The record-union., 1899-08-20
OF INTEREST TO CYCLISTS.
NEW CLUB-PROPOSED NOVEL
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS..
Growth of Wheel Use-Porus Tires
"A Chain Hint-American Cy-
c1es Abroad-Paris Exhibit.

Rocklin, Placer County, named the
Granite City Cyclers with the follow
ing officers: President, Ernest T. Scrib-
ner; Vice President. Miss Jessie Maker;
Secretary and Treasurer Miss Bula
Perry; Club Captain and Historian,
Lester J. Skidmore. The purposes of
the club are largely social. That is
right; social purposes lie at the root OF
all good wheel organizations. There is
such a thing as the fraternity of the
wheel, and it is daily growing stronger.
Fact is, the wheel organizations are
essentially social bodies. But aside from
that they are very practical, being the
only organizations worth mentioning
that are promoting good road building,
proper care of streets. enforcement of
the laws of the road and conservation
of the rights alike of pedestrians and
users of all kinds of vehicles upon the
highway. The cycle club is really a
temperance organization. 1t takes
youth out Of temptations palaces and
induces elders to become young again
by association with the youthful and
vigorous. It is a clean athletic pro-
noter, equal with most complete ath-
letic associations. 1t cultivates love of
nature and conserves life in the open
IL.
Granite cyclers come this way we
doubt not that the local club in Sac
ramento, the largest and most social
in the States will give them hearty well
come in their homelike quarters.
The California Associated Cycling
Clubs organization has arranged for
series of track entertainments to lift
hn MI
is to take place on Ingleside track, San
Francisco, September 24th, the second
viii probably be held in Sacramento,
and the third at San Jose or in Oak
land. The trophy is to be the Cycling
West cup. 1t is intended to limit con-
testants to teams of five from not more
than six clubs. The distance is to be
fifty miles, relay. It will be novel in
that it will partake of the features of
a pursuit race. the men not starting
together, but at given distances. Thus
there will be no loafing, and it will
really be a time race and will assure
hot competition. It is very much de-
sired to have the Capital City Wheel
men enter. And they should True,
they may be beaten. but then five out
of the six clubs must go to defeat But
what Of that,s the sport will be had, and
probably a decent little profit to each
of the teams as the proceeds above
the debt of the association will be di-
vided. It is a good idea and ought to
be pushed along.
Nauvoo Rustler: Bicycles are a lit
tie cheaper this year, but the bicycle
girls are as dear as ever.
Following up it's motion that the In
ternational Cycling Association cease
its recognition Of the League of Ameri-
can Wheelmen as a governing body in
cycle racing, the Union Velocipedique
de France officially requested the for
mer organization to recognize the rid
ers of the National Cycling Association
in the worlds championship races at
Montreal This is a significant straw.
=
1t seems as yesterday when in the
middle Of the seventies the bicycle
emerged finally from the chrysaIis of
the bone-shaker into the spider
wheels" and india rubber tires of the
early wheels; things of beauty then.
but of horror now. In those DAYS all
the presentable machines in the world.
If placed in a straight line, would have
reached but a mile or two. To-day the
worlds bicycles would form a continu-
Gus girdle long enough to encircle the
earth at the equator. 1t is estimated
that there are now no fewer than
20,000,000 bicycles throughout the
world, Of which Germany alone claims
more than 5000. 000 or one machine
for every seventeen of its population:
while the aggregate number of ma
chimes is roughly one for every seven
ty-five of the entire population Of the
world.
Corvallis Times: Tt was in the north
end of Boston County A solitary
wheelman pedaled in the direction of
Corvallis. The wheel was a sorry
looking machine as it trundled slowly
along. Rags, buckskin strings and
wire clothesline had been applied to
the various parts. A man after four
nights of toothache never looked more
dilapidated than did this wheel Around
the rim and tire of the hind wheel was
wrapped about four miles of binding
twine. 1.-The tire came off and I fast
ened it back with twine" explained the
rider to a passerby. Then the darned
thing lost it's wind with a puncture,
and I filled it up with oats, and now
I'm going to ride to Corvallis or bust"
Thomas A. Edison is now at work on
an automobile which he says will sur
pass any machine now in existence.
Naturally it will run by electricity, as
that is the one power which the
Wizard always employs. The mere
fact that this wonderful inventor has
entered the automobile field is proof
positive that a wonderful machine will
be produced. 1t will be the plan of
Edison to produce a machine that can
De run by anybody and which will re-
qulre reeharging about once in $50
miles.
Cycling West: Bicyclists who suffer
injury to their persons or property
through collision with other users of
the highways or with road obstructions
should always study UP on "contribu-
tory negligence" before seeking redress
at law. Cases of this kind usually af-
1ord opportunity for discriminating
work in drawing the line between or
binary watchfulness and prudence on
the part of the plaintiff and failure to
take that reasonable care of himself
which is legally incumbent upon every
traveller by horse, foot or wheel.
New York Post: The usefulness OF
porous bicycle tire may be prolonged.
according to a wheelbuilder, with mo-
lasses. Remove the tire from the wheel