Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-02-08
'AULf FOUND WITH TEE CONDUIT ROAD
CURRENT LOCAL GOSSIP

As the riding season approaches the mind
Of the cyclist reverts to the season of last
year, and wonders if the coming season will
though there viii be no want Of good sport
the coming year. This is only a conjecture
and changes and mishaps are liable to ap-
pear at any time, and interrupt the proceed
irgs of the program.
Last season passed by with two race meets,
three road races, and two club road races,
making total of seven public events, the
majority of which came off in the fall. One
popularity of these races lies in the fact
that most of them were planned and exc
cuted in remarkably quick notice, which
spoke well for the projectors of the same
In the matter Of enterprise, energy and
ability. OF all these races but few records
were lowered, and the only road record
lowered was in the twenty-mile road race
the record being lesitimately lowered by T.
N. Mudd, jr., by only six seconds. Ball was
the only other man to accomplish this. and
in the same race he finished five seconds
ahead of the former record
The great objection to racing on the Con-
ruit road, which has been made by many
people, lies in the fact that an individual
does not see enough of the men. If the
starting point be the scene. spectator can
see the men begin the race, and also see
see the men in their riding position on the
road. Then, again, man may station him
self at point along the line of the course
and see the men come and go each way but
ne cannot see the finish.
A spectator could easily follow racers on
a mile or two-mile track, but 1t would be
hard even to follow the men a twenty
mile level track much less on a road fun
of hills of varying heights, and crooks and
turns innumerable.
Another COurae.
The idea appears to be to select another
course, which would be an Improvement on
the Conduit road course, inasmuch as the
men would not have to turn at the ten-m;le
point and come back by the same route
This is the only advantage that could be
secured by any other twenty-mile circular
course. The disadvantages are more numer-
GUS There are apt to be more hills, which
would retard speed. Every one knows that
there are two big hills on the Conduit road
course, but as one can be ridden going down
after walking the other, the honors are
about even. The most important factor lies
In the condition of the roads surface. All
know that the Conduit road is the best road
in this vicinity, and that its surface is good
for riding at all periods of the year, except
when covered with snow. There is no other
road around this section of which the same
could be said.
Another good point in its favor is in the
fact that by virtue of the ten-mile lap crook
edness is more apt to be detected, as the
riders are obliged to pass each other at least
once, If not more. This fact has been fully
demonstrated. From spectators point of
view the course is good, for the reason that
no matter at what place he may station
himself he Is bound to get two views of the
race-the going and coming. This would
be a matter of impossibflity on a circular
course.
course which has been talked of as a
better one than the Conduit road is as fol-
lows; with Whitney avenue as a starting
place, up the 18th street road to the 7th
street road, up to Takona, to the Blair road,
sooth TO Rock Creek road, to It'll street road,
to !" hitney avenue, to point of beginning.
10 those who have been ever the course
sne CONDITION OF the roads is. Of course
familiar. Almost at the very start a hill is
encountered, which is steep and much
lonser than any Of the two hills on the Con-
duit road. In fact, the whole portion of the
Upward course is hilly. while on the down
a maru course there Is but little advantage
gained, and this Is almost wiped out when
me condition of the roads is taken into con-
slus[dtloh. Inen, again, at certain seasons
OF the year this course would not he fit tn
ride upon. ~ -