The evening times., 1896-03-23
GREYHOUNDS TOO FLEET
Savannah Young Woman Wins
Novel Race From Gyelist.
American improvements in Wheels
Are Adopted by English Makers
'.- Illness of Rider Banker.

There Is a young woman in Savannah,
Ga, who doesn't ride a bicycle and who
has the most supreme contempt for the
steed of steel. s he owns a couple of very
handsome and very fleet greyhounds, both
of which are wonderfully well trained, and
in a conversation with a wellsnown young
bicyclist recently she made the statement
that her dogs could draw her over the
roads faster than he could ride. The result
was a challenge. The contest took place
near the city, and was for two miles. The
greyhounds beat he bicycle by at least 100
yards. Is this a fairy tale?
ANY one at all familiar with the Anglo
American bicycle trade Will have noticed
how improvements in American wheels
have been gradually adopted by English
manufacturers after the lapse of sufficient
time o prove their value, as though Johnny
Bull was diffident about copying anything
not tested by experience across the pond
Look at I he English wheels for 1896. Nearly
all have horizontal frames, larger tubing,
barrel hubs, and crank-hanger, features
that have been culled from studies IN
American wheels, not o speak of the wood
rim which is not a success in England, for
very good reasons. Every one knows that
wood rims are an advantage only in light
bicycles; that a heavy pair OF 1ive-pound
tires will take the life out of them, and that
they are better adapted to single than TO
double-tube tires, Still johnny Bull looks
for satisfactory results riding his heavy
twent y-eight-pound machine, fitted with
heavy one and three-quarter inch double
tubes, and heavy wood rims made out or
common beech wood The fault is with j.
B. himself, because he makes unsuccessful
combinations, and because he is seemingly
not bot hered by having his rims made out
OF such utterly unfit material as beech
wood. English manufacturers do not stop
| to consider these items, Or maybe they do
not care.
Those who are interested in cycle racing
will regret to learn that George A. Banker.
the American rider. is seriously i'll with ty-
phoid fever at Nice. Bankerleftthis country
abouttwo o weeksago for Europe togetin con-
dition to ride Portin and other foreign riders.
| in the coming Championships on the other
| side and he wasconfident that he would win
| the honor and the rich trophies which go
| with it. Bankers parents live in Pittsburg.
and they have been informed by telegraph OF
! his illness. Even if Banker has 4 speedy re-
| covery from his present Hines. ii is doubt
/ full if he will be able to regain his strength
| in time TO do much racing this year. In the
! opinion of those who are considered experts
| in such matters. Banker showed too much
| haste in going into training after he reached
the other side, Banker is popular with rae
| ing men on both sides of the ocean.
! John L. Pagan. who now holds the record
| of seven hours and fifty-eisht minutes be-
| tween Philadelphia and New York, Is await
! ing permission of the weather to make an
! other trial. He is confident of materially
| lesSeninG the existing time.
The L. A. W. is growing. For the pres
| ent week 293 new members have Joined
| from New York State. ma king a total OF
| 11.341 Massachusetts comes second this
week, with 146. The total membership of
the league TO date is 1905.
| Hundreds of wheels of almost every make.
and including many specimens which were
exhibited at the Chicago and New York
shows are being displayed ut Kansas City's
first annual cycle show, which has opened
auspiciously The show will last for three
days. and it is to be made an annual
| affair.
Il
!: Chairman Gideon officially announces
that the racing season for 1896 will begin
May 80.
An effort Is being made to organize a
lea que of colored cyclists similar to the
Leagu of American Wheelmen.
| Arthur Gardiner, the young Chicago
flier. will ride this year with the profes-
sionals. He made n statement TO this
effect last week.
A lamp will light easier IL the tip OF
the wick is squeezed free from Oil between
the fingers. In wind turn the side win
dow away from the wind and the moment
the lighted match is inserted close the win
dow until the flame from the match has
been communicated TO the wick.
A cablegram from Sydney, Australia,
announces the defeat OF the English cyclist
Harris in a mile race against Mystery. a
welI-known trotter, $125 side. The
American racer Martin is the next wheelman
entered against Mystery.