The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1897-04-05
THEY RODE A CLEAN RACE.
But the Capital CityS Couldn't Win the
1OOrMile Relay.
Tricks of the Bay Wheelmen-The
Coming Race With the
StocktOnianS:

| trailers and relay judges returned from
San Francisco last evening with Cap
tain Roundey in charge. They were all
in good spirits and not a bit put out by
their defeat in the hundred-mile race.
They met with no accidents, had no pro-
tests against them, and all agree that
they one and all adhered to the rules
to the letter and played fair throughout.
They all agree also that not so much
can be said for some OF the others.
/ Under the circumstances, they say, II
would have been impossible for any but
the Bay Citys to win. The whole thing
appeared to be in San Francisco interest.
| For instance the rules prohibit pace
making, but the San Francisco clubs
had pace-makers galore. Notably the
Bay Citys had such professionals as
| Zeigler, Wells, Terrell and others pac-
| ing them, an advantage of the greatest
Importance. In one relay no less than
| five pace-makerS were grouped in front
of the Bay City rider, giving him almost
a vacuum to ride in.
These illegal pace-makers were not all
the others have to complain Of for trail
ers were numberless. some of the San
Francisco riders had half-dozen trail
ers after them, and punches of them all
along the road sprang UP, so that a
wheel could be picked up every few rods
and fresh men were dropping in all
| along.
| Again, the rules require the trailers to
pause a certain distance at the rear at
relay finish tapes But the Bay CITY
trailers and trailers of other clubs rode
| clear up to and over the tape, so that
| one could not make through" if he was
close behind the trailers. Some of the
riders did not preserve their colors,
either, which is a matter of some little
Importance when riders are on the look
! out for rival racers.
AS it was, Hubert of the Capital Citys,
though started in the second batch of
five, beat the Bay City man in on the
first relay by two minutes or so, and that
was the hardest relay in the 100 miles,
having one long and dangerous hill and
some miles of streets with car tracks
and Belgian pavements at track
switches, with which Hubert was not
familiar. Indeed, the whole ten miles
was strange road to him, while it is a
matter of daily acquaintance with the
San Francisco people.
Hirsch of the Capital Citys was on the
last relay, and wheeled in seventh, with
a fiat tire and a broken saddle that
rolled about on the seat-post, liable at
any moment to throw him off. Yet he
made the ten miles in "a minutes, be-
lieved to be the best time of the day
though the full records We're not in
when the Sacramento team left for
home.
The Capital Citys, however, do not re-
gret their experience tail. They are sat
isfied that they can ride level with the
San Francisco men if given equal show
and permitted to have pace-makers, but
cannot beat them with the best profess
SIGNALS in the country pacing their
rivals, and a small army of trailers
blocking the way and creating confu
sion and doubt in the mind of relay
rider. 1t was the first appearance of
the Capital Citys in the cup contest, and
they made a good impression and vio
lated no rules.
They learned many a trick of adVan-
tage, and in another race of that order
they say they will understand as well
as the next fellows how to mix in and
any. They are proud of their team,
and every man in it, and that they came
in with the honors of strict observance,
rule riding and exceptionable conduct
throughout They had a royal welcome
at the club rooms last night and found
their fellow members as strong of faith
in them as ever
There were 120 wheelmen out on the
Folsom path yesterday, 100 of them
riding as far as Pattersons. The path
they found in fine condition and great
ly improved. The new pieces are bit
soft here and there, for a few yards, but
are rapidly drying up and Will be fit
for the decomposed granite by the close
of this week. Superintendent Pugh has
done good work all along the line and
wheeling over it is now a delight. The
only unspeaka bic stretch is from Brigh-
ton Junction to Perkins, where all the
residents weeks ago petitioned the Su-
pervisors for a foot path wide and
smooth.
A committee of the Capital Citys will
visit the Supervisors this week and ask
them to take action on the Perkins foot
path and will tender assistance to make
model and a great convenience for all
the people. Wheelway money, says the
Collection Committee, is coming in alto
gether too slowly. There are 800 riders
who have taken 40 patron ribbons
as yet. Some of these are known to de-
sire to contribute, that the work of
completion may be carried on, but seem
to forget the necessity for immediate
action. Ribbons and receipts have
therefore been placed at all the cycle
ries and can be had also of any member
of the Wheelway Committee. OF those
to whom postal cards and circulars
were mailed not one-half have replied
These are requested to answer either
yes or no" that the committee may
a E