The Indianapolis journal., 1895-12-08
CYCLING in THE SOUTH
POOR ROADS LARGELY ACCOUNT FOR
LACK OF INTEREST IN THE WHEEL.
The Eject OF the Atlanta Exposition
and the Wheelmen's Day Banquet
Given by X. Lindsay Coleman.

hold in the South. This is largely due TO
the fact that the roads of that portion OF
the country are not very conducive to the
sport, otherwise II would have more de-
votees south OF Mason and Dixon line than
north Of il, for the climate is such as to
permit the of the wheel for a much
greater portion OF the year than in the
North. In summer time. strange to as II
may seem to those who have never spent
a summer in the South, the weather is
scarcely as warm as 1t will average in the
Northern central States, and the long au-
tumns with their cool nights make the
early morning atmosphere the most delight
full for a spin of few miles on the wheel.
In parts OF the North where the roads are
no better and the climate much worse many
wheels are to be found, no doubt caused by
the near proximity to country where the
conditions are such as to promote the
sport. thus causing the less-favored parts
to adopt the Wheel although under adverse
circumstances.
There are parts Of the South, however,
where the roads for considerable distance
are good and where wheeling would be one
Of the great delights Of the people IL once
thoroughly introduced. In Tennessee this
might be said Of the country Immediately
surrounding Nashville and for considera-
BILE distance south of the city, even as far
south as below Columbia. Many good roads
also exist near Knoxville. The eastern
metropolis of the State has a number of
fine macadamized pixies leading from 1t. and
the other roads are good for wheeling for
a large part Of the year. Going farther
south good roads may be found near Mo-
bile. The old shell road there Is one OF the
best in the United States and Is kept in as
good condition as any city boulevard. 1t
has caused quite an impetus In bicycling
near that city. The same is true in differ
ent parts of the South where good roads
may be found, but the fact that good roads
leading from city to city do not exist has
kept the use OF the bicycle down to min
imum.
OTHER SOUTHERN CITIES.
In New Orleans there is little inducement
for people to purchase bicycles. Most peo-
pie in buying them do so with the idea Of
combining business with pleasure, or rather
combining pleasure with business, and in
New Orleans, most Of the streets are
paved with granite blocks and are quite
rough, there is little opportunity for the use
OF the wheel in business. When viewed as
a means Of pleasure they can be used large
ly in that city, for there are many asphalt
and brick streets in the residence portions
of the city that afford good riding. There
are no roads leading to the country, though,
that are passable for wheels. Birmingham
is yet too new to have good roads leading
into 1t and the streets are not in much bet
ter condition.
Atlanta is one of the exceptions. 1t is an
old city and has good streets, many of
which are paved with either asphalt or
brick. They are hilly enough to give a
great deal of good coasting, but not so hilly
as to tire rider. The surrounding country
has many good roads, although not nearly
so good as the average gravel road of In
diana. The efforts of the bicycle manufac-
turers to enlarge their trade in the South
has not met with entire failure by any
means, although the riders enjoy the sport
with many hindrances not known in the
North.
A few years ago, even two years ago,
many cities or towns Of eight to ten thou
sand population, could be found where not
a single late model wheel could be seen.
Most of such towns had few of the old
ordinaries and some OF them had one or
two of the earlier makes of the safety, but
these had proved to be such failure that
ment of the modern pneumetic-tired wheel.
The sandy roads had been the great enemy
of the bicycle. until the pneumatic tire came
into use, and then it was found hard to
show the people that the new tire would OBJ
viate the difficulties found in the old-style
wheel
THE ATLANTA GATHERING.
The Atlanta Exposition has done a great
deal toward enlightening the people In re-
gard to the new bicycle. The exhibits of
wheels are large and comprehensive, and a
great interest has been shown in them by
the Southern visitors. This, added to what
has been done by the l.. A w. In fostering
races in the South, has made change in
bicycling in that section that now seems
to be the beginning of a new era. The
races of the South in some OF the larger
cities have stimulated the riders to make
country trips Of greater length than ever
before, and now what was looked upon
short time ago as simply possibility. but
scarcely practicable, is an assured fact.
Nov. 30 was Wheelman's day at the At
lanta Exposition and many clubs from
Georgia towns made the trip on wheels and
found that even with the Indifferent roads
there was a pleasure in the trip that could
not have been had by rail- To add more
interest to the day and give the wheelmen
of the South an opportunity to meet many
of the prominent cyclists OF the North, r.
Lindsay Coleman. president of the Western
Wheel Works, OF Chicago, decided to give
banquet at the Kimball House for the
Southern wheelmen. This was Mr. Cole
mans forty-ffth anniversary. In response
to the toast, "Our Host" at the banquet, he
stated that he had concluded that as the
wheelmen Of the country had given him the
opportunity TO make a fortune out of the
business. he thought it time that he should
do something for their pleasure. He is a
Southerner, being native of Virginia, and,
wanting to see the sport advanced in the
South. decided to do something TO make an
interest in Ii. For that reason he gave the
banquet, at which nearly five hundred peo-
pie were seated. Among the guests were a
large number of the officers of the L. A. W.,
many of the prominent riders of the coun-
try and officers in prominent bicycle clubs
of Chicago and New York. From the South
there were clubs from many of the leading
cities and a large number OF clubs from
towns in Georgia. 1t was a merry gather
ing and one that will long be remembered
by the Southern wheelmen, in whose honor
1t was given.
1t is believed that this gathering of wheel
men will do more toward the increase of in
In xx-haa In ha