The Saint Paul globe., 1898-05-09

The dedication of the new home of
the Commercial Cyclers at Lake c. mo
Is one OF the pleasanteSt features of the
present cycle season.
Most Of the club men are actively en-
gagged in business and find little time
to devote to the pleasures of the wheel.
The fact that the club has a Comfort
able homelfke club house at Como
will prove an incentive for them to take
time to make frequent visits to Como
awheel. The club house is one Of the
best equipped summer houses in or
about the city, and cannot fail to in
crease in popularity as the season
wears away.
Under the direction of Capt c. B.
Gedney, club runs to neighboring towns
will be arranged. The rear of the club
house is fitted with bicycle racks sufi-
cient to accommodate the "trots'' Of
the seventy-f1ve members of the club.
The club house was formerly Cary T.
Warren'S residence.
Bicycle riding and bicycle racing is
just twenty-one years old this season
Yet, up to four years ago, neither di-
version enjoyed any considerable pres
tige with the people. Previous to 1894
bicycle riding, as recreation, had in
the public estimate a dubious popu-
larity and q very questionable prospect
Of permanency. In 1894 came the boom
that established it beyond a question
Previous to 1896 bicycle racing held
a similarly uncertain place in the
realm Of sport. That was before the
League Of American Wheelmen recog-
niZed professionals and permitted cash
prizes.
In the short time intervening, the
sport and pastime have advanced with
rapid strides. Never before were such
large and sensational professional races
arranged for as this year. Large syn
dicates now control the professional
races, as money-making schemes. The
people go to see the races the same as
popularity last year and the promise
for this year have eclipsed anything
ever before attempted in the sporting
world
New and improved tracks are being
constructed all over the country, and
even in the country towns out Of the
way of the interstate circuit chaser
the people take great interest in bicycle
races. No county fair Is complete with
out It's series Of bicycle events. Book
lyn, Manhattan and other coursing re-
sorts are building the "whaleback"
track introduced in this country for
the first time this year.
Minnesota is a little behind in the
| matter Of road records. Some fast time
has been made by Gopher wheelmen,
but as an officer of the Country Road
club expressed it last week, "They have
rot taken the interest in this class of
races which they should" No tandem
record over a century course is held In
this state. Some exceedingly fast cen
| turtles have been made, but this state
does not boast Of a single twenty five
| fifty or seventy y-f1ve-mile record over a
straightaway course.
The proposed road races over the
| Como and Minnetonka courses this
summer will have a tendency to in
crease interest in road racing in this
| state.
/ A mutual bicycle insurance company
| ought to be a great success among
| wheelmen. There Is a sort Of fraternal
| feeling among the habitues Of the cy-
| Gle path, and such an organization
among themselves as protective
| measure against the theft Of wheels
| could not be other than popular Sew
eral wheels have been reported stolen
this year. 1t is not improbable that
representatives Of the different wheel
| ing organizations will get together soon
and effect the organization Of "a Fed
Grated Mutual Bicycle Insurance COM
| pany."
| The st. Paul Cycle Path association
| ter of signs this year. OF course local
the direction Of all the paths, but 1t Is