The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-05-03
CYCLING IN MERRY MAY.
VHEELNEN LOOK % a MONTH
or pERFECT WEATHER.

RupntrIcE 'rsiI- About Hts Career ss
Trich Rider Rich nnd Poor Want Hihe'
-Idrns TOR Country Runs on Sunday.
AprIl was At least consistent In her incon
~sistoncy, and the cyclists we're really sorry u
ace her give way TO May, though the merry
month o. May Is said to be the best in all the
year for cycling. This particular NAy will
indeed have To bc n record breaker to sustain
its reputation. Cyclists are wont TO declare
that MAY is neither too hot nor too cold for the
sport, but the SAINT can be- said of April. Then,
too. they claim that rain does not Interfere
with them In May. Neither did II In April,
for there were only two April showers, ana
one ~ them cane during the night. May Will
do herself very proud II she gain the place IN
tho hearts OF the whcelmen and wheelwo-
men that her predecessor has merited. At
present they arc all giving her the benefit OF
the doubt, and declare that they believe that
che holds another four weeks Of perfect weather
in store for them. In fact, they seem 10 he
the hnppIcst people on the face OF tho earth
to-day. Other people are talking about hard
times. or the Presidential election. or duh sea
sons In this. that, or the Other business, or
something else equally disagreeable, but not
30 with the army of merry wheelers. Catch
them pt II II you can. They feel themselves
as rich as n Iothschlld II II they own good wheels
and they don't care how dull trade or profess
sions are so long IA the sun antilles on them. and
tho roads continue In good condition.
Cycling is certainly booming. TIL, dealers
in high.graie machines who got along in linn
ted quarters last year are forced to enlarge
their places or to seek mammoth establish
ments. This, Of course, indicates q marvel
lous increase In tho sale Of wheels. and every
wheel sold must have q rider. IL looks as II It
were only a matter OF time when everybody
will be riding a wheel. The number of very
old men and women who are taking lessons in
the academies now IA surprisingly large. OF
course a large proportion OF young people are
also learning to ride, but they seem like an in.
significant few when compared with the gray
boards and grayheads. II possible, these elder
ly people are more carried away with the sport
than their children. They think wheels and
they talk wheels and they are enthusiastic over
everything that relates to the sport. Charles
Fitzpatrick, the one-lcgRed trick cyclist,
dropped into an academy on the Boulevard,
where he and his wife gave exhibitions for a
week not very long ago. yesterday. The circle
was crowded with riders, novices, ana experts.
young. old. and middle-aged: they were all 80
intent on their own progress that they didn't
notice him for some time. Finally a young
woman. who Is known as a brilliant rider,
spied him. There are brilliant bike riders
Just as the musicians have brilliant piano per-
formers. BY way Of explanation. q man or
WOllH'l WHO TlueS WIN TeChleSS hUanuOu
anywhere and everywhere, and manages never
to get hurt, is called a brilliant rider. Well,
this girl is a brilliant rider. She has a particu-
lnrly attractive figure and wore a short pepper
and salt skirt. a boys white sweater. and high
ball bearing boots. She was fixed to ride in
comfort.
"Oh, there's Fitzpatrick" she Dried. Now
I've got you. Won't You please show mo how
to do n standstill? I feel that It Is absolutely
necessary to my safety, and you remember
you once said here that every man and woman
should know how to do q standstill."
That's So" he answered good humoredly.
Iguess I'll get a wheel and show you. though
there isn't much to show. I'll Just mount
this wheel and ride right into q bunch of rid
ers and come to n standstill."
He did. and 1t broke up tho party. Some
were frightened and others were delighted
because IL gave them n chance to ask this wiz
ard of the wheel some questions. That's ono
thing the wheel doesn't do. 1t doesn't destroy
ones love for asking questions.
"Oh. Mr.. Fitzpatrick. do toll us how you
came to be n tricK rider" said an old lady.
"Ics, and how long It took you to learn to
ride" put in another.
And II it's very hard and all about It and
yourself and everything you know about cy-
cling wound up a small boy. covering every
body's wishes.
II evoluted from a baseball crank into a
bicycle crank" commenced Fitzpatrick. How
ever, | think trick riders are born, for the
first time l ever got on n bicycle I rode right
off," II was umpire in the Western Base
ball Association for five years, and the first
time / ever rode a wheel was in Kansas City in
30. Jack Grimm. who IS now catcher for the
Brooklyns. had a safety out at tho baseball
park one afternoon. and after tho game, he
said. Come out, XII and ride the wheel /
got on, they pushed mo Off, and | rode right of
and never had one seconds trouble. My
explanation of my ability to do this is that |
had been doing n roller skating act. toe spins,
and cutting figures for some time. and under
stood balancing myself.
IN 81 l was in the Illinois and Iowa League
and that summer We were in Yarmouth, III.
The Yarmouth and ottawa teams had tied for
second place in tLe race for the league pen
nant. and the tie was to be played Off on the
which was the first big one held in the West
AND NIL go down IN bicycle history because il
time. Zimmerman downed him. Well. i
was scheduled to umpire the game of ball in
yarmouth. but was so crazy over cycling that
ASKED the secretary for permission TO go to
important. and | had the reputation OF being
. iirst.cl9ss umpire. he refused, so l left the
game. and went, anyhow. | had no wheel at
Che time. but was q member of the l.. a. W.
windlo, Billy Murphy, and other celebrated
racing men. They gave me the 31U-yard
limit, and | had two legged riders ten feet be.
hind me, How did | yet Il VIII ,ol? Why,
Grant bell, OF Minneapolis lent me a racing
machine, lie was a big Nneelman in the est
In thos" days, AMI Is now in the cycling bust.
ness in san Francisco"
y" bet you won the race" interrupted the
smal boy eaLcrly, and severa! of the women
clasucl their hands brcnthlessly.
$50, | didn't. Before 1 got half way round
tho ones behind caught me. but | kept on rid.
Ing. ana thc 10000. spectators cheered them
selves hoarse for one leg Biliy Murphy
won the race, breaking the worlds two-mile
record. After the race | dismounte,i. o-,I the
people checred mo again, so then and there |
gave my first trick exhibition. 1t was a very
sorry show, too. | couldn't do much but cut
The il;Ire eight, ride without holding my
handle bars. and also standing w on the pedals,
but cot my start that day.
That fall ! went To Milwaukee To work for
q bicycle conccrn, and rode the first pneu.
mast tire ever ridden In that city. People
wonl! line the streets for blocks TO catch a
glimpse Of those tires. | introduced them TO
the coast that winter. and everywhere IL was
the same story. The pneu created a great sem
satlun | can tell yOu. | came back East In 'O2
and ltstrln IN tln tpislF fIfp, - 80 -sII -