The daily morning journal and courier., 1897-07-16
at Norwich. The latter has cinder surface STATE l.. A. W. MEMBERSHIP IN-
 CREASING

I surface
 STATE l.. A, W. MEMBERSHIP IN- CREASING.
 The total membership of the Connec- l ticut division of the League of Ameri- can Wheelmen up to the end of last week was 1857, big gain, almost dou- i ble what 1t was a year ago. During June 11S new members were admitted and 1SS renewed their membership, and so far during the present month there have been 62 new members admitted and 51 renewals. The effectiveness of the division organization is making it. self manifest, and when the revised constitution goes into effect the powers of the board of officers will be enlarged. A more rapid increase Is confidently ex- pected.
 THE VEXED QUESTION OF GEAR.
 The question of gear on a bicycle is one that is ever debatable. The won derful power variations in man, the countless ldlosyncracies of every indi- Vldual and the constantly varying con- oltlons of wind, road, weather and form make fixed deductions of small practi- cal use. One would think, for instance, that high gears would, at any rate, not suit elderly folks, yet an English cycle journal publishes the confessions of man of fifty who admits that for some years back he has raised his gear each season. and few weeks ago enjoyed a tour on an 84 gear for sixty miles with unalloyed pleasure; half that distance TOUT years ago gave him serious trou- Die on a machine geared to 60. He comes to the conclusion that elderly people ho otI kat doi rapidly. This may be so in his case; but elderly men. in the first place. have no need to go fast, and with any gear 1t cannot be good for them; and for mod crate pace, under all conditions, there is no doubt that a low gear Is easier than a high one
 JEALOUSY AMONG WHEEL CLUBS The bicycle parade that was one of the features of the Fourth of July cele- bratlon in Bridgeport has left some un- peasant reminders. Through 1t nine members of the Paramount club of Brooklyn were expelled, and the visit ing clubs left the town under the im- press1on that the local judges were blind to their merits That is not all It's simply little bit of the general dissatisfaction. For several reasons the Bridgeport Wheel club refused to be considered competing club in the parade for the prizes. They took part, however. That left the Rambling Wheelmen and the American club the local contestants. At least, they thought so. With the Bridgeports out of the way, those two clubs settled down to secure the two biggest prizes. The American club set out to capture the prize for the best appearance, which is considered the first honor in a pa rade. The Ramblers were confident of winning the first prize for numbers. After the parade was over and the de- cisions of the judges were announced, new wheel organization-the Three Lfnks-captured the prize for having the largest number in the line. The Ramblers secured the prize for making the best appearance, and the Ameri- cans got the first prize for having the best novelty. Of course the Ramblers were satisfied, but the wrath of the Americans was heard all over the city. President Schweiger of the club has publicly announced that if his club does not get the prize for appearance they do not want any prize. And there the matter stands. The judges have per- formed their duty, dissolved the board of judges, and do not consider that they are called upon to reassemble and revise their decisions. The prizes are to be awarded Thursday the 22d inst, and it will be interesting to see what disposition will be made of the Wolf American wheel that the Americans re- fuse to accept for having the best nov city in the line of the parade.
 NOTES.
 On the first day of the forthcoming fair of the Holland County Agricultural society at Rockville, Tuesday, Septem- Der ', the whole afternoon will be given to bicycle races. The new extension of the Hartford, Manchester and Rock vile street railway will be In operation before that date so that comn1unica- tion may be had frequently with ad- joining towns during the fair days. The events which have been arranged by the joint committee of the society and the Wheel club are as follows:
 One mile scratch, S35, S20, $10; one mile Holland county championship, gold medal, silver medal, bronze medal: one mile novelty, s7, s5, s3; one mile handicap, s30, s15, sS; one-half mile scratch, s30, $15 sS; one mile novelty, S7, S5 S3; two mile handicap. $35, s2O. $10; one mile trial, unpaced. special prize, $20. Entries may be made with F. H. Noble, secretary.
 Frank Smith, eighteen years of age who made the run on his bicycle from Rockville to Niagara Falls recently. ar rived home on Friday. He rode an 18- pound wheel, and thirty eight hours was the running time in which he cov- cred the 472 miles.
 There are a large number of physi- cians who now make a speciality of what they call bicycle diseases. They are candid enough, however, to admit that they have been driven to it by the large number of patients who have deserted them since bicycle riding be- came such popular pastime.