The evening times., 1896-06-17
AMERICAN WHEELS ABROAD
Interesting Facts About Their
Use in Europe.
EcK's LITTLE SCHEME
Racing Board of the L. A. w. to In
vestigate the Case of Hadfield Who
May Be Transferred to the Profes-
sional Ranks-Interesting Gossip of
tue Wheelmen.

Inquiries made by the State Department
of various European consuls regarding the
use of the bicycle abroad, with view OF
opening up a more available market for
the American machine, have developed
some Interesting facts regarding the manu-
faCture, sale and use of the wheel in Eu-
rope. 1t appears that the American b.-
cycle is not in general use abroad at pres
ent. but that, thanks to tourists from this
country, it is gradually being introduced,
and is meeting with much faOvr, its supe-
riority over European-made wheels being
at once recognized. Under present condi-
tions the American manufacturers have
hardly been able to successfully compete
with foreigners in the matter OF cost, and
it is with a view of overcoming this that
the coDsuls have been requested TO fur
nisil information.
One year ago the American built bicycle
was practically unknown in Germany. Cy-
cling which became Il popular sport and
| recreation there some years later than in
England and the United States, was CON-
fined exclusively To men who rode either
English built wheels or those of German
manufacture, modelled more or less closely
after English types.
Hut during tile summer of 1895 there ap-
peared u Hamburg. Baden Baden and other
German watering places numerous Amcri-
can cyclists of both sexes, equipped with
American bicycles, of which The Iigitness,
| gracefulness of model and easy running
| qualities We're revelation to native OBJ
| servers, accustomed, as they generally
were. to road machines ranging from thirty
! to forty pounds in weight. Particularly
noticeable was the high seat of the Ameri-
| can ladies' bicycles, set well forward over
the pedals. which, combined with the mar
row tread and light. neatly formed cranks
! and pedals, averted tile laborious, ui-
! graceful movement or tile lower limbs.
unavoidable to riders of machines of most
| European models. and which had previously V
! done ruuch to prevent the general adoption
| OF the wheels by ladies in Germany.
| During the same season there passed
| through Germany to and from Switzerland,
Italy and the Tyrol an unusual number uf
American tourists riding bicycles weighing
| from twenty to tweDty-four pounds each,
| and when in September an important pro-
| fessional race was won by visitor On an
| ordinary road machine built at Hartford,
Conn.,, the Germans began to recognize III
fact that high grade American bicycles en-
| bodied qualities which those OF European
manufactur had not yet generally attained.
Out of this Conviction has grown demand
which, although at first limited, has now
iCaShcu PiOpoiiibus mat
with proper effort Germany may become ID
promising and profitable field for the en-
terprsc OF American makers.
When it is considered that ] ohDny
j Johnson, the American flyer, now in
Paris, has placed himself under the man.
| agement of Tom Eek, the very shrewd
Old man who earns Il living at training
fast riders, there is some excuse for the
poor showing made by the Minnea polls
man against riders who are far from being
In his class. In France the meet pro-
moters are very "horsey," inasmuch as
they permit books to be made on the
races, just as they do ut Barksdale, Grave
send, ct al.
1t is plain to see into the scheme OF Eek
BE is talking poor French but leading tn,
Parisians to believe that he is a Jolly goos
fellow, and that what he says is gospel
Next mouth the big meet OF the year wi.
be held. Then johnson will be in tip-to
uim As they say on American racetracks
"he will be entered with Instructions I,
do or die" and then Eek, Johnson and tn,
other racers in the stable Will get a Ie
or French money changed for the good ole
kind and start home, leaving a lot of sor
ry Frenchmen behind.
The racing board of the League of Amer
ican Wheelmen has decided to investigat,
the case OF c. W. EadfieId of the Vim
Wheelmeu of Newark, who was disduali
fed from first place in the recent Miliburl
road race upon charges that he received
compensation from a manufa cturer il
preparing for the big road race. viii 4
Pitnan, member of the New York Stat,
racin. board, says that evidence has beer
submitted to Chairman Gideon of the ma
tonal racing board, which, if proven. will
likely result in the transfer of Ha,ifiel,
from the amateur to the professional ra nks
Pitman declined TO state the nature of tn,
evidence against Hadfield, but adrnittet
that If the charges were authenticated III
outlook for Hadfield was very bad.
Philadelphia is soon to have an addition t
tue ranks OF its fast riders in tie person O
Harry Randall, the young New Yorker. wi.
has been doing such remarkably good wor
or late. All through the winter he was o
the Pacific coast with Earl kiser who
now abroad with the Troy tourists and
holder OF Il number of world S records Wit
klser as partner, he captured most oil b
tandem records at various distances an
on a single wheel he secured the world
record for the one-eighth and quarter
mile for any class. His sprint is sal
to be phenomenal, and in such races n
tins season. Last week he defeated Ell
die Bald in two such events and is said [
have surprised that gentleman greatly.
General Superintendent Coils, of tn
Wisconsin Central lines, has devised an al
; rangement for carrying bicycles in baggag
cars, which consists of stalls in which m;
chimes are placed. Over these stalls is
portable platformon which trunks and pacl
, ages can be carried. What is general
thought to be the best device for the pu
pose, however, is one similar to that whic
, isnowused in many clubhouses. Two row
of stout iron hooks. covered with rubbe
are fastened TO the roof of the car, and
these are hung the machines. the hooks bein
caught in the rims of the wheels, the sa,
dies hanging downwards.
4