New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-05-17


The state Road Commissioner of New-Jersey,
Henry T. Budd, has given considerable study 10
the subject Of steel-track highways. He believes
that they will be widely used in the future ana IS
anxious that an experimental road OF ths KIM
be built at once. The plan of most drivers 10
keen in the regular track is, of course. extremely
obstructive TO good roads. Traffic which, II as
tributed would do no harm. ruins road Whel
confined to the same lines. On the MerricK hoau,
Long Island signs are posted at Intervals ASKING
persons not to drive In one track ana mus 10 pr
feet the road. II drivers would keep TO the rght
the ruts would be much longer IN FORMING. ne ne
steel tracks are designed to save the roau anu q.
the same time to permit the hauling or larger
loads than could be drawn an ordinary hlBh-
way. The tracks are to be five inches wide. one
set would be enough unless the tralhc W. W
heavy in which case there would be Two. i.,e
cost Is estimated by Mr.. Budd al S2,ooo mlle
for the single track. The foundation Wouid n9t
be rs deep as that OF an ordinary macauah roiN'
II .C:Wetmore the veteran cyclst of Eliza
both in speaking about old-time clubs the other
dav said: "The Manhattan BICYCLE Club was inc
first club Of the sort organized in this CITY, ana
the BROOKLYN Bicycle Club is the pioneer ciuo
Of Rrooklvn. think that w. NJ Wright was
one of the incorporators of the Manhattan VIII
elliott Mason started the Citizens Club, VIII i
came to life later. The League parade was h,ii
On 1899 This same Wright opened the hrst VI
cycle store in this city at Fulon-st and BroaH-
way. Wright opened an uptown store IN H.
ave and all the clubs in the CITY Hau '"1'
headouarters in the same building.
The Riverside Wheelmen now that they nave
lost the old Pontiac Building, will try to interest
some capitalists in building them clubhouse
on the Boulevard near One-hundred-anu-'w wen
tieth-st. On Memorial Day the clro VIII
snnods Of racing members all over the district,
Snyder and V de John. new men, VIII represent
tine club in the Irvington-Millhurn.
Entries for the Irvington- Millbrrn twent!-hVe-
mile race are coming in in a flood. over SIM!
entries had been received up to yesterday, ana
the late arrivals always the heaviest. VIII carry
the LIST I'D to formidable proportions EhVIes
are coming in from Boston. New-Haven ana
from all over Pennsylvania New-Jersey anu
New-York
The Jersey City Club wheelmen are going into
road and track racing In earnest this year. Inc
club has adopted a new club pin OF handsome
design The pin contains the coat OF arms OF the
State Of New-Jersey and the design OF wiieel,
The rim is of gold, with the club name IN Diue
enamel.
The Hackensack Wheemen, a comparatively
new club, have membership Of 2o0 the mem
bers are thinking Of making their club an l.. A.
w organization F. A Hewett has charge or
the clubs house-warming which will take place
on the night Of Memorial Day. The fast riders
of the club will enter most OF the races held In
Hudson County. although no entries nave Deem
made for the Irvngt on Millburn contest
The Elizabeth Athletic Club cyclers will have
a ten-me club team championship race on June
10 Among those who will enter are F. Loehrs,
J. Bird, Clinton Gilbert, Len and G. Appeoy
and John Cook
An innovation is promised at Asbury Park and
many Of the best known people socially are In
terested in II. The Ariel Cyclers have been or
gained and it will become an L. A. W. club
This club Is composed entirely Of women. The
club will be exclusive and one blackball VIII be
sufficient to keep out an applicant Tor neil VT,
ship. Miss Edith Mitchell is the president: MISS
Louise Steger. secretary, and Mrs Jesse Minot'
treasurer This will be the only woman's L. A.
W. club in America, and Chief Consul Gentle has
done much TO bring about its orgarization
About this time wheemen who contemplate ex-
tended tours are in the habit OF making their
plans. laying out routes. etc. 1t Is good thing
70 take these matters In hand reasonably early,
although it is possible to have an enjoyable trip
II decision to make 1t is arrived at only lew
days before the start. carefully planned Trip
however ie TO be preferred by most people, ana
there is a good deal Of satisfaction in studying
routes Weighing one against another and finally
deciding which will afford the greatest amount Of
from people who have gone over certain routes
and others are described in various papers de-
voted 10 the interests Of wheelmen. while the
road books prepared under the direction Of the
l.. A. W. divisions in the various States are IN
valuable, even though the Information contained
In them Is not always accurate and fully up 10
date
The ideal touring party is small-some think
that two members are enough-and an even num-
Der Is preferable to an odd one, since a DIVISION
into pairs is most convenient on many ROADS AS
little luggage possible should be carried, and
nothing that cannot be packed In one Of the tour
list bags made to fit in the bicycle frame Tools
and repair kits are. OF course, indispensable: so,
too, is lamp. for the party may be delayed by
some mishap and after-dark riding may become
necessary. Allowance must always be made Tor
foul weather II the members Of the party are
strictly limited In the amount of time they can
spend on the trip 1t is a mistake TO undertake
too much in the way Of riding day after day. ana
provision should be made for detours TO points OF
interest. The whole idea OF a bicycle trip should
be not to make work OF II. but 10 extract from IL
as much pleasure possible
The sad fate OF young Mr. Tiemann the other
day should convey a warning to inexperienced
riders as to the danger Of going on crowded thor
oughfares before they have fully mastered the
wheel and feel perfect confidence in riding It, Mr..
Tiemann thought he knew how to ride and so he
did in surroundings where he was free from dan
ger His fatal mishap occurred the first time he
went any distance from his home on his bicycle.
The inexperienced rider not only runs great
risk himself, but he imperils the safety OF all
the other riders he meets or passes. In some for
eign cities no one is permitted to ride bicycle
in public places until he has passed an examina-
ton in the presence Of the police or other off,
Gals and demonstrated his ability TO mount, TO
turn around, to ride among a number OF irregu-
iary placed posts etc.
Complaints are heard in reference to the mac
curacy Of cyclometers. not always with just
cause No doubt there are some poor cyclometers
on the market, but the standard makes may be
relied on. 1t sometimes happens that rider goes
out on his wheel on the road where the miles
marked off with posts. and fails to find that his
record agrees with the measurement OF the
veyors He overlCoks the fact that the survey was
made in a straight line and that 1t is impossible