New-York tribune., 1896-01-19
IN THE CYCLING WORLD.
nDwINTER ACTIVITY IN THIS BRANCH
OF SPORT.
TIL, BIG CYCLE SHOW IN THE MADISON SQUARE
GAPDEN-INTEREST IN THE ANNUAL
GATHERING or THE l.. A. W
WHEELING GOSSIP
WHEELING GOSSIP.

WHEELING GOSSIP
The eyes of the wheeling world are focused
upon New-York at present. and the metropolis
will be able to keep them interested for week
at least The eye of Chicago is peeping out from
the West in wonderment as to how much better
the New-York Cycle Show will be than was the
recent exhibition held in that city. When the
Chicago show was started. it was TO beat the
world: when ii over they thought that
their Eastern rivals would have to hustle. and
now that NewYOrk has shown its hand the
WesteIners are beginning to wonder out there If
they had a cycle show at all. The chances are
that If the Chicago show had followed the eXhi
bition in this city IT'S effort would not have been
much more than q sideshOw. Being the first in
the field something but when they got 1t
they had no place to put 1t.
Some of the pilgrims who have returned from
the West to the better and cleaner New-York tell
some interesting tales about that city on the
banks of Lake Michigan. "Oh. the show was
good one" said dealer but somehow or
other it did not seem like the exhibition we have
in this city. They looked after us pretty we'll
out there. and they made us pay fOr it. In more
than one case | saw what thought was case
Of wheels within wheels Tattersalls where the
show was held. had heen used artificial
ice skating rink right up to the time of the open
ing OF the show. Everybody froze TO death dur
ing the first two nights. but after that things
were more comfortable. 1t is a wonder that the
show not frost under the circumstances.
In the building where the exhibition was held
they threw about seven inches of sawdust over
the fee and laid the planking right down on
that Then everybody moved in and fixed up
his exhibit as best he C 'uld. In the cellar they
had the ice machines working all the time To
keep that artificial ice frcrl melting. Still, the
attendance al the show was enormous, and they
turned people away on n ore than one night.
The aisles were arranged in such a way that one
had fairly to fight his way when he wanted to go
from one part of the hii,diug to another. They
gave us plenty of chances to spend our money
and guess most Of The boys came home broke.
al least as far as pocket money went.
One of the lively incidents of the week at the
Madison Square Garden will be the annual meet
ing of the stockholders Of the Cycle Board Of
Trade, which will be held at noon on Wednesday.
Then the cycle makers will cast aside that ur-
bane smile for the time end will be seen as the
willy politicians that they can be when occasion
requires. A year ago Il. Philip Gormully was
not in good health. and there were those that
predicted that he would not live TO see the day
when he as vice-presiden;, would take the seat
Of the chairman of the Board Of Trade. which
would come TO him this year by right OF sue
cession Mr.. Gormuily's health. however, has
improved greatly and he Will begin his duties
dent should happen Ir. Spalding. it is said by
his intimate friends Will not accept renomina-
ton for presiden; lnher any consideration
come the first vice president. although George
Pope who is the second v!ce-president now,
ought apparently to move up to that position:
Mr. Pope, II Is said. may accept the place Of
treasurer The plans of the stockholders will be
to protect the makers Of sundries and acces
sories. as we'll as the large wheel owners. and.
with that object in vIe" places on the Board
may go 10 some people whose names have not
vet been mentiored. IT,. Kennedy Child will
succeed himself as secret... seems assured.
The soions Of the League Of American Wheel
men are coming to town In large numbers. and
many a little deal will be fixed up before the
cyclist politicians start for their homes to take
breathing spell before they go to the National
Assembly at Baltimore Sterling Elliott and
Archibald Wilson. the rival candidates for presi-
dent, will be here and they and their friends
will leave no stone unturned 10 try TO better their
canvasses Petitions are being circulated by the
score and If the wheelmen remain true 10 their
signatures there will be lively election in Bati-
more next month. Elliott has been more diplo-
matte than Willison. but then diplomacy does
not always win. When 1t comes to selecting
place for the annual meet there are those who
say that II will be a case Of hot Bourbon against
cold business. and for that reason they think
that Louisville will get the meet rather than
Toledo. Toledo however. may spring a surprise
at the convention. Elliott has been slow in
naming a fitting man for the vice-presidency on
his ticket, for strong tail Is q useful thing 10
have to a kite If you expect to soar high. The
racing question Is conjecture at present in spite
OF the fact that to all appearances New-YOrk
stands alone favOring the divorcng OF racing
from the League OF American Wheelmen Potter
was laughed at a year ago when he predicted
what he would do with the New-YOrk State Di-
vision in getting new members He did 1t by in
creasing the membership in this state from
5000 10 10000 Potter's ideas IRE generally good,
but whether tha res. of the delegates will look at
the matter as h does .cms doubtful
In spite of the ,ac, tAat the makers said that
they would run to hs4vier wheels this year, it is
beginning to look as If the prevailing idea would
be lust the reverse The average cyclist wants
his wheel Just as light in weight as 1t can possibly
be made with safety. 1t is fair to say that there
will be more eighteen and twenty-pound wneels
seen on the road than was the case last year IN
spite Of yarns to the contrary In speaking
about wheels yesterday the expert FOR one OF the
largest houses in the country SAID: feTsohaiy'
! do not favor light wheels for road use. out the
people want them and suppose that we VIII nave
TO supply them. If had my way would not
guarantee wheel which weighed less LII LII
twenty-five pounds for road use l mean. 'e me
more sensible of the 'scorchers VINO iis'st ~ ~ui'oi
having light wheels take the precauticn 10 nave
the racing tires taken off and road tires suosti-
tuted ] don't place much consequence Oh t'iG
weight OF the rider as some people. anu Wneh
am selling wheel to man would ;ts sooi' I'd Id,
200 pound man ride 1t as q l50-pound man Inc
lighter man has. as general thing, more huscu
lar force and ne puts a great deal more 's'e9 III
the pedals than 2)0-pound man would ana tnat
is where the real strain comes on the pedals or,
rather cranks We nave had very little troup:e
wi;h the wheels which have sold TO extremely
heavy men,
Handicapper Batchelder OF the League OF
American Wheelmen Of this State. says that ne IS
not responsible for the rumors that In case Stei-
ling Elliott Of Massachusetts, IS elected presldent