The San Francisco call., 1897-07-12
He Again Lowered the Coast
Record for the
Distance.
THE ROAD In POOR & CONDITION.
A ccidents We're Numerous, the 0lym-
pics and Imperials Losing Their
Chances Thereby.

The Bay City Wheelmen added another
to their long list OF victories Oh the track
and road when their team of five men
captured the annual twenty mile event of
the California Associated Cycling Clubs
yesterday.
This race is one ot the four big road
events conducted by the association
annually, and the trophy is the most
valuable of any of them, being a magniti-
cent cup given to the association by Baker
6G Hamilton.
The rules of the race are that it is to be
al twenty miles, and competed for by
teams of five men from any of the clubs
belonging to the c. A. G. c. which desire
to contest for the cup, groups of one man
from each team starting five minutes
apart, the lowest net time OF all the men
on one team to indicate the winner.
This is the second year the race has been
run, and last year :he Acme Club Wheel
men of Oakland carried eff the honors.
They hoped to repeat their victory this
year, and, as the cup has to be won three
times to become the personal property of
club, they would then have had it two
thirds won.
But since the Bay City Wheelmen
placed the relay cup to their credit by
winning it for the third and last time last
April, they have had covetous eyes on
the Baker & Hamilton trophy. and made
more than ordinary endeavors to win it
this year. Their team was the strongest
and their preparations the most COM
plete so that the victory was well deserved.
The result was not long in doubt after
the race was once we'll started, as the
Bay City men rode strong throughou
and were fortunate in not meeting with
any accidents. Not SO with some OF the
other clubs-the Oily pics for instance,
who had hard luck from the start, but
pluckliy kept up a stern chase that
seemed almost useless, as their competi-
tors constantly gained on them.
The ride was started at Fitchburg, on
the county road to San Leandro, about II
O'Clock yesterday morning. This is ABOUT
three miles west of San LeaEdro. On
reaching the latter point the riders took
the fork towards Haywards, covering the
triangular course back 10 San Leandro,
eight and a third miles. Riding this
twice, and the three and third miles
extension 10 Fitch burg, made up the re-
quired twenty miles, the finish being in
San Laandro.
Six teams entered vesterd ay's race, from
the Acme Club Wheelmen, Bay CITY
Wheelmen. California Cycling Club, I'M
perial Cycling Club, Olympic Club Wheel.
men and Reliance Club Wheelmen. The
Reliance team did not start as one of It's
men was taken i'll at the last moment,
another was disqualified, and it did not
have two substitutes in proper condition
for such hard ride.
Only three OF these clubs finished the
D.rv
Mas.
One man from each team, making
group OF five riders, was started at 10 80
clock, another bunch FIVE minutes later.
and so on until The five punches of five
men each were on the way. Tandem pac-
ing was provided ior each bunch by the
assoc alton, but there We're no. enough
tandeEs, and when man once lost the
pacemakers and was left to shift for him
self he generally dropped long ways be-
hind.
In this way Kraft, the Bay City crack,
"shook" his bunch, and his pacing was so
good he almost caught up with The bunch
which started five minutes ahead OF him;
in TACT, he did pass two of them, and fin
ished seven minutes before any of the
others III The group in which he started
KRAFT made the best time Of any of the
twenty five men in the race riding tie
twenty miles in 81 minutes IL 2-5 seconds,
the former record being 52:51. This is
second to he best 20-mile record in the
United States, made by Massachusetts,
rider, although faster time has been made
over some strai htaway courses. When
the many crooks ana turns of the Caiifor.
MIA course are considered. where a man
mas to slow down almost to a standstill
Tor safety's sake, Kratts record stands out
prominently as one Of the best perform
ances of the year.
There we're accidents innumerable in
the race, and while no one was hurt for
tunalely still fall generally meant loss
OF nail minute or more 10 a man and by
that time he had lost the bunch and the
advantage of pacing and lost ground
stead ly thereafter. Cook and Saunders
of the Olympic Club and Lind and
hamann OF the Imperials were particu-
iarly unfortunate in this regard. Kenna
OF tie Bay Citys had narrow escape. A
tanoem which was pacing the group he
was In ieli and Kenna dashed right into
the wreck. de rode completely over one
man ana was not even thrown, continuing
on without loss of time. This was the
only accldent the Bay Citys had. Suuires
beat out Kenna in the sprint when their
Duncn Hnlsned, and this was the only
time the Bay Citys were not in the lead.
Ihere was some complaint because
there were not enough tandems to pace,
out those mat were there did efficient SER
vice. The official pacemakers were Bacon
and Welch. Corbett and Thjel, Theisen
and Sirei, Grlthths anu Ferguson. Kroetz
and Kingsley, Kanzse and Raynaud.
The race was excellently conducted |
throughout, and for this great credit is |
due Charles Albert Adams and Chester q
Myrick of the association road.rac;ng
com mittee, and James NJ. Hamilton. the |
referee. There was not even hint of n |
protest or foul, such as often mars events |
Of this kind, and every one seemed satis
fed that the best team had won.
The following table will show the net |
riding time of the men of the different |
teams:
Bay City Wheelmen-J. R kenna 54:2215 |
c. A. Kraft 52:11 2-5, John Davidson 55 :Oe Ii |
Ben Noonan 58:ll As, j. C. Williamson |
15 :28 2-5.
Acme Club Wheelmen - II. W. Souires
81 % E J. Smith sos, G. H. Staples 55:l1