The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-02-11
THE WHEEL.
A Handicap Road Race at San
Leandro.

The second annual 25-mile handicap road
race Of the California Associated Cycling Clubs
VIII take place on the 22d of this month at the
San Leandro Triangle. the scene of many hot
contest on wheels.
The rOad-racing committee is working hard
TO make this race surpass anything yet at
tempted in road-racing on the coast. A diamond
medal VIII be hung up for time prize ana ten
or dozen place prizes VIII make The contest
an exciting and well worth going over TO
witness. About fifty entries are expected by
the committee, and the boys are getting into
condition with an eye on the diamond. The
record of 1 hour 10 min. AZ sec. made by
Faulkner last year. will take a large drop If
the roads are good.
Besides this road race. the executive CON-
mittee decided TO hold 1OOnlle club relay
race on the last Saturday of April. A $50
prize viii be put up for this event, which must
be won three times before il becomes the prop
erty of the club. The club which wins IL one
year holds possession of il until the succeeding
year, when il must be turned over TO the winner.
This scheme will doubtless be productive of
much inter-cub rivalry and prove very stimu-
lating TO the pastime.
The Bay City Wheelmen have moved into a
new clubhouse, which is said 10 be much more
comfortable than the old quarters.
A paper devoted solely 10 wheeling. known
as the Cycle, gives the following good advice
relative TO professional and amateur wheeling
which lovers OF bicycling should read with a
relish:
There is no doubt that 1t has hitherto been
considered somewhat OF a Teproach to be
classed as professional cvclist. The cause OF
this feeling need not be discussed or too minute
ly Inquired into, the fact remains but IL is time
that IL should disappear. Professional cycling
has been practically dead for some eonside gable
time in this country, and there have been no
inducements offered TO men TO appear before
the public as paid cyclists. Owing 10 the stigma
attaching 10 the name. and To The interest 10
the performances of professionals, many riders
have coaked Ineir money-making with a false
amateurism. The cure for this is clear-to
make professional cycling reputable and al
tractive.
There are plenty of men most anxious to
make money out of their speed powers, to be
literally. In the commercial sense of the phrase,
speed-merchants. They do il now falsely Why
should they not have he opportunity OF doing
II fairly, openly and honestly? There Is nothing
immoral in taking money for riding. The
Offense lies in the falSity of stating that man
doesn't when he does the posing as an anna eur
when he is truly professional. If there were
legitimate field for the activity of the admitted
professional, an attractive programme Tor the
money-making speed-merchant. pure amateur
ism would revive. 1t should not be advanta-
geOus enough 10 be an amateur 10 make It
worth the INSCRIPTIONS mans while to pretend
that lie is such. Amateurism, as IL Is in theory
can be best fostered by the encouragement of
professionalism.
"But in affording this announcement IL is
essential that the doings of professionals
should be supervised. Professionalism must
not be a refuge for wrong 'uns. Roping, hiding
to lose Tor betting purposes, fouing and the
other sins of the racecourse are heInous in
a professional aS In anybody. Claims TO records
OF bogus character ought to be sterDlv re-
pressed among amateurs. The formation OF
a cash prize league some such association
would probably work the new development
well. The men vino have taken money are
mostly very spOTtsmdnlike and decent enough
fellows otherwise than i'll this one exception,
and with that removed (because The need for il
no longer would exSt) they should form class
as reputable and as capable as any in the
world"
Bicycle-riders who desire TO visit the Mid
winter FAIR must enter by Ile SOilfl
leave their wheels at Bicycle Hal. just inside
the iurnstile. Here the safety of the wheels is
guaranteed, and comfortable reading ana retr-
ing rooms are provided for both ladies and
pantlamen