The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-11-20
=, Cycle Records Tumbling Fast.

Cycle Records Tumbing Fast.
1t is a curious fact that last week, when
the horse was monarch in New York, it's
silent steel-frame contemporary, the wheel,
was monarch in Philadelphia, and succeeded
in establishing some records fortune which
throw all past performances Of t%rotters and
unners into total eclipse Indeed, the
surprising exhibitions Of Major TAYLOR,
a crack colored bicycllst, at the Woodside
track In Philadelphia, have opened the eyes
of wheelmen az we'll as Of horsemen. Dur
ing the week TAYLOR lowered the paced
records for quarter OF q mile, one-third Of a
mile, half a mile, th~ree-quarters Of q mile,
and one mile, respectively, and some Of his
feats were accomplished under circum-
stances which probably would nave dis
couraged many other riders with a reputa-
ton for high speed.
On Nov. IL TAYLOR, paced by quintuplet
machines, clipped three-hfths Of a second
from the one-mile paced record OF TAYIoRE,
a Frenchman, making the new record 1892.
On the same day the best time for half a
mile, 4S seconds, made some time ago by
WrNDLE, was reduced by TAYLOR to AS AS
seconds, and later to As 3-5. On Nov. IA
TAYLOR brought down the record for one
third OF a mile from 80 is seconds to
% 4-5 seconds. the slower time having
been made by WND1E three years ago.
On the day following, TAYLOR surpassed
all previous trials for the quarter-mile, one
third-mile, half-mile, three-quarters and
one-mile records. In his first attempt he
reached the half-mile mark in 45 2-5 sec
onds, one-fifth Of a second under the best
former time; and the record for three
quarters, which he had previously been I'M
able to lower, he reduced 1 1-5 seconds,
making the new time 1908 As. The mile
was finished in 1892, exactly the same time
for that distance as the same rider had made
three days before. On the second trial that
day TAYLOR covered the first quarter one
fifth of a second under the record at one-
third he maintained the same advantage !;
at one-half he was tied with his former
record of 45 2-5 seconds at two-thirds he
was two-ffths of a second under his w
record, and at ~three-quarters he had occu-
pied 1 minute and 8 SO seconds, or one
fifth OF a second under the record.
But none of TAYIoR's remarkable per-
formances equalled his effort OF Wednesday,
when, compelled to exert himself to the ut
most because Of faulty pacing, he smashed
his own one-mile record Of 1882, shortening
the time for that distance by one-tifth Of a
second and thus establishing as his new
time 1881 As. Soon after his new one-mile
victory he sought to lower the figures for
th~ree-quarters Of a mile and was able to
clip one-ifth Of a second from his own fast
time Of the day before, making the new
figures 1908 2-5. In the same trial the half
mile stretch was covered in 45 Is seconds,
one-1fth of a second ahead of his best pre-
vious time, and 2 As seconds ahead Of the
record held by WNDLE.
1t Is worthy Of notice that TAYLoR's
achievements were made In almost continu-
Gus riding, very little time having been de-
voted to rest. In that respect, as in respect
to the number Of excellent records estab-
lished, his performances will arouse the ad-
Of racing men all over the world.
What will doubtless startle the cycling fra
ternity, however, more than anything else
is the fact that four-ffths of a second has
been struck from the old record for one
mile, and further evidence has been given
that ere long 1870 will be easily within the
wheels possibilities. 1t can scarcely be ex-
UudO IHo Oue-ulo Inquiries Will BLOW
80 great a drop correspondingly in the next
fourteen months as has been shown since
1897. In that month ]. W. !
STOCKS rode a mile at the Crystal Palace,
London, in 1 minute 35 2-5 seconds. 1t was
that performance which exhibited the wheel
as speedier by one-tenth of a second than the
horse.
When, two or three years ago, W. W.
rode a mile at Coronado, Cal, in
1 :39 is, 1t was thought that the bicycle
had attained an astonishing speed. A little
over a year afterward HAMILToN's record
was lowered almost a second by MCDUFFFE,
and in about a week after the latter's ride
J. PLATT BELTS, an English scorcher, made
the time 1897 2-5. 1t was thought by some
when STOCKS knocked two seconds from
the best previous time that the one-mile
paced bicycle championship might remain
for some time on the other side Of the
water. Fortune decreed otherwise, how
ever. and now our English flyers will have
to bestir themselves IL they hope to regain
past honors.
A little more than a year ago 1885 was
the mark for ambitious cyclists. Now 1t
Is 1880. In the race against time the
poor horse appears to be further behind
than ever. Nevertheless, from the indica-
Of last week, he appears to have a
great many friends, particularly among the
ladies, and there is hope for him yet.
The Book Trade.