The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-10-18
OF THE WHEELMEN.
CENTURY RIDERS NOT MOLEsTED B1
THE RACING BOARD.

The LonG Island wheelmen Hold = Run to
oakdale and Back, and the First Ono
Home Received q PriEs-Bald'a Trainer
Says Outlaws Are Becoming Dissatisied.
Last year. when Chairman Mott was not do
ing the Wholesale business In suspensions that
he now is. there was quito 4 fuss made when
the Long Island City Whselmen ran their
100-mile road race on Sunday. A member Of
the State Racing Board filed a complaint and
suggested that ell tho participants should be
suspended under tho Sunday racing clause.
TIL fact that no action was taken was
probably accepted as = precedent. and
again this year tho Same organization
held It's race on last Sunday with more
than ninety men and women scorching over
the country and city roads from Brooklyn to
oakdale and return. The country residents
are openly opposed to such affairs. and they
are against the city ordinances. but races OF
the kind furnish sport. and that is the probable
reason why the Racing Board and the police
are blind to them. The fact that the race held
on last Sunday was termed a "go-as-you-
please century" for the sake Of avoiding the
word race does not conceal the fact Of competi-
tion and that o prize was TO be won by the first
one reaching the home goal. nor does 1t hide
the fact that In IN ordinary century there is q
schedule. with stops for meals and rest, while
In this pell-mell affair no ons stopped to
eat. That 1t was o race and not a ride
is also strongly evidenced by the fact that the
winner. W. NJ. Mckenzie Of the Pierce Wheel.
men, rode the 100 miles In 5 hours and 15.mln-
utes. although the usual time for a century Is
from ten to fourteen hours. The fact that four
women participated is interesting as o demon
stration of what women can do. Any attempt
to interfere with century races OF the kind
would probably result In some infringement on
individual rights and In q howl of indignation,
but there are many conservative riders who
are prejudiced against the sport by events OF
this character and they unquestionably do
create bike haters" among the quiet rustic
folks and the drivers or the roads.
"All beginners do not keep their knees to-
gether enough" says a head instructor In an
academy. The wheel is under much better
control when the knees are thrown slightly
inward. for then the pressure on the pedals
is stronger aud steadler. When the knees
are thrown outward there is a loss Of
power and control. and this is one of the rea-
sons for wabbling. Any one can satisfy him
self OF this by experimenting with his
knees turned outward to an exaggerated angle.
Experienced riders. especially those who ride
centuries. wear the enamel Off the top tube Of
their machines by rubbing their knees against
It, and in this fact is q wholesome suggestion
with their legs looking like the outline OF a
diamond.
Bald, trainer, Doc" Morrow. is home again
In Brooklyn. He is circulating stories to the
s 6eeom ing dis diss Sa9tS% ras some m Of t ale a.re says
Morrow. think that they have been misled by
the promoters who egged them on to break
personal enmities and Jealousies are breeding.
All this is In contradiction of what Bald re-
ported when he reached the East.
Something radically new in the line Of de-
vices for taking up vibration and jolts in a
but is distinct from both OF these in every re-
quickly attached to any machine and removed
az pleasure by riders themselves. The frame
therefore is not weakened. yet the frame Yields
with every jar without the saddle itself sink
Ing; as Is the case with spring seatp9sts. and
the saddle remains always the same, The
manner in which these results are obtained is
SLOT 9rigiRally provided for The axle holds the
fork ends, where It ordinarily IS fixed. Be
cause OF the connecting arm being pivotal at
tie beneath the rear axle when there is weight
In the saddle. A forked lever reaching from
the : fork {ot ends and and u stTadddliR nf the sng Wheel 81
about thirty degrees and to this Is attached a
spring that is fastened to the frame just be-
work is done. 1t permits the rear section OF
the frame to yield gently under q jar and re-
the mechanical objection made to Others de-
signed for the same purpose. and IT enables a
c claef f9 eTay any oI EipG Go Of q soddie VIII ao Ge =
It involves a two-inch increase OF the wheel
base and a frightening Of the chain by five
links.
Some genuine repairing has been done on
the roadways of the bridge that makes them
much better for cyclists than they have been
for some time past. The work Of putting In
dropped. and entire new roadbeds have been
laid on this side OF the structure as far as the
Spnroaches now the riding is as smooth along
the main roadway as 1t ls between the tracks.
hut the centre span remains to be completed.
level than before. however. and because Of this
some Of the expansion plates are so far below
very rough jump over them. which. when taken
Unexpectedly at night. is really dangerous.
For trucks and wagons however. it amounts
There is talk to the effect that the Western
constituency of the L., A. W, which last year
Joined forces with Sterling Elliott IN o%pposing
the the %e 3 tItEst 9 + R Ere fIdid t. P tGs T. yin 1e ftIy. year
bly, composed of men to the liking of the West.
ern divisions, By some who pretend to know
sail p that 4 TREASURES asSHeG J RV z. Tatt in sai is like iiEel " to %
lead such a ticket II II appears, and that the
present Vice-Presidents. IT, J. Keenan, and L.
7. Hines. are apt to be the tail Of 1t.
George j. Gould Is q devoted bicyclist. He
left his office early yesterday in order to take q
ride uptown. He Is not the only millionaire
who Is a b~icyclist. Among those who know
howl to ride are Henry Q. Havemeyer. the, Rock
e~fellers, James Stillman. President of the Ma
tional City Bank. and plenty of other bankers.
The ballots for the annual election OF the
New York State Division. 1. A. W.. are out and
the mail vote will be cast from now until Nov.
15. The ballot is somewhat unusual. because
Of there being only one tndependent candi-
date. This is veteran Viii r. Pitnan; who
seeks reelection to the State Board OF ON
GERS. Pitman, is making a personal canvass.
and says he Is confident of election. On the
official ballot his name occupies In lonely in
consplcuousness the entire column set apart
for independent candidates.
What In earlier days was known to riders OF
the good old ordinary, as ''cobblestone hill'
are the two blocks on Bedford avenue, Brooklyn,
Just before the Eastern Parkway Is reached.
Nheelmen formerly rode oyer, the asphalt of
Bedford avenue and walked the last two blocks.
A few years ago q Telford roadbed was laid
there. 1t was one of the first pieces OF this
LIND pf road m ha hnilt I'm fha aifv md ~ uoo