New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-04-03
IN THE CYCLING WORLD.
NEEDED REPAIRS IN PARTS OF FIFTH
AVE.


AVE.
A SPLENDID CYCLING ROUTE SPOILED BY A FEW
BADLY PAVED BLocKs-THE RACING SIT
rAr1ox-GaEAr PROFITS AND EARN
IHGs TALKED oF-NorEs
AND COMMENTS.
Fifth-ave. is becoming a popular wheelway
and thousands OF cyclists can he seen on tha'
thoroughfare when the weather is fine. Possibly
the wretched condition Of Eighthave has some
thing TO do with the crowds thronging F1fth-
ave. Eighth-ave. is really dangerous in places
and the hills and eullies are trap to the aver
nge cycst. AMI particularly to those VINO are
not familiar with the actual condition OF 'he
street. While Fifth-ave. as whole. ohers
pleasant city ride for cyclists. there are
few blocks OF miserable pavement along It's
length when might be replaced with 8ooo re-
suits. While cyclists have no fault 10 ma "i,h
the asphated portion Of the street. many morse
men have been heard to make complaints deep
and loud The surface Of the asphalt, partlcu-
larry near the Murray Hill slope. seems to be
slippery and s!asske in appearance. What
causes this IS a mystery 10 many. Horses ran
there with disagreeabe frequency. The cyclst
rides along glcefully until he arrives at Sxtieth-
St Then he strikes ridges. holes. depressions'
cullies and valleys in the few BLOCKS OF copoie-
stone pavement which are a disgrace 10 CIVIL
lied community. Then from Seventy-nrst-st 10
Eighty fourth-st he finds mVre OF the same sor'
OF pavement. and riding is a dsagreeapie TASK.
The street at these points has been torn up AT
times for the laying OF pipes and the contract
ors have dumped the stones back, apparently
In an uneven heap, without regard TO the
emoothness OF the roadway. II might not be
bad idea II New-York would do as some other
cities have found II advantageous TO 90 wne'l
the contracts are given for the tearing up OF tne
streets-have It stipulated that when me WI"
has been done the thorousnfares must be re-
paved with asphalt, at the expense or the con-
tractor or the corporation that opened the street.
The racing situation in this country at pres
ent is a peculiar one, and the outcome OF the
season will be watched with interest by many
people Much will depend on the officials OF the
League Of American Wheelmen. or rather the
racing board OF that body. There Will probably
be more racing In and about this city than any
where else, and some close students Of the sport
believe that the promoters Will overdo IL IN TINS
district. The expenses thus far and those TO be
Incurred later by the promoters are such that
they must attract an unusually large attendance
at their meets If they expect TO come out even
on the season. Only half clubs in this
city show disposition TO hold meets TINS year
as they are afraid 10 attempt 10 compete with
the more daring promoters. y CONNECT Oh oates
which Is sure to result. will certainly prove
disastrous TO all concerned. The officials or
the L. \. w. not doing their duty when they
allow these conflicts. no matter what the track
managers and promoters say regarding the mat
ter Last wear. aside from the tracks In New
Jersey, there only track for this district.
that at Manhattan Beach yet few OF the clubs
which held meets al that track mace much
money And when the meets there confcted
with meets held at Waverly or Newark. as n
general thing both suffered a loss. No sport
can stand positive conflict Of dates. This APP
plies to horse-racing and baseball. Just as much
as 1t does to cycle racing. The ridiculous stories
told Of the enormous sums made by riders ana
promoters have brought number or capitalists
into the game. some Of whom will get their
fingers badly singed before the season is over.
Entries are coming in rapidly for the century
Of the Pierce Wheelnen. TO Islip and return. on
April II. Most Of the clubs that will compete
for the trophy will enter large delegations. as
this is the first century Of the and the
only one scheduled for that day. The three
prizes offered to the clubs having the largest
number Of survivors. and the gold souvenirs for
the survivors themselves, serve as an extra in
ducement and are drawing many entries The
committee promises the hdndSOmest SILK badges
that have ever been given a century rIn and
they alone will be worth keeping souvenirs
Of the run. All entries and communications
should be addressed TO the chairman OF the
Century Committee. F. Hildebrandt. tr. at No.
1854 Broadway.
Ike" johnson. the well-known cycling in
structor who taught Chauncey NJ Depew and
a number of other distinguished persons how
TO master the eccentrcities Of the silent steed"
will with the assistance of his staff Of instruc-
tors, give mis- fifth annual entertainment at
Murray Hill Lyceum. Thirty -fourth-st. and
Lexington-ave on Tuesday evening. In previ-
Gus years the entertainment provided by Mr..
johnson Of n high order in cycling
way and this seasons programme promises 10
he interesting as its predecessors. half
hours exciting sport at the game OF bicycle
polo. between TWO carefully selected teams OF
expert players will be feature Of the evening.
The Long Island Wheemen have arranged
a schedule Of club runs. the first Of which will
he held to-day. College Point. dining at the
Grand View Hotel. where photographs vii, be
taken. The distance will he about thirtysx
miles and Frank Share will be In charge. Other
for April have been arranged as follows:
April 10. Hackcnssci. Mansion House; dis
lance. forty miles " Il. French in charge
seven miles; George W. kreger in charge. April
"a. Grant City. Staten Island: distance. forty
1--WE miles o. II. kroh In charge. The starting
time FOR all Of these runs will be 9:3O o'clock
and prompt attendance IS asked by the cap
tans. The runs this year will be conducted at
q moderate pace and efforts will be made to
keep the members In body. Lists OF runs will
, be scheduled q week previously. The Road
y Committee Of the club Is composed OF w.
A. Boyer chairman: H. Blossom. r. s. Bogert
J. c. Bradford, Dr. r. b. Cantrell. II. Casssma-
Tor ". X. French. w. d. Graham. George W.
Kreger. o. II. Kroh. T. b. Lavens. F. p. Share.
C. S. Shepard. f. NJ. Taylor and DR.. George f.
Taylor.
The Madison Wheelmen. OF No 1,64O Madison
ave. now considering whether it is ad-
visabe TO accept proposition from the Park
Social Club OF No Fl East One-hundred- and
tenth-st to consolidate with them and move
into their clubhouse. or TO take the house
occupied by the Madison Club at No. 1866
Madf he, I'M N 81 N d-te en-