The San Francisco call., 1896-02-29
THE WHEELMEN.
All Interest Is Now Conferred in the
Coming Indoor Tournament

All Interest Is Now Centered in the
Coming Indoor Tourname ent.
CLUB RUNS TOMORROW.
Bay City Whee1men-To Centervil1e.
Camera Club Cyclists-To San Mateo
dam.
Olympic Club WheeImen-To Hay
wards.
Olympic Cyclers-To Park.
Phoenix Cycling CIub-To Park.
Reliance Club Wheelmen-To Point
Bonita, via SausalitO.
The season of country runs has again
come around, as is best evidenced by the
above list of trips planned for tomorrow
by some of the various riding clubs.
Never before has the riding season opened
so early, and the wheelmen are taxing
advantage of the present fair weather and
good roads, half expecting that they will
not continue to be so favorable for touring
q little later on when spring showers are
prevalent.
Now that the great twenty-five mile road
race has been ridden and won the atten-
ton OF all the wheelmen Is directed to the
indoor racing tournament and cycle show
which opens at the Mechanics Pavilion
next Thursday evening, lasting one week.
From all accounts this enterprise will be a
big success this year, and it is due to the
management to say that everything posi-
bic has been done to MAKE 1t so. Races
have been arranged for every evening from
March to IL, inclusive, besides Saturday
and Sunday matinees. The track, which
will be eight laps to the mile scientifically
constructed, fast and safe, will be IN posi-
tion for training upon by tomorrow night.
The racers can then practice upon it from
Monday TO Thursday, and should easily
become accustomed to 1t in one day. En-
tries must be sent TO Charles A. Wikidel
manager, l049 Market street, not later than
to-day.
The management had originally in
tended to have only amateur races, but
since the revised League of American
Wheelmen's racing rules have gone into
effect there has Deen some thought Of hav
ing professional events. This Will be de-
cided upon by tomorrow, and it is very
probable that the big professional racing
teams at Santa Monica and Coronado will
come here and compete.
Sunday evening, March s, there will be
a grand carnival on wheels. Prizes will
be given for the best sustained characters,
the finest costumes and the best decorated
wheels. To avoid accidents on this occa-
sion masks covering the eyes will not be
allowed. This entertainment promises to
be the most novel and interesting of the
entire tournament. On the same evening
there will be Chinese races and exhibition
trick riding, and a race for men weighing
over 200 pounds. There will also be a
contest between riders selected from among
the City's letter-carriers and mail clerks
and q colored gentlemen's race.
One of the principal events of the entire
tournament will be the great military
relay race Monday evening, March 8, be-
tween riders picked from the cavalrymen
and infantrymen at the Presidio, each of
whom must carry a rife, canteen and
knapsack. The race will be distance of
ten miles in two-mile relays, the messages
carried to be delivered at the finish to the
ommander-ln-chief. This race Will be
very interesting as a demonstration of the
possible use of the bicycle in the army.
Besides these special events there
will be the great contest every night
between the crack class a and B men
of last year, who are now all assem- bled
in one class and known only as anna
teurs. After three months rest the
racers are in the pink of condition, and as
all the clubs have entered their best men,
and great rivalry is shown among them
the races and finishing sprints will be
fought out to the bitter end. The prize
list offered by the tournament promoters
is very valuable, which probably accounts
for the enthusiasm the men show in train
ing and when speaking about the races,
and will prove a great incentive Tor
them to ride their very best.
So much for the racing features of the
tournament. In addition there is to be a
cycle show, which viii be very interesting
All the big firms of this City have taken
space, and it will be the largest exhibition
OF bicycles ever seen here. Spaces nave
been arranged on the Hayes and Grove
streets sides of the Pavilion, back of the
track. One exhibitor will show something
never seen here or at any other cycle show,
a bicycle, tandem, triplet Quadruplet
quintet and sextet, or "sextuplet," as some
call it. These will all be seen in motion
upon the track, and In pretty lively motion
at that. The seXtet is single steerer,
guided by the first rider only, and can
easily make the turns of the track.
Speaking OF sextets reminds me. The
two record teams at Santa Monica and
Coronado each have one of these machines,
which, by the way, are valued at about
$4,000 apiece. The one at Santa Monica is
guided by W. NJ. Randall of Rochester,
= n. Y, a big, strong rider weighing over
200 pounds. The one at Coronado is
managed by little fellow named Stone.
from Denver who is -qnte diminutiye in
size and strength. Each of the re-
F.. spectlve team managers thinks he has got
the right idea.
But TO return to the cycle show. Chief
Consul herrigan has made arrangements
50 bhdI al Hemo oerS Oh the League of
American Wheemen will be admitted at
half price. This is another of the many
advantages of belonging to the league,
The various exhibitors Will have a meet.
ing next Monday morning at the Pavilion
at IL o'clock to arrange a set of rules for
their own government The Southern
Pacific Company and the two lines of
Marin County will issue tickets to neonIe
desiring TO attend the show at half the
regular rates. A bicycle is to be given
away every night. by the management as
gate prize.
There will be great many people attend
the show who will 60 only 20 see the i'm
mense bicycle exhibits, and who do not
care for the racing, though that is the
principal attraction to- the majority of
cycling enthusiasts. The seats for specta-
tors have all been raised, so that an excel
lent view of all parts OF the track is
obtainable from any part of the honse.
and there will also be standing room in
the center, reached by stairway over the
track.
Altogether, the tournament and show
Will be the best and most interesting of
any ever held here, and the many novel
features that will be offered should make