The San Francisco call., 1896-07-25
THE WHEELMEN.
The Parade OF the Cyclers To-
Night Will Be Big Affair.

CLUB EVENTS TOMORROW:
Alameda CycIers-Run to Mill Valley.
Garden Oity Cyclers-Run to Lake
Chabot.
Fa1con CLadiesO Cycling CIub-Run to
AlvisO.
Golden Gate Cycling Club-Road race
to San LeaDdrO.
Imperial Cycling Club-Run to Sutro's.
Reliance Club Wheelmen - Run to
Lake Ohabot.
San Francisco Road CIub-Run to San
Beandro and Lake Chabot.
The parade of organized and unat-
tached wheelmen which will take place in
this City tonight will probably have in
line more cycling enthusiasts than have
ever turned out in a demonstration OF the
kind here before. The movement has
been entered into with hearty spirit by
all the local clubs, and each club, besides
turning out its full complement of mem
bers, will have bands of music, floats and
other interesting features which will tend
to impress the turnout upon the minds OF
the spectators; and the wheelmen hope
by this means to eventually gain the two
ends which they now seek-the repaving
of Market street and the electric-hghting
of the park.
Full particulars of the parade, as to the
line of march, divisions and the leading
features, were given in THE CALL yester-
day. In the clubs visiting committees
have been appointed to see every mem Der
personally and to urge upon him the i'm
portance OF joining in the ride or march,
as the case may be. What with the bands,
fireworks, bonfres, and speech making at
the end, there will be enough of interest
to suit all and the offering of prizes for
the club having the most men in line, for
the best decorated wheels, etc, will be
strong incentives for all club men to turn
out and to have their wheels beribboned
aud decorated as tastily as possible.
Tomorrow there are numerous club
runs scheduled, as will be noted by the
above list and the wheelmen will take
rest in the country after the trials of their
first big parade in this City.
What would the wheelmen of this coun-
try say if they had to do as the Rou-
manians doP There every cyclist is COM
PEELED by law to have his name and ad-
dress on a plate fastened to his machine,
and also on the glass in his lamp, SO that
it can be read at night.
Some people are of the opinion that the
League OF American Wheelmen may be
called upon to try to suppress road racing.
Prominent L. A. w. officials talked with
not recognize this branch of the sport it
might be considered unbecoming for the
league to take any recognition of the
matter Then, again, the chances are
that sooner or later local authorities will
put stop to the practice. There is con-
siderable feeling that way now.
The scarcity of high-class tubing which
developed during the early part of the
manufacturing year caused many bicycle
makers of limited capacity to buy when
and where they could and in their haste
to have their factory products ready for
the opening of the riding season, 1t is to
be feared that great deal of tubing of in
ferior grade mas been used in so-calIed
'high-class bicycles" These defects are
not usually revealed on short notice, how
ever, and the only safe way to avoid them
is to purchase wheel the quality of which
is known to be the very highest When
manufacturing house dlaws its own steel
tubing, and builds its bicycles throughout
from material of its own make, it is but
the exercise of common-sense that
prompts the investor to purchase such
wheel above all others.
Inferior tubing in bicycle is one of the
worst faults of construction. No matter
how fine the enamel which may cover it
and the superior gloss it possesses, the in
herent weakness of the frame presents an
element of danger, and the manufacturer
who uses poor tubing is criminaily negli-
of deception which floods the market with
bicycles OF inferior make under the guise
of ''high-class machines" Owing to the
difficulty OF securing nigh-grade tubing
this season, buyers OF wheels cannot ex-
ercise too much care, and should not
new makes because their wheels look we'll
on the surface. 1t is far better to pay
little more for standard wheel and get
the worth of your money.
An announcer shall not name the
bicycle an amateur rides, in connection
with his victory. This is the latest from
Chairman Gideon of the Nationai racing
board. An announcer at recent tourna-
ment in which Mr.. Gideon appeared as
referee announced that a certain race had
been won on such and such a wheel. 1t
was an amateur event, and cold chill
crept up the spinal column of the august
chairman. He very nicely told the young
man that 1t tended to create an impression
that the amateur was not living up to the
regulations of his class, and instructed
the announcer not to repeat the offense.
Clarence n. Ravlin of the Olympic Club
Wheelmen is now the edltor of The
Olympic, local semi-monthly wheeling
publication.
The popularity of race meets this year
has been an emphatic surprise to many
people. It was generally thought that
when Class was abolished the
masses would lose all interest in the rae
ing question. Just the reverse has been
the case. The professional races this year
have been well and honestly contested
and the ever watchful L. A. W. officials
will keep it that way. There is no reason
why cycle racing should not have Just as
much of a public following as baseball
and horse racing. Nearly every State will
have its racing circuit in 1897.
Among the many outdoor recreatIons to
be considered there is nothing SO enjoyable
or exhllarating as few hours ride on'
that faithful and ever ready steed the
bicycle. Cycling has become a necessity
to all classes of society. The professional
man, as his calling demands. can combine
business with pleasure and by the physi-
cal exercise of cycling and being in the
fresh air can create for himself new energy
for the continuance of his mental activ-
ities and by this gentle action of the body
keep its organs and functions In healthy
state. The mechanic may ride quickly 10
work, prepared to go through the ordeal
of the day, and return with equal rapidity
to his home, refreshed and contented.
What source of delight and comfort in-
possible to replace is the bicvcle tn the re