The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-08-16
TWO BIG BICYCLE MEETS
MANY PROFESSIONALS SECURED FOR
BOTH EVENTS.
Johnson Sanger and to He
Here-Immcnse Vine Tricycle. and
Fowler Scxtet Coming.

Although Indianapolis had no bicycle
| track in time to get a National Circuit
date, it will not be behind in professional
races with the circuit chasers present. Last
week the managers of the two tracks here
went to Louisville, the main idea being to
return with contracts with as many of the
big men of the circuit as could be OBJ
tanned. In neither instance were they dis
appointed. The meeting to be held at Broad
Ripple next Thursday and Friday. after
moons and Friday night will give some of
the best bicycle sport in the country and
by far the best ever seen in this city.
John S. Johnson, the crack professional,
who has just returned from Europe, after
capturing many of the rich prizes at Paris,
will be here and he thinks he can beat the
two-minute mark in a mile. Johnson is the
man who made a mile at independence. Ia.
in los. about three years ago. He has never
been able to equal that record. but it was
something phenomenal in it's way. and it is
hardly expected that he will ever equal ii.
He will make the effort of his life here to
lower it. He will not be in a race, but will
go against time at the three meetings. He
will be paced by Owen Kimble and Tom
mie Hause. the Outing team. These two
men have been doing some very fine work.
Last week KimbIe carried off two hrsts and
several second prizes at Louisville. His
team mate is equally as good a man on the
track.
Besides these there will be several novel;
ties shown which, in themselves, will be
worth the price of admission to the races.
A contract was closed whereby the i'm
mense, Vim tricycle. will be here. This ma
chine Is the largest of rs kind ever built.
IL is eleven feet high in The rear and eight
feet in front. 1t requires a team of eight
men to propel it, besides the man who sits
in front and guides. 1t must be seen to be
appreciat ted. 1t will be seen on the streets
OF the city and at the Broad Ripple track.
Another thing in the way of a novelty is
the two immense twentieth century lamps
which will be here. These lamps have been
constructed from the patterns of the
smaller lamp of the same name, known TO
all riders, but they are so large that it re-
quires a wagon to carry them. They will
be exhibited in the parade, which will be
given Thursday evening.
Last, but not least. of the novelties is the
Fowler sextet. This is a machine con-
structed on the principle of a tandem, but
is built to carry six riders instead of two.
1t is the first machine of the kind ever
butt and has made a mile In less than a
minute. 1t is believed that on a proper
straightaway course, with a flying start, it
could make a mile in little more than a half
minute. This is the machine that recently
New York.
Nickolet. the Chicago trick rider. will also
give exhibitions at the track. One of his
daring feats and one that seems almost
impossible is TO ride a giraffe" machine
around a race track on one wheel. The
giraffe is a machine like the one owned
by Carl Fisher in this city. The frame is
built up so the rider sits about ten feet
above the ground, although the wheels are
the size used on the ordinary safety ma
chine. Nickolet does tricks on. this MA
chine that few trick riders can do on the
common safety. He will give exhibitions at
each of the three meetings.
1t is also possible that Parsons, the
Australian who beat zimmerman, will be
here. Negotiations are pending with him.
but have not been closed. He is n very
speedy rider and if he should come there
will probabl be a match race between him
and johnson.
The Capital City track is not behind in
securing attractions for its meeting TO be
held next Tuesday. 1t has secured Tom
Cooper. who has shown such wonderful
speed this year; Walter Sanger. who has
pushed Cooper for very close seconds at
many meetings.; Ray Mcdonald. from
Europe. the only one of the European team
who has done any good against the fast
men of this country; Fred Longhead, the
champion of Canada. and Eli Winsett. the
fastest ~pacemaker in the country: These
attraction that ought to draw a big crowd
for their meeting.
This sally of indianapolis into the camp
of the enemy has caused a great deal of
talk in Louisville among the other circuit
chasers and the big men of the league.
This city had scarcely been heard of in
bicycle circles until the Louisville meet,
except as a great center for the manufac-
ture of wheels. For this it was known all
over the country and the wonder was often
expressed that bicycle racing did not seem
to thrive here. When the track repre-
- ...--!.
chasers and secured so many. of the best
of them for the two meetings here it
opened the eyes OF the racing men TO this
city and it's possibilities. Chairman Gideon
expressed surprise that Indianapolis could
offer sufficient inducements TO secure these
crack riders, and yet had never had enough
sanction for the National Circuit.
Heretofore there has been no track here
that could offer any inducement for a
the fair grounds is the finest in the country
for horse racing, II was long ago discovered
that it was practically worthless for bicycle
races. Now that il has been demonstrated
that a good track will draw paying crowds
for bicycle races. there Is no longer any
doubt that before another year this city
will have a track equal TO any in the coun-
try:
strong efforts TO secure the national meet
ing of '9S. and to do this a frst-class track
will have to be built. 1t will also necessi-
tate the building of a grand stand that will
scat itAOAt tAlStA NCh iAOAPhih DtOPit
The movement on foot now to organize
an Indiana circuit for professionals. III ii
materialize. will make the building of this
fine track a certainty. This scheme was
outlined fully in the Journal last week.
One week from tomorrow the greatest
race ever projected will start from San
Francisco and come by relays to New
York. where the promoters are now ar
ranging for a gigantic celebration. 1t *
the Journal-Examiner ranscontinenta
Yellow Fellow relay race. and from the
plans that have already been mapped out
the event will exceed any sensation the
cycling world has ever seen. Men have
crossed the continent on foot, one man
wheeled a wheelbarrow the entire dis
tance. and many cyclers have duplicated
the feat. and now two men are going TO
crawl over the route on their hands and
knees, but no one ever conceived a scheme
to approximate the good this event will
do for the benefit of the army and post
office authorities, who will watch the prog
ress of the pouch with keen appreciation.
Even now the army is experimenting
with the bicycle TO test its practicability
and To demonstrate that ii can be used as
a mode of transportation. Inasmuch as