New-York tribune., 1898-12-27
CYCLING.
THOUSANDS OF wHEELMEN ENJOY THE FINE
WEATHER -TAMMANY TO BLAME FOE
THE wRErcHED CONDITION or


T. "a not often that wheemen have such fine
weather on Christmas In which TO enjoy their IA
vorlte outdoor sport as that OF sunday anu yes
.erday While the roads inclined 10 be soft
and muddy in places Sunday they. as general
thing were I'm splendid condition yesterday. and the
authorizing OF riders vas remarkable for this time
OF the year. There was a merry throng on the
boulevard Riverside Drive. Firh-ave. and other
popular local wheelways yesterday all through the
day There was a little wind, but not enough 10
bother those who have kept az Work on their
wheels when the opportunity presented Itself since
ths advent OF cooler weather. The roads IN Ger
trail Park we're wet and muddy In spots In the AFTER
noon but these undesirable places could easily be
avoided The sedate citizen who was out for his
health and for pure enjoyment had no trouble Keep
Ing out OF the mud. With the scorcher II was on,
fe1ent for with his head bent low ne plougned
through everything seeing nothing except the tie ,
OF his from, wheel and as result his oack and ms
wheel were spla.hed with mud. Some OF the asphali
streets were in good condition and some OF them
were re not. And those that were not were in bad
shape more through Tammanys careless admins
trafion than through any atmospheric conditions
Under Tammsnys administrstion nothing mas Teen
dangerous holes and suiss in asphalt ana Evbns ma
cadam are aPpsren, never ."oaSnt s,5nv "a mass Of
holes and dangerous gullies menace TO Wheel nIc
men, pedestrians and drivers rs OF sh' on anrrs
Park West. but there are holes galore around mo
circle. There is 10 excuse FOR these execraDe coh-
ditons.
IL was almost like A wheelmans daN IN BROOKLYN
and the outpouring o. wheeling enthusiasts vas the
,srgesf seen since early fall. The throng began
10 wend its way through or around Prospect Park
early in the morning. Many had LEFT their homes
with lamp on wheel. prepared TO make day or H.
Some went ont the Merrick Road. but the majority
were content to make for the cycle path. Here
they were sure OF meeting old friends who. II they
were no, to be- found the path were sure TO be
seen at some one OF the popular road houses Many
,olv parties met in the road houses in the after
noon There was little wind on the path, and even
the novice had trouble In making the trip 20
Coney island and back Bright eyes and rosy cheeks
wore everywhere There an unusual number OF
women and children seen In the morning and after
noon Veteran club men said that no such number
Of riders had been seen out before a; ths tne
OF the year In the afternoon the sun tha"en d
uttle OF the frost Of the ground. and the path
became soft In places Some took 10 the macadam
road the side after leaving Mndens ms s,retch
iy-second and Eighteenth aves were IN iair 10 goon
condition for almost their entire length Those VINO
wore heavy golf stocking. ana ~O9Hrh gloves "''e
not troubled with cold feet or hands
There is one improvement in the general appear
snca OF the bicycle squad in BROOKLYN which their
brethren in this borough might do well 70 emulate
since the cold weather in It is noticed that many
~ the Brooklyn bicycle policemen have raised their
handle bars and comparatively few stick 10 the
rams horn and extremely low bar. Some OF the
eas, riders seemed think that the bicycle police
men mad lost their terrors when tney raised tnelf
handle bars but they FOUND out fhrr mistake on
several occasions yesterday. when they tried 10
nit /. up" thinking that the high bars would pre-
vent the policemen from getting mp fun speed The
srorcher, have already found out 'ha, get
after them all right even with high bars" said
one OF the policemen on the cycle path yesterday
senses. and when We yell at them now they gen
efally stop