Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-10-22
Bert Owen Chats About the First
Bicycles in Washington.
APPEARANCE OF TIE SPIDER SPOKES
Organization Of the Capital Bicy-
Gle Club on the Capitol Steps.
THE FAMOUS BIRTHDAY RUNS

Washington this week. He hardly had
time to attend to the business which called
him from his New England home, because
everywhere he went he was met by old
friends, who insisted upon buttonnoling
him on the street for a talk about old
times. And every one Of the old Washing
ton wheelmen would rather hear Bert
Owen talk than go to the theater.. All the
riders of the SOS regarded Bert, Owen as
the king of wheelmen. He wasn't fancy
rider by any means. and his admirers never
classed him with the trick riders, but when
he threw his long legs over a siXty-inch
wheel the bicycle became a part Of the
rider.
He rode wheel a cowboy does his
broncho. He rode down the Capitol steps
on an upright wheel long before it was
ever attempted by any of the trick riders,
and thought nothing of It, He understood
the mechanism of the wheel thoroughly.
and seemed to have 1t under absolute con-
troll. Where others took nasty headers he
roGe with ease. To be sure, the hind wheel
might be in the air half the time, but thai
made no difference to him.
The First Real Bicycle.
There has been some controversy recently
as to what washingtonian first rode the
old "bone-shaker'' wheel. from which the
modern bicycle was evolved. A Star re-
porter, thinking perhaps Mr.. Owen might
throw some light on the matter, asked him
the question.
You'll never find out" he replied. You
see, the old bone shakers came 10 town III
a bunch and there is no telling who was
the first to ride one on the washington
Streets
But 1 can tell you who first rode the real
.spidyr-spoked' wheel. 1t a man
CrOS
ance on the street the day before Thanks
giving day, 1878. remember the date very
well, although I didn't live here at the time
but nv brother Fred did. Fred saw Cross
cup on his wheel and got on his trail He
chased him up one street and down an
other, and finally caught him up on F
street by the post office building.
He chased CrOsScup because he wanted a
chance to ride that wheel, and he got it.
Crosscup loaned him the wheel and he rode
several blocks on 1t.
Now, I'll tell you how 1 remember the
circumstance and the date. On that same
day-tne day before Thanksgiving day, 1878
Il was riding spider wheel IN the storage
loft of a sewing machine factory In Hart
ford. / wrote to Fred that evening, telling
him about my ride on the new-fangled
wheel and he wrote me the same evening
telling me about the appearance OF Cross
cups wheel in Washington and his riding
it, and our letters passed each other on the
way"
How did you happen to be riding BIZ
cycle?" asked The Star man.
well | had seen q spider wheel ex-
hibited at the centennial exposition ana
used to dream about it. The matter final
ly took such hold of me that 1 began
making Inquiries to find out if spider wheels
weren't manufactured some place l
learned that sewing macnne factory
right in my own town (Hartford) was
building fifty bicycles from model from
a man named Pope in Boston. The sewing
ma chine people were a little uneasy ABOUT
the order. for they weren't sure aoou! gee-
and they didn't believe any one could ride
the wheels. They had completed part OF
the order. however, and they had nnlsned
wheel in the storage loft. When located
il and asked permission 10 flde IT, ol
course they granted 1t.
II got on 1t and rode around the loft
among boxes and crates. much to the as
constituent OF the employees 10 De sure,
when / wanted to get off 1t I dismounted
upon a crowd of the spectators; 1t was
easier than falling on the floor, but rode
1t just as long 1 wanted to. Then was
country-to go where pleased without re-
! gard to railroads. But the price was too
steep for ne-$95. I got Pope's address
and went to Boston, thinking l might get
found Pope. and found the wheel. and
also found that it would cost me $50. l had
only $50 when I started. and had spent
$40 of that. I asked Mr.. Pope to keep the
wheel for me ard would go home and get
the rest of the money.
But he said. What's the matter with
taking the wheel now and sending the
money later?' AND 1 did. Now, 1T seems
strange that should pay $50 for a second
hand wheel, when I could get new one
| for $95 But / liked the Boston wheel the
best-a good deal the best-and l had an
| idea that knew something about bicycles.
Well / brought that wheel to Washington
soon afterward and found several other
young fellows here who were the proud
possessofs of bicycles.
Organising the G. Bi. C.
I'm January, 1879. we got together one
evening on the Capitol steps and founded
the Capital Bicycle Club.
| THE first year the club had but six
wheels. At the end of the second year
there were thirty-s;x riding members, and
all had wheels. 1t is rather curious that
| GU: of thirty-six bicycles there were six
! teen different makes. and there were only
| three Coumbias in the lot. too.
I'VE had a club room up here on 18th
! street above the avenue, for which we
| paid 80 a month rent, and in 1t We had
thousands of dollars worth Of pleasure
| Every tine we got new member the boys
would go home with him and stay all night
and help him take his wheel apart and
rrnHv w