The herald., 1897-01-18
THE WHEEL

The racing men throughout the coun-
try are indulging in considerable dis
| cusSiOn, cycle racing. of course, being
| the principal topic. says the New York
| Sporting News. The question of pac-
ing and pacing machines has assumed
more Importance than has been given to
it heretofore. and the opinions as to the
relative merits Of the quads, triplets and
tanGrms are diversified, indeed. After
all has been said, however, the consen-
sus of opinion appears to be that the
triplet is best adapted for fast pacing
work. While a number of cyclists con-
tend that quads are capable of more
speed, their argument is offset by the
fact that on many tracks quads are diff
| ficult to manage and cannot be put to
the highest speed. The bicycle track at
the fair grounds is a case in point, as
1t would be nigh on to an impossibility
| to successfully manage quad on that
| track. TandemS possess the advantage
of being easy of management, but are
not sufficiently swift for the purposes
| intended except for short distances, and
to use them exclusively requires great
er number of crews on a track than is
desirable. The triplet combines the mer-
| it's of both the tandem and quad and has
not the Disadvantages of either. 1t has
a wheel base sufficiently short to permit
1t to be ridden at top speed around the
| average tTdck WlLnOuL lear. IL is Sight
| ly heavier than the tandem, besides hav-
ing the advantage of the strength of
| three men. In the 1897 racing season the
! triplet will be in great demand as a
| pacing machine, and triplet teams, work.
| ing together, will be much sought after
| The admission of colored wheelmen to
membership In the L. A. w. is now ex-
citing universal discussion. The editor
| of Cycle Topics writes: Whether the
! delegates to the national assembly will
countenance resolution of this charac-
ter, should one be offered, Is matter of
much conjecture. While the colored ri
ders are not so many. there is strong
! sentiment from the south that will be
recognized. At the annual meeting in
| 1895, which was held in Asbury Park, a
| Colored woman attended and applied for
privileges which were hers, considering
that she was and had been a lawful mem
ber of the organization. The discussion
| was particularly noticeable at'the ball
| given by the Asbury Park wheelmen
! Although she presented her L. A. w. Gre
dentials, the privilege of the floor was
refused her, and this was made the sub
| ject of considerable co,ament on the part
of the press. While many northerners
openly championed the young ladys
cause, it was plainly evident that they
did not care to come out openly in sup
port of her rights. while the southern
| contingent was noticeably belligerent
| So when the question comes up before
| the national assembly the arguments for
and against, will be very spirited"
Eddie Bald, the champion bicycle
| sprinter of America, will compete in
| France and other European countries
| during the coming season. This is his
last statement, ard. according to his
| present plans, he will leave America
some time within the next three months.
II have won nearly everything it Is
| possible for me to take in this country" ;"
| SAID Bald, "and though it is barely pos
sible that I will not be able to wir
nearly as much money in Europe as ir
| this country, still wish to race there
for the glory rather than the cash prizes
will not race there, however, until
have been put in perfect condition and
have become acclimated. There is no
use in an American rider going to France
or England and expecting to at once start