New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-04-19
IN. THE CYCLING WORLD.
TREMENDOUS ACCEssroNs TO THE RANKS
OF WHEEIIMEN.

LAST YEARS LARGEST CROWDS ALREADY SUR
p.ssEp-woRK ON THE RETURN PATH
FROM coNEY ISLAND SOON TO BEGIN
OTHER LONG ISLAND ROAD
IMPROVEMENTS.
Many club runs have been arranged for to-day,
and with fair weather the cycle parade will in all
probability eclipse anything OF the kind seen In
this region Many of the suburban roads are
rather dusty. but the wheclmen don't mind this
much at least not as much as they do their natu-
raj enemy. mud The New-York clubs will move
out OF the city In every direction, and large
crowds will travel over the good roads OF staten
Island. Long Island and through New-Jersey.
Others will pour through Westchester NOW that
the riding season has opened In earnest. the cy-
clists are thinking that 1t Is about time something
more was done in this State for their benefit.
They read of the paths and good roads being
built everywhere. and they are naturally dissat-
isned with the condition OF affairs in this En-
pire Commonwealth. However, betters roads
are spreading In various regions, and agitation
will do the rest.
Another thing IN which the cyclists OF the coun-
try are deeply interested Is the Armstrong Bag
gage bill, which passed both houses Of the Legis-
lature with such handsome majorities. The bill
some time. and those who have worked so earn
estly in behalf Of the bill cannot understand why
It hangs fire. While some Of the railroad Inter-
ests have fought the bill from the start. others
have not opposed 1t with much feeling. Many
are arguing that the Governor cannot afford to
ignore the wishes OF the wheelmen In this mat
ter The riders OF the wheel are beginning TO
worry over the delay In signing the bill. Other
States are preparing TO pass bills similar 10 the
Armstrong measure. and for that reason the ac-
ton Of the Governor is awaited with much con-
Germ all over the country. The League OF Ameri-
can Wheelmen has made splendid fight, ana
every loyal member OF 1t from Maine to Califor-
MIA has his best ear turned toward Albany.
1t would be impossible to keep any kind Of
a count Of the cyclists who flock to the Boule-
ward. Central Park and Riverside Drive on
pleasant days now, but proofs are not lacking
that even thus early In the season wheeling
enjoys greater popularity than 1t did at any
time last year The evidence OF ones eyes
points to the truth OF this. but there are more
accurate Indications. For instance one uptown
dealer on last Sunday had every of the
wheels let which he uses for the purpose. the
number was between sixty and seventy. on
no day last year many OF them en-
ragged He is selling Just twice az many
bicycles az he did at this time last year Ihen
il Is true. he could not fiji all orders. owing 10
the inability OF the factory TO turn out its
product fast enough. Now things are In bet
ter shape and he is kept busy writing for more
wheels.
Last year In his two stores he disposed OF be-
tween eight hundred and nine hundred bicycles
His reasonable expectation Is that he will dou-
bic that total In 1896 He handles standard
machine for which there are already two agen-
cies here in addition to his own. yet ne Is apou'
to open third shop. one OF his places ' Is IN
Harlem, the other In Elghth-ave, and MS new
one Is 10 be on the East Side about Forty
second-st.
This is the period when riders are most likely
to overdo the sport. After not having ridden
all winter. perhaps. they start out on fine
day in April. The feeling OF exhilaration at
once more pedallng out into the country leads
them 10 overexert themselves. and the next
day they are lame and sore. one man had this
experience last Sunday. He had not been
astrde his wheel for weeks. but when he left
the ferry at Fort Lee he felt jubilant In spirits
and strong In body that he rode all the way up
the hill there. Then he had a brush win
"scorcher" to Englewood. and later raced four
or I'VE miles with tandem. lie felt well
enough when he reached home. but for seVerhi
days was conscious that he had had too much
of a good thing The other day "A young
woman hot and dusty. returned wheel to the
shop whence she had taken 1t that morning
The cyclomcter showed that she had gone sixty
miles. finishing that distance soon niter
o'clock She was perfectly exhausted. but
seemed proud Of her feat. rather than ashamed
OF her folly
1t is n good Idea to wear an old pair OF
gloves while cleaning the bearings OF ones
wheel or doing anything else 10 II which re-
ouires the use of kerosene. graphite or other
material which soils the hands mixture or
oil dust and Kerosene will stick TO the fingers
in spite Of all efforts TO remove IL win soap
and once II gets under Inc hnger mans can
only be COaXed out by cneinlcaI MEANS vi pc
allowed 10 wear away
Among welI-known names To be found In the
list OF new members OF the |. a. w. from TINS
city are G.. c. BLe Miss Jeanette L. Glider
John G. IIcckschcr, De Forest ManIce. Mr.. and
Mrs Brander Matthews. Corporation Counsel
Francis VI. Scott and r. Berry Wall New ac-
cessions from the Mchaux Club are George Law
renee Myers Miss H. VI. Russell. Miss Mary Is.
IIadley Mrs. T.. w. Clarke, George A. Freeman
and Miss H. Wilson
While every rider has looked forward with
ioy to the coming OF spring. there Is one disad-
vantage which accompanies II; that IL. the wat
ering cart This is In itself an entirely admirable
| institution. and the only complaint IL against
the abuse Of It's privileges. There IL usually no
deIicacy of touch in the work N the street sprnk-
ler. he strives only for broad effects. His OBJ
tect is apparently not to lay the dust. but to make
| mud However there is some ground for hoping
| that he Ia learning the tue art or street
| snriulIing AT any rate in Central Park and
Riverside Drive. he was no such nuisance last
| week az he WIS n year ago IT this time. lie
| PLAYED on his machine pianlsslmo. and one could
at times follow his cart Without Ringing up bits !,
| OF mud II is to be hoped that thia Civilized
| method will be adopted by the men In the employ
| OF the contractors who keep the regular CITY
streets moist Upper Seventh-ave was last year
deluged; here is good place for beginning tie
| reform.
| on Tuesday the bids for tho work Of construct
| ing the return Cycle Path between Prospect
Park and Coney Island Will be opened. and the
| intention Of Park Commissioner Woodruff Is to
| give out the contract as soon as possible 1t Is
| strictly provided in the specifications that the