Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1898-09-11
CYCLING RECORDS GONE.
Remarkable Performances OF Middle DIS
lance Riders This Seasonal struggle
Among Five Riders for the 1898 Cham
pionship, Which VIII Probably 60 to the
DOWNRIGHT. 1881


Notwithstanding the heavy handicap
placed on every form of sport this year
By the war there is no doubt that when
the end of the season has been reached
and we look back on the summers
work the universal verdict will be that
this has been a banner year so far as
bicycle racing is concerned.
The national meet resulted in a
wholesale change in the PORT table for
the championship. Eddie Bald, the
four time champion Of the United
States, for the first time rode in his
true form at a national meet, and at
the end of the week emerged ahead of
all competitors. From present appear
ances it looks as though the Buffalo
boy will maintain his present position
to the end of the season. However. as
a matter of fact the h0nOrs of the meet
were carried off by Floyd Mcfarland,
the lanky Californian who gained 100
points to so captured by the Bison.
This he accomplished by getting a first
and second in the championship. while
Bald only secured q first and third.
1t is in the middle distance game,
however. that the greatest surprises of
the year have occurred. Had any one
predicted that the records would be
broken with such amazing frequency
and with such deep cuts as has been
the case he would have been laughed
at Hardly a middle distance contest
has taken place but the tables have
had to be rewritten. In more than one
case, moreover, in % mile races one Of
the riders has gone on after completing
the distance and ridden for the hour
record.
At the beginning Of the season there
were mentioned two men who were
likely to dispute Jimmy Michael's SOW
ercignty at the middle distances They
were Eddie McDuliie and Ton Linton.
Stree then, however, two others have
lOCmed up as Candidates for premier
honors in opposition to the original
trio. These men are Edouard Taylore.
the French champion, and Harry
Fixes the Saratoga lad
The two most wonderful feats of cy-
cling this year were performed by Tay-
lore. and he has proved himself a rival
worthy of any ones metal He showed
the greatest burst Of speed exhibited
yet when he rode mile in 30 3-5, the
fastest mile ever negotiated by man.
He was also the first rider to cover
ever SO miles in the hour.
Harry Elkes, too, must certainly be
regarded as a wonder. Practically
without experience the lad entered the
game against the men ACKNOWLEDGED as
the best in the world. and not only beat
them but broke all worlds records for
the distapce and also covered more
miles in the hour than any other rider.
The struggle for the championship
between these five men is getting
fiercer and ficrcer as the season draws
to a ciose series Of races is to he
run in order to find out who is really
the premier. These contests will
arouse tremendous interest throughout
the country, and will attract thousauds
to witness them. The purses will he
very large and an enormous amount
of money will be wagered on the result
Michael should prove the champion
at the end Of this season. There are
several reasons why barring accidents
and other unforeseen circumstances. he
should gain first honCrs Last wear he
had things pretty nearly his own way.
This year he has had rcverses. but they
are directly tTaceable TO accidents i'm
each case The little fellow was not
bit put out by these setbacks. but came
up smiling, just az confident as ever of
his ability 10 beat any opponent and