New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-02-09
IN THE CYCLING WORLD


AN OPEN SEASON FOR wHEELING-THE HEARING
on THE BRAKE ORDINANCE TOMORROW
PROPOSED LEGISLATION AT TREN-
TON AND ALBANY.
The eyes Of the cycling world will be turned
toward Baltimore this week. and the work to be
done at the National Assembly of the League of
American Wheemen Will be commented upon by
the riders of the wheel all over the world Many
yexed questions will come up for settlement. and
1ust what the l.. a. w. will do will not only in
terest wheemen here. but may have some bear
ing on future cycling legislation among wheel
ing organizations in Canada. in England and on
the Continent. Other countries are in trouble
over the racing question. and the outcome in the
end must be solved by the throwing out of the
intermediate classes and placing the racing men
In two divisions. the amateur and the profess
sora Class b Is missioner in cycling. Just as
is professionalism in other branches Of sport.
Many wheelmen however, are of the opinion that
the time is not ripe for casting out the SEMI
professionals. The National Assembly has duty
10 perform. and the representatives at Baltimore
should not allow trivial matters to draw their
attention from the real reforms which ought TO
be accomplished. The Good Roads Congress to-
morrow ought to be of the chief features of
the convention, but it will not be- at least to
many of the delegates. The squabble over the
presidency between the Wilson and the Elliott
factions Will be so bitter that other issues may
BE- forgotten by some Of the cycling solons In
their efforts to help their favOrites. The fight
for the annual meet between Louisville ana
Toledo will be earnest and II may be carried 50
far that a compromise will have TO be made
Should New-YOrk decide to place candldate on
either the Elliott OF the Wilson ticket the
presidency might be settled in short order
The headquarters Of the wheelmen at baltimore
will be at the Rennert. The New-Nork deiesa-
ton will start for the scene of action at CLOCK
tonight over the Baltimore and Ohio Road. and
will arrive at the Maryland metropolis before
II o'clock. All day tomorrow will be devoted TO
the good roads work. and at night there Will be
dinner al the Maryland Bicycle Clubhouse. at
which some leading men Will be present. AH'ohS
fha quests will be General Nelson y. Miles. the
fommander-in-Ch Chief Of the Army, and several
MAYORS Of cities and Governors of States Many
a the prominent men who were present az the
Good Roads Congress held recently IN the SouIh
will be there. The outcome should De a Dett,I
Understandings on the road question and greatly
improved thOrOughtares
Now that the intercollegiate Athletic Associa-
Non has decided to recognize the growing IN
terest in cycling. the scheme TO form an Inter
collegiate Cycling Association may be aoah-
doned. for the present at least The interest
in the cycle races has been most pronounced
at all the indoor meets held at the dlIereH'
riti
neighborhood particularly The bicycle races
have invariably brought the spectators TO thelr
feet and a close finish between two clever riders
causes great outburst Of applause There is
an element of danger in indoor racing. but II
IA not nearly as marked as it was earlier in
fine winter The riders have learned, through
hard falls how to take the sharp corners. ana
spills are less frequent. The racing men nave
also learned that smooth tires, while they are
all right on the road and on the banked tracks
are not the thing for indoor riding on smooth
floor, and especially so on floors when nave
been waxed to a polish for dancing The result
has been that the careful riders nave auop'eo
the rough-edge tire, which Will not slip as
readily as the regulation tire. College men
seem to think that the amendment 10 come De-
fore the Intercollegiate Athletic Association re-
Carding cycling VIII be adopted The amend
ment provides that az the annual champion
ships hereafter there shall be I'VE bcycie
races Instead Of one, as has been the case mere
tofore This will bring out the best riders from
all the different colleges. something that IT was
impossible to do with one race at stipulated
distance. Hereafter the intercollegiate cNcnng
championships will amount TO something. The
only objection which the collegians can find 10
the innovation will be that it Will lengthen
their programme. The programme is so long
now that ii cannot be run OFF satisfactorily In
one day Two days were devoted to the cham
pionshps last year and the plan worked TO the
satisfaction Of all The preliminares should be
run off on one day, reserving the last day for
the finals. The receipts from the championships
should be larger than ever before. for those
I've cycle races will swell the attendance con-
eiderably
The manufacturers and dealers are more than
satisfied with the amount Of business that they
are doing and the prediction is made all along
the line that the general interest in the wheel
This year will far eclipse the record Of 1885
Nobody had any right to expect to do much
business in such weather have had
lately" said a prominent manufacturer on
Cycle Row yesterday, but selling
wheels just as fast we can get them from the
factory" The makers and the riders generally
are much interested in the Armstrong Baggage
bill now in the Legislature, ana IN the nan
bicycle Brake bill The Hall bill will have a
public hearing at the City Hall tomorrow, end
as most OF the prominent wheelmen of the
State will be in Baltimore, the wheeling inter
ssts may not be as well represented as they
would be otherwise. Wheemen all the
State are working earnestly to secure the pas
sage Of the Railroad Baggage bill. The divis-
ion has thousands Of circulars out ana the local
consuls working jealousy.
To many enthusiastic wheelmen there is little
significance in the term bicycle season. or
course. riders are to be seen on the streets
and roads in the spring. summer and fall months
than in winter. but the Sc lson was virtually open
until last week. January Of this year gave more
good days for riding than any other January in
the memory of most OF the present generation OF
wheelmen, and the mileage fiends have already
rolled up handsome scores for 1896. In many
club competitions, however, the count Is not DC
gun until April or May /. As matter or fact,
the only condition which marks DAY suited LOT
Wheeling, In the judgment Of the true-bue cycAst,
Is that Of the roadways. 1t really doesn't matter