Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-11-06
LOCAL CYCLING GOSSIP

Through the death of E. c. Duyall the
cycling fraternity has lost "a jolly good
Fellow, good rider and most promising
racer. During the time he was on the
track he did some excellent riding. He
added considerably to his reputation
this season as a racing man, and
had an excellent prospect for next
year. He was great favorite, and his
efforts were always applauded. In a num-
Der of instances he gave the local cracks
some hard work before the tape was cross
cd, fully demonstrating his abilities as
Splinter. His sudden death is regretted on
all sides, cutting short what promised to
be an interesting career on the bicycle
path.
How many persons are there who have
witnessed the effect of wet weather upon
cyclists when afoot? 1t generally happens
that those who cannot use their bicycles
wear the shoes designed for cycle riding.
In majority of instances the shoes do not
nave leather sole. but a composition
which is termed elk sole, and sometimes
oxide leather. When new this material
presents far different appearance from
ordinary sole leather, but the composition
Is said to be tougher and more durable than
the regular article. In wet weather. how
ever, Its peculiar qualities are observed
more than ever. In ordinary shoe leather
when walking there is no tendency to slip.
Inc weight OF the body presses the sole
OF the shoe firmly on the ground, and Gre
ates a sort of suction thereby preventing
slipping motion. Not so with the elk or
oxide sole Instead of creating a suction
1t does otherwise, and every step the
wearer takes the sole slides over The sur
lace with rather peculiar motion This
Is especially true on the gTanolithic pave
ments, which are smoother than the ordi-
such pavement on rainy day with the
bicycle sole, will be observed to step in a
rather peculiar way, always Slipping and
sHdins, and always on the alert to prevent
fall. Every time one foot is placed in
front Of another the rear foot when lifted
from the ground will slip perceptibly. and
to keep his equilibrium the wearor is
obliged to execute an odd involuntary
movement. Notice this the next time Won
are out on a wet day
Corporal Harry S. Gather of the Miles
Cycle Infantry takes exception to a recent
statement which appeared in the club news
OF the cycling page of The Star that he
had been reduced to the ranks and dis
missed as the result of court-martial. He
says the matter was published by mistake.
AS the matter stands, Corporal Gather
says he was acquitted of the charges.
owing to all of the charges being uuashed
He thinks that the terming of himself as
dead wood" is entirely mistake, as he
har
of the company.
The recent rains have played havoc with
the cycle tracks. especially the third-of-a-
mile course at the International Athletic
fark- owing to this fact, the park has
been closed for the season. and the man
ayers announce that no more meets will be
held. The track is in miserable condition.
SO 1t Is stated. due to the washing of the
steady rain. 1t would cost a good sum of
money to get the course into condition.
almost too much for only one meet. If
there was any promise of holding three or
Tour meets things would be different The
weather for this time of the year is 700 nm
certain to make the venture 1t womb he
Just as apt to occur as not that arotber
bad spell of weather would leave the track
in as bad condition as it is at present
Hence the determination 10 close for the
year. @
The Baltimore-W or the Mary
land-District Of Columbia championshin
series of races may be continued ana up
may not. From the present jndica tinns
they look much SUCH the latter in.
stance will be the case. AS it now stands
only one race of the series has been rim
of, with the score standing fifteen Tn civ
In favor of the Neutrality-suspicious.. Tho i'd
ers at the Baltimore end of the line have
made some attempts to hold the second
race of the SERIES but the weather has
been against them. On two occa sions hove
arrangements been maize for the holdine
of the second race of the series ana on
two occasions have the races been most
poned. The latest Information from Ralti-
more on the subject is that nothing further
will be done at that end of the line INIT,
due notice is given. 1t Is just as likely as
not that nothing more will be done. and
series for this year go on record as re-
naming uHcompleted. Next year the az
engagements will undoubtedly be made
earlier in the season.
People have all along entertained tho
opinion that there was plenty OF profit in
the bicycle business. This matter hos
never been disputed. though 1t was hard To
say just how great the profits We're. The
other day a dealer stated that at the nres-
ent time there are very few bicycles sofa
on which the factory does not make abont
fifty per cent profit.
To show how cheap wheels may now he
bought, the same dealer stated that he vos
offered a lot of second-grade wheels. fro,n
a reputable house, with a good g7Iarantea
behind, at $14 each, designed to sell ar S5S
or $50 each. II the ma aufacturer can af,
ford to assemble the parts Of the whea,
together. pay for the cost OF material and
the cost Of labor. and sell at Sl4 with
profit. how much more profit can there be
in wheels which sell at much higher iic-
ures?