desirOua Of seeing him race
this season again, as his knowledge of
competition acquired ia last years cir
cult meet will ennbla him to compete
10 better advantage with crack riders.
HEE
A road race on Decoration ID ~ wouli
be hailed with enthusiasm by the local
riders, among whose rlnks can bJ
found some fast path followers Tho
dealers would undoubtedly furnish
gratis large number OF priz's If som,
one of the clubs would take tho initia
tive. Decoration Day is universally
recognized ~ the opening day of the
season for cycledom, and n road race
from hero to spm) Of the outlying dis-
tricts AMI return woul Introduce tho
| season In m enthusiastic manner and
create n goOd-naturel feeling Of com
petition between tho riders of the yari
Gus clubs.
A more abused, ridiculol creature
than the "rold scorchrr" cannot be
found Hs is guyed by his brother
whoelmpu. called monkey on stick
by his paternni frlend', j'ere at ty the
small boy and forsnlIrn by his best
girl and all because he will persist In
humping over his machine ns he drives
1t along the highway nj the ppsud OF nm
ordinary passenger train Tho writer
was walking along Washington avenue
| tho other day when in the distance he
ospicd one Of the so-called "scorchers. "
He was coming down tho avenue ut n
terrific gait, every energy bent in his
] tllOIlS W IFNJn y OU IHC', IN MS
shopping position no was mn ungaiuly
looking object but he seemed to drive
his mHchiue with great easo and
do1Rel among tho vehicles with nm
ability that showed that no was com
plete master OF his stoed Wondering
why he assume such un ugly position
wEilO riding ~ no cans uonr, |
took tho lib,rty nf hailing him to in.
quiro HIS reasoDB for 30 doing. In AN
swer to my q1"ry no said "Weli, |
most people claim wo do IL 10 np,
tho racing man and excite attention.
As Il cons, qnsnce We nre numerically
ridiCuled. But there aro reasons for
all things aud of course one for this
Now | like to ride fast, Just as fast rs
can go and cons' Quently | assume
the position that will give mo the most
power When riding very fast or
climbing steep hills tho arms and
handle bars play no unmportant part
in the propulsion of the wheel. I'll
You were going to pull worry strong on
something, you would undoubtedly
brace yourself with your feet, So on
the bicycle you shove with feet and
must have u brace for the