New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-08-25
oismount or turn of the walk Fortunately the
sraue Is SUCH that this turning off can be done

10 wheelinen was given on the Boulevard one
night not long ago. Three wagons belonging to a
nrm OF produce dealers were coming down the
street abreast, and they prevented any wheelman
| from passing item. The drivers kept their horses
at gentle trot. and exchanged remarks about
the cluster OF wheemen who rode slowly behind
them. The teams were managed so that they
should just blockade the street and efforts To
pass between them were unavailing Finally a
wheelman turned to the other side OF the Boule-
ward and rode rapidly TO the next corner getting
ahead OF the wagons. He rode on until he saw
policeman to whom he made complaint just as the
cavacade drove up. The policeman stopped the
nearest driver and gave him lecture, but did not
arrest him. A number of wheelmen gathered
around and joined In describing the tactics of the
truck-drivers. Perhaps the fellows learned les
son. but IT was pity that at least one of them
was not arraigned in court.
The riders in that large part Of Brooklyn from
which Bedford-ave. forms the natural means of
reaching Prospect Park have been much annoyed
this last week by the tact that the macadamized
part of BedfOr1-ave. between st. Mark save.
and the Eastern Parkway has been virtually
impossible on account of the improvement that
is being made there. This macadam has been in
poor condition for a good while, and the repairs
are greatly needed still II would seem advisable
to put only block or two 0ut OF commission at
once. The steepest part Is cut off by fences
across the roadway. while north of Butler-st.
fresh gravel has been thrown over the surface.
Riding here is possible by keeping near the curb
stones and some cyclists. after getting down and
going around the barrier aforesaid. manage To
get up the hill by riding in the gutter. where
there is space foot or two wide covered with
paving stones. tits no fun getting up Bedford
He'll now however. though undoubtedly the ave-
nue. will be measurably improved when the work
Is finished. 1t may be of interest to some riders
to know that there is a way of avoiding this part
OF Bedford-ave and reaching the Park without
dismount.ng and without much rough riding. 1t
say
ford to Brooklyn-ave.. and then up Brooklyn-ave.
to the Parkway. There is asphalt all the way on
st. Mark's-a except for twenty or twenty-five
yards between Bedford and Rogers ayes. where
the cObblestones must be taken. and Brooklyn
ave. has fairly good granite pavement. This
detour lengthens the journey to the Park about
a mile There six blocks (short ones) of
granite pavement and the little bit of cObbe al
ready referred to- 1t is singular that this cobble
not covered with asphalt at the time the
rest of st. Marks-ave. was repaved
The attention OF the proper authorities should
be directed at once to the miserable condition Of
the so-caled Concourse at Coney Island For
merly this extended from West Brighton to
Brighton Beach. but the part east of the Ocean
Parkway was seriously damaged by the invasion
Of the ocean several years ago, and is now prac-
ticay non-existent. AS the Concourse is only
half large 1t used to be. there is all the
greater reason why what is left should be kept in
of it, is under the control Of the Brooklyn Park
Department, the property having been acquired
during the reign of Mr.. Stranahan If the pres
ent Park Commissioner. Frank Squier, a
wheeman and should attempt to ride over the
ConcOurse once heavy odds would be offered that
he would order ii repaired without letting single
day pass over his head. Every few feet there is
a yawning assure, and it Is impossible to ride
there safely except at the slowest rate of speed.
BY keeping close to the northery edge can
n a tumble a
but he has to proceed with caution. good
many Of the riders who come down the cycle
path avoid the ConcOurse altogether by taking a
path across lots from the crossing of the At
lantic-ave. trolley railroad. Others when the
tide is low enough. ride on the wet sand. which is
hard and firm that bicycle scarcely leaves a
mark on IT.
"Coasting?" said a rider of experience in talk
Ing with a group of wheelmen. Eyes, believe
in coasting. But l believe in coasting with
caution. There is good deal OF reckless coast
Ing and it Is not strange that serious accidents
occur Nothing can be more foolhardy than for
a wheelman to coast rapidly down a steep hill
with which he is not familiar. II you know your
hill well. all right but even then you ought not
to go too fast The safe rule is always to keep
your machine under control. on a new or strange
road the rider should, before coastng at any
speed be able to the end from the beginning.
On some hills | go three-quarters of the way
down before take my feet from the pedals. and
/ any risks on a steep hill. what |
like best Is gentle slope else short hill
which is succeeded by level stretch or piece
Of rising ground My own firm belief is that on
country roads every wheel should be provided
with a brake II not. rider can't feel sure of
himself unless he has learned to apply his shoe
sole 10 the front tire a brake. That smash
UP at the Fort Lee ferry the other day would
never have happened II the rider had known how
TO do this He was certainly reckless rider.
He had. am told. never been over the road be-
fore. and yet he started 10 coast down that steep
hill and soon lost control OF his wheel Had he
known the lay OF the land he might have turned
out into some other road. or perhaps into some
private grounds. hut 4 was he went flying
down and was only stopped when he crashed into
the iron gate at the ferry; 1t Is the greatest
wonder in the world that he was not killed in
stantly. instead of having several bones broken.
1t would have been mercy II the ferryman had
opened the gate and allowed him TO plunge head
long into the slip. for he could probably have
been fished out without suffering much damage,
unless ne had become entangled with his wheel.
But such an incident does not initiate against
coasting when II Is done with care A rider
ought to give his legs rest as often as possible.
Let nature do your work for you where you can.
II is 'hitching your wagon to a star as Emerson
said: the nearest thing to 1t that l know any
thing about at all events. But there is coasting
and coasting and II Is only that which Is done
with due caution on smooth nils that recon-
mend"
The first knickerbocker bail ever held in this
neighborhood took place at Masons Hotel. on
the Coney Island Concourse. Tuesday night Sew
eral hundred people were present and with dane
ing and good supper. a pleasant evening was
passed. All the women wore either knickerbock-
ers or boomers and the invitations were issued
with care. No one not in cycling costume. either
man or woman, admitted. The New-York
and Brooklyn cyclists met at Prospect PARK
Plaza and when the march down the cycle path
was started the procession stretched fully mile.
A. f. Eckerson and Miss Daisy Pierce led the
grand march. The women danced with an ease
which would be impossible In long dresses. Inc
ball wound up at early hour in the morning
with a rousing cheer for the knickerbocker girls.
Among those present were the following; VIII
lam Wunsch. II. Il. Cunningham, r. j. FOWL
Mrs A E Smith Miss Lillian n. Smith. Dr. e.