New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-05-21
IN THE CYCLING WORLD.
WIRE TRACK SUGGESTED FOR A
wHEELwAY ON THE BRIDGE.
A PROGRESSIVE cLuB-BIcYc1Es IN THE FIRE
BRIGADEs ON THE CONTINENT
NOTES AND COMMENTS

.o,,s are not Some follow cycle racing with more
~ less interest and others care nothing for the
.orch,nr brigade whether on the road or on the
rack Everybody. except the outlaws. possibly. is
,r,arested in good roads and better paved streets
ard even the outlaws-for one or two OF them and
,beir professional promoting friends have been
Known 10 ride bicycle occasionally-are interested
IN the plans formulating to have wheelway over
che Brooklyn Bridge. Il only within the last
,en DAYS that the city and Bridge officials have
taken official cognzance Of the fact that
thing must be done for wheelmen on that much
used structure The promise that the bridge
across the East River will have every accommo-
dation for riders does not pacify the wheelmen
who want 10 ride their wheels now and not several
years hence. The action Of the Board OF Aldermen
;onoved by n conference between the Commissioner
and chief engineer OF the Bridge which VIII be
Bridge officials and representatives from organized
wheelmen. begins to make II look as II wheemen
,akinS their lives in their hands every time they
attempt TO pedal over the Bridge Many plans have
them have been criticised more or less severely
II is hoped that when the or1eials AND wneemen
get together something tangible will be the out
come
The proposed wheelway over the Bridge is at
tracing attention. not only in this district, but all
over the State Edmond Redmond OF Rochester
makes this suggestion through The Tribune: THE
problem Of providing track for bicycle riders
the Brooklyn Bridge has been under discussion
long without satisfactory settlement. that I ven
lure 70 offer q suggestion which seems TO be new
Ny proposal is to form the track Of heavy wire
cloth supported on brackets suspenders extend
ing from the side OF the Bridge. Bicycles run
smoothly on wire cloth. as know from experience
and II would be a light. safe. clean surface II
might be rather expensive. but the conditions
such that the community would not object seri-
ously II the purpose is attained. The engineers
would weigh. and there ought to be no great diff
Guilty IN proy6ns Rean ond dor eaGhng 10 the
Surface 20 the wind that there could be no objec-
the path would be safer than any ordinary pave
ment under the same conditions. Unless the scheme
i could be Carried out with as little trouble and
loss OF time as any plan yet proposed"
The first stag bicycle ride Of the Telephone
Wheelroen and their friends will take place on
Memorial Day The wheelmen will ride through
Hoboken. Jersey City. Homestead. Secaucus. Carl
stadt Rutherford Carlton Hill. Passaio. Dundee
Lake. Paterson. Arcoa, Rochelle Park, haywood,
Hackensack, Teaneck, Englewood Nordhon Ie-
ona, Palisade Park. Ridgefeld, Farview North
bergen. Woodclir. Guttenburg Hghwood Park,
fory-six miles.
The Century Wheelmen OF New-York, besides be-
ing one of the most progressive wheeling organisa-
tons in this country. find time cater to the en-
joyment OF their members in other lines They
have 80 Meet Club. Glee Club. Camera Club.
a bowling team. a baseball team, a drill team and
a hrst-cass ambulance corps. They are now con-
sidering the advisabty Of forming a Fishing Club.
member must hard please if among all
these special features he cannot find one to suit
him. The regular club run OF the club to-day will
from the clubbouse No lag West Seventv- arsIsi
for Sea Cliff Long Island, at a. m, returning at
p. m; total distance. sixty-eight miles. The
second division will start from the place for
frst division. at p m total distance, thirty-eight
miles
Profitable speculations the bicycle railways"
the seashore near New-Brighton and other Eng
fish seaside resorts. Rails laid the sands and
on them bicycles rum but they fixed that no
balancing is needed. Thousands Of 'trippers" pat
ronized these bicycle railways last summer. and
as rule the cost OF each bicycle used is got back
by the proprtetors within week, so the profits |
must be considerable.
II looks though motor pacing would be |
developed TO considerable extent when the date |
OF the National meet arrives. If that is the case |
the public will be furnished opportunity TO |
the greatest middle-distance riders in the world.
in private trials that to be made by McDufee |
with motor-pacng machines satisfactory results |
have been obtained It is probable that Tom,
June. bringing with him complete outfit Of Euro |
pean pacing machines.
The question OF using cycles IN the service OF the
fire brigade has frequently been raised. but little
progress has been MADE in England. Cycling fire. |
extingushers are. however. used good deal on the
Continent Milan has cycles fitted with a hand |
pump and about eight feet OF leather hose. which |
is fitted inside the frame OF the machine Another |
e cse1 wth ene WoTRed d With sort OF psto
after the fashion Of the coast guards rocket APP
scene Of the fire sooner than ordinary fire.
escape
The Wisconsin Legislature has passed a law
authorizing the country districts to purchase road
machinery without the necessity OF paying their
road taxes in cash. by making it possible 10 pur-
chase graders and rock crushers time payments
adoption
by hundreds OF Wisconsin towns which have been
unable heretofore TO raise the necessary cash
The League OF American wheelmen cycling tour
Of Europe has started from Southampton the
party under the charge Of F. A Elwell having
arrived there safely last week. The tour will be
through France and England. and the Cyclists
Touring Club of England and the Touring Club Of
France will assist making the trip pleasant for
posed Of League members from New York. Maine.
Rhode island, Massachusetts, Michigan and Penn
syvania.
veteran rider says that II is a pity that wheel
men are slaves OF habit Time after time they
pedal along the same routes seldom seeking vari-
ETY. They seem to prefer the congested main
roads IL there were no choice. And yet the
country at this rich in beautiful lanes with
excellent surfaces where one can always get mat
change OF scenc which is the greatest charm OF
sycng An that one needs is 10 a study e. one rTI5
route In advance and endeavor 10 vary , one rip
50 10 avoid the thronged and dusty highway
These can be left to the 'scorcher" and the police
men who lie in wait for their victims.
Connected with the subject Of free wheels is that
OF ack-pedaling. which Professor Sharp declares
not 10 be firing He recently gave explanation | &
Of his views on the subject. After back-pedal-
ling down a steep hill he thought that wheel
men ought 10 be refreshed rather than fatgued |
II may be so on paper. but several volumes or
dissertation would be required TO convince the aver
age rider who has just ack-pedalied down a {
severe grade. that he has not been engaged IN d q
firing effort
The Empire State Wheelmen. OF Brooklyn, VIII
hold single and double go-as-you-please century :