The evening times., 1896-03-12
SPOKES OF THE WHEEL.

Frank Jenny. the professional bicyclist.
expects TO train for the spring race meets
at Savannah.
The suggest ion for the Canadian Wheel
mems association TO abolish class A and
b racing this year does not seem TO meet
with the approval of the Officers of the
association. and it will likely be tried
for another year.
John L. Pagan, who at the present
time holds the record of hours 90 min
utes between New York and Philadelphia,
will. as soon as the weather permits, at
tempt to place it so low on his Thistle
that the ma n who beats it will know that lie
has been riding.
The National Cycle Board of Trade is in
receipt of applications from the Lincoln
Cycling Club ana the Lake View Cycling
Club. both OF Chicago, for sanction of
cycle shows this month. The ma ationai
board has decided against the application,
owing to the lateness of the season and the
fact that the local cycle board of Chicago
considers the shows unnecessary.
At Jacksonville, Fla. on Tuesday, the
ten-mile worlds bicycle record. paced,
was lowered to 24:5s by Harry D. Elkes.
of New York. at the Villa Maynard track.
The track is composed of boards, and in
poor condition. Elkes was paced every
half-nile by Il fresh team, which gave hot
pace and kept the lad busy.
Fred Gerlack, the western member OF
he I pn1ri SnpDEiUp
of the new system of dividing the racing
men, says: with the abolition OF Glass
B there remain two distinct and widely
separate classes. The amateur, who is re-
cciving pay for riding a make of Wheel or
who is having Others pay his expenses, is
really dcceiving race promoters and the
men entered against him. 1t will be the
policy OF the board to punish such a man
severely"
Again the 'bikc" has proved its use
fulness. and has demonstrated that it can
fly faster than a horse can run. This
was done the other afternoon at New
York in an exciting chase between Il BIZ
cycle policeman and two drunken and
reckless drivers on the western boulevard.
The bicycle policeman won the race, over
hauled the drivers in front of the Colo
NAL Clubhouse, and Il dozen members of
the club, who saw part OF the race, gave
the policeman round after round of ap-
plausc.
Willis B. Troy, who handled thinner
man when the JcrseymaD was in his
prime, says that he would like to take
Jimmy from every one for about six
weeks and then have him get up in q race.
Il am not one OF those who think lie is
has becn.'" he continued, "fOr i know
what he has done and can do when in oondi
ton in that last quarter. His equal has
never existed, and he will again prove his
superiority if he decides to try his speed
on the track" $50.
The demand for simplicity in everything
pertaining to cycle construction has es-
tablshed the single tube tire in popular
favor. The practical utility of this method
OF construction has been so clearly en-
phasized by the speed, rcsiliency and great
strength obtained, combined with the ease
of repair in puncturc, that the lesser manu-
facturers are fastening to follow the lead
of the more progressive ones and adopt the
same principle for those to be used on their
own wheels, furnishing single tubes as
regular equipment and double tubes only
when specially ordered.
The largest bicycle that has yet been
built will be completed in about a week
by sharplcss & Watts, in their factory,
1922 SAMSON street. 1t is to carry seven
riders. and will be one of the wonders OF
'96, being the only machine OF its size in
the world. The wheel will weigh about
160 pounds, have Il wheel base of ZIG
inches, will be geared to 120 inches, and
be fitted with 1-S-inch tires. The wood