New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-06-23
BICYCLING AIDS ATHLETIC CLUES
TfIr p4GE i'In WHEELING CNNE At TliE NlpHT
MOMFNr FOR MANY OF THEM MtMhrfrlilP
lN..nl- AAl.n l-NnEI LIS INLII-l.NAE.

THE RAGE fDK WHEELING CAME Ar TIE. lH'ii
MOMENT FOR MANY OF THEM MEMBERSHIP
INCREASED rNpER ITS INFLUENCE
Hlryclins has not arrived merely - destroy Almost
any one seeing how comparatively h;lc atteni on mas
been pnI p, athletics since the safet, wheel has
been developed would SAY at once that bicycling
has gr.,,, harmed or ruined the old athletic clubs.
A.. wou.i l.. strengthened Ia his convictions n he
SAW list Of The one-tim" popular AMI pow'riul
athletic clubs Where now are the o,d Williams
burg. IN. club that was one" 80 ably I"pr'
by Frank Murray and by many another able attn
.t. who's. names VIII long figure IS holders OF rec
ori-. f. would bc equally pertinent 20 inquire $50
whit caused an. death or retirement from activity
o, th.. brooklyn Athletic club the Scpti.h-A m'fl-
can Athletic club. the West Sides. the staten Isl
snds the Berkr.cys. the Acorns and a halt-dozen
Others that on.y a few years ago occupied columns
81 the daily papers win the accounts OF their
prowes. on many fields II Is said that the West
sides which became merely a boxing club viii re-
organlze. that there Is some question az 10 the
actual death ~ the old Willinm'burss, ana utt
possihy one or two others viii be- heard OF again.
but that bicycling had 10 more 10 do WIN 'hrI
death than It had t. do with the failure OF the old
Manhattan Athletic club.
This may an be- true. hat g.ance nj the names
Of the present aud prominent aud powerful athletic
clubs reveals list Of many quasi h''N'""s ''"''
Tho present prosperity "f many "i th'7' NO" pop"
lar athletic clubs hr accounted Tor > IN" '''
tlat
II came fo 80 with the storm. Instead OF against
II Most Of the hlg athletic clubs were, at th" time
m. a,f,t, wheel made bicycling the safe, health
ful AMI every way enchanting exercise anu I''i'"
lion TINT II ir IN condition 10 BE- made bicycle
cluhs without much trouble Most of the hs 'iuh'
were virtually bicycle clubs IN all hn' the n'm' "N'
u few llio convenience ~ The time tho rage cam"
An they hnd t. do was t. cnll one ~ their rooms
bicycle department, elect "A lNcNc" committee ana
talk Of hullJing "A track, aud the think was done
or cou,.c rorc were some wheeling clubs In 'N'
lstsuco when the safety was In IT'S infancy anu
before n gave promise. except 10 f'w "n'hnN'
o.ta of what II was going 10 accomplish hut most
Of thos. had only u small membership. were IN
Alternately equipped or had not the brains h''
characterized the big athletic CLUBS Tn" hls h'n
lctc club. to-day owe larg" number OF th''r
members to bicycling. The sport u not Only an
attractive form Of exercise and amusement Tor ''
young 10 whom II appenlS particularly, brcau'e o'
,hc mite dlsarrangcmcnt TO the garments that II
causes that ~, In comparison to such outdoor
nmusemcnts as actual track athletics but It appeals
n,rt,cul,rly TO the od-mc athlete who II no longer
strong enough 10 go In for running or gymnastics
He can get on hiS machine. ride out To an a'h''"c
club and beside enjoying the day and hencnthS
nv his exercise can get a chance to minglo with
the old time friends he has lost sight Of
One glance AT IN, sport OF wheeling AS IL mas
been developed will show to what dimensions IL mas
grown and the charm It exercises on its followers
Only last week the writer positive proof OF how
the pleasures OF wheeling have taken hold not only
OF peop.e who want to cconomize. plenty VIII try
TO make you believe OF others When one can see
any day on the Boulevard young man like Frank
Work In whose fathers stables are some OF the
finest driving horses In America. riding bicycle. II
Is not the time to talk Of the economy OF bicycling
being It's principal charm. Another good proof that