The San Francisco call., 1896-08-22
THE WHEELM MEN.


Race Between Terrill and Jones.
More interest is being taken in the
race meet to be held this afternoon at the
Central Park track, Eighth and Market
streets, than in any other meet held here
for a long time past. This can be &C
counted for by two reasons, first because
the meet is being handled directly by the
clubs and the Cycle Board of Trade, and
second because there is a good programme
of events and a special match race be-
tween two of the fastest and most popular
professional riders on the coast to-day.
The open events will consist of one-third
of a mile scratch, one mile handicap, anna
teur, and one mile handicap, profession al.
There is large entry-list for these races,
and the names of the starters, their heats
and handicaps have already appeared in
THE CALL
But it is the match race which will create
the most enthusiasm. Opinion seems to be
about equally divided as to the relative
merits of the two riders except around the
clubs to which they belong. Stroll into
the Bay City Wneelmen's clubhouse on
Golden Gate avenue and listen to the talk
there and you would think the race was
over and Terrill had the purse in his
pocket. Drop into the big building on
Post street and chat with the Olympic
Club Wheelmen and you would wonder
why Terrill ever made match with
man so much his superior in riding ability
as Jones. Of course, this partisanship is
more than pardona bic, for without club
feeling the cycling clubs would lack life
and activity. And it is just such differ
ences of opinion that make match races,
as this one was arranged.
The members of the two clubs in ques-
ton have INDUCED in great deal OF quiet
betting on the side, and even from this
one cannot get an inkling as to which
riders chances are looked upon as the
best. There are as many hackers of one
man as of the other, and no odds are
given or taken. To be sure, the Olympics
did want the Bay Citys to give them to
l or to 8, and assured TerrilPs supporters
that he was the better man, but this was
lust a little friendly 'jolly'' to get the
saw through the game. They had been
trying to make similar play in other
quarters themselves.
The race is to be at one mile, best two in
three heats, for purse of $500, which has
been put Up in the hands OF w. B. Faw-
cett who is conducting the meet for the
clubs and the Board of Trade. In order
that the meet may be conducted without
loss, no omplimentary tickets have been
issued. The individual club mem bers
have bought reserved seats literally, and
from the advance sales large crowd is
assured.
T. G. Spillane, acting captain of the
olympic Club Wheelmen, has arranged
the second annual watermelon run of mis-
club for tonight and tomorrow to Stock
ton. The members will take the steamer
Mary CARAT, leaving Washington-street
wharf at o'clock tonight. Arriving in
Stockton in the morning, they will be
taken in hand by the wheeling annex of
the Stockton Athletic Club, and ride to
Lodi for lunch will be in order, after which
the attack on the watermelons will begin.
The return will be made by boat Sunday
night.
The four-mile handicap road race of the
Santa Rosa Wheelmen last Sunday was
won by f. Mead from the thirty-second
mark, with Henry and Ben Noonan
(scratch) tie for second place. There were
twelve entrants. In the two-mile scratch
road race the Noonan brothers again fin
ished in a dead heat for first, George
Felix being second. Last Thursday even
ing about forty of the members formed a
theater party under Lieutenant Poat and
attended the Athen@um. Friday evening
they had a watermelon social at the club
house, followed by vocal and instrumental
music. Tomorrow there Will be a run to
the redwoods beyond GuerneviIle and
Sunday week some more road races.
The mem bers of the Pacific Cycling Club
made an enjoyable trip last Saturday and
Sunday. They took the steamer ZinfandeI
at o'clock for Cuttings Landing, in Napa
County, which was reached at 1920 P. M.
After an hours ride they reached the
Monte Vista ranch, where they stopped
over night as the guests of Judge and
Mrs. Milton Withers. Sunday morning
they continued to Napa City, and a visit
was made to the insane asylum. In the
afternoon they wheeled to Sonoma, tax
ing the train from there to Tiburon,
thence by boat to this City, arriving
home at 6 80 P. NJ. To-morrow's run will
be to San Jose, riding down on the other
side of the bay.
The probable price of bicycles for next
year is a subject much discussed these
days. Many so-called high-cIass wheels
marketed last spring and listed at $100
have been selling for almost any price. 1t
is generally known in the trade that these
wheels, in majority of cases, are far from
being as good as they are cracked up to
be, and, this being the case, it should re-
suit in profit to the old-established houses
which have made reputation with really
meritorious machines. The most con-
servative men in the trade base their cal
cuIations in estimating the probable price
next year on the business credited to the