New-York tribune., 1899-01-16
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CYCLING.
WHY COLONEL PARTRIDGE RESIGNED
FROM THE G. r. A.


HARD TIMES FOR RIDERS OF THE WHEEI~.MORE
ACTIVITY AT THE CYCLE CLUBS
NOTES AND COMMENTS.
Some cyclists who have not given careful thought
TO the matter are disappointed at the fact that
Colonel John n. Partridge has resigned ms the presi-
dent OF the Good Roads Association. They say that
the fact that the Colonel has been appointed Com
missioner OF Public Works need not divorce him
from his connection with the association Close
friends Of the new public official say that he FOL
lowed the only open to him when he sent IN
his resignation 20 the g. r. A. They argue that the
Coonels motives might be questioned II ne re-
nained the head Of tho association, and thar me
cause Of the association might have been Injured
rather than helped had ne remained AZ the head Of
the Organization. The fact that the Commissioner
will remain the Executive Committee OF the asso
citation shows that ne has lost none Of his ehthu-
slasm in the effort TO secure good roads. SO the
chances that those who are making an erort 10
induce the Colonel reconsider his resignation are
likely TO meet with failure Most Of the public offi-
cials OF prominence in the Borough Of BROOKLYN are
either members OF the Good Roads Association or
the League of American Wheelmen, 50 the canse oi
better ve1 streets nd improved roads is not likely
to suffer for the present -"ar. AZ least
There have been hard times for the riders Of the
wheel lately and the enthusiasts are hoping that
tho present week viii bring clear skies and dry
roads The average rider does not balk NJ little
cold weather the large turnouts seen in the pop
uar driveways in the present winter VIII testty.
One of the veteran dealers Of Brooklyn sald the
other day: The custom OF riding through the
winter whenever the weather will permit has
grown steadily in the last two years. Now have
bicycles left at my place by people who have oeen
customers for several years In other seasons these
people brought in their wheels and asked 10 nave
them stored away for the winter. and would not
Av~f1 Nnu
are different Ny customers still keep their wheels
here but none OF the bicycles are packed away for
the winter Many OF them come around whenever
the weather Is good and take spin, no matter how
cold it NAV he. The old system Of having wheels
dealer pointed around the place TO several hundred
bicycles, and every one OF them was ready 10 ne
taken to ride without any preparation
Frenchman has invented effective device to
foil the purpose Of the bicycle thief He had
sharp steel spike some three inches in length fitted
in the centre OF the saddle of his machine and pro-
vided with a spring joint Thus equipped, the cy-
clist rode up TO his favorte cafe in Paris. leaving
his vehicle outside after duly fixing his insidous
ba yonet. few minutes later one OF the marauders
so common In Paris came along. saw his chance
wheeled the bicycle into the middle Of the road and
hoped In the twinkling of TO distance all pur-
suit Scarcely had he started before agonizing
paled victim was picked up bathed in blood. The
inventor is delighted with the success OF MS eH-
pertinent th,t he has applied for patent.
Major" Taylor the coored champion. says that
the statement accredited him that he intended
10 secure colored pacemakers is not true. He says
that the white pacenakers have always treated na
right and that he has no idea OF training coloIeu
pacing team.
Added activity is noticeable in the bicycle clubs in
the several boroughs. Entertainments are being ar
ranged on every hand. Many of the officers are
looking ahead for the opening OF the regular riding
season next epring when they claim that club runs
promise TO De m more smer TbeT seem TO think that
the disagreeable weather early last spring aa nGn b1
10 discourage the attendance al cuD Iuhs lIkht
through the summer
DR.. L. c Leroy. the new Senior Consul Of the
New-York Consulate Of the l. A. w. is an enthu-
sIastic wheelman and he has been an earnest work
er in the cause of the l. 4. w for many years.
A Boston rider named W. F. Stafford has started
in to beat the continuous century record MADE ny
Teddy" Edwards last year. Stafford started IN 10
ride hundred miles each day Of the year ana ne
&c confident that he will succeed. So was Edwards.
hut II would be probably difficult thing to induce
Edwards to try IL again
NJ l.. Bridgman the president of the New
Board of Trade of cycle dealers says that the IN
dicatons for the cycling trade in this neghborhood
were never better at this time OF the yeasI, MT,
Brideman Is OF the opinion that cycling Will nourlsh
more than ever
A meeting Of representatives from several cycling
associations was held on Saturday 10 make ar
rangements for the l.. A. W. entertainment TO ne
held at Madison Square Garden while the cycle
show is being held.
The South Brooklyn Wheelmen Will give
smoker" at their clubhouse in Ninth-st.. Brooklyn
on January q.
From present appearances the League OF Amer-
ran Wheenen Is TO take new lease OF life this
wear In many States entirely set OF officials
has been installed and with them new IDEAS are De-
ing grated the organization
Japan not 10 be behind other countries, uses BIZ
cycles in It's postal and telegraph departments.
The soft air and the sunshine gave an invitation
that an army Of cyclists accepted yesterday. There
was procession OF riders on all the local roads
that wheelmen frequent There was mud every
where except on the asphaed streets. Even the
macadam roads were heavy. The down path on the
Conev Island Boulevard was practically unridable
and the enthusiasts made their way TO the sea-
shore by cross-country riding. using the gutterway,
the wagon road and the return path by turns as
ach revealed stretches fairly hard and dry. The
return path was much better than the one hrSt
built and the faultness Of construction In the ola
one never was more plainly shown.