The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-03-06
NEWS OF THE wHEELMEN.
an UNPhRlLLELBD SEASON. OF Rae
Tr0 EXPECTED IN THIS COUNTRY.

mrrmnt nNUnmM0 Ter = Bourtnk DoEAFN-shN -
the n. A. view Scheme OF the Nerrts
Wnee,,er 20 uuorra,e Interest IN Read Runs
New Amateur OrEautsatisn In EsGiand.
Tn, success attained by race promoters last
year has served TO prepare the riders for = sue
o,.sion OF big meets with large purses tho COM
inn season. The action OF tho l. A. w. in dccid.
inr 20 maintain It's government over racing viii
insure good. honest sport to the public and aid
materially the success Of tournaments. New
Innovations will be experimental with. Tho
best evidence OF the prominent position the sport
will assume lie the demand for sanctions FOR
tournaments. Middle distance races, special
match contests, pursuit and club team events
are expected to figure prominently. The talent
that will take part in the races will con-
pist Of The pick Of all the foreign coun.
triea. Among the well.known riders who
are expected 10 compete for middle distance
honors are Jimmy Michael. Eddie McDufie.
Edward Taylor. Nat Butler. Tom Linton.
Arthur Gardiner and Major Taylor. This ag-
Rrcention, with the additions Of some we'll
known foreigners, will make a specially or
paced events ranging from five to twenty-five
miles. Among the sprinters who will figure
conspicuously are Z. @. Bald. Earl kiser.
Tom Cooper, Stevens. Mcrtens. Lehr. and
others. 1t is likely that match races between
foreign and American riders will be features of
the big meets. The conservative followers Of
racing view the preparations that are being
made with some apprehension. The presence
of such an array of foreign cracks will likely re-
suit In great rivalry between the various track
owners and race promoters for the star attrac.
lions, and II Is feared that unless tho L. A. w.
Racing Board maintains tho closest kind OF q
watch over its department some scandals may
result. The announcement that one track In
the East is prepared to spend $4,000 in the
q ..,t.. thfo vnnr Ia nranf that ~ Ia
expected big returns will accrue from meets.
American bicycle riders are essentially a tour
ing class. During the past two years the growth
Of cycling and tho interest manifested in tour
ing have shown the oficers Of the l.. A. w. the
need Of q tour department. The number Of
riders who annually 20 abroad has been on the
Increase in recent years. The cyclist touring
clubs Of England and France are the leading
organizations on the other side. Both have
representative in this country. but riders feel
that tho L. A. w. should affiliate with the
foreign associations. During 1897 the French
touring club enjoyed groat prosperity. Its
membership was increased by 10000. Letters
TO the number Of As. 1000 were received, and the
visitors to the head office were 10000. The ex-
penses on roads were $4,000 Danger posts
erected were 1910. and 205 help stations were
founded. The receipts Of the club were SOC. 5s5.
ana expenses p1o,lFO. FEdhCio ?. IlCbbCiIiAO VI
Boston is the American representative of the
French club. Explaining the advantages OF
membership. he says:
"Thc membership card requires your sigma
turc and O description Of your wheel. Your
signature must bc attested by q Justice Of the
Pence or notary public. This may DO dispensed
with by placing your photograph one inch square
in the corner. Your Identification by your card
ADMITS your bicycle free of duty into France,
and relieves you from making the deposit in
Italy and Switzerland. On application to the
Paris office, describing, your maGhine-kind,
mark. name, number, &c.--you will receive a
you depart from these countries the fact should
be STAMPED upon the permit given TO sou, as
thes duty. as trains at the front!er are not dc.
tanned long enough for this certifcation, one
should wheel across the border or communicate
in advance by letter or telegram to the Custom
House official in charge at the 'front.' r railroad
ptation. advising him by what train you will
may DO in attendance prepared to stamp
your permit Gensya is 4 Custom House
passing from Belgium by railroad. you can
have the, certihcation made Mt Paris on your
I; SrT h1s,.n Ih on c is no dnty On s5Syel mry bbi sSo 6
members on the recommendation Of some male
relative, The touring clubs Of Italy. Switzer-
land, Belgium and Denmark mutually exchange
privileges with the Touring Club Of France. II.
therefore. you aro visiting any OF those coun'
ynntagcs OF membership Of those associations.
The French Touring Club provides for the
mombers' comfort. A circular issued to hotel
proprietors reminds them that they have bound
themselves TO provide a room fitted for the safe
further states that as a great number Of the cy-
clisLs are likewise in the habit of d%nbbling in
suitable for tho developing of photographs free
70 those landlords who will agree to provide a
dark room.'
The London Field says: THE experiences Of
roads are encountered that are in such a condi.
s sisa t aaH s e d y q tS StGSei is G prac ths%; WE im @lsa:
bio. and those who attempt 1t are soon reduced
20 walking or are confronted with the alterna.
winter there have been many prosecutions for
footpath riding in all parts OF the country, con.
,,hizins with the him l0t w,f 9t the DC:
ma. fne. Although It is admitted that a BIZ
cycle does no more harm to q footpath than a
there arc very low people who Would be incon.
yenienced BY, BICYCLES judiciously ridden on tho
pnths, yet IL is practice that obviously cannot
be countenanced because 1t Is one that Is open
TO such abuse that. were 1t once permitted, 1t
would give rise TO endless antagonisms between
wheelmen and pedestrians. and create much Ill
"There are many, however. who do not view
hardship that they are d~ebarred from making
harmless use OF n deserted footpath when the
TOM lb lmpbbsuDle IOr u bicycle. IL only one
half of those who arc deferred from going about
their business or pleasure by the neglected state
influence they possess. something might be done
TO bring ABOUT an imDrovemcnt by having the
roads kept reasonably free from the heavy mud
which Is allowed to remain on them during
the winter. and hasten. their destruction.
Now that tho bicycle has become n pre-
meuts Of the public with regard TO
road maintenance have Undergone a great
change. but. 80 far; this change has been inade-
quately recognized, and 1t rests with the public
to take the Initiative. and to see that the roads
are repaired and clcansed, 80 as TO adapt them
to tho use for which they are now largely re.
quired. 1t is not a question of increased OK.
pendlture. for 10 Is well known that a road upon
which proper care is bestowed costs less for
maintenance than ono which is neglected, and
the surface OF which Is periodically cut up by
heavy traffic during wet seasons of thc'year."
John Frick of tho Morris Wheelmen OF this
city offers an excellent suggestion to renew In
terest In club runs. IL has been approved by his
organization. lilo explains his plans as follows:
I'm consequence OF tho near approach of the
wheeling season. IL becomes, necessary to ar
range for o club programme of some kind that
will suit tho wheelmen's Interests. and which
must DO an Improvement upon that which we
have heretofore followed. During the past sea.