New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-04-09
IN THE CYCLING WORLD.
wHEELMEN's NEW ROUTE IN BROOKLYN.


ING UP THE RACING STU
Ar1oN-NorEs AND
COMMENTS.
The wheelmen of nearby Long Island at least
ought to be thankful for the many good roads
and the promise OF many more. The passage or
the Ellsworth Sidepath bill by the Legislature
will also he felt on Long Island and the GOOD
road workers OF the opinion that within an
other year or two the island will show perfect
network Of cycle paths. With the completion or
the approaches to the Harway-aVe prluge
wheelmen will have new route to or from
Coney Island which will be appreciated by ths
riders OF the wheel. The completion or the
Kings Highway from Twenty-second-ave'' near
Bensonhurst to Ocean-ave opens up another
route for wheelmen which promises to be more
or less popular. These outlets from the Boue-
ward will he needed when the riding season be-
gins in earnest as they will enable the riders to
escape from the crush at frequent intervals
along the path. Kings Highway seems 10 be
fairly good macadam, although there are loose
stones 10 be found at regular intervals. which
ought not TO be encountered in well-kept road
The ride from the beginning OF Kings Highway
TO Ocean ave can be made. and then the wheel
man can continue on Ocean-ave. to Avenue u
and return TO the Boulevard that way. The
writer made the trip Friday to see the
condition the roads were in. Avenue u
IS ridable except for about block between
Ocean-ave. and the railroad crossing. Here the
road is in abomnable condition. A surprise VIII
await the wheelmen when he comes TO the rail-
road crossing A metal fence. with saw-like
edges had been placed directly across the road.
but the inhabitants OF Homecrest have torn
this down. in spite Of the fact that the Manhat-
tan Beach road had placed a man there TO
watch the crossing Now wooden fence has
been built across the road. and wheelmen and
drivers OF vehicles must make detour OF sew
eral hundred yards TO get around the obstruc-
ton. The man in charge Of the blockade said
that he was there to keep watch during the
daytime. and that his comrade came on TO re-
;leve him at night. He said that the obstruction
was placed there because one of the residents OF
the district received injury in crossing over
the tracks. and had made demand that the
company should repair the crossing. The con-
troversy ended by the railroad company putting
up the wire fence and soon as that had been
torn down by having the wooden one put up
with the watchmen IN charge. The fence will
make little difference to wheemen except TO
those who make the trip around by way OF
Kings Highway and Ocean-ave, because the
macadamized surface on Avenue L extends only
to Ocean-ave. 1t is expected that this avenue
will In time extend on to Bergen Beach. and
that bridge will be built over the millpond
between Flatlands and Gravesend Those who
have examined the road In Avenue L say that
1t will serve its purpose at present but that as
soon as much heavy trucking is done over It
It will be cut all 10 pieces 1t is all surface
The rain Of Friday served only TO lay the dust
the good macadamized roads within fifty
miles Of New-Ycrk. and the warm sunshine yes
terday dried the surface nicely. II no rain fall
to-day. and the indications point to clear
weather. the roads will be in fine condition
NJ L. Bridgman, we'll known in trade and club
circles. has planned trip to-day which prom
tses to be interesting one and one which
many local wheelmen who have not made up
their minds Just where they will go might
do we'll to follow. A prominent road rider
who thinks nothing of Keeling off from 100 to
$50 miles when he gets out his wheel went
over the route yesterday morning. and he re-
ported last night that the roads drying
out finely and that they would be in perfect
condition to-day. The start viii be made from
Sixtieth-st and the Boulevard, and the course
will be over the old Pelham-ave. road. the
macadamzing Of which finished last fall
This will take the party to the Shore Road
and through New-Rochelle Lachmont and
Port Chester, a delightful road Astounding
in picturesque scenery. The route is directly
up Eighth-ave. and over the Central Bridge TO
Jerome-ave.. 10 the Highbridge Road After
reaching Fordham the riders will turn right 10
Pelham A visit might be made to Bronx
Park. the beauties of which not we'll
known TO the average New Yorker as they
should be- The wheemen can also the
sample work already done the proposed
gigantic boulevard which promises TO be one OF
the finest in the country. This boulevard Will
contain two drfveways. a bicycle speedway and
promenades. and when finished will extend for
about five miles, or from Bronx Park to Pelham
Bay. Jerome-ave. will be found to be in fine
condition also. The fields are putting on their
mantes Of green, and the average hard work
ang person. who can do so to-day cannot afford
to omit ride into the country, because OF the
good II will do him. At Bronx Park he Will see
the brooks ravines and the hemlock groves and
he look over the old Lorillard mansion,
which is now used as police station. the same
as the Litchfeld mansion is used in Prospect
Park. Brooklyn He will find also at the park
the old Lorilard SNUFF mill. where at least
part Of the Lorillard fortune was built up. The
trip TO Bronx Park from the beginning Of the
Boulevard is only about twelve miles. not too
far for even the veteran who has not straddled
a diamond frame since last fall Take the trip
to-day and you Will not regret it,
Those who interested IN cycle racing are
OF the opinion that the present uncertainties
which exist in certain quarters will be removed
before the season is we'll under way. The lead
ers in the outlaw movement express great con-
hdence in their efforts to tear down the structure
built by the League Of American Wheelmen. but
the friends Of the latter organization, and they
number many thousands. believe that the outlaw
movement will vanish before 1t has really &C
complished anything except to lose more or less
money for those who nave promised the money
ammunition to carry on the fight. Most OF the
clubs and the various athletic and cycling or
xanizations have come out boldly and have
championed the cause Of the League Of American
Wheelmen. They realize that the outlaws can
not have any discipline in their ranks and IL Will
be only a matter Of time before the professional
promoters, who in cycling only for what
money they can make out Of IT, must disagree
and quarrel among themselves. The Racing
Board Of the League OF American Wheelmen has
been at work only couple of weeks. and yet.
according TO reports. II has already torn down
most OF the fences which the opposition has been
building openly or secretly for over a year past
Those who have studied the situation carefully