The herald., 1897-09-12

Iii
racing appeals to
the highest classes, for those engaged in
this style of competition are, like the
college fottball teams, made up of the
better class Of young men, those or
brains and culture as we'll as muscle.
OF course the rank and file of bicycle
users do not look to racing as their source
of enjoyment with the wheel. They find
the quiet country ride, the run to the
park, or the club run, or even the ride to
and from business, more profitable,
more practicable and more enjoyable.
Bicycling racing is the newest sport.
Tennis is centuries old and golf Is not a
new game, while baseball, cricket, foot
ball and marine sports have the stamp or
long usage. Racing on the modern SAFE
ty bicycle began in America in 1885, while
the old high wheel in contest was first
used in this country in open racing but
eight years earlier and with little import
ance up to fifteen years ago. The old
high wheel made it's last appearance in
national handicaps at Chicago IN 1898.
and the one race then was but gigantic
Joke, Champion Zimmerman borrowing
a battered up old wreck from trick
rider and w. A. Murphy, his chief oppo-
nent, mounting another wreck, and the
time for the mile was over three minutes.
IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
In Southern California bicycling rae
ing has reached an advanced stage, and
there are more racing men in the south
west in proportion to the population than
in any equal territory on the globe. There
are also more bicycle tracks in Southern
California than in any other locality of
equal population. These facts would
Il lead one to inquire why Southern
California. does not turn out world beat
ers. This is easily explained. Bicycle
| racers are young men and the best age
| for speed is from II years Of age up to
% years, and today bicycle racing has
been reduced to such a fine point that
ones whole time and mind must be de-
voted to the game to be a winner. In
other words, proper training is more i'm.
portant than natural ability.
| With the small prizes and the infre.
| quency Of profitable racing in the south
west there is no incentive to develop
the best men to the world-beating point
A CONSTANT CHANGE
1t is impossible to get living out OF
On the coast, for that matter, and. the best
men. after taking a year to learn this
patent fact, give up racing and settle
down to business Of some kind. Their
places are soon filled by new men, or
rather boys coming forward to win glory,
and thus each season sees the retirement
of momentary wonders and the appear
ance Of new phenomenons.
This latter fact Is illustrated in Will
lam Furman, local telegraph operator,
II years old. At the Fiesta races he rode
his first race and also captured the anna
teur championship, proving at once his
ability to be classed as the best amateur
Of the southwest. With perfect training
he would rank with any man on earth.
Possibly inside of two years he will be
forgotten.
Two years ago William A. Taylor, a
cement maker Of Azusa, showed remark
able speed and won regularly, ending the
year with a lot of world records to his
credit. Today many of the racing men
here in Los Angeles would not know Tay-
lor If they saw him, and he does not even
own wheel. Last years local wonder
among the amateurs was William E..
Delay, and his sensational debut Of June
25, 1895, was greater than Furman's at
La Fiesta races, for he broke worlds
record in his very first race. And now
Delay is interested in yacht racing and
talks about giving up his wheel for
months TO come.
Myron A. Hill, 16-year-old Pasadena
boy, eclipsed Delay at times last year
and he would have been a wonder any
where, when In training. He Is now out
of the cycle racing game and may neve
take it up again.
OF the Southern California bicycle rae
ing men Herbert E. McCrea, now at Sar
Francisco, Harry B. Cromwell of this
city and Will Jenkins, now of Johannes
burg, South Africa, kept at it longest
| Cromwell and McCrea are still racing
| but McCrea has been a professional fol
| two years.
| THE BURKE BOYS
| About the first man in these parts to
attract general attention was Wing. A
decade ago he was invincible. Then
came David Burke, and he was another
remarkable winner. Later his halo fell
on his brother, William A. Burke, ans
| the name of Burke has been something to
! conjure with for the last five years. But
| since early last year Will Burke has ap.
peared on the track but twice and is un-
decided as to whether he will continue
| In racing. With him it is purely business
and unless racing becomes more profit
| able he will retire. '
Last year the five best riders in Amer
lea were Bald of Buffalo, Cooper of De-
troit, Gardner of Chicago, Sanger of Mil
| waukee and Ziegler of San Jose, this
| state. Today the same classification is
good, enlarging the number with the ad-
dition of the following: Kiser of Dayton,
o., Loughead of Sarnia, Ont, and Mich
ael. the Welshman.
SPEED MERCEIA NTS