New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-01-05
PART iii.
PAGES ri TO 2S.
N THE CYCLING WORLD.
r,,r ANNUAL CONVENTION OF THE l..
3 W.

srroyG FIGHT TO BE MADE IN FAVOR OF
WING Up THE CONTROL OF RAc1NG-THE
QUESTION or BRAKEs-wHEELING
ROUTES IN BROOKLYN.
-.-oo,r,en generally are looking forward to
oDnnal convention of the League Of Amer-
"'e uhoo,men. which will be held at Baltimore
,.oirg February 10. with more interest than
o,er before been evinced in the National
hlv Most Of the State divisions have
,,oad the policy that they Will pursue at
~ meeting. and il the convention were to be-
- tomorrow there might be chance now to
III with some degree Of certainty what would
=. done There is. however. much time in
,orvening in which to arrange deals and com
,inations and. in consequence nobody can
,en with any absouteness what the outcome
I'm he. Several divisions will so to the assem-
,,v So strorg and so determined to carry
through their pet schemes that stampedes may
- 1lace The candidates for the presidency
ra thinning out. and ii is beginning TO look
o. II the fight on this point would be between
S,arljnc Elliott. Of Massachusetts. and the in
cumbent Archibald {. Wilson, OF Maryland
Ceoree Perkins has announced that the presi-
Sental bee no longer buZZes in his bonnet, ana
49, h. will run for the Vice-presidencN on the
Willison ticket. Isaac T. Potter Is not even
oonsidered a possihity-not but that he could
tove the Office If he would accept it, but
he will not allow lis name 10 ne useu NHile ne
has a suit pending against the League Ana
that old Good Roads" magazine trouble Will
come up at the meeting and II VIII prove
lively topic for discussion while il lasts
Ney-York State stands alone. or nearly so,
on the racing question but in spite Of that
fact the division will make a better showing
IN its effort To have the League cut away
from racing than many people seem to think.
Mr. Potter and his admirers are not certain
bv any means that they will be able TO make
much Of an impression on this question before
me National Assembly. but they argue that
Il is a reform in the right direction. and, While
II may not come this year. such an innovation
will be made before long. The delegates from
This State twenty-three strong, are unit on
the quest on Of the ACCESSIBILITY or the League :
giving up the control of racing. and such a
fouidahle showing Will have more weight than
Is generally believed at this time. The contro.
yersy over where the annual race meeting shali
he held offers another opportunity for deals
Toledo and Louisville are the active bidders,
with the chances at present slightly In favor
OF the Ohio city. From purely trade point OF
peous point of the two. Then the old color
line" promises Of the South, which seemed TO
have been forgotten as soon as they We're maui,
will not help Kentucky in its efforts 10 get the
meet.
prominent cyclst in crticising the action
establish an Office In this city so that the work
Of the division can be carried on satisfactorily
saws that mistake has been made. and that
the State Division Will spend more money than
the expenses of the National organization Will
amount TO- The statement Will lose its force
when the facts are read. They are as follows:
In 1886 with membership Of about 5,OJp' me
division gave to Messrs. Potter and Bul 'he
sum Of 81 900 for expenses. Now, with mem
bership Of 10000, the expenses Will be $o,t", or
an increase Of only $2.10O. Under the new ar
rangement the division work can be doie III
a more businesslike way. ana the onlclalS De-
Neye that the membership in TINS state VIII
reach 10000 before the present year Is ended
The controversy over the need of brake on
a bicycle will doubtless be o. long continuance.
Those who have dispensed with brakes ailo-
gether are eloquent in procla!ming that such an
attachment is a useless excrescence. and that IL
Is possible TO control Il machine perfectly Dy
means Of the feet. with vigorous back-pedalling'
while in case Of necessity the sole Of the shoe
can b. used as a brake. on tbs contrary. rGeis
who have always had a brake READY Tor use dt-
clare that II is indispensable, although they nat
urally regret the effect which brake SO often
has on the tire. Probably many Of those VINO get
along without a brake unless they are o. 'he
"scorcher class" would he glad To use one II
they could be sure Of not spelling or lnJurlns
tire in the process.
A conservative rider VINO mas useu d IOo'-
brake for the last two seasons has taken TINS
leaf out Of his experience for the benefit OF read
ers Of this column: For all ordinary riding
around New-York and Brooklyn there is no need
OF a brake on a bicycle at ell. There are no hills
Of importance which cannot be easily managed
BY the pedals. But when touring through the
country | have found every now and then hill.
especially IL II rough and stony, where l
should have lost control Of my wheel without
brake at my command. And have found foot
brake to answer the purpose very well. There
Is. in the first place, nothing unsightly about it
and nothing 10 rattle Tie extra weight is
mere triAe. My brake weighs eleven ounces.
but this year there are foot-brakes made
which weigh as little as three ounces. 1t is
true that I have worn my tire somewhat but
mover enough 10 cause serious damage, but be-
I,e,a that a brake can be made that viii have
very little bad effect on the tire. | never have
occasion to use a brake IN crowded street 80
as to stop quickly. as hear OF some iiuei9 no.
Ing because they have hand axes Dut on
steen hin or in case OF the giving way or the
chain IL Is absolutely necessary H. Apply Dfahe
Of some kind. have tried the shoe sore Ioi tliiS
purpose but was convinced OF the SUI
perIOrjtv u the foot brake. know OF one man
who got a bad fall by catching the Toe OF ms
shoe I'm the fork. and others VINO resort 10 thIs
method have told that the frlcuoh some
tine creates so much heat that 1t IS impossible
10 hold the foot on The tire any longer. 40"
that wheemen selecting their HouHts 'o'
1886 my advice would be TO get a good loot
brake IL need not be kept on the machine an
the time. but it will b mighty handy to have IN
reserve for use on a tour or iohS liue away
from the immediate vicinity Of the city.
The new brick pavement on McDonough-str
Brooklyn. has been opened for use in the last
few days. and has attracted the curious IN