The herald., 1896-08-12

peting in unsanctioned races near Ore
gon City July 16-John Hurth and Miles
Brayton, Oregon City
Suspensions terminated-L. w. Beird-
nau, Baker City, Oregon; Archie Piper
Cottage Grove, Or. r. M. WEIGH,
Member National Racing Board
Some points on bicycles that are i'm
portant factors in the general comfort
of riders receive small notice A few
years ago nearly every machine was
fitted with cranks sufficiently slotted to
allow at least a one-inch adjustment.
But at the present period cranks are
generally 6l2 inches In length with no
means whatever of shifting the pedal
Every rider does not use the one length,
as everything depends in the length of
the reach. Up to say, 6l9 inches, he is
undoubtedly best to use the longest
crank possible, but the knee should new
er be abnormally bent, as a great deal
of power is lost thereby. Probably the
ses Of cramps which are frequently
heard of are due to using cranks that
are too long for the rider. 1t is wise for
riders to use adjustable cranks until
they discover the length which suits
best, when adjustable ones of the
same throw can be fitted to the wheel
This is what Cycle Topics has to say
of Sunday racing:
An attempt is being made to influence
the national racing board into sanction
ing Sunday races. Under the standard
adopted by the League of American
Wheelmen, when only a few leading
lights in the little wheelmen's world had
the strength and fortitude to project the
organization of the order, the l.. A. w.
has maintained a strict policy in the
conducting of it's business, and now.
when this new crisis confronts the mem
bers, universal voice of protest should
soar aloft to discountenance anything
that savorS of this character The L.
A. w. was not organized for the south
or the west. There are the districts that
now cry for Sunday racing, while the
north protests more forcibly. Aside from
any pecuniary gain that might be de-
rived there is something else at stake.
The l.. A. w. must follow the principles
that will do the organization the most
good. Already pessimistS in various
parts of the country are raising a hue
and cry to the effect that cycling is de-
generating the masses. Even from the
pulpit the wheel has been attacked. It's
many good advantages are lost sight of
by people who have not the least incep
ton, or who are not broad minded
enough to realize that wheeling is de-
veloping men and women and making
them strong and healthy. The wheel
has it's enemies. They must be baked
at all hazards. Were Chairman Gideon
to encourage Sunday racing by sane
tionng these events, it would add more
powder to the ammunition that the foes
of cycling now have on hand. Chair
man Gideon is equal to the occasion. No
one will believe for moment that he
would consent to harm the sport by al
lowing private corporations ana clubs
to benefit in way that would ultimate
ly injure the League Of American
Wheelmen.
The Los Angeles Road club will hold
another ten-mile handicap road race on
Sunday next, over the Tropico course.
This will be the first competition for the
gold club trophy.
The Crescent Cycling club had wa
termelon run to Ell Monte and home, by
the San Gabriel mission, on Sunday.
Twenty-Five members enjoyed the run
and the frl1it