New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-06-27
RACING AND PACING.
COOPER SHOWS THE DIFFERENCE BE-
TWEEN THEM.

SOME INTERESTING FACTs-A HALF-MILE IN
81 sECoNDs-PAYING HIS FATHER TO
RIDE A wHrEL-THE GREAT
RIDER sHUDDERING AT THE
THOUGHT OF CENTURY.
Coming down the Albany boat which
reached this city on Wednesday morning. there
were several prominent cyclists who had been
to Saratoga to attend the State championship
races and the sem-annual meeting Of the New
York Division of the L. A. w. While the racing
ana good-road elements In the l.. A. W. in this
district have not always worked In harmony. the
racer and the legislator sat down together after
dinner and snapped stories, and showed the ut
most harmony and goOd-felowshp.
Tom Cooper, the racing man. one Of the
party, and the handsome rosy-cheeked fellow
told little bit Of his life history which seemed
to the writer to be worth repeating After lis
tening to the tale of w. s. Bull the secretary
treasurer Of the New-York Division. about the
ride OF the cyclists from Albany to Saratoga
and the horrible experience the party had over
one of the worst roads in the country, Cooper
in his quiet way caught the attention Of the
party.
You may be surprised gentlemen, to know
said he. that l have not ridden three
miles at stretch at any one time this year. but
such Is fact. People think that because am
facing and in constant training that the
riding Of century would not affect me in the
least. If I had tried to take that ride from AL
bany to Saratoga as you did, probably would
not have got over it for a week. Last fall after
leaving the circuit I went home, and occasion
ally, with my sister. rode n tandem into the city.
Some of our friends arranged a century run into
the country. and was prevailed upon to go
along. Everybody thought that would simply
wear the others out. and my friends kept calling
not to make 4 fast pace. After going about
forty miles some one suggested that we stop.
and after a rest it was again suggested that we
return home by train. Then tried to carry out
the bluff and insisted upon riding our wheels
back The others carried the day however. and
went back by train. and was mighty glad
that they did. for. to tell the truth, was posi-
bly, nearer baked than any other man in the
party"
Some one preached the subject of little
Michaes wonderful records. and Cooper said:
Michael is certainly physica! wonder and the
midget can hang on to a pace like grim death
Still, riding behind pace and riding in a race are
two different things. None Of us have any idea
as yet how fast man can ride bicycle II he
has proper pacing. mile a minute is among the
possibilities. ! had experience not long ago
which showed me thing or two about pacing.
We were in town where | was entered in the
races, and l was TO give an exhibition half-mlIe
as well.
Il was feeling all out OF sorts that day, and
told Mother Webb. my trainer. that would
have to withdraw. / had many friends In that
city and they came to me and begged me to get
out and ride anyway and do the best that !
could. Well. / went into the mile open. and l
was dead before half the distance mad been COW
cred and forced TO stop. There was not
man on the track that day who could not nave
beaten me out in any sort of race. | was so
thoroughly broken up that told the committee
In charge OF the meeting that could not give
the exhibition; that | would not be able 10 rloe
q half-me In two minutes .
'.They told me that they had advertised the
trial. and that II did not ride the attendance
would be bitter against them. Ihey saio they
would put out tandem to pace me. ana re-
quested me to get out and do the best couio.
Then Webb added his voice to that OF the others
and I said all right and they brought out the
tandem. l was placed on my wheel feenng more
dead than alive, and dropping In behind the
tandem the half-mile trial was started nung
on to the rear wheel OF the tandem, and we
started around the track. simply hung on ana
pushed. and when l slid off my wheel al the
finish heard a great shout from the spectators
did not understand 1t all until ] had reached
the dressing room. and my attendant was rup-
bling me down. did not dare ask any questions
until Webb seeing my anxious look. bent over
me and said. Good boy, Tommy. You ala the
half mile In 054 fiat
II think that there are many riders on the
circuit who can go as fast as the pacemakers
can 60 With motor pacing it makes one $ head
ache to think how fast some OF the paced races
OF the future will be run. .
II am firm believer in the bicycle. and II
will do the people Of this country world or
good / have been asking my father to ride
wheel for long time, and he always said that
he did not have time. Before leaving nome TINS
spring ! arranged little deal with the gov
ernor and I hear that ii is working all right
I purchased a wheel and presented 1t to him. ana
told him to ride it. My father has been hard-
working man all his life. and he said that he
could not afford to give up the time to learn
to ride I told him If he would lie off for a
year and ride that wheel | would pay MN the
salary he would earn at his labors. He flnaily
accepted the proposition and | hear that the
governor is having a royal time Of 1t riding his
wheel out at our home. He will probably be
challenging me to a fftymile race after the
circuit has been finished and go home FOR the