The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-04-21
GREAT YEAR FOR CYCLING.

New York. April 2o.-It would not be a
surprising thing If nearly every bicycle
record from 40 yards to fifty miles were
lowered this season IN the contests in
which John S. Johnson, Walter C. Sanger,
Fred j. Titus and Owen Ziegler are to
struggle for the supremacy. 1t is reported
that Houben, the crack English wheelman,
as we'll as Watson and Henie. who have
beaten records in Great Britain. are, to
visit this country Henie holds records
from four miles to eight miles, while Wat
son is the ten-mile champion of England.
If these men come to the United States,
contests will be arranged in which the
English champions will meet the fastest
American riders with results sure to be
interesting.
Houben is a famous wheelman of great
speed and wonderful endurance, but he
will have to drive his wheel faster than
he ever has done to beat either Sanger,
Johnson or Titus. 1t is doubtful if there
is bicycle rider in the world who can beat
John S. Johnson of Minneapolis, unless it
be Walter Sanger, and it is doubtful if
the rider has yet mounted a wheel who
can defeat Fred Titus at from twenty to
thirty miles.
Titus, by the way, has joined the Spald-
ing DICytle ledin, ana ne mas lSSueu ii
chaIlange to ride any man in the world %
miles for 5000 a side. 1t would not be
wonderful if no cyclist picked up the
gauntlet for bicycle riders are like race
horses and pedestrians. These belong in
classes. Many can ride the shorter DIS
tances in fast time while others who
fan at short distances are successful al
the longer runs. 1t is Claimed that neither
johnson nor Sanger can ride % miles as
fast as many others, while Titus could not
live with Sanger or Johnson in shorter
spin. Johnson is prOpably the fastest BIZ
cycle rider in the world for mile. The
wonderful mile rode by while Wtndle in
/ minute &c as seconds was reduced last
year to l minute 80 20 seconds by John s.
Johnson, and the time will come very
shortly, If not this summer, when the mile
record we'll be ! minute 80 seconds. john
SON. mile well as Windle's was made
with flying start. Harry c. Tyler's one
mile standing has been lowered by Walter
c. Sanger and to him alone belongs the
title Of champion at the standing mlle, he
having covered the distance in ? minutes
1-5 seconds.
The bicycle is now of as great impor-
lance as the trotting horse so far as rae
ing is concerned. and 1t has been proven
that il can be propelled faster and further
than horse.
John S. Johnson, the champion bicycle
rider of the world, is a Swede, % years old,
slim built, and Weighing in training. 1S8
pounds. He Is not a stocky, sturdy lad
like Windle. nor a model of athletic beauty
Ike a. A. Zimmerman. He is not only
but he is just as fast on roller and steel
skates as he is on a wheel Some of his
/ records made last year were: 40 yards, -
seconds; $50 yards. 80 seconds; one mile,
l minute, A. 3-5 seconds; two miles, 3
minutes 81 3-5 seconds: these records were
made with flying start. Johnson also
holds the following records with standing
start, which exceed trotting horse time:
Quarter of a mile, Is seconds; half a mile,
onds; two miles, minutes 1 second; three
miles, minutes seconds; four miles, IS
minutes Is 3-5 seconds; five miles 20 min
utes. p SO seconds The best record for
one mile ever made by any cyclist was
made by Johnson at Bunalo, n. Y, Oct.
a. 1894, when he covered a mile on
straightaway course in the remarkable
time Of minute IS rs seconds, which per-
Torrance beat the best mile run on
vator having covered a mile at Monmouth
Park. Long Branch, n. j.. in minute S5ls
/ seconds.
johnson is now one year older and
ne has had greater experience and more
practice. He confidently expects this sum-
mer 10 beat his Buffalo record Early in
MS career Johnson was not regarded rs
a fast man, and was beaten any number
OF times Ia comDetn .Ons on an ordinary
wheel. The elHptical sprocket gear used
on bicycles reduces the amount Of friction
70 q minimum and Us D big advantage TO
h strong wheel driver. who plugs away
ar tne crauks and relies on his power
more than bis cicyerncFs 20 fast pedaiiug.
Tho invention Is an old one. but ll has
only recently come into use. johnson was
one OF INC nrst 60 use the Improved bicy-
cin ans rode mite in ] minute 81 rs
seconds Another thlng that has operated