The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-05-12
BIKE RACES HELD HERE
THIS CITY HAS BEEN THE SCENE OF
MANY EVENTS IN THE PAST.
Regarded as a Good Town by the Rae
ing Teams-VariOus News
of the Wheel.

The probability of Indianapolis getting q
tirst-class bicycle track has evive a latent
interest in racing in this city. About the
places where wheelmen congregate the con-
Versation has suddenly veered around to
gossip about the racing men and the circuit
chasers. Modern bicycle racing does not go
back very far for it's origin. There were
races and racing men during the regime
of the old high Wheels" but they were
few, and there was no system about the
sport and little interest in it. There were
few wheel riders to grow enthusiastic
Then came the safety, and with its perfec-
ton, which was attained not earlier than
1898, came the first era of real racing. The
year 1892 might be considered the starting
point, for, from the impetus that was
given cycling in that year, the full-fedged
recognition of cycle racing came about the
following season.
In that year Arthur A. Zimmerman
seemed to be invincible. He won race after
race, defeating a number of men who
were brought OUT with great expecta-
lions and all the crack-a-jacks who had
held over from the previous season. ''Zim'
quit the season with 325 points to his credit,
while the nearest man to him, George
Banker, a young man who had been her
aided as a phenomenon" had only ISL
points. Such men as Harry Tyler, w. w
TaXis, Birdie" Munger, Peter BerloW and
George c. Smith trailed along in pro-
cession with 178 points for the first two
named and the others strung out. This is
the first year that the cycling world heard
of Johnny Johnson, Eddie Nelson and
Walter Sanger. They were all in the anna
teur class, and won honors for the season
in the order named.
In 1893 Zimmerman was again a sure win
ner, and he quit the season with a record
of 101 trsts. Johnny johnson first began to
show his metal in this year, and he quit
the season with 81 frsts, 20 seconds and 10
thirds, giving him a standing OF 800 points,
against 2T7 tor j.. l.. Bliss. George Banker,
Mike Dirnberger, T.. l.. Blauvelt, D.. T..
Bird, Eddie Bald and A. l.. Banker com
pleted the list of leaders. Bald, who is now
looked upon in q class of three riders,
either one of whom may be the best, had
only l4 points in 1893. Sanger was abroad
this year for the greater part OF the time,
and did not follow the circuit through its
The season Of 1894 was Walter Sanger's
year. The l.. A. w. rules were changed
introducing the Glasses A and u. and thus
lessening the opportunity for piling up big
records. zimmerman went 20 Faris early
in the season. 1t was nip and tuck between
Sanger and Tyler for a while, and then
Tyler went off to make records on mis- own
hook, and Sanger stayed at the top untll the
season closed, having "a points against
Tyler's 152.
lacks. Eddie Bald showed IN fine form,
and for a youngster his work was almost
phenomenal. He finished third on the cir
cult. During this season there appeared on
the list of leaders such well-known names
as those OF Fred Titus, l. u. ,Cabanne, hay
Mcdonald and Charlie Murphy.
In 1895 professionalism became more
prominent than during the former years.
Men were then classed distinct1Eely as pro-
fessionals and a number OF the Class Il
riders we're put in the professional class,
including Sanger. Tyler and Johnny john
son. This was Eddie Balds year. though
he had a hard fighter against him in the
person OF Tom Cooper whose excellent
coming man for 1886. Starbuck, a profess