The herald., 1896-06-15
THE WHEEL

The proposal to tax bicycles 81 apiece.
says the New York World, while other
pleasure vehicles go free has no sense
and no justice in it. If the city needs to
raise revenue In any such fashion it
should impose a wheel tax-so much per
wheel-on all private vehicles. The BIZ
cyclers outnumber the buggy drivers
ten to one, and their rights are the same.
They are ready to pay their share of the
city's revenues, but they don't want to
pay the buggy drivers share also, and
they ought not to be called upon to do so.
A San Francisco druggist, according
to the Oakland Enquirer. gives an alarm
ing account of the growth of the kola
habit among bicyclists. When starting
on long runs the wheelmen, so it is re-
ported, take the kola pills to prevent the
feeling of fatigue. and the artificial
stimulant becomes a habit which cannot
be easily broken off. 1t is asserted that
nearly 10000 bottles of this drug were
sold In San Francisco last year and 2S, 900
in San Jose.
The defeat of John s. Johnson abroad.
says Cycle Topics. by three foreign rid
ers has been the subject of considerable
comment That this rider, who has
proved himself prize winner and cham
pion on this side of the water, should be
SO numerically trounced by men who
would not stand a ghost of a show
against at least four American riders, Is
naturally matter that has proved irrit-
able to the sensitive nature of Americans
who look upon successful conquests in
Europe as a matter of course. But 1t
must be understood that racing in
France is much different from the meth
ods employed by promoters in this coun-
try. Across the briny a champion cyclist
Is the envied of the envied. He Is feted
and treated like a lord while his star is
in the ascendency, but let him fall and
<y~1 of axrk %v,o
man who Is his conqueror. Naturally an
intrepid race, the Frenchmen make the
most of their nerve, particularly In cycle
racing, where there are so many compet-
itors and where 1t is hard matter to
remain on top very long. The tracks
are small and well banked. To see the
riders skurrying around the turns or
into the stretch is worth going miles to
witness. They do not know what fear
is, and American racing men must be-
come accustomed to such competition.
The method of pace making in vogue in
France has gotten down to system,
and French racing men know how to
follow pace. Under such circumstances
1t Is not to be wondered at that johnson
has made no better showing. The
Stearns racing team-Murphy, Kiser and
Wheeler-will soon be in the mix-up,
and then tales will come from Troy Of
their showing. Wheeler understands
the tactics of the men he must meet, for
he has defeated the best of them in in
ternational championships. Kiser and
Murphy will soon be initiated.
It is a great honor in France to win
the Brassard medal, or plat as 1t is
called. This decoration Is attached to
the arm and is worn by the rider so long
as he is able to retain 1t. OF course the
event is not run every day, but when it
is called the French riders fight tooth
f,, ho fronhU E.q oh track has
q plate, and 1t is highly priced, indeed.
The following pointers for wheelmep
are from the Louisville Times:
The wheelman who allows a hearse to
pass him will die before the year is % out:
blue eye and one black one indicates II
10 see small boy with n sung shot be-
side the road is a prophecy OF puncture.
If YOU pass white horse driven by red
haired lady your rim will split unless you
say cajandrum and hold up sWT soa ngefs ce
If you take your machine to the repair
shop it is sign that you will not buy that
Kicking the man who asks the make Of
your wheel is a sign of high honors and
Lending the W wheel is the sign of the
70 attempt to hold up 275-pound woman
These predictions will be bound In PAM
phlet form and I trust the day. is not for
distant when they will be found pasted In
the hat of every reputable wheelman.
The following is the weekly bulletin
issued by the racing board:
(Bulletin No 14.) JUNE 12 1896
Sanctions granted-June 49, Compton Cy-
Gle club, Compton, CAL: June 10, Lowell
and Polytechnic high schools, San Fran
CISCO Cal; July %, "a and 25 NJ N. Winans
co. and SACRAMENTO indoor tournament,
Suspended for competing in unsanc.
toned races at Fresno, Nav BE. w.
HeckeT, rssH,ct =. & Barton ar R: p; Her,ot John
Arnold Johnson, William Farmer, = Logan.