Evening star., 1898-08-06
T HE VICE RIOER

Undoubtedly many patrons of the local
race meets have wondered where all of the
novice riders come from. At nearly every
race meet this season there has been
novice race the program, and at no
time has there been lack of starters.
Perhaps the smallest number Of entries for
any race of this class this season was
few weeks ago, when only eight names were
printed as starters. The average is from
ten to twelve riders in this race In one
race held this year there have been as
many as sixteen entries to the novice the
event being run off in two heats.
According TO the racing rules OF the
Legue of American Wheelmen a novice Is
one who has never won a prize on a race
track. This gives a large fleld Tor novice
RIDERS and there are perhaps 10000 or
1900 male riders in this city who are ell
gible to race in this class. With such a
large supply to draw from there is scarcely
any wonder that there are number OF as
pirants for every novice race that may De
held AS soon as rider wins a prize he
loses his novice standing. The rider who
wins a novice medal, the prize usually
given for that event. is proud boy, and
he cherisnes that prize as his dearest keep
sake.
In some localities a second prize is given
in race for new riders. The man who
wins il can take it or not. just as he elects.
If he takes it he is no longer novice; if
he refuses it he is still eligible to ride IN
that class again. Most men lose their nov
ice standing in other races. The handicap
race is a prolific field in this respect. i
new rider may get good handicap and he
may succeed in winning the race or COM
ing in for prize. BY accepting the prize
he loses his former standing, though by
refusing he may continue.
1t is no wonder that there are so many
aspirants for fame on the cycle path in
this city or any other city, where the daily
newspapers publish long reports of the sue
cess of crack riders and dwell upon the
af hat oh rSyrS
To the mind of the youthful rider this is
a pleasant and easy way of obtaining a
livelihood. No man, no matter how sue
cessful. can retain his prestige and make
money after five or six years of active
work. The novice when he enters a race
has visions of glory and cash before his
mind. but too soon are the castles in the
air smashed. Some give up the idea a
bad job while others. with more persist
ence, will make another trial before they
brought to realize the true condition OF
things. OF those who still persist perhaps
the third race may end their ambitions.
There may be a spill, and a hard fall may
accomplish something that their riding
never would. There are more spills in "A
novice race than in any other event. In a
novice race the spills are generally caused
by carelessness, while in other events the
spills are generally the results of accidents.
Some riders may win their novice race
in the first attempt. Others are not
lucky. and it takes two or three trials be-
fore they succeed. Still others win after
repeated trials, while for the larger num-
Der the chances are that they never will
win novice if they keep at it all their
lives. 1t has frequently occurred that
riders with plenty of patience have entered
half dozen novice races in as many sue
cessive meets, and then win. Again, it has
been known where riders have tried in al
most every novice for whole season, and
then never won a race. This was the case
in this city last year. and this season is
but repetition of last year. Last season
during the year. and finally won the much
coveted honor at nearly the last meet,
which was held late in the fall. Having
secured this honor he has evidently left
the track, as his name has not been seen
On any of the programs this year.
When a rider wins his novice he enters
the open amateur events. and there an
other lesson is taught him. He may be a
fast man, and may be Immediately able
to jump TO the front ranks. but instances
are extremely rare. AS novice he may
not be able to appreciate the difference
between riding in his class and riding in
the open amateur ranks. But when he be-
comes rider in the latter class ne can
see the difference, and what he cannot see
he learns by experience. He may take the
lead in a race and set the pace for two
and half laps, chuckling to himself at
what good thing he will have at the
finish. Suddenly he will be surprised TO
have the speedy rider pass him though
he were standing still, and distance him
on the sprint Two or three experiences
Of this sort generally discourage him, and
he will drop from the ranks of the racing
men.
Perhaps not one in every hundred novice
riders makes a good racer; certainly not
one in a thousand becomes crack rider
1t is not SO easy to train ones self and
keep in condition while struggling for the
front ranks. 1t is hard enough when one
becomes successful rider to keep in con-
dition with the aid of a trainer. Work IS
work. and riding becomes distasteful to the
cyclists themselves. but as 1t is their way
of making living they keep at it. If one
is q successful rider he may accumulate
some money, but the majority of the
racers get their money easily and spend
II just as freely. SO that when his racing
days are over the rider finds himself as
poor as when he started.
Undismayed by the failures of others.
the novice riders appear with regularity.
Where one has failed another might sue