The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-12-28

loss. The Southern Pacific Company built
and are conducting one of the finest bicycle
tracks in the world. as TO size, surface and
appointments, at Santa Monica, which has
proved great success financially and in
every other way, and it is said they are
willing TO do the SO me here if good loca-
ton can be picked out.
The local wheeling clubs are nearly all
doing WE'LL The Bay City Wheelmen still
maintains its position as the leading
strictly bicycle club of the coast. There
has been division at the Olympic Club,
and it has two wheeling adjuncts, and
while the feeling is strong between them
this rivalry has had a good effect and both
are Furnishing. The San Francisco Road
Club has come to the fore with astonishing
success, having large and steadily in
creasing membership and handsomely
furnished clubhouse. The Imperial
Cycling Club maintains its own and is
comfortably located on Van Ness avenue.
The Outing Road Club went out or exist
ence in the middle of the year and the
Royal Club has not been doing very well.
The Crescent Road Club and the Pacific
Cycling Club, two organizations with
closed membership lists, are strong tinan-
ciaily and numerically. Out in the Mission
district the California Cycling Club and
the Liberty Cycling Club are competing
with each other as to which shall offer the
nexes-the CALIFORNIA; being known as the
Alpha Cycling Club-which are composed
of very select class of the fair devotees Of
the sport, and they may often be seen in
the park or upon country roads, enjoying
themselves thoroughly
In these two instances the ladies' an
mex has been found success, but none of
the other prominent clubs have seen lit to
adopt the idea. Nevertheless, their mem
bers are frequently seen riding with ladies,
which disproves the suggestion that they
do not favor the sport as a means OF rec
reation for their or some one else's sisters.
The San Francisco Road Club is making
great preparations for its ladies' night New
Years night. January l, 1896. Dancing
and music will be the principal features. =.
The Golden Gate Cycling Club has issued
invitations for its first anniversary ball, to
be held at Mission Parlor Hall on Tuesday
evening next New Years eve. The affair
will be we'll attended and very enjoyable.
Admission is by invitation only, of which
large number have been issued.
fortnight ago published the follow
ing in THE CALL as matter OF consider
able Interest:
The degree of hardness to which tires should
be inflated is largely matter Of personal pref
erence. They should never be left soft enough
to f1atten out much beyond the edges OF the
rim when supporting the weight OF the rider,
can be made. Riding through sand or over
wet places experience has proven that soft
tire is preferable.
Regarding this article I received a note
from San Jose on the subject which is
quite valuable. 1t says:
Dear Sir read the Enclosed clipping with
much interest. l would like to add that the
remark about soft tire not being so slippery
as a hard one should be applied 10 the front
tire only. Pump the rear tire as hard as posi-
BILE or it will soon leak Oh the sides.
Telling others of my practice OF running on a
soft front tire has saved them from many q
tumble, for q hard front tire will slip IN dust,
sand or mud.
This writer speaks advisedly and we can
all appreciate from actual experience the
value of his remarks. THE CALL will al
ways be pleased to print in its cycling
columns items OF this sort which tend to in
crease the safety and pleasure of the sport.
Harry F. Terrlll, the Bay City's crack
class A rider, has been heard of once more.
He is now at Big Rapids, Mich, and in a
newsy letter to me from that point, dated
the 10th inst, he says in part:
Yours of the 10th inst. reached me to-day,
also copies of THE CALL. want to thank you
for your kindness in sending me these papers.
| like to hear all the news from home and par
ticularly the bicycle news, and We all know
THE CALL has the best of that too. Regarding
the "roast' of F. Ed Spooner, those are my SEN
timents exactly and of every other cyclist
whom l have shown it to here. They know
him by reputation in the East. "Roast' him
again Tor me.
What with skating, dancing, sleighing and
socials OF all sorts, am having glorious time
| here. Saturday nights we get up sleighing
party and drive thirty miles to Detroit. We
| get four-horse team and big box sleigh
| filled with straw, buffalo robes, blankets, hot
! soapstones and-girls, and have jolly ride.
! l have been going skating every day. One day
| young fellow came down to the pond who is
| considered an exceptionally fast skater. He
! came by me on the fly, so / tackled on and let
him set pace for about a quarter OF mile
| then we back-peddled. He finally turned
around and started back intent on leaving me
standing STILL but l was still with him and
stayed on behind. He finally asked me to go
| him quarter and did and beat him. Then
he asked who was and l told him my name
was Johnny Johnson and that didn't want
| TO be known here, as the people would expect
me to race and l was out for a vacation. He
told me to lay low and he would pick ont some
snaps for me and we could make some money.
He can skate mile in 2:32, and yet left him
! fifty yards in quarter. / weigh 1873 pounds
| now. l guess this cold weather agrees with us
Californians. Write soon and tell the boys to
write, addressing to Big RapiGs, Mich.
Yours sincerely, HARRY f. TERRILL.
The Liberty Cycling Club will hold its
annual election of officers Tuesday,
| January 7. Tomorrow the club will 60 to
the park if the weather is fair. The clubs
smoker last Saturday night was jolly
affair and well attended. A dance and
entertainment are proposed for some even
| ing during January.
| It has been estim ated that the total out
put of the bicycle factories during the
season of 1896 will aggregate 1000, 600
wheels. This may seem considerable, but
new concerns are entering the field all the
while. Still there is room for them, for
the ground has never been thoroughly
canvassed for the sale of bicycles. and will
not be for couple of years. Many out.
| living districts look with awe upon the
| cycllst, and there are said to be towns in
this country which cannot boast of the
possession of a wheel. The manufacturers
are continually increasing in number, and
there will come a time when competition
for trade will be even more bitter than it
is now. Prices may drop then, but not
while the cost of production is as high as
it is. Constantly changing models and the
| high price of material and parts are the
| largest factors in the cost of manufacture,
| and until these are much less the price of
high-grade wheel must necessarily re-
main where it is now-at $780, There will
be no reduction during 1896, feel assured.
1t is strange that so many people should
seem to think that bicycling develops
only the muscles of the leg. Criticisms of
this kind however, are usually heard
| from those who have not tried this most
! fascinating means of recreation and exer-