New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-02-22

uuFN RIDERS WERE FEW.
~,rnERICK JENKINS COMPARES EARLY
DAYS OF THE WHEEL WITH
THE PRESENT.

1--we TIN YEARS AHEAD OF THE ITMrs
THE FIRST RUN ORIGINALLY ON THIS
DATE wAsHINGTON's BIRTHDAY
EIGHTEEN YEARS AGO.
NE earliest recollections of cycling In New
- said Frederick Jenkins the other day,
1874 when Wentworth Rollins opened
-. ,idins school over Roster G. Balls old
-. Rollins was quite a character in those
~. He had learned 20 ride a wheel and had
=. trip from Ncw-York TO Chicago on the
- wheel being in the employ Of the Pope
v.rpfacturing Company He posed as gen
a~usn Of leisure, and in those days it was said
"a. hs would take train 10 the suburbs OF
.ne large city and then ride into town. put up
:, one OF the best hotels. and secure generous
,,,ces in the newspapers describing his ex-
,s1euces His little haI was well patronized,
.,8 he succeeded in interesting William W.
Weight in the venture. He afterward secured
ne American Institute Building in Third-ave.
pere the first races Of any Importance took
mace. and besides the usual amateur races,
rbich were usually well attended. there were
,.acial match rades between some English
@.9fessionals and such local talent as could
h produced
rsars ahead u the times. He opened store in
Flton-st near Broadway. for the sale OF d.
.rres and also secured a little frame building
=, No 7gl Ffth-aVe.. near Flfty-nlnth-st rms
mace afterWard became the headquarters OF the
s'4erent clubs and there the NeW-York Bicycle
C'nh was organized. also the Manhattan Bicycle
rlub the Mercury Bicycle Club and the LenoX.
Prom this place numerous runs were projected,
And the first one Of any account was held on
Washington's Birthday, in 1890, when party
1T.4 Al
the mud with Yonkers as an objective point
y well remember that ride, how We toled
NJ the Boulevard on our slxty-pound machines
And were met AZ Yonkers by the Yonkers BIZ
cycle Club under the Ieadershlp OF h;liot
Mason who afterward came TO New-York in
ne interest u the Pope Manufacturing Com
pary and opened hiding school IN East lhlr-
tv-fourth-st in the old Glass Hall. We had
lots Of fun IN those days IN spite OF the soiie
tires and the sheet-irOn saddle covered with
p!gskin which was clamped 10 the backbone
Without any spring. and we managed to cover
twenty-five 70 fifty miles d day without any
great discomfort
FORMING THE l. A. ".
q, was at the same old building in Fifth
ave that the l. A " was first talked OF. in
connection with the Boston Bicycle Club and
a large party went TO Newpor, in May. 1SsO to
assist in the organization OF many Of the old
timers there are stlu rev VINO continue 10
ride and although the fever Of enthusiasm has
Somewhat died OU;. they manage 10 roll UP their
mileage On the modern and convenient safety
Il believe ! knew every rider in the city by
name In those DAYS and II We ever met
stranger on our Jaunts on the road We iInmedl-
siely dismOunted and exchanged coUrtesles.
Wheel talk did not then consist Of the best
tire gears or chainless wheels. II
was a question then Of single against double
cones. and open or closed head
machines
After Mason opened his headquarters in
Va-ran-st the trade began 70 be recognized by
the newspapers although II was worth consld-
49,. =, - 20 SECURE ae much az a nVe-lne