The record-union., 1895-11-30
CYCLE TOPICS.
interesting Bits of Information for
WheeImen.
Zimmerman in Australia-How the
Mile Record Has Been Reduced
in Five Years.
(From Cycle Topics.l

(From Cycle Topics)
The agitation raised by Chief Consul
Isaac B. Potter, of the New York State
division of the L. A. W., to the effect
that the league could do very we'll with
out the sport has caused no end of COM
ment from one end of the country to the
other The general sentiment is that no
organization in America is better suited
to govern this branch Of sport than the
league It nursed it from its infancy,
and put the very life into IL when the
last flicker seemed destined to die out
Now that it is a strong infant and ca
pable of withstanding the buffeting
that is given racing from all sides, can
the league afford to desert it, and at
time when the pastime is beginning to
pay the organization back for its sup
port years ago? The Amateur Athletic
Union is quick to appear with an asser-
ton that it will take up and foster rae
ing, but the wheelmen of the country
protest Consul Potter will never be
able to carry out his part of the pro-
posed programme to relirquish the
leagues control of it.
Zimmerman is now in Australia andis
training for the big pro" races which
are soon to take place in that country.
Zimmy's friends say that the competi-
ton will not be hard.
Earl H. Kiser of Dayton, O., and a
member of the Stearn's team, is one of
the youngest and fastest riders on the
American path to-day.ThiS phenomenal
youngster only began his debut in the
paid class at Rochester this last spring,
where his initiation was marked by a
plucky win in the half-mile open. His
I'D
was only an indication of the remarka-
bic speed contained in the makeup of
this midget. At Springfield on the last
day of the great meet he was placed in
every race in which he started and fin
ished third in the great record mile
which was won by few feet from Ca
banne. Kiser is so diminutive in ap-
pearance that the sympathy of the
spectators is with him the moment he
makes his appearance on the track, and
his victories are the signal for genu-
inc burst of enthusiasm. In handicap
events is KiSer a singularly strong
rider, and he has been winning hands
down on the Western and National cir
cults.
The riders who are now following the
California circuit will doubtless remain
on the coast most of the winter. T. Ed.
SpOoner, the cycle writer, has scheme
in view to take a party into Mexico as
he did a year ago, but, it is hoped, with
better results. Some of the men will try
for records on the famous Los Angeles
track on which Foster rode the paced
half-mile in As seconds.
The boomers have come to stay.
Early last spring, before the snow had
scarce left the ground, wheelwOmen
We're dividing their opinions as to the
adaptability Of the rational costume.
One by one they have been won over to
the side which seeks health awheel and
in the garb best suited for its conVen-
fences. Hail to the bloomer girl, for she
is the fin de steele maiden and worthy
of communication
The worlds five-mile record was
broken recently by Fred c. List of the
Stearns racing team. Early in the sea-
son List was transferred to class b
and banished all hope of succeeding
among these riders. He entered two
or three events and then gave up in dis
gust But the boy, he is not yet -, had
the perseverance to train and began to
fit himself for the road. To-day he is
one of the fastest road riders in the
country. He rode within one-fifth of a
second of Charley Church in the %
mile race at Wilmington, Del, and his
five miles paced in 1l:17 stamp him a
coming wonder over the road and a
foeman with true merit.
manufacturers is the production of a
slightly heavier road wheel than was
used last season. Wheels intended for
road races will be light at IS pounds
while the average roadsters will list as
high as 20. Heavier tires will also be
used to a great extent.
George Banker, the American rider
who is now competing professionally in
Paris lost the Grand PriX race because,
as he termed it, nervousness robbed him
of a chance TO land the final victory.
Banker says that he is always nervous
when riding in big races, but means to
remain in France until he has wiped
out all the defeats.
There was a rumor started recently
that f. c. Bald of Buffalo would for
sake class 3 and try his fortunes
alongside of Fred Titus among the
French pros Bald in a recent inter
view said that he would not leave
Americas unless the bids from the
land of gold were Of sufficient magni-
tude Cannon" Bald thought thai
$4,000 would warrant him spending g
season abroad and denies any prear-
ranged plan between himself and I'll
tus In conversation with Handicap
per A c. Batchelder some time age
Bald declared himself for professional
ism in a jocular way, but never init
mated that he would go to France I'M
less there was something IN It. The
American rider who follows in the foot
steps of the illustrious A. A. thinner
man viii not find the smooth sailing
that characterized the mighty Jimmy:
visit among the frog eaters.
Those who recall the mile record tina
existed five years ago. when the bes
men in America were endeavoring L
pull 1t below 2:15. cannot but marvel a
the turn of speed exhibited recently by
riders at Louisville Five years agc
competition miles ridden under 2:2(
were chronicled as being marvellous
ard now what does the average ride
think of the competition record mad,
recently by Otto Zeigler at Louisville
Of I :53 %? This is going and no mis-
take But the system of pacing now il
vogue has gotten down TO such a fin,
ooint that it really detracts the interes
Ar the sport Those who love TO see {
wheelman ride for what there is il
him can find little SOlace in witnessins