The sun., 1896-09-06
NEWS OF THE WHEELMEN.
TOM oooPER,s sUCCEsSIoN OF TIC-
TORIES ENTI1LE HIM TO CHAM
PIONSHIp HORORS.

ProfessionaI Riders Next penson-GossiI
The Springfle tournament last week settled
beyond dispute all question rs to the eligibility
| of Tom Cooper. the Detroit racer, to the title o.
American champion. At the Louisville NEE
| Cooper succeeded in capturing number of tn,
| national cham ponship races from the fastest
riders in this country, and his success at Spring
field proved conclusvely that he Is the fastest
rider OF the season. Tom Butler of Boston
ranks second. and the honors Of third place
may be divided between three or four other
riders. Coopers rise to championship honors
has been rapid Early last season ho was tax.
ing part In local races around Detroit, finally
going on the circuit about tho middle of the
season. His circuit training and racing expert.
ences with the crack riders resulted in hi,
learning wonderful lot, and before the fall he
had vanquishcd f. G. Bald and other famous
riders, and wound up the season second to Bald
in point OF victories. This year Cooper has
trained very hard. with tho result that In all his
contests he has been In excellent form. He has
taken part in all the big races throughout the
season and has won moro purses than any
other.
There is feeling OF uncasiness In relation to
the racing prospects for next season. Racing
men in the professional GLASS claim that the
rules now In effect regarding the limit Of prizes
and other matters are too strict and require
alteration. 1t is alleged that the Racing Board
of the l.. A. w. is content with its management
of professional racing this year. and is
not disposed to alter It's rules to any
great extent. The professional racing
men chafe under what they allego are
unjust restrictions, and there are rumors that
an attempt will be made this fall to form an in
dependent association for the government of
professional racing in 1897. Tho cash-prize
racing men admit that such an idea has been
discussed and affirm that parties with capital
are disposed to form such an association II the
racing men will consent to desert the L. A. W.
The failure of the old cash prize league several
years ago due entirely TO its failure to secure
prominent riders. The American Cpcltst. in re-
viewing the racing situation for next year. says:
The present system OF governing racing can
hardly be deemed adequate. Glass Is gave US
one year of rathe smooth sailing. but the return
of two classes has given rise all of the Difficult
tics that were predicted when the league turned
and the sport from the leagues present point of
view must necessarily clash. or the two bodies
the trade has always been the stronger, and this
mainly accounts for the shifting policy of the
league in time past. League enactments are
usually made by men, large majority OF whom
ing matters. A years trial Of racing
scheme adopted by the National Assem- bly, is
usually enough to demonstrate its impractlca-
biity. Undoubtedly there should be but two
classes, amateur and professional: but the pres
ent method of dealing with professionals is far
from satisfactory. There is u muddle in st:
Louis. and the atmosphere in the vicinity OF
New YORK Is far from clear When the league
undertakes TO do more than insure straight
racing by professionals 1t goes beyond its PROV
ince. Professional racing is n business, and the
attempt OF the league to limit the amount OF
business the professional may honestly do is at
the root OF most Of the dissatisfaction"
The announcement that a prominent bicycle
firm intends to place a chalnless bicycle upon
the market next spring has Interested riders
and there is considerable speculation among
wheemen as to the particular construction OF
the machine. \ chalhless bicycle was placed
upon the market TWO years ago. which gave
not take the popular fancy and as a conse
quence its manufacturers were unable to find
the capital TO push the wheel. Since the intro
duction OF this chatnless safety. which was not
by any means considered perfect. it was ad-
mittcd by bicycle experts that the chainless BIZ
land house which now has In course OF con-
struction chainless bicycles for next season has
tried this style of wheel upon all conditions of
heen satisfactory. 1t Ia said that experiments
have been going on with the chainless bicycle
for the last two years down in Maine. and that
there has been no haste to put this style Of
wheel on the market, 1t being the intention to
put it before the public in rs perfect condition
u possible. While all details Of this now ma
chine have not vet been given out. IL is expected
that they will be exhibited in the course OF sew
eral months.
Bicycle riders OF this district arc getting ready
FOR tho celebration 10 be held in conjunction
with the New YORK stat. Division meet which
VIII be held at the Manhattan Beach track to-
from the club house OF the south Brooklyn
Whcelmen, i7S Ninth street. at 10 \. NJ. Most
be represented in the run. The cyclists viii roi.
low APT. George II. Greenia through Prospect
Park and down the cycle path to Coney Island.
J lac return trip will he along the new path to
Eighteenth avenue, where the party will travel
10 tho Ayoca Villa where dinner will be served,
Manhattan
will take place tomorrow at 3 f. NJ. and some
last men entered are tGe following: For the l..
4 i. " Y ra gnSmWR;2ninp1, Wia VI T. Oven T. Allen,
champion John il. Lake, 4. 5. Jungkind. L. G.
K1umn' K1,n w w; A BaT%SeAuii "; A. brown. F. 4.
for policemen all the fast men are en-.
tered tas i nSIuSing George Mckay, John sehpes-
George ". Brown. David Murrhr
and William Fullerton. There are host OF en-.
tries IN the race for messenger boys, including
will be n good one. while an army of young men
are entered in the novice race. Oscar o. .Heds,rom
Will make an effort to lower the one mile record.
Leroy See will give an exhibition OF trick riding,
as this clever youngstsr can do and do well.
The mileage records OF the members OF the
Brooklyn Bicycle Club, dating from April i. are
hs follows:
AIIa5 a. G.o$; Hudson, s6Sl; shedbc,, sou; Cole
g5 Rogers r SS Harry IGS Hobby s4s rInas Hnl
,8Hs Garcia l.345. Austin l,32l; A. c. Scrn,geour
l,3lu; Brooke. l2Oi Van Dorcn, l.lsI: W. f. Edgrr
Icy, l,O4b; Mapleoran STD; Stebbins. S33; BorlnnI |
st oF2a?' e SSSsS"aF e RI Lynch M Ef. 7ss ans s
.2u: Kaufman. III; II, Melvin. Gp3: Dunne 6s5; |
rldln, GO5 crandall 5iS: Crowcll h2S AIling 500:
peleNany. 5oG; WsEStt S7,,: nswe5I 4NS: stSsR:
Chr s'ied, 22o; George Il. Cooke. 1875 '
The habit of riding century runs and COM |
peting in long-dstance races is meeting with |
,trong opposition throughout the country In |
England, where such contests have always |
there is feeling that long-distanco |
riding is being overdoue. In com men ting on |
the practice the BiCycIug N,us says:
I'VE have had several illustrations lately of |
the axiom that 1t isn't the number Of miles we |
travel. hut the pace that Kills, and cyclists |
generally vii do well 10 consider whether there
Is not tendency TO cover a certain number OF |
miles ht tho expense of com fort and health and |
whether the d"sir" and longing For speed is not .
being oYerlOne 10 the detriment OF our splendid |
pastime. The glori us iutoxication OF pure |
speed and the possession Of the power to prOpel |
1neselI along at rate deemed utterly impos-
'ible can only be appreciated by those who have |
experienced 1t, and the danger OF IL all is that
The more you lave the more you want. |
These folks who take long and arduous rides
Tor the pure love of pace, and because they revel
n the freedom and force of their power and
who are often tempted to travel many miles