The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-07-23
BICYCLE SUIT FUSS
Ajax Cyclers Object to
Frills and FurbeloWs
on Their Uniform.
LADY IN IT, OF COURSE
VreeIand's Rows of Braid Causes
d Split in the Ranks-No
Elaboration Allowed.

Six rows of braid on the bicycle suit OF
one of the Ajax Cyclers, in Jersey CITY,
has caused considerable trouble IN tnat
organization and has resulted in the reslg-
nation of the member wearing the prala.
Other designations may follow,as the clup
members are divided on the matter IN as
pute. Walter yreeland, the bicycle dealer
or, Bergen near Storm avenues, is the Of
tending and offended member. It all nap
pensd this way
Walter spends most of his spare time IN
riding a tandem bicycle with a very esi-
mable young lady. a%well known society
belle who lives on the Heights. On their
handsome crimson tandem they cut quite
a dash and hav become we'll known ng-
ures on the Hudson County Boulevard
where they take, their afternoon spin.
Walter was one of the organizers OF the
Ajax Cyclers, which was started by DIS
satisfied members of the Hudson County
Wheelmen. When the club house was fur-
nished and there was a lack OF necessary
funds he advanced the amount necessary.
He always took an active interest in pro-
noting the welfare of the club and 1t was
mainly through his efforts that the hand
some new clubhouse at Belmont avenue
and the Boulevard, which the cyclers
nave but recently taken possession OF.
was secured.
I. A short time G the cyclers decided to
adopt. a uniform: A natty suit of service
able material, light brown in color, was
selected and all the member promised TO
lave their bicycle suits made after that
design. vreeland told his riding compan
ion of the decision of the club and she
determined to surprise him by having her
costume made of the same material as
the Ajax uniform, and as nearly as pos
sible in conformity with the other reg
ulations. Feminine vanity, however, in
duced her to enhance the natty appear
ance of the waist by adding a few rows
Of dark brown braid down the front.
Vreeland's uniform was made perfectly
plain, with the exception of a couple of
plaits and looked commonplace along side
Of that of his friend.
At her solicitation and in order to make
a more uniform appearance on the tan
dem he added six rows of braid to his
uniform coat and a stripe on either leg
went into raptures over the suit and
many of Walters friends complimented
him upon its handsome appearance. All
went well until one day when he wore 1t
Hello, Walt, have you Joined Sousa's
band?'s asked one fellow.
other. Hes putting on Tugs just be-
| cause he rides a tandem. and has a mort
gage on most of our wheels"
vice. eek s~ soliRIoauisea = t Saads w Who snf is sen en-
While a good many Of the fellows
w u5oiIllae IN t him S gooa n shey we're 1 psanntn II;
to have their suits trimmed in the same
manner. there was one man who took a
different view of the matter. The mem
/ harr in FrJ1pSfiOn was GaOryR RrPWpr vice
president OF the organization. At the
| next meeting of the club, which was the
m mast meu ap nseso on s rhe c Il ns 0f0usAs ING
We have adopted a club uniform" he
said, and all of US have promised TO
! members has had his coat made on a
pattern that is an. elaboration upon the
| suit we adopted and another member has
| ordered azSimilar suit. This thing should
be put a stop to at once. Any member
that is not loyal enough to his club to
wear its coiors should be called TO task:
! WHAT'S the good of having. a uniform #
have their clothes made in n fashion
they may take "a fancy to- :
Vreeland in his own defence explained
why it was that he had added the braid
! and said he thought he had a right to
| dress in any manner he might see nj.
| The discussion on the subject grew not:
| Most .of the members We're in favor OF
| adhering strictly to the chosen uniform,
| probably because they have not a girl
| and a tandem, but Vreeland had a num-
Der. on his side. He left the meeting, in
| treated and the next day sent in his
resignation. He has since joined the
| Mantle Wheelmen, who are permitted to
dress as they please.
Vreeland when interviewed on the mat
! ter said:-If l had on a whole lot of
braid there might be some cause for a
kick, but have only got six rows, just
enough to make it match the suit the
vo,,ng lady I ride with wears. There
is really no cause for complaint against
| NV uniform. / don't see that 1t makes
much difference W whether ! have braid on
4 n or not. The whole trouble is that there
are. LOT of kickers whit want to run
/ the club and who are only too glad to
get me out. They couldn't find anything
| else to- c~riticise so they picked a nght
over nv uniform. I don't care particu-
Iarlv as the club I am in now is much
better in every respect"