The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-11-15
NEWS OF THE wHEELMEN.
QUESTIONS TO RE ARG UED AT THE
UE ANNUAL LETTING.

II thnuEce OF MODEL tOr
Next season-Two Circuits Advocated.
The annual meeting of the l.. A. w. will be
held in Albany on the second Wednesday in
February. In view OF the organizations phe-
nomenal growth during the present year and
the broad policy outlined for the conduct of
league affairs next season, the meeting will be
important. Last season there was some talk of
the general reorganization of the league. but
no steps were taken. Members OF the league
now feel that Its government Is vested In too
few officials. Again 1t Is alleged that the
financial department OF the league needs re-
form. as the national body will receive greater
compensation from the divisions and other
sources than It does at present. The general
increase in membership entities the growing
divisions to q greater representation In the
National Assembly. For instance, the New
York State division has n membership of nearly
10000 members, and according to the %constitu-
ton is entitled to fifty delegates at the assem-
bly, with power to vote. At the last meeting
this State had some twenty-odd delegates, all
OF " HON, with one or two exceptions. voted pre-
cisely as directediby their chief consul on all the
questions. so that their presence at the meeting
was unnecessary, as FIVE representative could
have served as efficiently and saved the division
considerable money. 1t Is claimed BY como
that to cut down the representation at
the assembly will seriously affect the small
divisions. but the growth OF tho eastern divi-
sions demands that a change be effected. Mem
bers Of tho league are now preparing constitu-
tional amendments which viii be offered at the
National Assembly, and which. II passed. will
work numerous changes In the l.. A. w. cal
culated to benefit the organization.
1t ia reported that the promoters of profess
sional bicycle racing in different sections of the
country, with the cooperation of some second
class racing men. are laying plans to conduct
and govern professional racing next season.
The idea Is ridiculed by members OF the l.. A.
W. and well-known racing men. Speaking of
such a plan, q circuit racer said to Il Sun re-
porter: The semi-anuGal attempts to breed
discomfort among the professional racing ele-
ment In order to secure the nucleus
for the formation of an organization to
govern profess onal racing in opposition to
tho l.. A. W. is largely the work OF bicycle
trainers and other folk anxious to run races
purely for the financial returns. The racing
contingent Is not one bit dissatisfied with the
leagues government of racing. 1t is true that
we would like to see some reforms in certain
rules, hut the racing man in boil the amateur and
the professional class realizes that the l.. A. W.
is the only body to properly govern racing. The
action of the National Cycle Board OF Trade in
recently establishing Its Racing was
an open declaration that it recognizes in the
l.. A. w. the race-governinH body"
A large amount OF money is spent every year
by the bicycle and tire manufacturers on
racing men for the sake of securing new rec
ords. AT the present time n team of racing
men. including some OF the best-known riders
tn the country, is luartered at New Orleans
and making onslaushtS On the records every
day. These riders are under salary. and the
and living runs I'D into round figures. An old
racing man. in discussing the fall record
expensive. and 5000 or 10000 soon
dwindles away in def laying the ex-
psnses OF q rider equipprd With a com
dem mp To the seItuplet. During the winter
breaking camps are established In
often requires many weeks OF work on the part
of paceulaker- aud rider, to secure new records,
20 that months are really spent at the record,
who are good record trial riders seek to secure
the unraced mile record. Unpaced records
really show q riders ability. Riders who try
for ur paced records must have great strength
aud dogged determination, so that the unpaced
~performances are really the most noteworthy.
the Racing Board accented the unpaced mile
record of l minute 30 l-o seconds. made by {.
r. Coulter last month, and 1t is expected that
the record can be placed still lower"
Since the election, the bicycle manufacturers
Throughout the country have started anew with
WORK upon their 81, wheels. The 81 model wi!
differ n many small details from the.bicycle OF
this season. The manufacturers have become
conservative in relation to how many wheels to
YUM v bF1E s'h' va "a w ~" ~ w.
flow like this season. or the past six months
the mechanical experts o. the leading firms
have been at work upon novelties for next year,
The chainless bicycle will be the most radical
departure from the present type of wheel and
will be manufactured largely.
1t is ex pected that next year a close line will be
drawn between he road and racing bicycle.
There seems to he a general tendency among
manufacturers at the suggestion of well-known
riders, to dlverge from the practice of turning
one pounds and MAKE this style Of Wheel
stronger, averaging from twenty-five to twenty-
eeven ponnds. OF course he racing wheels viii
be as light rs ever and no d"uht certain follow
ing will demand lightweight road wheels. but
81 Is said that The vopnt"r road machine VIII lie
about twenty-five pounds. Brakes will be put
on all bicycles for next. year unless ordered
without. Next year the rGpuiar gears will
range from - to 10 inches and will chen he con-
sitered medium. a. riders are fast taking TO the
exceedingly high geRrs.
1t has been suggested that the national cir
cult should next year be split into eastern and
western divisions. In Thu way all the racing
men would cont together In the final rerles
without having TO undergo so hard a season. 1t
10 claimed that the present circuit system COM
p"la riders to race a lnp-t every day In several
events, and take long iumus to different points
on the ciFcuit. The rivalry between tho men
part In too many races. with the result that Mt
the end of the season they are wrecks in health.
Now that the active racing season il at nm
end the leading professional rider- are kept
busy ISSUING chn..enses 20 one another Tor inatth
Bad and Cooper have been playing u hide-and-
.Esk game tnr me p@ Gn,d four %Gsss' t Nef, Ar;
wants to race either man. Following GARDENERS
lead II Is reported that John 8. johnson Will
Issue a broad challenge to meet any of the crack
ridorB.
The Century Road Club of America has 40
eepted the following records:
Five Niles Ropert Grrwin. Time. IL minutes 81
BccondA Colorado Stpt" record.
Ten Milrs-A. II. Mcdonnell. Time, 81 minutes 20
seconds. New York state record ami American record.
o. .ssonds So~ York state record and American
record.
Twenty Miles-A. b. Mcdonnell. Time, AZ minutes /
second. Sew York stale and American record.
Cbich5o To Mil~uukrc-O. V. Mueller and ]. n. Halt
fax. Tine, : hour, 81 minutes. lard, m record.
Five Niles Il. {. Vaux. Time, y minutes - seconds.
American record.
NOTES.
The Hartford Wheel Club has elected the folio wing
officers: Pres d"nt. !, Bnb'"r; EIce;Prca,d"nt. A. II.
Schumacher, Recording Secret iry, Albert II. Francis;
FINANCIAL Sccrrtar Lester II. So Get. Treasurer, 4. q.
DicEerson: Captain, G, G. Nasiu, Leutenunts, A. Is,
George and q. la gion.
The Williamshur&I Wheelmrn VIII hold n hare and
hound chase on onE Island on Thanksgiving Day.
The annual election o. Onicers "a the Riverside
Vince men will tax" place u XXI u.onth.
The annual me ting or III Wav"rlry Bicycle Cub