The sun., 1897-05-17
NEWS OF THE WHEELMEN.
ROAD AND TRACK RIDERS TRAIN
ING FOR THEIR COMING RACES.


Amateurs ana Professionals Test Their speed
at Manhattan Beach-Crowds spend n Merry
Holiday Awheei-special Track at Glasgow
for tho International Tournament-Note-.
Tho holiday crowd went a-wheclinR yesterday
with unabated enthusiasm, and every outlet
from Greater New York became, for the time
being, cycle path Early birds wero confronted
with a scarcity of sunshine and n trihe too much
wind but rs the day wore on the conditions
grew steadily more favorable, and toward even
ing they were almost faultlcss. The breezy
morning did not possess It's usual terrors for
riders with local trips in view, for although most
Of the suburban routes had dried out sufficiently
they had not yet resumed their coat of shifting
dust This fact was especially appreciated by
the cycling girls, who enjoy having their curls
put in picturesque disorder by Dame Nature q
hairdresser so long sprinklng of powdered
macadam does not spoil the effect.
That cycling sharpcns the wits and prepares
one for prompt action in an emergency was
shown yesterday afternoon at Coney Island
resort whore riders are catered to inside while
the wheels arc stalled outside. A particularly
up-todate blonde in boomers was "scorching"
along with an escort down the cycle path when
one end OF her lamp dropped out. Her squire
gallanty volunteered to repair the damage IL
possible, but she checked him with the remark:
Never mind the greasy old thing. We are
missing somo Of the fun at Coney. When we
get there I'll work tho sawdust game on some
farmer and get new lamp as easy as winking."
When the pair reached the resort referred to
they checked their wheels among dozens Of 9TH
ers and hunted up refreshments. When they
came out again the girl naIvely said:
Charley let me change lamps with you"
He nodded. without " catching on" and under
the unsuspecting eyes Of the attendant and her
escort the girl stepped calmly to her wheel and
exchanged tho derelict lamp. not for Charley
as suggested, but for glistcning beauty on the
next wheel in line. Another trip indoors was
made and then the pair rode off. After while
fastidious clubman stepped out and had scarce
ly set eyes on his wheel when he yelled:
How did that-blank-lamp come therel 1t
isn't mine. wouldn't carry such an old wreck.
No bottom in 1t, either. How the blank--blank-
did 1t como there. 1 sayi'
The only one who could answer the question
was then miles of on her homeward trip.
The excellent condition of the macadam roads,
resulting from the recent rains. induced riders
to take runs to sections like New Jersey, Staten
Island, Coney Island, and points convenient to
the Merrick road. Long runs were abandoned
on account OF the threatening weather in tho
forenoon. with the result that the near
by places were crowded. Uptown residents
swarmed in Central Park, the annexed district,
and along the boulevard and Riverside Drive.
The cycle paths in Brooklyn were well patron
lied: The objective points of the riders who
used these paths seemed to be Bath Beach and
Coney Island. Runs were held TO several inland
and Brooklyn. The riding territory Staten
Island, which has become very popular with the
Track and road racing men were out in their re.
spective territories preparing for coming events:
The men who are located at Sheepshead Bay and
training at the Manhattan Beach track received
visits from the local amateur and professional
riders, who spent the forenoon in cultivating
over $50 racing men at the track, and several
hundred spectators watched the trial during the
land was edisappointment Both % men ar are nnwei
"auad team was out on the track and cut the
riders. The Columbia University team, consist.
ing Of Fearing, Dawson, and Powell, did some
utes 10 seconds. and gives promise of doing
much better in competition at the opening meet
RsI snS bSb Tp p1hes sES Powell
on June 8. Kennedy. Ingrahau. Stevens Wells.
rode some fast quarters yesterday. There We're
many spills among the men practising. but Few
match race between Mcfarland and Titus, to
take place at the Beach on next Saturday after
noon.
The road.racing men selected the Irvington.
Millburn roads for trial spins. yesterday. The
wheelmens headquarters at Hilton was crowded
the big ' road dr. race | to be- be held on on Nay 81. The
course was in fair shape. and some Of the men
Some Of the novices. WI ho will make their first
appearance as road-racing men on May 81, rode
over the course. but the hills seemed to take all
enthusiasm out OF them.
Tho Scottish Cyclists Union. under whose
auspices the international championship meet
will be held at Glasgow in July, Is preparing for
for n record-breaking meet. A special track is
now in process OF construction at an expense
to the mile and will range in width from 20 to
20 feet. 1t consists OF two straights of 3O4 feet
with nVs radius % Of o 14s feet inches 'Fhs The
banking will be 0 feet high in tho centre
Of the in proportion
leaving tho finish straight It will be built on
earth formation with six inches Of rock pitch
ished with one and half inches of granolithic.
Under favorable conditions it is expected that
championship meeting.
The semi-annual meeting Of tho Brooklyn
night. Tho meeting will be an important one.
since the question of devising means to secure
new foundation for tho west cycle path will be
discussed.
Eddie Bald for the big meet at w,altham for
Decoration Day. Manager A X; Peck has also
secured Tom Cooper. and the rival champions
but Tires times. 80 two riders yS in oS America erica
stand higher in the estimation of racing men,
and from these three races 1t will be possible to
gauge the merits OF the men and their possible
form for the coming season.
LONDON, May 16-At Sydenham yesterday
J. p Betts, the bioyclist, beat tho records for
from two to FIVE miles. He rode the latter dis
tance In minutes as seconds.
PARIS May 16.-The bicycle race from Bor-
deaux to this city was finished this afternoon
1t was won by Rivierre, a Frenchman, whose
time was 20 hours 36 minutes 25 seconds. Cor
dang, Dutchman, was second, and Meyer, u
Dane, third.
Baseball Games To-Day.
NATIONAL LEAGUE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION.
New York at. Pittsburz; Brooklyn at st. Louis;
Boston Chicago; Philadelphia at Cincinnati: Bal
timoro at Louisville; Washington at Cleveland.
EASTERN LEAGUE,