New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-01-10


Bensonhurst and Bath Beach region. At pres
ent there Is no way of getting across the creek
near the western end OF the island except by
walking over railroad bridge and riding along
the railroad track for some distance Some
cyclists have done this occasionally, SO as to
avoid returning over the customary route to the
island by the Ocean Parkway. but the great ma
jorty invariably come back the same way they
go down. With the proposed bridge there will
be a direct connection from the island to Crop
sey.ave. and thence to Twenty-second-ave.,
Eighteenth-ave. and Seventh-ave. and in time
to the fine Shore Drive. In few other ways can
a small expenditure produce more important re-
suits The need of a bridge here has long been
apparent, ana measure to provide for one was
introduced In the last Legislature. 1t contained
what looked like a job. however and did not be.
come law. The present bill has the approval
OF the Brooklyn authorities. and probably will
meet with no opposition. The bridge cannot be
built too soon.
Menti' was recently made in this column Of
method adopted by some winter riders to
guard against slipping Of tires on snow and ice
py wrapping canvas or muslin around tire and
rim ana sewing II fast Another plan IN az
compsh the same thing Is to wind heavy Irvine
around the tires at points about as far apart as
tne spoKes. TO an extent both of these things
10 proect the tires from injury but really
thcre is very little danger of tire being torn or
punctufed by contact with rough and broken ice
With the larger sprockets that are coming into
use there is a movement In the direction Of
using longer cranks. Instead of six and one
half inches. which has been the customary
iensth' many riders are providing themselves
win seventeen cranks 1t is said that the ex-
IRA naii-inch makes pedalling easier on ordinary
ROADS, but the larger circle through which tho
loot passes will tell in the other direction in
hni-ci'ihping rider who has tried the longer
i maui.
| thigh muscles in new place which was q s,r
prise 10 MN, rider Of several years experience
Inc number OF accessions to the membersbi,
OF the League is not large at present for thi.
Is the dull season In all wheeling matters wifi,
the exception of course, Of the preparations for
the cycle Show. to be held n month hence In
recent list, however. is found the name of George
y; Waring, jr.. Of No. 11J Second-a this citv
me commissioner of Street Cleaning has long
peen known as an advocate of The bcycle and
"biiges large number of his subordinates To %,
ABOUT the city on business wheels He is a
welcome addition to the seventy odd thousonG
wheemen who arc banded together for tho nro-
lection OF their rights. tho securing of good roads
ana inc advancement OF the interests OF cycling
! generally. "
Whceiman VINO has gone over q certain route
without difficulty, either following the drec-
tons or guide-book or on Information cleaned
from other sources. is not always able to maks
| the return trip successfully. A fork in the road
which was unnoticed going In one direction NAV
! prove "A source of serious embarrassment on the
/ return In truth. so rapid Is the progress ustl-
ally made on a bicycle that it is impossible to
get NOR" than cursory glimpse of the country
one passes through and ride over the same road
/ in the opposite direction has almost as large an
element OF novelty as If the landscape had never
been seen before But one should beware OF
thinking that he IL thoroughly familiar with a
10 I
pike. because he has travelled over 1t once.
The Triumph Wheelmen one OF the most popu.
lar cycling organizations of the Harlem district,
has recently removed from its old quarters at
No. lbs Boulevard to No. 20 West One hundred
and fourh-st.. which was formerly occupied by
the Riverside Republican Club. The house, which
is roomy and well adapted to club purposes. has
been completely refltted. and the members OF the
club now have an admirable place to discuss cy-
cling topics and prepare for the outdoor season
Of 1897. The club organized in 1899, with
! twelve members. and since then 1t has grown
steadily. until now 1t has an active membership
| of about one hundred and fifty. The members
take n great deal of interest in oil that pertains
to cycling. and the walls of The club parlors are
hung with trophies given for century runs. pa
rades and similar affairs. The officers of the club
President. Charles Haynes vice president,
William Leaycraft; treasurer. Thomas Donohue:
recording secretary. r. Burton financial secre-
| Manti.
The air rather sharp and biting Friday,
/ but there were good many wheemen and some
wheelwomen abroad in the upper part of the city.
/ II is no exaggeration to say that Of the
/ former attracted more attention than did man
| who started to ride over the Brooklyn Bridge on
one of the old-fashioned high wheels. sometimes
spoken Of as ''ordinaries." He entered the south
roadway Of the Bridge soon after noon. Where
he came from no seemed to know. but no
| sooner had he headed his machine in the direc-
| ton of Brooklyn than a curious crowd collected
! at the entrance of the roadway and gazed open
mouthed after him until turn In the road hid
the rider from view. His progress up the incline
was somewhat slower than that of one riding a
| safety bicycle would have been. The wheel
which he rode had an appearance OF newness ana
sma-tness not to be looked for In an ordinary.
1t was nickel plated throughout and glistened
bravcIy In the bright. sunshine. The rider was
dressed in dark clothing and wore an Alpine hat.
But for the sowness with which he proceeded II
might have been supposed that he was showing
some modification Of the old-style ordinary
having alleged superiority to the type OF bicycle
now widely popular.