New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-10-16
IN THE CYCLING WORLD.
SUPERIORITY OF BICYCLE DAY" TO
NATIONAL CYCLE SHOWS.
sCANDALous CONDITION OF THE OLD GLEN
MoRE-AvE. RoUTE-INTEREsr IN THE
PROPOSED BICYCLE PARADE

PROPOSED BICYCLE PARADE
CYCLING NOTES.
In spite OF the positive attitude Of the Ma
tional Board of Trade against the holding or
National cycle shows. the show question Will not
down and the manufacturers receiving many
propositions 10 back down from the decision or
the Board of Trade and TO exhibit at shows to
be held during the winter. While the makers
themselves frown upon the show idea, many OF
the prominent dealers in the larger cities, and
notably those in this district. are openly IN
favor of bicycle exhibitions, and they are not
slow to say one proposition mas peeh inaue
20 the Board by corporation IN this city Which,
night bring ready response from H'ah"-
facturers in other branches of uade No'hins
has been done as YET with the idea OF isaac D.
Potter, the president Of The League or American
Wheelmen. to have a show in this city under
the auspices OF the League Of American Wneei-
men. The thinking men of the trade nave con-
sidered the matter and 1t is the general OPINION
that they will not waver particle from the
stand that they have taken. There are pro-
motors also who are considering the advisability
Of arranging for a show on a large scale ana
Of holding the exhibition without the sanction
of the Board Of Trade Several attempts were
made last year to do the same thing but all
met with failure The discussion of shows Is
also waxing warm in Boston. Chicago and Phi!a-
delphia Brooklyn will discuss local shows
later 1t is extremely doubtful if show OF
National importance could be held in any OF the
large cities without the sanction and approval
of the manufacturers organHatlon anu liV,ii
present Indications 1t would be piece OF loAy
to attempt anything OF the sort. The pan
suggested in The Tribune last year of setting
aside one day during the late winter or early
spring. to be known as Bicycle Day. met WIN
considerable favor In this ard IN other cities iast
February. and the plan will in all probability De
adopted again this year The GATE SET last WIN
Ter was February %. and while the weather
was not of the best, all of the makers and DEAL
ers who followed the suggestions made in these
columns more than pleased with the eX-
pertinent. Entertainments Of various sorts were
held at several OF the academies and II Is De
leved that II the dealers and makers Will enter
into the scheme next spring in the proper spirit
Bicycle Day" Will become an established instl-
tuition all over the country. Each dealer and
maker will be able TO show his goods 10 better
advantage in his own place Of business than he
would be able do at any public cycle show.
Under this plan the professional promoters get
nothing out Of the trade and sport, and for that
reason they will do what they can to discourage
the idea. While the promoters have succeeded
in turning cycle racirS topsy-turvy they are
nst likely TO cause the trade any trouble or un-
easiness.
Students of good roads cannot find better
talking point than to visit Glenmore-ave..
BROOKLYN. and then continue on wheel on foot or
wagon out Broadway and along the Rcckaway
Road When Glenmore-ave. was macadamized
G.? II was expected that this bit Of work would
open IN the riders of the wheel and to driv-
ers a fine connecting link with the good roads
Of Queens County, and notably to the fine Mer-
rick Road. AS soon as it was announced that
Glenriore-ave. had been finished there was
great rejoicing. and the wheelmen in their de-
light arranged for bicycle parade in celebra-
ton But the road had not been formally
opened to the public before it was found to he
delusion and a snare. 1t has refrigerated until
II is at present a good place for hog -wallow.
How the city officials ever paid even part or
the money for such an abonr able piece OF
work passes comprehension. Broadway and the
Rockaway Road, for a part Of the distance, are
getting In almost as bad shape The result has
been that about all the wheeling traffic has di-
verted 10 other routes. the Eastern Parkway
extension and Jamaica ave. being the most
popular. The writer went over the old Glen"
more-ave. route the other day. and ended UP by
wishing that he had done nothing Of the sort.
A stop at some OF the roadhonses found little
life or activity and the bonlfaces and atten-
dants were in the worst sort Of humor Why
said one roadhouse keeper, whose place is IN
the Rockaway Road. 1--WE are rapidly being put
out of commission by these horrible ROADS
Until the latter part Of last year these rOaus
swarned with cyclists and drivers. and now, as
you can see. the old popular driveways are al
most deserted. In those times the roads were
repaired at regular intervals. but now no at
tention is paid to them. Why, when the men
come along the roads 10 replace the electTlc
lamJs OF 70 repair them they just throw the
broken glass into the road and leave II there TO
puncture the tires Of bicycles and ruin the rect
Of horses. You will find the same conoltion or
affairs at the other houses along the road"
yelled the discouraged roadhouse keeper. as
the cyclist mounted his wheel 10 penetrate fur-
Their into Long Island. At another roadhouse,
a favorite stopping place with wheelmen ana
drivers up 10 within the last year the same
tale Of was told Il expended consideTape
money in this place" said the second boniface
who was neither rotound nor merry as or
yore land II something is not done 70 THESE
reads will ne in the hands of my creditors be-
fore long. I am looking at another piece OF
property where good roads shoot out in several
directions. and ii purchaser comes along ne
miyht be able to find bargain in this place.
7 don't like solitude. ! like TO be where the
people are and they amt coming this way any
more"
While MANY Of the local bicycle clubs in this
borough are taking the liveliest interest in the
proposed bicycle parade to he held on the final
day Of the month. of the organizations
have to date given the matter only passing at
tention. 1t is noticed that among the iukewarm
are some Of the Oldest clubs in the district. The
newer or recently organized clubs, appear 10
be the most enthusiastic over the project. Many
wheelmen are OF the opinion that the commit
tee in charge Of the demonstration made seri-
Gus mistake when they postponed the parade
from Saturday afternoon to Monday night. They
argue that the weather at night at this time Of
the year is cold and damp and not at all suited
TO bicycle parades or for any outdoor sport for
that matter They think that ribbons. colors
and fnery go far to make a parade interesting.
and they think a cold damp night that such
things cannot be made TO show 10 their best.
The committee in charge Of the parade how
ever continues TO show considerable enthusi-
asm and its members are convinced that with
fair weather the bicycle spectacle on the night
Of October 81 will be one OF the most interesting
ever seen in this city