New-York tribune., 1899-07-12
CYCLING.
SCENES ON THE LOCAL ROADS AND
STREETS
wHEErMEN CHANGE WITH TIE sEAsoNs-coN-
p1r1oN OF THE BICYCLE TRADE-wAsIi-

wHEErMEN CHANGE WITH TIE sEAsoNs-coN-
p1r1oN OF THE BICYCLE TRADE-wAsIi-
OUTS ON THE CYCLE PATH.
'I have observed" said a wheeman yesterday,
that the time for wheeling seems TO change with
the seasons. Up TO the middle OF June a great
deal Of riding was done IN the morning hours
In the spring on pleasant days. one would always
find a goodly throng on the Boulevard ana RIVER
side Drive, and the driyeways In Central PARK
In the throng were men. women ana chufeh'
Now IL you go out in the morning you Will be sur
prsed to find that fewer people are ABOUT on their
wheels than was the case several weeks ago. But
IL YOU 20 out in the afternoon you Will ind that
double the number OF wheeimen are on the road
compared with what you saw IN the afternoon
few weeks ago. / cannot explain why this Is 30;
simply know that Il is so. / have observed the
same thing in Brooklyn / don't think that there
are as many people to be found on the cycle path
in the morning hours the case a month or
two months ago. AT first those who are ac-
customed 10 riding In the morning might come 10
the conclusion that some people losing in
terest in the sport ard recreation. Then you meet
one who confines his riding 10 the AFTERNOON
and at night and you will not have TO discuss the
subject with him for any length OF time before ne
will tell you that more people are riding their
wheels in the afternoon now than was the case
heretofore OF course thousands Of riders G have have
to have iessened the number OF enthusiasts seen
daily on the roads The -. fact that many young
joying thef summer vacations at present helps
swell the wheeling tide. Long tours into the
country still popular but the practice OF leay-
ing home for days or two weeks is probably
not a. as 1T Tas TWO aS9 the %
take trip Of two or three days duration. Many
interesting points can be reached In days ride
and the return trip can be made on the following
day"
The drawing Of the color line by some clubs be-
longing to the Associated Cycling Clubs Of New
York may considerable III feeling IN that
ganzation There are two clubs in this city
posed of coored men. and each sends delegates to
the monthly meetings OF the association. The dele
gates from the colored clubs have up the recent
outing OF the association been treated with due
spec by the other delegates and their conduct and
general bearing at meetings and at other func-
tions have been such as TO compel the respect Of ALL
Is the members of the Calumet wheemen were
f @ 6g g the GaPs a S of tered the T%s 4s
left the parade on the way to, the ferry and did
ssned ta9 % part the 1 and 5 ns
taken from them by the Triumph Wheemen and
tho e6 oae np before hs
ing of the association on Monday night and what
President simms 1t was said yesterday that the
colored clubs might withdraw from the assoca-
ton.
There was lively meeting Of the Harlem Wheel
men at the clubhouse. in West One-hundred-and-
twenty -fourth-st., last night. AS predicted In The
Tribune yesterday. the club came out strongly as
opposed to Sunday racing, and the resolutions
printed yesterday, were passed without any oppo-
stion whatever. It appears that about week ago
many of the members began TO discuss the Sunday
racing question. and It became known that certain
members OF the club were acting officials at
these meets. and that certain riders, wearing the
club colors had been participating in the con
tests. AS the club contains many reputable bust
moss and professional men such tactics were de-
cidedly distastefu TO them, and the matter was
brought to the attention Of the Board Of Governors
of the club A committee was appointed TO confer
except two promised to discontinue racing on Sun
day Then the. members who had oflicinted were
seen They said that in case they offciated here
after that they would do as individuals, and not
& Of ns ~ yo m Hs % 1MU
continue to do go. but they cannot wear the racing
with racing teams may follow the example by
the Harlem Wheelmen and discourage the matter
racing brings disrepute upon the sport is admitted
by all fair minded wheelmen
That the average wheemans eyes affected
after long dry spell in hot weather is generally
recognized Many going on long tours over dusty
roads goggles to protect the eyes. In speak
ing of the matter Professor McIIardy of England.
the ophtham!c surgeon. said: "A lot of people are
suffering just from what call spring oph-
thalmia. generally more or less epidemic about
March This is due in degree to the mechan-
ica irritation caused by the gritty flint and granite
dust with which the eyes apt to get filled when
riding. but more particularly to the poisonous par
tcles Of decaying matter with which the atmos-
phere Is loaded. Is IL dangerous to the sight?
Well no. not II looked after-except perhaps. in
special cases But IT is uncomfortable Il Is like
a mild form Of hay fever. only that II hourishes
more In the neighborhood OF TOW towns ,a wi,h "ooa
affects the throat well ms the eyes because so
many cyclists ride with their mouths open instead
OF breathing through the nose. as Nature intended
them 10. and so using the strainer she has pro-
well, the remedy for that seems fairly obvious.
But how to protect the eyes as one can't ride
NO spectacies are the thing Goggles. you
know. with Grape sides; the wire sided ones are
white, smoked glasses will relieve the glare, which
is apt to be trying. II you fnd yourself suffering
mild antseptic, sucn as dilute solution OF boraclc
acid. But prevention is better than cure"
Matthew Gibb. Of the Century wheelmen. says:
I'm some sections OF the city, especially in
lower Fifth-ave. wheelmen do not to have
any rights which riders and drivers are bound to
respect The luckless wheelman who happens to
before a magistrate while reckless and malicious
riders and drivers go scot free This Is neither
reasonable nor right, and Chief OF Police Devery
would do well to to It that the police in future
enforce the city ordinances without discrimination.
Women. as a rule more confident riders
than men" says a veteran. They will ride over a
greasy bit of road with confidence. though not al
ways with safety. whereas men will dismount
do a lot OF skiddng. But women should be warned
against growing practlce OF tnelrS, cutting OF
corners of roads as near as they can without know
ing what Is coming from the opposite direction.
That is the way 10 invite n collision"
The modern Are engine is drawn by all kinds
of means In Holland dogs pull II: in most other
civilized countries or horses do the work
Paris however. Is right ahead having for a con-
siderable time past been experimenting with pc
troeum and other motors for drawing Its engines
These experiments have now been completed 10
the satisfaction OF the authorities, and without fur
ther delay the practical Frenchmen will put large
number Of motor FIRE engines In service Two have
started work already. and are a success.
c. D. Buckwel an interesting old man. has Just
died at Brighton. England. He was eEhty-hvs