The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-06-24
CYCLE TOPICS.
Notes of Interest to Riders of "The Silent
Steed"

Steed."
Walter c. Sanger during the past few
weeks seems to have passed out of ex-
istence. Doubtless his trainer recog-
niZed the fact that the big fellow was
not fit. and called him off the track TO
| condition him more thoroughly. Be
fore the season is over Sanger vii prove
q favorable rival to some Of the top
notchers.
| Years ago 1t was the fashion with
| wheelmen to engage in hill climbing
tests, and TO such a degree did the pas
time go, that many records made years
ago still stand to this day. When the
] low frames were first introduced there
were large numbers of ordinarios IN use,
and it was then plainly apparent that
the new invention greatly excelled the
| awkward machine that soon passed into
| disuse.
In and around Boston, in the outlying
| cities where wheelnen are practically
born in America, Inhabitants are wont
/ to tell Of the daredevil rides of cyclists
| who coasted down the steep inclines
! with the speed of the wind and haZarded
Life and limb on the enterprise. Acct
dents were numerous for the reason that
! the smallest stone or rut was sufficient
l.,
not without severe injury. But those
days have passed-with the ordinary.
Today interest still centers in coasting.
and during the present year more peo-
pie are interested in It, and more peo-
pie enjoy st than has characterized any
harmless sport that may be found In
the wheel.
The reason that no announcement
has come across the pond regarding the
| movements of Willis 3. Troy's Push
No. 2" is because Mr.. Troy is not going
to let his men out until they are fit.
Owing to the climatic conditions and
the time 1t takes for a rider TO accus-
tom himself to the surrounding which
exist In the old world, Americans have
been obliged 10 submit to consi6era bic
preliminary effort before plunging into
the whirlpool Of competition The mem
bers of the Stearn's team are now sub
jecting themselves to the conditions
in which they find new life. new me tn
DDS and new ideas. OF course Harry
Wheeler and Mr.. Troy are familiar with
the scenes and all that pertains to life
in France. but Murphy and Kiser are
yet unsophisticated and must learn
when IN Rome TO follow the customs of
the people. It viii be a couple OF weeks
yeti before tidtngs of their spirit and
race winnings VIII be a matter of COM
ment for every tongue. II is in the air,
and no obstacle is now within the line
OF vision that can mar their prospective
success.
To such ends has this craze gone that
scientists are even studying a problem
regarding the best means to be en-
plOyed IN coaSting. Z. C. Stearns, Of
Syracuse. has been making experiments
and is the most expert coaster in thai
part Of the country. His idea is that
the ball bearings must be perfect, a b.
solutely frictionless. and this ia respon-
sible to a large degree for his success
Another Syracusan has spent some time
in exploiting ideas. His theory is that
when the seat IS directly over the ped
ais. or nearer the center of the wheel
base, so much better can r5der coast.
and 50 much farther will his wheel go.
By gradually working his seat for
ward and spending hour after hour in
the enjoyment OF the experiment, he has
come TO the conclusion that the seat
must be very we'll forward to insure
success IN cOssting tournaments With
In a few months this practice will be
the vogue. 1t IS now being enjoyed al
most universally. and some interesting
sta tstics Will doubtleSsly be compiled
by those interested Manufacturers |
will soon test the running qualities OF |
their bicycles by matching them in |
races
Buffalo IS the city where bicycle |
champions are developed II IS a re- |
msrkabie thing that last year the class |
B champion and the invincible amateur |
hailed from the same town. Besides /
this, they have road riders. the equals 1
OF which IL is hard 10 find. Lsonart I
Went paced mile IN incredu;ouSly fast /
time; E. g. Bald was the class B cham /
pion, and c. H Werick. that dark /
haired ana dark skinned orange youth.
who came Ike g specter around the last 1
turn 70 surprise the people by his mar /
velous speed and his daring rides. was
the amateur who covered himself with |
glory and left an indelible print Of MS \
capabilities L A. Callahan and (. Il.
were riders the people %
America have heard q very often. and /
these boys are now relieving the path
with the same success character.zirs
their efforts as n the past. one theory
regarding Buffaio,s success IN this par
ticular line IS IRE fact that the city has
over $50 miles Of asphalt pavement. and
riders move fast over the level country
whether they know II or not Il is |
singular fact. neverthel and IN
orecedeated. Even Chicago. with her
many inhabitants. hss not the rsputa-
-icn in the bicycle world the city 81 |
Buffalo commands today.
Whether wheslmsn ever hesd the al
wee given them through the msdiuE, OF
TIE press is hGrd 70 say. but much inter
estlng matter pertaining TO tie wheel
ald the benefits rhat may Be der4Yred. 1